tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64418506670378712402024-03-04T21:40:04.415-08:00Take It To The Brig: Sustaining The Sensesso-called Queen of the Butterflies, indie music artist, hobby gourmet, craft maven, party planner extraordinaire, magnificent mom, passionate lover, honest poet, complex thinker, truth seeker.Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-1455381503081238822011-05-05T14:57:00.000-07:002011-05-05T15:01:48.766-07:00Send-A-Pyrate-To-Camp 2012 FundSO VERY much going on right now, my friends.... much of which I can't talk about yet because it would spoil the surprise. But I'm working on a couple of things together with some newly discovered allies and... well, just you wait!!! You will be pleasantly surprised!<br />
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In the meantime, that kid of mine, The Pyrate, is doing thangs too! This semester, which should have been his second semester of 8th grade, has been challenging for him because, he's been advanced to 9th grade after completing 8th grade in ONE SEMESTER! 9th grade has been more demanding of him in terms of organization, and we've had to go through some real exercises in self discipline and independance and learn some lessons in making decisions for the big picture instead of the little one. He's doing really well. Grades are great and he's chugging along. For more on his fantastic school, check out<a href="http://www.k12.com/"> K12</a> now!<br />
We went to a college fair a month or so back and that alerted me to the fact that since he is accelerating through two years of school in one, I might want to ummmm.... perhaps facilitate the beginning motions of planning for college. We started researching and have the beginnings of a solid list of schools that have solidly funded marine biology programs. It's been fun and very exciting to start exploring each school and it's different pros and cons. On his list are schools of every size and ranking... some state funded and some private, and a couple of the Ivy Leagues even. He's been really gaining perspective about the big picture since we started that exploration.<br />
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During this exploring we looked at requirements and admissions strategies for both the state-run colleges and the Ivy Leagues so that we would be prepared with a well-rounded resume to be not only eligible for admission, but that the next 3 years represent him appropriately as a rockstar and what that means to the admissions officers at the different schools. You can read about what I'm finding out on my notes tab on facebook. It's interesting stuff. Especially when it comes to the Ivies and their admissions process. These days, you have many options... You can go straight down the middle or shoot for the stars and save the middle for your backup and, armed with the right information set out on a master plan to make your aims pay off.<br />
One of the things the Pyrate is doing is applying to volunteer in his field of interest. He will hopefully be accepted this summer to work as a volunteer docent at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's aquatic nursery and as a youth counselor at the Long Beach Marine Institute's summer camp. He's also applied to begin the L.A. Zoo's youth docent program in the fall. All of these are pretty exciting tidbits.<br />
In the fall, he starts 10th grade with honors and ap courses and will take two courses at a local community college as well. If this sounds like a lot, you don't know the Pyrate. Today he finished his entire day's worth of school work by 11am. This kid has the opposite problem from my own... he has TOO many hours in the day. We are attempting to fill some of them with things he will enjoy, learn from, and build confidence socially. His summer will be full with these adventures!<br />
Can you believe we are already planning for next summer? There are two summer programs he wants to apply to. One is the<a href="http://www.giftedstudy.org/residential/berkeley/index.asp"> Summer Institute for Gifted Learners</a>... an academic program that takes place on the campuses of the countries top universities, and the kids stay for three weeks (!!) on campus, and attend academic classes in their subjects of interest and fun supplement classes to help them with different sorts of study and learning practices. He is aiming to attend the program at UC Berkley next summer.<br />
The second of the two programs is the <a href="http://brown.edu/ce/pre-college/leadership/environment/">Brown Environmental Leadership Lab in Rhode Island.</a> This two week program is right up the Pyrate's alley, as attendees will stay in tents right on the shores of a beautiful bay, and study issues related to the environment, shoreline ecosystems, and more! It looks like a wonderful program. We hope to send him to that one too!<br />
These two camps are extremely expensive so we are establishing a fund to raise the tuition and airfare to send the Pyrate to them. If we get 50 people to donate $200 each (you could do a lump sum, or that's $20 a month...), we would be able to send him off on this voyage! We invite you to participate via the link to the right in the column or visit the <a href="http://www.pyratedreams.bbnow.org/">website</a> we've set up for the purpose of raising funds. All donors will receive a monthly newsletter directly from the Pyrate with updates on his fundraising progress, school work, summer volunteer adventures, and more. And the best part is that you'll receive a personal and exclusive invitation to a donor appreciation/bon voyage party in May 2012. Whatever amount you are able to donate is appreciated!<br />
Well, I've got to get back to this secret stuff I'm cooking up over here.... My news is coming soon!!!!<br />
Til then love and light... xoxoxoBrig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-88554416848874309382011-04-21T23:50:00.000-07:002011-04-21T23:52:23.572-07:00Repost: Deacon Fielder Strikes Again...Boston Fielder and his Muthawit Orchestra<div style="text-align: justify;"><b> ORIGINALLY POSTED 3/30/2010</b><br />
<b><i>finally, a release cometh...so i'm reposting...</i></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206747_10150168454450480_672675479_6642959_7991024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206747_10150168454450480_672675479_6642959_7991024_n.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WOnV9inbw8t8tfCoXvzYkvHARVzQoeN3RQgXxRaKYO3uUEbXKOFBuZigtjSR4AgZ2JG8Ajjmozq_pJZOxp5rKQv_rGiFgDs4ZA4kFPcG0_EbWmtJAGFOJAJxtHzo7FlfjvVHmrSjZ1uP/s1600/BostonWasted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I came to be acquainted with the inimitable </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/muthawit" id="aptureLink_VME4pmb5Mv">Boston Fielder</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> about half a decade ago, believe it or not, on Myspace. I'd been writing a blog there while promoting my music and building up a following which consisted of myspacers worldwide. We were mutual fans of each others music. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">At some point I'd posted a blog chronicling a particularly challenging period in my journey and the next day, in my inbox there was this message from him... It was raw, straightforward, scolding, as if he'd ordained himself an authority on the subject of Brig Feltus, and it was a profound moment for me. I'm telling you this up front because there's no use in pretending to be unbiased when it comes to Boston Fielder, the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IiTcVQIunU" id="aptureLink_776sANiwzv">Muthawit Orchestra</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">, or Underground Railroad Broadcasting Alternatives, aka </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwdm1JmdY00" id="aptureLink_ISVEzTPIjK">URB ALT</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">. We have been devoted friends for longer than linear time can define. We knew each other in another lifetime even. I'm sure of it. I am a proud member of the URB ALT Family. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jtKJI4D7uBSDuWLr9O5UfMhD3l9MwwFWd2UBkWmD6_Md-dO4i_Lmo5MRhUCY-UkM2C1Q58Y-HW0CqEHMDyOOvQ3KLu8c8UK550nuclH26onJBp7eProBdeFKM0ulUtWCFsXzupAITCXY/s1600/3305_75457457163_834077163_1602876_6346620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jtKJI4D7uBSDuWLr9O5UfMhD3l9MwwFWd2UBkWmD6_Md-dO4i_Lmo5MRhUCY-UkM2C1Q58Y-HW0CqEHMDyOOvQ3KLu8c8UK550nuclH26onJBp7eProBdeFKM0ulUtWCFsXzupAITCXY/s320/3305_75457457163_834077163_1602876_6346620_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> I'm telling you up front because though this is meant to spread the word about the art this man creates, it is unabashedly personal. Let my honesty about this fact represent my confidence that what you will experience will more than justify my love of all things Muthawit!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">So by all means, explore for yourself when you're done here. You'll find me to be an honest report on the virtues of the man and his art. I am confident of that much. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The music of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/muthawit">Muthawit Orchestra</a> will not be contained in the structure of conventional musical genre descriptions. But, oh... it is in every way music, encompassing all genres and none all at once... neo-classic, jazz, rock, funk, bluegrass, gospel, experimental, metal, psychedelic, blues, electronica...and it's own indescribable something-or-other which can only be experienced and never explained. You can forget about trying to put this man's art into a box and tying it up in a nice neat bow. If there is any thematic, that be it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">You will be challenged. You will be challenged to free your mind, to let go of your own preconditioning, break loose of the chains of stereotype, archetype, and cultural characterization. The Muthawit orchestra's sound is beautiful noise that will touch your most guttural conscience and your most ethereal dream scapes as well. It is frightening and sexy and comforting and confusing truth all wrapped up in compositions you can relate to despite your own conditioning. If you are afraid of your tail feathers shaking, do not listen. If you are afraid of arousal, do not listen. If you fear your own emotions, this is not music for you. Go and have a cup of tea and carry on. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/215560_10150170242730480_672675479_6658061_4820487_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/215560_10150170242730480_672675479_6658061_4820487_n.jpg" width="624" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Every time I listen to this music I rejoice. lol... I choose my friends wisely, you see... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">URB ALT is also Mr. Fielder's brainchild... a community of artists, filmmakers, photographers, poets, musicians, and their admiring relatives and friends, all attempting to live on the cutting edge of free thought and inspiration. For me personally it has been a place where I can get to know others like me... alternative thinkers who don't quite fit the manufactured grooves of this groupthink society we all live in. He will say differently but for me it is a movement, by pure definition of the term. You see, I have been moved more than once since becoming a member of URB ALT. Movement is the nature of the beast! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#996633" flashvars="backgroundColor=0x996633&textColor=0x330033&config=http%3A%2F%2Furbalt.ning.com%2Fmain%2Fbadge%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fxg_source%3Dbadge%26size%3Dlarge%26username%3D1yww09cxjqpng" height="242" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" scale="noscale" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/swf/badge.swf?v=201003221300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="206" wmode="opaque"></embed> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://urbalt.ning.com/">Visit <i>URB ALT</i></a></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207278_10150166984765480_672675479_6627275_7098085_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207278_10150166984765480_672675479_6627275_7098085_n.jpg" width="380" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Boston's orchestra ensemble Muthawit releases its next album soon and I am honored to have been one of the first to hear its jewels pre-mastering and I couldn't wait til the proper time, so I'm telling you all about it now and getting a jump on all the promotional hype that's coming down the road closer to release date. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As far as I'm concerned, the character of the artist will tell you a lot about their art. This man is extraordinary in every way that I know him, and has many layers of depth, not to be digested all at once. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Being his friend is a constant temptation to be greedy. There's stuff I just intuitively know about him but don't have to think about most of the time because it's beneath the surface. His surfaces, when you meet him, are slow, and easy going, and gentle, just like his southern drawl. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">But don't be deceived. Every now and then he says something or does something and I'm reminded about that other stuff beneath his skin... things that can be intimidating when one considers to look straight on. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Do you think people understand you? Not really. If they did they'd run...) </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I gotta look with sunglasses, because he's like the sun. Most know the sun is strong, so we resist the urge to look at it straight on. The timid don't bother looking at all, won't even stand naked in its rays for fear of getting cancer, and in the process end up with vitamin deficiencies because of it. The foolish, in their greed, forget and try to look straight into it, and end up with scorched corneas. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">That's what he's like. Seductive ease on the surface, and raging nuclear energy underneath! His music is evidence of all that stuff beneath the surface, organized a bit, and recorded for posterity, which is a good thing because his sub-surface stuff evidently doesn't like repeat it self in order to keep you on your toes!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As if to prove my point, while I was writing this last bit a minute ago Fielder emailed me a disclaimer warning me not to hold him to his answers because he plans to contradict himself regularly over the next few months... Schizophrenia Convenia he calls it apparently.. ( one of a thousand Bostonisms I've had the pleasure of cracking up over all these years.) THEN a minute or two later, a post-post-disclaimer requesting to add Igor Stravinsky, Samuel R. Delany, and Jack Kirby to his influence list... Did I ask for an influence list? Perhaps he was referring to his heroes... Uncle Baldy, and Co... He also informed me that this is one of a handful (literally) of interviews he's ever allowed. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What? I haven't said much of anything about the new album? Perhaps you should go back and read this posting again and pay attention this time. </span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other than that? <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://urbalt.bandcamp.com/album/men-women-la-revenge-de-uncle-baldy">Have a listen here</a></b></i></span> and then you'll just have to wait!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Below is a quicky email interview I sprung on him today without warning. These are his off-the cuff answers. Thank you Boston for your friendship, for your music, for your wisdom, and for your most admirable existence!! May your purse reach you... </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is Muthawit?</b></span> <b><i>A loving homage to my elders, peers, children and folks who use common sense.</i></b> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When did you start Muthawit?</span></b> <b><i>When I was 7 years old.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What was your inspiration for its creation?</b></span> <b><i>My grandmother's singing voice and my grandfather's speaking voice.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the Urb Alt Movement?</b></span> <b><i>Following the North Star is a movement that inspires me personally but I wouldn't call URB ALT a movement. The financial component would make that hypocrisy.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What makes the Urb Alt Movement important in these times?</b></span> <b><i>I don't know that URB ALT is important. Is making people feel good about themselves and others enough to say that it's important? Hmm. </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would you compare Urb Alt with other movements in music history?</b></span> <b><i>Pouring glass as slowly as possible into a pitcher.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What kind of people are participating in your movement?</b></span> <b><i>People who probably don't consider it a movement because movements tend to have a head, the head is lopped off by history and then it dies, is placed in a museum or cryogenically frozen in a state of mediocrity.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who are your musical heroes past and present day?</span></b> <b><i>Uncle Baldy, Marvin Gaye, Alice Coltrane and that old dude who used to sit on the front row of the church is Tupelo and chanted "Yap, Yeah, Yap, Yeah" during Reverend Pulliam's sermon.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In 10 lines of PROSE or less, describe your musical compositions in poem.</b></span><i><b> "Beauty. Booty. Baby. Bounty. BOOM."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you think people understand you?</span></b> <b><i>Not really. If they did they'd run.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Does being understood matter to you on a personal level?</b></span> <i><b> It means everything and nothing. Too much to do.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Does it (being understood)matter to the successful spreading of the music?</b></span> <i><b> Only if the music is good does it matter and even then pirates will hijack it on the seas of change before the purse reaches the hands of the chosen.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you believe your art contributes to the world?</b></span> <b><i> Joyful cacophony and a good reason to get out of bed or stay in bed depending on the situation.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is there a subject matter you are afraid to write about?</b></span> <i><b>No.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is there a subject matter you love to write about?</b></span> <b><i>No.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the story behind your new album's title Men and Women?</b></span> <b><i>The death of individualism, the rise of the IRS in the micromechanics of governing and the joy of watching tadpoles swim downstream.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What was the most joyful moment in creating the music on this album?</b></span> <b><i>Mixing PMS Junkie. It was a bloody good time.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What challenges did you face in making this album? </b></span> <b><i>Tenant revolt.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Is your music influenced by any esoteric or ethereal experiences?</span></b> <i><b>Mainly dead people who walk with us and share our experiences. They like to dance and eat popcorn.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Did you have any experiences of transcendance during the creation of the music on Men and Women?</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If so, explain.</b></span><i><b> I got regular sleep for the first time in well over a year due to roommate overhaul. It released a torrent of positively kinetic energy.</b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which song is your favorite and why? What's it about? </b></span><i><b> My favorite didn't make the album cause it hasn't been written yet. It'll be the greatest song ever written in history. Better than anything Lennon and McCartney or Liberace could produce on their best day.</b></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When will the album be available in stores? </span></b> <i><b>May 9th. Mutha's Day.</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are your thoughts on overcoming incomplete paradigms in life? </b></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>A paradigm by nature is complete. It's a simple signpost of change that has served it's purpose.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you dreaming up for the near future artistically? </b></span><i><b> Children.</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you dreaming up for the near future personally?</b></span> <i><b> Protection</b>.</i></span></div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-16109387240662869662011-04-19T21:23:00.000-07:002011-04-20T00:19:19.393-07:00Introducing SALUMAXIMUS: The Great SeaNothing makes me prouder than my kid. He's the one thing I've been responsible for that I KNOW I'm doing the best I can, and that my best is pretty darn impressive! I allow myself that even in those times when it feels like nothing else I do is right. Part of raising this beautiful, brilliant child, has included nurturing his passions. I've been nurturing his passions since he could demonstrate he had them. Starting at about 3 or 4 years old when he would scream and holler bloody murder because he didn't want to get out of the tub without me reading the Little Fish book to him one. more. time. "I'm a little fish, I like to get all wet, I have a little octopus, he's my little pet, we swim swim swim, we swim swim swim, we swim swim swim some more, we swim swim swim, we swim swim swim, until we reach the shore!" Every bath time he made me read that padded waterproof book at least 20 times. It will forever be imprinted on my brain... every line, every picture.<br />
He has been in love with water and marine life since at least that far back, and I made it a point to feed that love as often as possible. It would not be far into his first years of elementary when he told me he wanted to be a marine biologist. That seems like a million years ago....way back when we were members at the L.A. Zoo and the Long Beach Aquarium, and, yes, platinum card holders at Sea World San Diego and we milked those memberships for all they were worth and then some. He had ocean themed birthday parties year after year, and as he got older they became Pyrate parties, because how many times can you really have whales and dolphins for a party before it starts to be uncool to your son and his friends? We took vacations that were always near a body of water where we could snorkel and explore the ocean, including Puerto Vallarta, Florida, and the Bahamas. We took a spring break road trip up the coast of California and visited every aquarium, marine life rescue center, marine life reserve, and university lab/aquarium we could find between L.A. and San Francisco. One of the highlights of that trip was a beach near Santa Cruz where we walked 3 miles down a series of bluff and cliff trails to the ocean where and saw hundreds of enormous elephant seals basking on the beach in the sun. A couple of years ago, for his birthday he requested a high school marine biology text book from a homeschool website, and marine specimens and a dissection kit from a science education website. We've been contributing to his personal library of books on related subjects since he began to use words. He has swam with dolphins, manta rays, and 2 years ago we had the unforgettable opportunity to swim in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico with Whale Sharks bigger than a large school bus! <br />
This year has been an exciting time for the Pyrate. He's managed to complete a full year of 8th grade in a semester, and was advanced midyear to 9th grade. By the fall he will be starting 10th grade, with almost all AP classes, and taking 2 courses at the local community college. He's really excited and has the best kind of confidence building.... the kind you get when you work hard for something and finish it well and with acclaim.<br />
Soon he will begin training to be a camp counselor at the Long Beach Marine Institute where he'll assist in teaching younger kids about the ocean, ecology, and marine life. He has also applied for a position as a docent at the Cabrillo Aquarium in the Aquatic Nursery, and the youth volunteer program in the fall at the L.A. Zoo. We've also begun the overwhelmingly complex business of college exploration. So far there's a couple of Ivy League institutions, and one UC institution on his favorites list....oh yeah, (selective amnesia) and Alaska University of the Pacific. And somewhere in the midst of all of that, he'll be taking his first ever scuba certification course and training. A very exciting time indeed. Which brings me to the purpose of this post...<br />
The Pyrate has just launched <a href="http://maxrecke.blogspot.com/">SALUMAXIMUS: The Great Sea</a>, a blog where he will share things he's doing, articles about marine life and ocean ecology, and anything else he feels like sharing related to the topic. If you have a teen child, please share his blog with them. But it's not just for teens. The information he will be posting is interesting for people of all ages. So check it out soon, and join us on this amazing ocean voyage!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-17544353823198102582011-04-06T18:50:00.000-07:002011-04-19T20:50:05.864-07:00Ginger Mint LemonadeThis recipe, (sorry there's no picture) is my favorite anytime beverage to make when we have company. I pull out my fancy 1940's punch bowl to serve it in and it reminds me of my grandma Elee Hollins and how she'd have the entire family... about 20 of us over on Sunday afternoons after church for family Sunday "dinner" (which was really like an early supper at around 2pm). There was almost always roast chicken, steamed rice, gravy, sweet dinner rolls fresh from the oven, either green beans or greens straight from grandma's garden, and a big punch bowl full of lemonade, made from fresh tart lemons, usually from a tree in the backyard, squeezed by hand. Hers didn't have mint or fruit floating around in it, and she used regular granulated sugar. Mine is an updated, organic, sparkling, and has a slightly herbaceous taste which goes well with all kinds of foods. On a hot summer day, it's hard to resist and from what I've found, keeps party guests coming back to the punch bowl over and over and over.<br />
<br />
This recipe yields about 12-16 servings depending on the glass size. You can make the syrup ahead up to 4-5 days, and add the rest the day you'll serve it. Multiplying the recipe works great too. I usually triple or quadruple it at the syrup stage and lemon squeezing stage so that at parties I can quickly refill the punch bowl when it is inevitably empty. <br />
<br />
FOR THE GINGER SYRUP<br />
1 cup of Water<br />
2/3 cups of Evaporated Sugar Cane Juice, Turbinado, or Raw Sugar (or 1 cup of honey, maple, etc)<br />
4 inch piece of fresh Ginger<br />
<br />
Heat all 3 ingredients in a saucepan til boiling. Reduce fire and simmer for about 10 minutes. Cool completely.<br />
<br />
FOR THE LEMONADE<br />
1 recipe of Ginger Syrup (see above) <br />
1 cup of fresh squeezed Lemon Juice<br />
1 bunch of fresh Mint leaves <br />
1 cup of Blueberries<br />
5 cups of Sparkling Water<br />
4 cups of plain Water<br />
<br />
Mix syrup, lemon juice and waters in the punch bowl or other beverage vessel.<br />
Break the mint into small sprigs and crush them in your palm to release the flavor.<br />
Add mint and blueberries to the liquids and mix everything together. Add ice and serve!!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-43500853940791134052011-04-06T18:15:00.000-07:002011-04-06T18:28:53.622-07:00Sparkling Peach Sangria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/files/2010/08/sangria_low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/files/2010/08/sangria_low.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As spring arrives, I thought to myself, "Self, it's time to add some refreshing beverages to the readers' arsenals". To start off, I'm sharing a super-easy recipe for Sparkling Peach Sangria because people are still talking about the batch I made last summer for an all ladies pool party I hosted at my house. So, here it is, ladies! (and Gents...) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">You'll need the following ingredients to make 4 drinks, however you can feel free to add other types of fruit as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 Firm Ripe White Peaches</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 bunch of Green Grapes</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 Granny Smith Apples</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1/2 cup Peach Schnapps</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1/3 cup Superfine Sugar</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 cups chilled Rose' or White Zinfandel wine</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 cups Sparkling Water or Lemon-Lime Soda (such as 7-Up)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 cup pineapple juice</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cut up peaches and apples into bite-sized chunks, add all fruit and sugar to the peach schnapps, mix and cover for at least a couple of hours, but ideally overnight. When ready to serve, put schnapps mixture in pitcher or serving vessel and add wine, pineapple juice, and sparkling water or soda. Mix well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Serve over ice! YUM!</div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-58984784131603527682011-03-14T15:54:00.000-07:002011-04-06T18:59:07.405-07:00Thai Spice Cupcakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G1WWVGb2Oo0imrenrSi3xH2bJ7MbT7ZXvImgq5ktpKPMBwlmM-FOyWsrTOA9ay7bH1FFNHNWf84D2gCj008nE2raCkdGxbQlU3jvXUFUEYvXK5_0AB5YxpqI2AnodJSpCyv5G1iFzllQ/s1600/IMG-20110314-00026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G1WWVGb2Oo0imrenrSi3xH2bJ7MbT7ZXvImgq5ktpKPMBwlmM-FOyWsrTOA9ay7bH1FFNHNWf84D2gCj008nE2raCkdGxbQlU3jvXUFUEYvXK5_0AB5YxpqI2AnodJSpCyv5G1iFzllQ/s640/IMG-20110314-00026.jpg" width="472" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, the second cupcake flavor we're planning for my sister's shower is a Thai Spice cupcake. I wanted to make something unique that would go with the Thai menu theme... something more interesting that boring plain white or chocolate, and something that was more about the flavor than about doing something outrageous for the frosting decoration. So far, I've settled on a Lemongrass Vanilla Cupcake (see "find it" section for recipe), and a this one which we did a test run of today and boy oh boy are these Thai Spice Cupcakes good! The unexpected savory-sweet flavor profile of curry, mango, vanilla, mint, and jalapeno, upon first bite inspires a raised eyebrow, and an "oh wow!", the tangy mango curry filling sends you over the top and into a moment of ecstacy and the mango butter cream? To diiiiie for. Really. You'll want to sit and savor this extraordinary treat for as long as you can stretch it out. But enough of the foreplay, here's the recipe for making one dozen! I suggest making the mango curd the day before so that it's already done and ready to use. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Cupcakes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 tablespoons curry powder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">2 tablespoons minced jalapeno</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 tablespoon minced fresh mint</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 cup finely diced mango</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 recipe Vanilla Bean Cupcakes (see "cupcakes" in the "find it" section to the right)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">To Assemble:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">2 cups Mango Curd (see Lemon Curd recipe with alternate instructions to make it Mango)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Frosting:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 cup Mango Curd (see Lemon Curd recipe with alternate instructions to make it Mango)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">1 recipe Vanilla Buttercream (American Style)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Make your Vanilla Bean Cupcake batter according to the recipe instructions then add the curry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Fold in Jalapeno, mint, cilantro, and minced mango gently. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Bake according to directions. They will not be golden brown. They're done when a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of a cupcake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO49ItqkV523R-uJQMzzklfjHarGTox7ZhpSdSl9N05lXTrSTLWix_VAHcCVpslK8Fnj6YDo48JhktAzASVBYX_3ci9EzxTLh5x_kRokSoTMA2duonRDSkZ8u7r2bCB6JLC_WtdxPl4zr/s1600/IMG-20110314-00020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO49ItqkV523R-uJQMzzklfjHarGTox7ZhpSdSl9N05lXTrSTLWix_VAHcCVpslK8Fnj6YDo48JhktAzASVBYX_3ci9EzxTLh5x_kRokSoTMA2duonRDSkZ8u7r2bCB6JLC_WtdxPl4zr/s400/IMG-20110314-00020.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Allow to cool completely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Make the mango curd. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Make the Vanilla American Buttercream. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Fold 1 cup of mango curd into the buttercream. If it's too thin, you'll have to add more sifted powdered sugar until it's thick enough to hold shape when frosting your cupcakes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When the cupcakes are cooled completely, push a finger down into each one leaving a hole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Using a turkey baster, fill each hole with some of the remaining mango curd.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Then frost the cupcakes with the mango buttercream frosting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Garnish with mint or cilantro sprigs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">YUM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFKP6sgR5EAkcerUTh9EaOMNytWqnbPEBzzKOQyJ42r1YG5XqZTCHDvZ5vxbKrNCoRvoWs8jAW7mz0sO6C1a8wyJcUAH8lJTaKBV9cgJQxeqdGjd_BmB_uD7PmbBN9y7beBkOytCjJ_Tz/s1600/IMG-20110314-00025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFKP6sgR5EAkcerUTh9EaOMNytWqnbPEBzzKOQyJ42r1YG5XqZTCHDvZ5vxbKrNCoRvoWs8jAW7mz0sO6C1a8wyJcUAH8lJTaKBV9cgJQxeqdGjd_BmB_uD7PmbBN9y7beBkOytCjJ_Tz/s640/IMG-20110314-00025.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-26179476288604987932011-03-14T15:42:00.000-07:002011-03-14T15:56:40.208-07:00Lemon CurdHere's a quick lemon curd recipe. You will use it in some of my other recipes but it's also really tasty on toast, biscuits, pancakes, home-baked gingerbread, etc... You will need a double boiler or a metal bowl that can sit on the rim of a large sauce pan. <br />
<br />
1 1/4 cups sugar<br />
1 cup lemon juice<br />
1/4 cup lemon zest<br />
4 eggs<br />
1 cup butter cut into 1 inch cubes<br />
<br />
<br />
Fill a large saucepan with a few inches of water and boil.<br />
Set a metal bowl or double boiler on top.<br />
<br />
Add sugar and lemon juice to the bowl/double boiler and combine until well mixed.<br />
Add the lemon zest and eggs, wisking well as you add them.<br />
Continue to whisk while the mixture cooks. You cannot let this cook undisturbed the eggs will coddle up on you. So just keep on stirring/whisking until your curd is thick sort of like a thick creamy soup chowder.<br />
Run the mixture through a sieve and discard any solids and zest.<br />
Stir in butter then chill.<br />
<br />
<br />
TO MAKE MANGO CURD: Substitute mango puree for the lemon juice, keep lemon zest in.<br />
TO MAKE IT GRAPEFRUIT: Substitute grapefruit juice for lemon juice and eliminate the lemon zest.<br />
<br />
You get the idea... you can make many kinds of fruit curd this way!!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-10200756611955279352011-03-11T19:50:00.000-08:002011-03-12T08:48:19.918-08:00Lemongrass Cupcakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iYP8-oWa1MUULIWvi7jg6SCdkNFtt1jfsUhFga8NO5g1RbqGbDIhSfQncaYU8Ld0Oih3YlgLpxq4ichhWS-f-z_2jI-iSGiN7llQok2OHD_hvVr_tt7jvQOKrfDj0rS63W24U0jOPOTY/s1600/197678_10150127645622164_834077163_6415175_7378634_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iYP8-oWa1MUULIWvi7jg6SCdkNFtt1jfsUhFga8NO5g1RbqGbDIhSfQncaYU8Ld0Oih3YlgLpxq4ichhWS-f-z_2jI-iSGiN7llQok2OHD_hvVr_tt7jvQOKrfDj0rS63W24U0jOPOTY/s640/197678_10150127645622164_834077163_6415175_7378634_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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These cupcakes are part of the plans for my baby sister's bridal shower coming up in a couple of months. We are doing a Thai themed menu, so it was important to me that we don't just have some generic flavor cupcakes that don't fit in with the distinct flavors of the Thai food that will be served on that day. This is the first of 3 different flavors planned for the cupcakes for that party. <br />
The subtle exotic flavor of lemongrass infuses these cupcakes for just a hint of something different.... lending a bit of a tea-like flavor with a hint of citrus. I think I am in love. My first run of these was a bit too sweet but I think I'm happy with the alterations I've made and that you will love these as much as I do. For this recipe you will need to look up my recipes for Vanilla Bean Cupcakes and Buttercream Frosting (American Style). You can find them both in the Find It directory in the column to the right under several obvious categories, or perhaps if you're lucky the links at the end of this post! xoxo<br />
<br />
<br />
For the cupcakes you'll need:<br />
1 recipe of Vanilla Bean Cupcakes<br />
1 1/2 cups of Lemongrass Simple Syrup<br />
<br />
<br />
For the Lemongrass Simple Syrup:<br />
4 stalks of lemongrass<br />
5 cups of water<br />
4 cups sugar<br />
<br />
<br />
For the Frosting you'll need:<br />
1 recipe of Buttercream Frosting (American Style)<br />
1/2 cup of Lemongrass Simple Syrup (see below)<br />
<br />
<br />
Start by getting your Lemongrass Simple Syrup going...<br />
Chop up your lemongrass into half inch bits and bring with the water to a boil in a large pot.<br />
Once boiling, add the sugar, reduce the heat, and simmer for at least an hour.<br />
<br />
<br />
While that's going, make your cupcakes just according to the recipe directions and get them in the oven at 350 degrees to bake.<br />
<br />
While your cupcakes are baking and your syrup is cooking down, make your buttercream frosting and set aside.<br />
<br />
When your cupcakes are done baking, remove them from the oven, and while they are still hot, dip each one, for about 3 seconds into the lemongrass syrup so that it soaks a bit into the top, then set aside to cool.<br />
<br />
Return the remaining syrup back to the stove and cook again for another hour or more, then cool completely. You can speed this by placing in the freezer for a while. <br />
When the syrup has cooled it should be a loose honey-like consistency. Strain off the lemongrass and set aside<br />
Once cooled you can fold 1/2 cup of this syrup in to your frosting til thoroughly mixed, beating again if you need to in order to properly incorporate it.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Frost your cooled cupcakes and they're ready to go!!! I garnished mine with a bits of the cooked lemongrass that I strained out of the syrup. Enjoy! <br />
By the way... SAVE THE EXTRA SYRUP AND REFRIGERATE. IT IS RATHER TASTY IN COCKTAILS!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGWD-hWMlsYIp6JVC1eFm_k9Z-eZJt6jB0a15ycqZMErgWRrn9q7FO3RaBGEV2hbMhrGb5bATx6gxIIHl4dJvTOPD4-cnf7dhvxVzcv4aQqGh42TevT9jJC_DjFQhNaU4rcK6FBfWfQxB/s1600/188526_10150127600247164_834077163_6414937_6177243_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGWD-hWMlsYIp6JVC1eFm_k9Z-eZJt6jB0a15ycqZMErgWRrn9q7FO3RaBGEV2hbMhrGb5bATx6gxIIHl4dJvTOPD4-cnf7dhvxVzcv4aQqGh42TevT9jJC_DjFQhNaU4rcK6FBfWfQxB/s320/188526_10150127600247164_834077163_6414937_6177243_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-76175152631034520762011-03-11T19:13:00.000-08:002011-03-14T17:49:39.561-07:00Buttercream Frosting (American Style)In our country, Buttercream is, for the most part, at bakeries, not at all made with butter. It's usually vegetable shortening. Although that may be a bit more healthy, I can't condone buttercream frosting without butter in it, so I have gone back to the roots of the matter and come up with my own comprimise... You can find the palm shortening used in this recipe in your grocery's organic foods section. It may be labeled vegetable shortening, just check the ingredients to confirm it's palm oil that's used to make it.<br />
Other than that? What can I say... when enjoying cupcakes for a special occasion, there's really no need to fuss around about things such as whether or not something is more healthy or not. So just enjoy and move on!!<br />
<br />
You have to make this the same day you intend to use it because of the butter and milk in it. If you want to make it vegan then use vegan margarine and soymilk in place of butter and milk in the recipe... if you insist! :) It can be made in advance in that case.<br />
Makes enough frosting for a dozen or more cupcakes.<br />
<br />
1 cup palm shortening<br />
1/2 cup unsweetened butter<br />
5 cups organic powdered sugar sifted (5 cups measured before sifting)<br />
1/4 cup milk<br />
2 tbsp pure madagascar or bourbon vanilla extract<br />
<br />
<br />
Mix the shortneing and butter in the bown of a stand mixer on high until smooth and fluffy.<br />
Slowly add the powdered sugar with the mixer speed turned down low or you'll get it back in the face!<br />
Then add the vanilla<br />
Then add the milk last.<br />
Scrape down and mix on high for about 15 minutes til your frosting is smooth and fluffy. If it seems like it's not thick enough, go ahead and add more sifted powdered sugar and mix until smooth. <br />
Voila!<br />
Make sure your cake is completely cooled before frosting!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-34628543984390813252011-03-11T18:55:00.000-08:002011-03-11T18:57:04.121-08:00Vanilla Bean Cupcakes RecipeToday I was testing out a recipe I plan to use for lemongrass cupcakes for my sister's bridal shower. In order to share that recipe I have to first share the basic Vanilla Bean Cupcake recipe I use because from time to time I will share the unique ways I alter it to create interesting flavor profiles. <br />
So here is that recipe. It is better than most typical white cake recipes. The technique used in mixing the ingredients is also different and makes for a more moist and tender cupcake... a goal that is very difficult in cupcake baking because of the size of each cake. I learned this technique from a book called Who You Callin' Cupcake, which, if you want to be able to make something different from your average cupcake, is the book to have. Anyway, here is my version of their Vanilla Bean Cupcakes recipe. Enjoy it as is, or use it as a base as instructed in some of my other cupcake recipes.<br />
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Makes 1 Dozen<br />
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1/2 cup organic sugar or organic cane juice<br />
1 2/3 cups of organic all purpose unbleached flour<br />
1 tsp baking powder<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 cup butter (unsalted)<br />
1/2 cup skim milk<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 tablespoon of pure madagascar or bourbon vanilla extract<br />
1 vanilla bean (run a knife down the length and split open then scrape the seeds out to be used for this recipe... you can put the scraped out hull in a container of sugar to make vanilla sugar)<br />
**if you don't have a vanilla bean just use 1 additional tablespoon of vanilla extract***<br />
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Preheat your oven to 350 and line your traditional size cupcake pan with cupcake liners. <br />
In a stand mixer bowl, combine first four ingredients (dry stuff)<br />
Add butter to the bowl and mix on low til a grainy meal is formed <br />
Add 1/4 of the milk slowly til the mixture looks like a paste<br />
In a separate bowl, combine eggs with remaining 1/4 cup of milk, vanillas.<br />
Slowly pour the wet mixture into the stand mixer bowl til it is incorporated into the paste and forms a batter.<br />
Scrape down the sides and mix on high for a few seconds until smooth.<br />
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Fill the cups in the pan to within about 1/2 inch from their top edges.<br />
Bake for 10-20 minutes. Tops will not be brown... but will be softly golden around the edges and a toothpick will come out clean when they are done. They will also feel stable to the touch of your fingertip on their tops.<br />
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Cool completely before frosting! Voila!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-38322335949162463812011-03-09T12:56:00.000-08:002011-03-09T13:04:35.169-08:00The Pyrate's Soupe L'Ognion (French Onion Soup)Yesterday the Pyrate made the BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP I HAVE EVER HAD! I will never crave it again from elsewhere... not even that French bistro at the Grove promenade. If you are a fan of French Onion Soup, you will fall in love all over again when you learn to make it at home from scratch. It is truly a beautiful thing.<br />
You'll need oven proof dishes, either porcelain, ceramic or stoneware individual crocks, ramekins, or bowls. We used porcelain ramekins, which worked fine except they are a pain to get clean again... you have to soak them in baking soda and hot water overnight to get the baked-on brown stains off. The picture below is not mine. Just wanted to give you something to look at. We forgot to take pics before we ate ours! Ha! Sorry! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img4.myrecipes.com/i/recipes/ck/05/01/french-onion-ck-1011280-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img4.myrecipes.com/i/recipes/ck/05/01/french-onion-ck-1011280-l.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">This recipe was inspired by one we saw Alton Brown (the food scientist dude) make on the Food Network with some slight alterations because his ended up with not enough onions and even the entire recipe was a bit scant to truly feed 6 people like he said it would. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">7 large sweet onions (red or sweet maui or a combination of both as we did for ours)</div><div style="text-align: left;">4 tbsps butter</div><div style="text-align: left;">sea salt</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cups of white wine (we used a chardonnay)</div><div style="text-align: left;">32 oz of beef broth (or vegetable if you prefer)</div><div style="text-align: left;">12 oz of chicken broth (or more vegetable if you prefer)</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 cups of apple cider</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 bouquet garni (thyme sprig, bay leaf, and parsley sprig tied together with kitchen twine)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 loaf of country style bread</div><div style="text-align: left;">sea salt and fresh ground pepper </div><div style="text-align: left;">Cognac</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 cups of grated Gruyere </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cut onions in half then thinly cut into half-moon slices, mix together if using two kinds. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Melt the butter in the bottom of a dutch oven or large soup pot over medium low heat. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Spread a layer of onions over melted butter and sprinkle layer with a pinch of salt.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Repeat layering onions and sprinkling with a pinch of salt til all onions are layered in the pot. Do not stir.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Leave to cook down over medium low heat for 15-20 minutes then stir. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Continue cooking and occasionally stirring til onions are carmelized to a dark mahogany and reduced to about 2 cups. This will take about 45 min. to an hour, and don't worry if it seems it's burning. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Add the wine and cook over high heat until liquid is reduced and is syrupy. (We had a chuckle-worthy moment when we got to this part because the Pyrate imitated Julia Childs as he sloshed the wine into the pot without a measuring cup. )</div><div style="text-align: left;">Add broths, cider, and herbs, turn down fire, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.</div>Place oven rack on top notches of oven and heat your broiler.<br />
Cut bread in rounds large enough to fit soup bowls.<br />
Place the slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with a bit of olive oil.<br />
Broil in the oven til nice and toasty, turn and repeat on the other side. <br />
Season soup mixture with salt, pepper.<br />
Add a splash of cognac. We used about 1/4 cup.<br />
Remove herbs and ladle soup into crocks leaving one inch from the top.<br />
Place bread round on top of soup and top with grated cheese.<br />
Broil until cheese is bubbly and golden.<br />
Be sure to watch it so that it doesn't burn.<br />
YUM!!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-54985370791546426122011-03-09T11:51:00.000-08:002011-03-09T12:05:47.740-08:00's Been A Long Time, I Shouldn't-a Left You....Well, well, well, look who's decided it's time to get these squeaky gears turning again over here!!!! It's been at least 8 months since I last wrote you. There's been much under foot. I decided in the late spring of last year that I was completely over trying to make traditional schooling work for the Pyrate. Between bullies, peers out of control, over populated classrooms, not up to par gifted student programs, and a complete lack of concern about any of these issues by school officials and staff, I'd had enough. But what was most hurtful was the fact that I am raising a exceptionally gifted child who has the potential to be a prodigy and nobody seemed to care about what that means. The Pyrate, bless his heart, has textbook characteristics for what is known about children who are highly gifted. School work was easy and therefore frustrating, socializing was precarious because his mind works faster than most kids his age, and he needed special attention in the area of keeping organized. He needed academic attention and consideration that he didn't get in public school OR previously the private schools he was in. He needed to be able to work at his own pace, doing curriculum that was both entertaining and challenging, he needed peers on his level so that he didn't feel the need to diminish himself to fit in, he needed more intensive guidance with organizational and study habits. He was never going to discover his potential in a normal school. So I signed him up to attend the California Virtual Academy. It's an online California charter school based on the <a href="http://www.k12.com/">K12</a> virtual educational system. K12 is a program built by the top scholars and researchers in the fields of cognitive learning and child development. We started in September when the Pyrate started 8th grade. I am happy to say that this was the best decision I have ever made as this child's mother. It has changed his life tremendously. At the end of the first semester, not only did he have straight A's, he'd finished an entire year of school... his entire 8th grade curriculum in one semester. The school approved his early advancement to 9th grade, so he's now taking 9th grade classes and one 10th grade honors english because he took the 9th grade one in his 8th grade curriculum. I have never seen him happier, and part of that is because he has been allowed a set of circumstances that give him the opportunity to truly see what he is capable of. Instead of diminishing himself to fit in, he and his new friends challenge each other and goad each other to keep up with whoever is ahead. I am able to work more intensively with him on issues regarding organization, and just as importantly he gets more direct guidance from me in regards to values I believe are necessary in becoming a young man. It's a profound difference from what he got out of his former life where my only influence was in the evening hours and weekends. Some are of the mind that he's missing something be not having the influence of a normal school. Well, we tried that and he was miserable, bored, frustrated, exposed to things no child should be exposed to, and worse of all, had no idea how smart he was. Now he knows and just that one thing has been enough to make him a happier teenager. He'll be applying to join Mensa at some point this year, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, both whose members are children of phenomenal talent and academic ability.<br />
That's what I've been up to. It's been like a boot camp of sorts for both of us, getting used to how homeschooling works, learning to be his learning coach, him learning to be more active in the planning and execution of his education. It's been challenging and exciting and nowhere near as difficult as most people think it would be. If you find that your child is having trouble in any way in normal school and you have the ability to school them at home, this program is available free of charge, as a charter in most larger cities in the US and the program is also available as a teach-on-your-own curriculum for purchase wherever you are. They also have an international school as well . Some US cities even have coops or flex facilities so your kid actually goes to a live facility to do their schooling through this same program. If you think your child is too unruly for you to want to deal with them at home, I think you'll find that they behave much better at home than they do when you're not there... the one person who really cares, to keep them in check for real, like no teacher will ever do. Check it out!<br />
Other than homeschool, there's not much else to tell. LOL I've been deep in it for a good while. My next blog is going to be about this doggone soup the Pyrate made for dinner last night. Then the first part in a series on how to plan a special event party. I will share step by step planning for my sister's wedding shower that takes place in May. If you like to host guests in your home, you will like that a lot.<br />
Music is on hold in the moment, perhaps some new stuff on the horizon soon... I'll keep that close to the vest til there's something substantial to tell.... xoxoBrig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-86095979315710867872010-07-04T15:38:00.000-07:002010-07-04T15:59:23.236-07:00Obento: My Newfound Curiosity<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Just a quick note: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>On many of my blog posts you'll see little icons which are part of a really cool application I use for links to items of reference pertaining to the subject matter. Many of these you don't even have to click on. You can often just place your cursor over it and a small box will pop up with the relevant information, video, photo, or website so that you can explore without actually leaving my blog post. Ain't that special? Try it out here!</i></span><br />
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Anybody who knows anything about the Butterfly Queen knows that cooking is a passion. I love cooking even more than I love eating. Really, it's true. During these last few weeks, I've gone silent pretty much here on the blog space for several reasons you can read about here: <a href="http://brigfeltus.blogspot.com/2010/06/domo-arigato-mister-obento.html">Domo Arigato Mr. Obento</a>. For the sake of not boring those of you loyal friends who subscribe, I won't re-hash all of that here.<br />
Suffice to say, I've been rather busy. Too busy to have the brainpower to write, too busy to have the patience to check-in, and too busy to have the desire to cook! <br />
But a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a recipe that let me to a <a href="http://www.justhungry.com/" id="aptureLink_oJSoaM4aNC">blog site</a> on cooking written by a Japanese woman living in Switzerland. She specializes in recipes from Japan and Korea, with a lil' bit of fusion mixed in for good measure. Fascinated by her lovely photos and recipes, I found myself cruising her site for hours at a time, night after night...into the wee hours when my guys were happily sleeping. There were many recipes which she specified were perfect for Bento. Recipe after recipe I kept seeing the phrase "perfect for Bento", with a link to <a href="http://justbento.com/" id="aptureLink_Ab8VS7cPK0">her other blog site</a> where she touted she writes specifically for the art of Obento.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/MYcQ9TX-f8po4Tn32hTgXMk0NVolGRNuD4fr71DxLT2s48T6K629rwFkDWPCC4IWnPu3x17wgLNZKOQTMfLkgqjYGl4O8l1-/BentoSalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://api.ning.com/files/MYcQ9TX-f8po4Tn32hTgXMk0NVolGRNuD4fr71DxLT2s48T6K629rwFkDWPCC4IWnPu3x17wgLNZKOQTMfLkgqjYGl4O8l1-/BentoSalad.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> from: <a href="http://www.giveittomeraw.com/" id="aptureLink_Hsy8nIlvT4">www.giveittomeraw.com</a> </div><br />
Obento (the "o" is optional and denotes the respected or honored reference to the art), in summary is the Japanese tradition of artfully packed boxes containing single-portion meals usually carried for lunch, picnics, etc... The foods packed revolve around the traditional <a href="http://www.justhungry.com/2006/08/the_anatomy_of_a_japanese_meal.html" id="aptureLink_8f0ZUFqEHW">"anatomy" of a Japanese meal</a>.<br />
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What appeals to me on first impression, is the idea that preparing lunches in these boxes is a great way to practice portion control if you're on a diet. You can only fit in these Bento boxes what fits in them. You can see quite easily the size of your portions and the proportion of one course to the other... for example 1/4 of a meal should be protein, 1/2 vegetables, 1/4 grains. On a plate, it is much harder to eyeball these proportions. I love the idea of having a fun way to be more conscious of what we consume without feeling like I'm on a diet. Diets suck. I don't do them anymore. I'm also on a personal mission to enjoy my life, just as I am, with what I've got instead of being on the perpetual treadmill of "If only I were thinner, If only I were richer, If only I were more successful..." I am healing myself of that oh-too-common illness that seems to be plaguing most people these days. I'm going to enjoy this life, rejoicing in each day, and all that it brings. Can I get an "Amen" or an "Ashe'"?<br />
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The next thing that appeals to me is the idea of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami" id="aptureLink_3rtaryrAdz">Umami</a>... which is a term now used in the west, but borrowed from the Japanese... it is the 5th taste experience besides those we are commonly familiar with (sweet, salty, bitter, sour). It is best described as "savory" I suppose. Umami is said to be the one universally loved taste sensation and is said to be found in all of your favorite foods. My own personal theory is that it is a combination of the other four tastes... a perfect balance of the four. I just love to say it... "Ooh, Mommy". Ain't that good??? I love it! Ha!<br />
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Thirdly, it just looks like so much fun!!! Anybody can do it. You can pack them however you like, with whatever you like, with a few practical precautions. It's a fantastic way to use up leftovers which is a wonderful way to live a little greener and a great excuse for cooking at home without worrying that you're only feeding yourself. It's fashionable, exotic as you want it to be, artistic, and will save money by avoiding all those calorie packed, sodium packed, sugar packed, fat packed lunches bought out! They can be hot, cold, or both in multiple tiered boxes. There's the more traditional style lunches which are beautiful to the eye (they consider this just as important as the taste and nutrition),<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ol-images/chicago/uploads/20070829bento1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="608" src="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ol-images/chicago/uploads/20070829bento1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/" id="aptureLink_VD1caKwk11">www.apartmenttherapy.com</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
and then there's the Kawaii (this means cute or adorable)versions which I know the Austrian and the Pyrate will boycott but Miss Scantlebury will no doubt be head over heels for. Either way, I've found another way to express my creativity and I'm very excited to give it a whirl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theswellelife.com/.a/6a00e54ef16809883300e55416c55f8834-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://www.theswellelife.com/.a/6a00e54ef16809883300e55416c55f8834-800wi" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">from: <a href="http://www.theswellelife.com/" id="aptureLink_MOfAQkEfuT">www.theswellelife.com</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.craftycrafty.tv/1207632743_f1663d1608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://www.craftycrafty.tv/1207632743_f1663d1608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> from <a href="http://www.craftycrafty.tv/" id="aptureLink_Hbniglpy6G">www.craftycrafty.tv</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Anyway, are you inspired? I'm going to start my first Bentos this week. They will not all be traditional Japanese ingredients. But there will be lots of Japanese influences, and some recipes I've borrowed from the Just Bento site, while I'm learning how this works. I'm already marinating some chicken skewers in a soy/ginger/lemon/pepper flake marinade which will be grilled, and a pork shoulder with will be slow-roasted with a fresh red chili salsa. These will be used throughout the week in different ways. Salads, sandwiches, pastas, omelettes... you'll see! It's gonna be a fun week!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mosaica.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/bento0120091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://mosaica.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/bento0120091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">from: www.mosaica.wordpress.com </div><br />
If you are planning on giving this a try, I suggest you do the following:<br />
1. Visit the Just Bento site and read the following: <a href="http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-basics" id="aptureLink_rER37Yfy9T">Bento Basics</a> and when you're done read the first few links at the bottom of that page to find out what equipment you'll need. There's not much... a bento box, a rice cooker, a few inexpensive accessories.<br />
2. Start to acquire your equipment. There are four of us, so I've got 6 boxes of varying sizes. If you decide to use regular plastic food containers, look for BPA free please. Yes, I am still going to try to practice healthy, organic, sustainable living while on this adventure. We already have a rice cooker. I'm going to get a pressure cooker this week. I also got some optional accessories such as silicone muffin cups, little plastic picks. Miniature sauce bottles and mayonaise cups are also handy lil' things to have. You can find most rare Japanese accessories for bento online <a href="http://www.fitjpstore.com/" id="aptureLink_ftBMjIWOP4">here</a> or <a href="http://www.jbox.com/" id="aptureLink_HVM7XshImA">here</a>. Try the first link first because the prices can't be beat. Be sure to get microwavable bento boxes please so you have more versatility with what you can put in it.<br />
3. Take a look at basic pantry staples to have on hand: Soy Sauce, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirin" id="aptureLink_PTuDxBLlEk">Mirin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi#Sushi_rice" id="aptureLink_OreVOY1RdR">Japanese Sushi Rice</a> (brown and/or white) are commonly used in almost every traditional Japanese or Japanese inspired Bento lunch. No other rice will substitute. (more on that later...)<br />
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One more thing I should mention: I have a seafood allergy... a challenge in regards to any Asian cuisine... But feel free to browse the other web blogs for seafood recipes... you won't find them here!<br />
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I'll be back in a couple days with my first attempt and a couple recipes to add to your arsenal! Have a great holiday!!!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-35541900854232500822010-06-23T14:19:00.000-07:002010-06-30T12:39:23.231-07:00Domo Arigato Mister ObentoWell, I know I've been MIA lately, but you know how it is... The end of the school year, plus a bunch of other stuff going on in my home life and next thing you know the time flies by and I haven't written a thing!!<br />
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At least not here!<br />
One of the things I'm working on is bit by bit piecing together my very first cookbook. It will be a tribute to my family heritage, which mixes the cuisines and traditions of several cultures, and includes organically grown, (often homegrown) foods.<br />
I'm having fun with the introductory outline which tells about my childhood memories of road trips to grandma's house fully equipped with picnic basket in tow and my other grandmother's home garden which provided the vegetables for the entire family for most of each year. I know that the stories and recipes from this project will resonate with many of you. Stay tunes for further updates on that project!<br />
In the spring, I made the careful decision to terminate the Pyrate's public school attendance and homeschool him as of the fall this year. I spent several weeks contemplating this decision, researching our options and the possible consequences. Several disturbing events over the last two years brought enough alarm to my mind that in some ways I almost felt there is no other choice. I worried about the social implications for the Pyrate, however, the social implications if he stays in the environment he has been in will no question be catastrophic. Then two things happened. We have found a fantastic virtual academy that will suit his needs as an individual, with teachers, personalized lessons, access to college courses in high school, and so much more that a kid like mine will shine thorugh like a super nova! I can't wait. I believe every child deserves to have this kind of opportunity. I showed this program to my son, and he loves it, and can't wait to get started. I started the enrollment process, had several conversations with families already doing this, and started collecting the proper documents... That was the second thing. I had to retrieve documentation of the Pyrate's status for California's Gifted and Talented student program. It's one thing to know you have a brilliant child. It is quite another to hold in your hand documentation that measures said brilliance. He's documented to have scored within the top 3 percentile FOR THE NATION all of the last three years in a row on standardized and specialized testing for skills and mastery in math, language arts, and science. When we got this documentation the other day, we sat together staring at it as I explained it to him. We sat staring at it silently. I watched his eyes, wide and almost in disbelief. I asked him what he was thinking. "I'm thinking I can't wait to be out of regular public school, mom. It's killing my reputation!"<br />
So that was it. I completed his enrollment and we're waiting for the curriculum to get here like kids wait for Christmas morning. Meanwhile I'm getting myself accustomed to being the learning coach. He'll have teachers online, but I still have to supervise and coach on the home front, plan his schedule, come up with creative ways to experience the world as it pertains to his studies. This will be fun, so long as I properly prepare. I'm taking the time to attend lectures and recorded speaker series on how to do all of this.<br />
If you too are discouraged with trusting your child's education to a public system that is more damaging than it is productive, check out homeschooling. It's not what it used to be. You can still get certified to teach your own children if you like. But now there are virtual schools with experienced teachers who are excited, inspiring, creative, and give their students one on one attention. There are virtual schools where most work is done online and the curriculum is more effective than what is available in public schools. Virtual schools offer personalized instruction based on mastery. That means if the Pyrate can pass a lesson's assessment, he can skip all of the lesson activities in that lesson and move to the next lesson. He can accelerate in this way, to the next grade level mid year if applicable, and in high school can take classes that are worth college credit. We can set his study schedule to fit his personal rhythm, and include outside experiences that enrich his learning in ways he would never get in regular public schools. And here's the killer! Most of these virtual academies are set up like charter schools, publicly funded, and free to those who are within the district that funds them. Not only is it tuition free, they provide all curriculum materials, and loaner computers as well for free. All you have to provide is an adult to supervise 5-6 hours a day, and regular school supplies such and notebooks and paper, etc.<br />
A great example is the <a href="http://www.k12.com/" id="aptureLink_M3plJOFkfV">K12</a> program with academies nationwide. Check it out for yourself. <br />
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The third thing I'm up to is fun, fun, fun!! I'm learning about the art of Bento! This is a traditional Japanese practice that involves artfully arranged meals packed in compact boxes that are usually transportable. We are going to use the art of Obento (the respectful way to refer to the art) as a fun and entertaining way to institute healthy eating habits into our everyday life. I've been educating myself and preparing to make it a part of our family's nutritional life. You'll be finding recipes and photo records of this little gastro-artistic adventure posted here in my blog in the very near future. Should you want to join me, I recommend these two blogs as reference material and inspiration: <a href="http://www.justbento.com/" id="aptureLink_81Gbk8Ubhj">www.justbento.com</a> and <a href="http://www.lunchinabox.net/" id="aptureLink_WQqmGGRmTy">www.lunchinabox.net</a> <a href="http://www.lunchinabox.com/" id="aptureLink_Uc5MpF6Lsr"></a><br />
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See you here again very soon when I've got my bento boxes, chopsticks and a couple of recipes under my belt... this stuff is no joke!!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-92021296420877589122010-05-05T22:55:00.000-07:002010-05-05T22:57:00.402-07:00Lemon-Ginger-Soy Stir FryMmmmmmm! This dish was a pure improvisation tonight!! You will not be disappointed. <br />
You'll need a wok or a decent sized skillet/saute pan for this preparation and a hungry stomach!! The trick to stir frying is a very hot pan, a good oil with a high smoking point, and your ingredients in approximately the same sizes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Players:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2 Boneless Chicken Breasts</b><span style="font-size: small;"> please use organic, hormone/antibiotic free, free range chicken or just go veggie... seriously people... cut these into 1 inch cubes. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Soy Sauce </b><span style="font-size: small;">low sodium, about 1/4 cup. <b><span style="font-size: large;">Fresh Ginger </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">about a 2 inch piece cut into chunks. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fresh Garlic</b><span style="font-size: small;"> 10 cloves. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lemon Juice</b><span style="font-size: small;"> from two organic lemons. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Five Spice </b><span style="font-size: small;">1 tablespoon. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b>White Rice Wine Vinegar</b><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b>1/4 cup.</span> <b>1 large Red Onion</b></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">cut into 1 inch cubes</span>. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>1 bunch Green Onions</b> <span style="font-size: small;">organic, white and green parts cut into one inch pieces <b><span style="font-size: large;">1 Green Bell Pepper </span></b></span></span>cut into 1 inch pieces. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Snow Peas</b><span style="font-size: small;"> about a good handful left whole. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sesame Oil</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Preparation:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Prepare ingredients as instructed above.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. In a food processor add ginger, soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, five spice, and rice wine vinegar and process on high til well blended and fairly smooth.</span></span><br />
3. Pour this mixture over chicken in a plastic container, cover, and allow to marinate at least 1 hour or more.<br />
4. When ready to cook, heat wok over high heat til it begins to smoke. <br />
5. Add about 4 tablespoons of sesame oil to hot wok. Don't worry if it smokes. You want it to smoke. Turn on your fan! :) Let the oil smoke a minute or two until it starts to turn.<br />
6. Add cubes of chicken to the hot wok reserving the marinade for later.<br />
7. Brown chicken in wok stirring occasionally for even cooking.<br />
8. Remove from wok and return to the marinade.<br />
9. Add 3 tablespoons more oil to the pan.<br />
10. Allow to come to a smoking point again.<br />
11. Add remaining vegetables and stir fry just til the colors brighten and they start to get gentle caramelization.<br />
12. Add chicken and marinade to the wok at this point and toss together. Allow to cook another 4 minutes, occasionally tossing and stirring.<br />
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13. Serve with steamed rice.<br />
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YUM YUM!!!Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-16232526328295486992010-04-22T10:03:00.000-07:002010-04-22T10:22:28.060-07:00The Story of Stuff.I'm gonna show this to the Pyrate today when he gets home from school. I hope that this will impact him in a way that motivates him to participate more cooperatively with things like... making sure to put the darn re-usable grocery bags back in my car so that the next time we go shopping, we don't have to use those awful bags that cause such a horrible mess in the oceans he wants to work in as a marine biologist when he grows up. He and his 13 year old mind sometimes has bigger fish to fry, such as this month's crush, or how dope that olly was that he impressed his friends with. I can't tell you how many times we get to the store and I look in the trunk and there's no bags. grrrr!<br />
Anyway, I digress.<br />
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Below, there is a video that I received in my email inbox this morning in celebration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%20Day" id="aptureLink_LvW7Ql9hMS">Earth Day</a>. Please, please PLEASE watch it. It's 20 minutes out of your day. Just 20 minutes. But if you allow it to sink into your brain, perhaps you will be changed inside and an awareness... an awakening will begin to occur inside of you.<br />
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It's a short film about our non-sustainable way of living... it's about our planet and all our stuff. <br />
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Now, I know some of you will say that <span style="font-size: large;">one person doesn't make a difference</span>. But I want to tell you that this is a lie, and I love you but it's lazy and irresponsible to drink that koolaid. Please let me tell you very quickly, of a very personal example of how much of a difference you can make.<br />
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A few weeks ago I watched the film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2sgaO44_1c" id="aptureLink_6vBbLxeoTc">Food Inc.</a> and one of the things I immediately decided that day is that from now on, when I buy milk for the pyrate's breakfast cereal, and baking, (i don't really drink it otherwise), I would only buy organic milk from cows not treated with rbst or rbgt (hormones to make them produce unnaturally vulgar amounts of milk to get more milk from less cows to save money on backend expenses and boost profits). The first time I looked for organic non-treated milk on my local grocer's dairy shelf, 3 weeks ago. I looked closely at the labels of all the milk cartons and bottles. I almost accidentally picked up one brand because it had a little shield printed on it where it said something like, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">"There is no evidence to show a difference in the milk from cows treated with <b><span style="font-size: large;">rbst's or rbgt's</span></b></span>".<br />
Yes, just like that, the real message in tiny letters, the hormone initials in bold to trick you into thinking it's a hormone free brand.<br />
On the contrary it was just the opposite, trying to belay the fears of the consumer should they take the time to actually pick up the container and squint to read what it really says. <b><i> I always tell the pyrate, that we are striving to be a <span style="font-size: large;">SUCKA FREE FAMILY</span>. He enjoys saying his mama don't raise no fool... and the Austrian? He, with his small European mountain village sensibility, chuckles with amusement at both of us.</i></b><br />
So, anyway, thanks for your patience, and let me get to the point, there was only one lone brand there on the shelves, from Iowa... yes, all the way from Iowa. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Did you know California is one of the nation's biggest producers of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products that supply a great deal of our country and the demands of others as well??? </i></b></span>Yet the only organic milk on the shelf came from thousands of miles away. So begrudgingly, I bought it, even though I'm also on a local foods kick, because it's more environmentally sound, and even though it was a little more expensive. I felt a little discouraged and wondered if these big companies would even care whether or not I buy their poisoned milk when everybody else is too lazy to care. But I stood my ground and bought the more expensive out-of-state imported milk to let these companies know that they can't have my money.<br />
<b>BUT WAIT!</b> Here's the punchline! Last week I went to the same store and we needed more milk, so I went over to the dairy section and was to grab the same Iowa brand. It just so happened that there was a store employee there stocking the milk shelves and she overheard the pyrate and I discussing how ridiculous it was that there was no California produced organic milk available. The stock lady butted in our conversation suddenly with a cheerful smile, and informed us that she just filled an entire shelf with organic milk from California cows with no hormone treatment. She said this was a new shipment and the first of its kind that she'd seen in that store from not just California dairies, but from SOUTHERN California dairies all within 100 miles of our neighborhood.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">My little consumer stand for what I believe in DID make a difference</span></i>, when added together with others in my community who obviously also made some sort of a stand and boycotted the milk from hormone treated cows!!! This was an exciting moment, and I'm just talking about a carton of milk here in one store, in one city. <b>There is so much more to be done.</b><br />
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I don't want to waste a moment more of your time with my babbling on about milk. This video is not about milk, it's about living. Please, do me the favor and watch this video all the way through to the end with an open heart, then afterwards share this blog with your friends on all your social network accounts, through your emails, and however else you can.<br />
Please share it with your children because it is their world that is being affected, so they should be involved, like the pyrate, who is, for example in charge of recycling, composting, and making sure the doggone re-usable grocery bags get returned to the car for the next visit to the store.<br />
Make a difference in your own life and that of those you care for and share what you know and do something about it.<br />
Just scroll to the bottom of this page, and stop my music player then come back here and click the"story of stuff" link below to start the video! <br />
Much love, and Happy Earth Day!! Brig<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8" id="aptureLink_JXYyjbc9Ib" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the story of stuff</a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">****************** </span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML-XPPbLqrhLbZmibotXZ_aFV2Nju0rBlkjHD612qzNMCCwbDbEeNDdxzL-8GOlQtCYmCfJC_ywrC1BCjakb-kWTOkuCq3U3xaIQzyWM61WGm7X728AcvtVFIn7pia5X8c0HOFc826V6N/s1600/CooknDine2web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML-XPPbLqrhLbZmibotXZ_aFV2Nju0rBlkjHD612qzNMCCwbDbEeNDdxzL-8GOlQtCYmCfJC_ywrC1BCjakb-kWTOkuCq3U3xaIQzyWM61WGm7X728AcvtVFIn7pia5X8c0HOFc826V6N/s640/CooknDine2web.jpg" width="494" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-0X-4BNXLdAYw8tmdS1FQatOyaqkjUZ9JY4QZOi8Tsuk7OWDR60Uk6-pzKJv13LVHV9563HPnM1FATFcGVkxIkarBz3mQDPIbLRZsFqWWVvpZdO0PiLjVxQxiVWcHATVUphc9CZ66ix/s1600/flyer_web_4_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-0X-4BNXLdAYw8tmdS1FQatOyaqkjUZ9JY4QZOi8Tsuk7OWDR60Uk6-pzKJv13LVHV9563HPnM1FATFcGVkxIkarBz3mQDPIbLRZsFqWWVvpZdO0PiLjVxQxiVWcHATVUphc9CZ66ix/s400/flyer_web_4_29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b> </div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-52645681003466552822010-04-19T22:11:00.000-07:002010-04-19T22:14:10.759-07:00A Movie in the Making...<center> <span style="font-size: large;">Be a part of this very special project headed up by my friend, singer/songwriter/score composer/film director (yes, and so much more)</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Patsy Moore</b></span>! </center><center><span style="font-size: x-small;">*You'll need to scroll to the bottom of my blog page and turn off my music player there.*</span><br />
<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11032956&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11032956&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/11032956">A REAL FEEL-GOOD PIECE OF WORK</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/patsymoore">Patsy Moore</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
</center>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-424263410073878392010-04-18T22:14:00.000-07:002010-04-18T22:19:24.557-07:00Hot Wings Mexicana! Ole!<div style="text-align: justify;">Alright, no picture for this one, but let me just tell you, this was an absolute improvised meal this evening. Marinated and grilled chicken wings drenched in the combined flavor of lime, tequila, cilantro, and salsa verde. You will LOVE these wings if you love hot wings, and my wings are healthier, made from fresh, flavorful, organic ingredients. You may never feel the same about traditional hot wings once you try these, spicy, tart, finger licking good wings. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Players</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 pounds of organic, free range, vegetarian fed, hormone free <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chicken Wings</b></span>.</span><b> </b></span>The juice of 4 <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Limes</b></span>. 5 cloves of fresh <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Garlic</b></span>. 1 bunch of fresh <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cilantro</b></span> (about 1 cup chopped coarsely, stems discarded). 4 tbsps of <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Olive Oil</b></span>. 1/2 cup of <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tequila</b></span>. 1 16 oz container of fresh <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Salsa Verde </b></span>(from the refrigerator deli section of your local grocer... I like to get it from a latino foods store such as Vallarta if possible.) 1/3 cup organic, raw <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Honey</b></span>. 1 tbsp. spicy <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mexican Hot Sauce </b></span>(such as Cholula, Pico Pica, etc... NO TABASCO!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Instructions:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wash wings well, and allow to drain on paper towels.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Add lime juice, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, tequila and salsa verde together in a food processor and process til well blended and the cilantro is finely minced and incorporated.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Place the wings in a container and pour the marinade over them. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grill wings over medium to low heat, basting occasionally with the retained marinade, until skins are nice and brown and crispy, and the meat begins to pull away from the end of the bone on the drummettes.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remove wings to a platter or shallow ad wide serving bowl. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a medium sauce pan, bring remaining marinade to a boil over medium heat. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Add honey, vinegar, and hot sauce, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes longer. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pour this sauce over the wings and serve!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you find these to be too spicy, you can serve these with a cooling dip made from equal parts ranch dressing mixed to equal parts sour cream.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoy!!</span></span></div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-30936199850641625792010-03-31T20:21:00.000-07:002010-03-31T20:25:43.643-07:00Vanilla Birthday Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRnyW13wGFR9qpl8ZH8UlYkCD3vIbuYSitP7BcV7RGaXS8h2Olt50p_ulk3g9FURyeaKUZX32n4erdT4Ut0oB8C6sgq0E1B3XwiPt0eeN2sMO9D2edIZ1MINPhC7ODZvs_C6IFNNkqv_7/s1600/DSC04834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRnyW13wGFR9qpl8ZH8UlYkCD3vIbuYSitP7BcV7RGaXS8h2Olt50p_ulk3g9FURyeaKUZX32n4erdT4Ut0oB8C6sgq0E1B3XwiPt0eeN2sMO9D2edIZ1MINPhC7ODZvs_C6IFNNkqv_7/s640/DSC04834.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<i>All dressed up for the Pyrate's 13th birthday party!!! This full sheet version requires 6 times the recipe below.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This buttery delish cake will not disappoint. I made it for the first time a few weeks ago for the Pyrate's birthday dinner and everyone loved it! I filled it with sun-sweet fresh organic strawberries and bavarian cream using vegetable gelatin instead of traditional gelatin, and a butter cream frosting on the outside with a few drops of organic vegetable food colors to represent the concrete color of the "skate park". The sprinkles are from a local cake decorating supply store... they are simply gold, silver, and dark green sugar crystals. You can frost or glaze this cake however you like, or not at all! It's wonderful on its own, or even with a few berries macerated in a tablespoon or so of demerara sugar to release their juice and make a light syrup. As I was decorating this cake we snacked on the uneven edges I'd trimmed off before frosting. De-lish!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMdKtcoZJv42Bl1zjmbyi2Pph1eVLrWXIjsGf3CgLBDxRH-q62scdZothmQhyphenhyphentsY9sjOVB_-4ad4YWzRVkUXiOKXA2tyMMQ_fbHfT_5S6dsS5GtsPe4iJqairs7AZlQX3hFPf3Oum0hDs/s1600/DSC01948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMdKtcoZJv42Bl1zjmbyi2Pph1eVLrWXIjsGf3CgLBDxRH-q62scdZothmQhyphenhyphentsY9sjOVB_-4ad4YWzRVkUXiOKXA2tyMMQ_fbHfT_5S6dsS5GtsPe4iJqairs7AZlQX3hFPf3Oum0hDs/s640/DSC01948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The best cake recipes I've had usually call for cake flour which basically is bleached all purpose flour that has been sifted 7 times, so to stay on point, I took my<i><b> unbleached </b></i>flour through a sifter 7 times. It only took a couple minutes to do this and the light fluffy texture of the cake is worth the effort. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This recipe is for two 9 inch round cake layers. For the double decker full sheet cake I made above we multiplied this recipe by three for each layer so a total of 6 times the recipe. Unless you have a restaurant style kitchen setup I don't recommend trying to do more than a triple batch of batter at once. You can easily end up over mixing and your cake will be like a brick! DON'T DO IT!! You'll be sorry if you go to all the trouble to make those huge layers and discover it's dry and tough and not like you want it. Stick with 3 or less multiplied batches at a time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here we go! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>VANILLA BIRTHDAY CAKE</b></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The players:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 3/4 cups <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unbleached Organic White Flour</b></span> sifted 7 times. 2 tsp <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Baking Powder.</b></span> 1/4 tsp <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sea Salt</b></span>. 1/2 cups <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unsalted Organic Butter</b></span>. 1 cup <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Turbinado, Demerara</b></span>, or <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Evaporated Cane Juice</b></span>. 2 Organic free range brown <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eggs, </b><span style="font-size: small;">whites and yolks separated</span></span>. 1 tsp pure <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vanilla</b></span> extract. 1/2 cup Organic 2 %<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Milk</b></span>. 1/8 tsp <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cream of Tartar</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The plan:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees and generously butter two 9 inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of pans with parchment paper then butter paper as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. In an electric mixer bowl, beat butter til soft. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Add 3/4 of sugar to butter and beat again til fluffy</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Add yolks 1 at a time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. Add vanilla and beat til combined. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">6. Add flour and milk alternately in 3 additions beginning and ending with flour. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">7. In another bowl, whisk egg whites til foamy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">8. Add cream of tartar & beat whites til soft peaks form. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">9. Gradually add the rest of the sugar to egg whites and beat til stiff peaks form. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">10. Fold about a third of the whites into the batter to lighten up the batter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">11. Fold in another third til just mixed in. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">12. Fold in the rest of the whites into the batter being careful not to over mix. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">13. Fill pans and smooth the surfaces with an offset spatula. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">14. Bake on the center rack in your preheated oven for about 15 minutes then check with a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean it's done. </div>15. Cool in pan at least half an hour before inverting onto rack to cool completely.<br />
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</div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-57401648295198641782010-03-30T18:09:00.000-07:002010-03-30T18:40:41.397-07:00Deacon Fielder Strikes Again...Boston Fielder and his Muthawit Orchestra<style>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJt5VcvSOF10zIJ_AakbiTuXGLb66JFAG6rsfRtG7-vfkuR6K5qU_5J98bIxQqMcwFh1eNO3Lluz9lzIhlkJVoVeGHPRu04dSkEht9UsJv6iWNUVh0JlsZ-gRnL7fAMzVBhwbePVkrW_e/s1600/BostonWasted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJt5VcvSOF10zIJ_AakbiTuXGLb66JFAG6rsfRtG7-vfkuR6K5qU_5J98bIxQqMcwFh1eNO3Lluz9lzIhlkJVoVeGHPRu04dSkEht9UsJv6iWNUVh0JlsZ-gRnL7fAMzVBhwbePVkrW_e/s400/BostonWasted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I came to be acquainted with the inimitable </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/muthawit" id="aptureLink_VME4pmb5Mv">Boston Fielder</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> about half a decade ago, believe it or not, on Myspace. I'd been writing a blog there while promoting my music and building up a following which consisted of myspacers worldwide. We were mutual fans of each others music. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">At some point I'd posted a blog chronicling a particularly challenging period in my journey and the next day, in my inbox there was this message from him... It was raw, straightforward, scolding, as if he'd ordained himself an authority on the subject of Brig Feltus, and it was a profound moment for me. I'm telling you this up front because there's no use in pretending to be unbiased when it comes to Boston Fielder, the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IiTcVQIunU" id="aptureLink_776sANiwzv">Muthawit Orchestra</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">, or Underground Railroad Broadcasting Alternatives, aka </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwdm1JmdY00" id="aptureLink_ISVEzTPIjK">URB ALT</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">. We have been devoted friends for longer than linear time can define. We knew each other in another lifetime even. I'm sure of it. I am a proud member of the URB ALT Family. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jtKJI4D7uBSDuWLr9O5UfMhD3l9MwwFWd2UBkWmD6_Md-dO4i_Lmo5MRhUCY-UkM2C1Q58Y-HW0CqEHMDyOOvQ3KLu8c8UK550nuclH26onJBp7eProBdeFKM0ulUtWCFsXzupAITCXY/s1600/3305_75457457163_834077163_1602876_6346620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jtKJI4D7uBSDuWLr9O5UfMhD3l9MwwFWd2UBkWmD6_Md-dO4i_Lmo5MRhUCY-UkM2C1Q58Y-HW0CqEHMDyOOvQ3KLu8c8UK550nuclH26onJBp7eProBdeFKM0ulUtWCFsXzupAITCXY/s320/3305_75457457163_834077163_1602876_6346620_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> I'm telling you up front because though this is meant to spread the word about the art this man creates, it is unabashedly personal. Let my honesty about this fact represent my confidence that what you will experience will more than justify my love of all things Muthawit!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">So by all means, explore for yourself when you're done here. You'll find me to be an honest report on the virtues of the man and his art. I am confident of that much. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The music of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/muthawit">Muthawit Orchestra</a> will not be contained in the structure of conventional musical genre descriptions. But, oh... it is in every way music, encompassing all genres and none all at once... neo-classic, jazz, rock, funk, bluegrass, gospel, experimental, metal, psychedelic, blues, electronica...and it's own indescribable something-or-other which can only be experienced and never explained. You can forget about trying to put this man's art into a box and tying it up in a nice neat bow. If there is any thematic, that be it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">You will be challenged. You will be challenged to free your mind, to let go of your own preconditioning, break loose of the chains of stereotype, archetype, and cultural characterization. The Muthawit orchestra's sound is beautiful noise that will touch your most guttural conscience and your most ethereal dream scapes as well. It is frightening and sexy and comforting and confusing truth all wrapped up in compositions you can relate to despite your own conditioning. If you are afraid of your tail feathers shaking, do not listen. If you are afraid of arousal, do not listen. If you fear your own emotions, this is not music for you. Go and have a cup of tea and carry on. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Every time I listen to this music I rejoice. lol... I choose my friends wisely, you see... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">URB ALT is also Mr. Fielder's brainchild... a community of artists, filmmakers, photographers, poets, musicians, and their admiring relatives and friends, all attempting to live on the cutting edge of free thought and inspiration. For me personally it has been a place where I can get to know others like me... alternative thinkers who don't quite fit the manufactured grooves of this groupthink society we all live in. He will say differently but for me it is a movement, by pure definition of the term. You see, I have been moved more than once since becoming a member of URB ALT. Movement is the nature of the beast! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#996633" flashvars="backgroundColor=0x996633&textColor=0x330033&config=http%3A%2F%2Furbalt.ning.com%2Fmain%2Fbadge%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fxg_source%3Dbadge%26size%3Dlarge%26username%3D1yww09cxjqpng" height="242" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" scale="noscale" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/swf/badge.swf?v=201003221300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="206" wmode="opaque"></embed> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://urbalt.ning.com/">Visit <i>URB ALT</i></a></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Boston's orchestra ensemble Muthawit releases its next album soon and I am honored to have been one of the first to hear its jewels pre-mastering and I couldn't wait til the proper time, so I'm telling you all about it now and getting a jump on all the promotional hype that's coming down the road closer to release date. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As far as I'm concerned, the character of the artist will tell you a lot about their art. This man is extraordinary in every way that I know him, and has many layers of depth, not to be digested all at once. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Being his friend is a constant temptation to be greedy. There's stuff I just intuitively know about him but don't have to think about most of the time because it's beneath the surface. His surfaces, when you meet him, are slow, and easy going, and gentle, just like his southern drawl. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">But don't be deceived. Every now and then he says something or does something and I'm reminded about that other stuff beneath his skin... things that can be intimidating when one considers to look straight on. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Do you think people understand you? <i>Not really. If they did they'd run...)</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I gotta look with sunglasses, because he's like the sun. Most know the sun is strong, so we resist the urge to look at it straight on. The timid don't bother looking at all, won't even stand naked in its rays for fear of getting cancer, and in the process end up with vitamin deficiencies because of it. The foolish, in their greed, forget and try to look straight into it, and end up with scorched corneas. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">That's what he's like. Seductive ease on the surface, and raging nuclear energy underneath! His music is evidence of all that stuff beneath the surface, organized a bit, and recorded for posterity, which is a good thing because his sub-surface stuff evidently doesn't like repeat it self in order to keep you on your toes!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As if to prove my point, while I was writing this last bit a minute ago Fielder emailed me a disclaimer warning me not to hold him to his answers because he plans to contradict himself regularly over the next few months... Schizophrenia Convenia he calls it apparently.. ( one of a thousand Bostonisms I've had the pleasure of cracking up over all these years.) THEN a minute or two later, a post-post-disclaimer requesting to add Igor Stravinsky, Samuel R. Delany, and Jack Kirby to his influence list... Did I ask for an influence list? Perhaps he was referring to his heroes... Uncle Baldy, and Co... He also informed me that this is one of a handful (literally) of interviews he's ever allowed. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What? I haven't said much of anything about the new album? Perhaps you should go back and read this posting again and pay attention this time. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's an appetizer on URB ALT's Sampler Dos which was just made available (for free!!) recently. Come back after the interview and click the link to get to it! </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://urbalt.ning.com/profiles/blogs/urb-alt-samplerdos-is-here-and">URB ALT Sampler Dos</a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other than that? You'll just have to wait!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61rfAPnCdBNxhkeEQ82uDHjedgdYjpXH_4nxVIXKcvucAytxXs864edpcqH1mo3ZQE2ynp0panwoR0-qQUHyxASPUlNCuL84tGs_01xn1HFW24-0mqYxTGjxkM-nIpg4qz5b3_9cmsYEq/s1600/URBALTSamplerDosFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61rfAPnCdBNxhkeEQ82uDHjedgdYjpXH_4nxVIXKcvucAytxXs864edpcqH1mo3ZQE2ynp0panwoR0-qQUHyxASPUlNCuL84tGs_01xn1HFW24-0mqYxTGjxkM-nIpg4qz5b3_9cmsYEq/s640/URBALTSamplerDosFront.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Below is a quicky email interview I sprung on him today without warning. These are his off-the cuff answers. Thank you Boston for your friendship, for your music, for your wisdom, and for your most admirable existence!! May your purse reach you... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is Muthawit?</b></span> <b><i>A loving homage to my elders, peers, children and folks who use common sense.</i></b> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When did you start Muthawit?</span></b> <b><i>When I was 7 years old.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What was your inspiration for its creation?</b></span> <b><i>My grandmother's singing voice and my grandfather's speaking voice.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the Urb Alt Movement?</b></span> <b><i>Following the North Star is a movement that inspires me personally but I wouldn't call URB ALT a movement. The financial component would make that hypocrisy.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What makes the Urb Alt Movement important in these times?</b></span> <b><i>I don't know that URB ALT is important. Is making people feel good about themselves and others enough to say that it's important? Hmm. </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would you compare Urb Alt with other movements in music history?</b></span> <b><i>Pouring glass as slowly as possible into a pitcher.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What kind of people are participating in your movement?</b></span> <b><i>People who probably don't consider it a movement because movements tend to have a head, the head is lopped off by history and then it dies, is placed in a museum or cryogenically frozen in a state of mediocrity.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who are your musical heroes past and present day?</span></b> <b><i>Uncle Baldy, Marvin Gaye, Alice Coltrane and that old dude who used to sit on the front row of the church is Tupelo and chanted "Yap, Yeah, Yap, Yeah" during Reverend Pulliam's sermon.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In 10 lines of PROSE or less, describe your musical compositions in poem.</b></span><i><b> "Beauty. Booty. Baby. Bounty. BOOM."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you think people understand you?</span></b> <b><i>Not really. If they did they'd run.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Does being understood matter to you on a personal level?</b></span> <i><b> It means everything and nothing. Too much to do.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Does it (being understood)matter to the successful spreading of the music?</b></span> <i><b> Only if the music is good does it matter and even then pirates will hijack it on the seas of change before the purse reaches the hands of the chosen.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you believe your art contributes to the world?</b></span> <b><i> Joyful cacophony and a good reason to get out of bed or stay in bed depending on the situation.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is there a subject matter you are afraid to write about?</b></span> <i><b>No.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is there a subject matter you love to write about?</b></span> <b><i>No.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the story behind your new album's title Men and Women?</b></span> <b><i>The death of individualism, the rise of the IRS in the micromechanics of governing and the joy of watching tadpoles swim downstream.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What was the most joyful moment in creating the music on this album?</b></span> <b><i>Mixing PMS Junkie. It was a bloody good time.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What challenges did you face in making this album? </b></span> <b><i>Tenant revolt.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Is your music influenced by any esoteric or ethereal experiences?</span></b> <i><b>Mainly dead people who walk with us and share our experiences. They like to dance and eat popcorn.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Did you have any experiences of transcendance during the creation of the music on Men and Women?</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If so, explain.</b></span><i><b> I got regular sleep for the first time in well over a year due to roommate overhaul. It released a torrent of positively kinetic energy.</b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which song is your favorite and why? What's it about? </b></span><i><b> My favorite didn't make the album cause it hasn't been written yet. It'll be the greatest song ever written in history. Better than anything Lennon and McCartney or Liberace could produce on their best day.</b></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When will the album be available in stores? </span></b> <i><b>May 9th. Mutha's Day.</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are your thoughts on overcoming incomplete paradigms in life? </b></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>A paradigm by nature is complete. It's a simple signpost of change that has served it's purpose.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you dreaming up for the near future artistically? </b></span><i><b> Children.</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you dreaming up for the near future personally?</b></span> <i><b> Protection</b>.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div></div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-58574733183992442662010-03-30T09:45:00.001-07:002010-03-30T09:47:43.737-07:00LOVECAN YOU STILL LOVE ME IF WE DISAGREE ON SOME FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL? <br />
Love is one of life's basic principles of effective living. <br />
We must love each other, even as we hate deplorable behavior. It takes discipline.<br />
So now, what of your neighbor, or the driver who cut you off on the freeway, the teacher you cant seeme to please, or the head of the NRA?<br />
I don't know about you, but my body is made up of dna that was born in a place known to be the very womb of the human race...<br />
I am born into this world from a sacred origin, and there is no deed, no offens, no ill word that can sully my holy title!<br />
I am God's child, my very atoms passed through vessels of the spirits of my ancestors, born of the land Africa, thus so am I!<br />
My ability to love, be loyal, be honorable, be responsible, work hard, be honest, do not depend on the actions of others. <br />
I manifest these things because they represent that sacred identity in me, the pure that transcends this body and its mind engine.<br />
Do you see your reflection? In the darkest of battles, love is the sharpest of swords, the atomic neutralizer, the great peacemaker. <br />
Today, and every day, I encourage you to LOVE. <br />
Yourself, others, no matter the situation, let your actions be lead by love. <br />
Tomorrow? Honesty.Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-50783115081194421622010-03-24T21:55:00.000-07:002010-03-24T21:57:00.264-07:00Brig Feltus Live at Little Temple 4/29So, next show on the calendar!! Hope to see you there if you're in town!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVXpNzU0ACv0Om53Pg9Z8jUASD0uoWKhdHC2hzfMT0uneREAWJ3p4lYNqBo8yJcM3DzdSY_Jl82SnHV989Us27HVcs2uXGmtsOdyoS48EobH8e84u1HtvIk0dxFdx_v8Ks6bvIGCKlNRO/s1600/flyer_web_4_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVXpNzU0ACv0Om53Pg9Z8jUASD0uoWKhdHC2hzfMT0uneREAWJ3p4lYNqBo8yJcM3DzdSY_Jl82SnHV989Us27HVcs2uXGmtsOdyoS48EobH8e84u1HtvIk0dxFdx_v8Ks6bvIGCKlNRO/s640/flyer_web_4_29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-24997653292375750872010-03-23T15:53:00.000-07:002010-03-23T16:01:43.813-07:00The Pyrate Turns 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYXlCxH_dG4WJHSxJSUAkXtQrEC77A5NvT3KGZyD_9xw_xQ1JRWXAwNVQ6f4kGNoKdHJvArTx8R5iYRWB_mm5fxQnfb_s-FLjUCw7wb5cz-KhAqkAiEQK3nc2zlMra71s1i95YTAU529y/s1600-h/DSC04850b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYXlCxH_dG4WJHSxJSUAkXtQrEC77A5NvT3KGZyD_9xw_xQ1JRWXAwNVQ6f4kGNoKdHJvArTx8R5iYRWB_mm5fxQnfb_s-FLjUCw7wb5cz-KhAqkAiEQK3nc2zlMra71s1i95YTAU529y/s640/DSC04850b.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">So, on this past Friday, the Pyrate turned 13... I am officially the mother of a teenager. Wow. There have been moments over this last year when he spoke to me and that newly acquired deep toned voice shocked me... made me feel pangs of longing for the squeak I was so accustomed to. But as life would have it, things do indeed change... My son, sweet, kind, funny, patient, and super-smart... is becoming a young man, facial hair and all. Yikes. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmJ3kkkQ44P9b8Up3l_2YI2JpQ8P-sf8q3fNsDn-JOYuYeBsub1SD7HlK81pjtcy986CWlXkL2l1xUgvpNbZ5pKfKhser-jiZzwmWkWn2idxECSMoWsKHfWwSHX8Q4DwUgCJgzmvlBNIv/s1600-h/DSC04834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmJ3kkkQ44P9b8Up3l_2YI2JpQ8P-sf8q3fNsDn-JOYuYeBsub1SD7HlK81pjtcy986CWlXkL2l1xUgvpNbZ5pKfKhser-jiZzwmWkWn2idxECSMoWsKHfWwSHX8Q4DwUgCJgzmvlBNIv/s640/DSC04834.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPiOJuo1c7Rn0-jOcHVNLf1zfYJE4uAsTjMnIGz27QHVevQQj8RyZkq3-U8u8Ebn26BhdT2ujl6jdLJIf6gCIso1Z0dhRIrHHpQLJC5X_qZcGl-tNVOT1rhgF8tla6s4u3Joh07s1iuQ7/s1600-h/DSC04825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPiOJuo1c7Rn0-jOcHVNLf1zfYJE4uAsTjMnIGz27QHVevQQj8RyZkq3-U8u8Ebn26BhdT2ujl6jdLJIf6gCIso1Z0dhRIrHHpQLJC5X_qZcGl-tNVOT1rhgF8tla6s4u3Joh07s1iuQ7/s640/DSC04825.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">We spent the entire weekend celebrating with family and friends, starting with Friday evening. I made his cake during the day... an organic creation: vanilla cake with bavarian cream and fresh strawberry filling, with buttercream frosting and a skater dude theme, made from scratch and decorated by hand, like I do every year! (recipe will come in a later posting this week) </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">The cake was a big hit when presented at the end of dinner! I know there'll come a day in the near future when I won't be able to do this for him because he'll be off somewhere on an ocean somewhere saving a shark or something... so I'm enjoying these times while I still have them...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxJ7DplSgC0yUmSoskj6wuKZkImbCgfODZTNjATY3U9RIGgWnGP0Pqnzfz18JydFBo69vDBio46Mc8l7lOQW3gIn06imlTvl_r_-IEBAMpMWwYb_EP_jwN-JGwgL4EHs6dGdB2nT7yAF1/s1600-h/DSC04838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxJ7DplSgC0yUmSoskj6wuKZkImbCgfODZTNjATY3U9RIGgWnGP0Pqnzfz18JydFBo69vDBio46Mc8l7lOQW3gIn06imlTvl_r_-IEBAMpMWwYb_EP_jwN-JGwgL4EHs6dGdB2nT7yAF1/s200/DSC04838.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">The evening's dinner celebration included 35 family members and close friends, and both the Pyrate and I were so moved by how many showed up. The chain of tables the restaurant put together was so long you had to either call via phone or actually get up and walk to the other end to talk to someone there. We had good food, lots of laughs and fun all around. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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The night was highlighted by the Pyrate reading a speech he wrote about coming of age, and his views of his life past, present, and future. I've included it below because it was too loud in the restaurant for the people at the other end of the table to actually hear what he was saying, and also there are others who couldn't be there who the Pyrate would love to share this speech with. So at the end of this post is that speech. My son, he amazes me... to no end, how thoughtful and conscious he is. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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That night, three of his closest friends slept over and we got up early the next morning and went to a really cool skate park where we met up with the Pyrates cousins. We spent the whole day there! I made sandwiches: turkey/avocado/spinach, curry chicken salad, and salami/sopressato with cherry preserves vinaigrette, (all recipes coming later this week) on artisan breads bought at a local bakery the day before... organic kettle chips, kashi chocolate chip cookies, and a fruit punch I made from cranberry juice, cherry juice, and fresh squeezed lemons. (recipes later this week). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq2YNbuO8Pm3rzampvdtVOIyfe1x-_K0lecc_FTXhGtlIsouPBXq-eckFs7_MSTEWvrV9MbFsg4lapjFtLxj7hLRftdAv4VYa7U41LbeiFgMrV6mS1HVJ4gSl-SuLXH2NQvLK_kTA6urf/s1600-h/DSC04865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq2YNbuO8Pm3rzampvdtVOIyfe1x-_K0lecc_FTXhGtlIsouPBXq-eckFs7_MSTEWvrV9MbFsg4lapjFtLxj7hLRftdAv4VYa7U41LbeiFgMrV6mS1HVJ4gSl-SuLXH2NQvLK_kTA6urf/s640/DSC04865.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">The boys had a ball, skating their butts off. It was interesting to watch them overcome their fears and try tricks they hadn't tried before, and how they supported each other, cheering each other on, making sure no one got left behind. Very impressive. I am blessed that my son has such cool friends as these young men. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj5qRa_6iJCUyQr9zuhgvdZBsXMq5JowRG0sne-PlF3BNmmLhtnbVinBCuW0khFkYXOEP80rYvxaGy6RGU6m6pAIDaV3JOfll4W49lUDXOnkVpOsaSi_BqZP8cmJDXNu5mzuM7bfTD7mi/s1600-h/DSC04884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj5qRa_6iJCUyQr9zuhgvdZBsXMq5JowRG0sne-PlF3BNmmLhtnbVinBCuW0khFkYXOEP80rYvxaGy6RGU6m6pAIDaV3JOfll4W49lUDXOnkVpOsaSi_BqZP8cmJDXNu5mzuM7bfTD7mi/s640/DSC04884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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All in all, it was a fantastic day! The sun was shining, there was a gentle breeze, the spring flowers were blooming... The grown ups played frisbee and entertained each other with silly jokes. I think I might be doing a few more picnics during the warm seasons this year... I had a lot of fun! That is, until the gangsta squirrels decided to eat our precious leftover birthday cake!!!!! ARRRRGH!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">So, that's how it was. I survived this better than I thought I would. I only cried once, and that was out of the pride swelling up inside me as the Pyrate read his speech at dinner. Another birthday past. The weekend was over... his friends gone home... back to life... open house at school tonight.... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, the Pyrate's coming of age speech :</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Maxim Abraham-Klaus Feltus Adamec Recke</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> March 19, 1997. Appx. time: 13:00 Pacific Time. I was born. I am the child of Brigette Ruenette Feltus and Andre Recke. This was the beginning of my life. My mother’s cultural history, African American and Native American in heritage, dates back several generations here in America… the last two here in Los Angees. My father’s story is new to this country, since he moved here just before I was born, and he grew up in a small town in the country side of Bavaria, Germany. I think that I represent the American part of my heritage more than my German side, one of the largest reasons being that I live in the U.S., so I do not speak much German. I haven’t spent much time there, so I don’t know much about the rest of the German culture.<br />
I was born into a family filled with creative people. I have relatives that have a myriad of professions, from muralists to singers in bands. My mother was the latter of the two, was also once a makeup artist and hairstylist, then a singer/songwriter, and soon an author of her own cookbook! My father is a manager in the music industry, where he has helped many artists to go after their dreams, and he is also a very good bass guitarist. My grandparents are also artistic. My granny plays piano, writes music, and teaches young people to play. My paw paw is an amazing cartoonist, sculptor, and landscape architect. Both of my great grandmothers were creative, one played piano, and was a sought after seamstress, the other a poet and writer. Even my Opa in Germany is pretty crafty with his hands, having made many of the toys my dad played with as a boy… My family’s creativity encourages me to express my talent like the rest of my relatives. It was inevitable that I would be a very creative person. I love music, art, and science. I wish to create and advance the worlds of all three someday. I am on my way now in my everyday life while I draw, practice guitar and saxophone, and study the field of marine biology. <br />
I think that I have some good qualities as a human being. I can see from many different points of view, yet I have a mind of my own and can think for myself. I also think that I am very intelligent and a fast learner. I think that I am fun to be around. I want to be honest, too, but sometimes I worry about what people will think of me if I tell the truth. <br />
I wish to be the one that doesn’t blend in, the one that doesn’t bend to the seeming force of peer pressure. I want be original, authentically me. I want to do the best that I can, even though sometimes I don’t show it. But now that I look back on my mistakes, most of them could have been avoided. And I don’t want to be the one who had a lot of potential, but never gets anywhere. I believe that that would be a sin.<br />
<br />
I love many things. I love my mother, my father, my stepfather and my stepmom Andreas and Shauney, my family, my best friends. I love the ocean, and everything in it. I have no idea why I love the ocean so much. I guess it’s one of those things that is just branded into your brain. I guess it might be because the ocean is the closest thing to pure life and harmony that we can get here on this planet. I think it’s interesting that we know more about outerspace than we do about something on our own planet, the ocean. Most of the earth’s organisms live in the ocean, including a lot of the oxygen producing plants on earth. I plan to explore these things for the rest of my life. <br />
I love my parents. They have stuck with me through hard times, especially my mother. I think its because she knows what its like to grow up mostly without a father in her home. She has always taken care of me, making sure to raise me right. She is always there when I’m feeling down. I love my mom. I love my dad too. He’s a really good person, fun to be around, and he works hard so that I can have a good life. I love my dad. <br />
I believe in many things. I believe in peace on earth, and an end to world hunger. I also believe that some religions do not truly grasp the entire concept of the universe, and teach everyone that if it isn’t mentioned in whatever holy book that religion might follow, its not possible. What about the flight of man? A few hundred years ago, Christians thought that the flight of man was blasphemy and anyone who tried to achieve this feat was a devil-worshipper. But now that we have planes, we all know that the church isn’t right about everything. I do believe in God, but I do not believe anything about the corrupt aspects of any organized religion.<br />
<br />
Today is just the beginning of another chapter in my life. It will be hard sometimes, but I want to make it through with a smile on my face. I want to be that kid who stood out, the one who refused to give in to negativity. I believe that I will succeed in changing the world, in some substantial way. <br />
When I get older, I want to change the world. I want to try and open peoples’ eyes to pollution and the fact that the human race will cease to exist if we continue on this path of destruction, along with the rest of our fellow organisms. There are many living things suffering in the world. I also want to help to save the ones who need help. I want to be a part of the revolution that changes how people think about the earth in general forever.<br />
I owe the fact that I have such a good life to a lot of people. For example, my teachers and my whole gigantic family. They are the reason that I am who I am today, even though I might think they are just giving me a hard time. I know I’ll look back and thank them all. So I’m just gonna get it over with now while I have the chance. Thanks to all of you and those who are not here for all the ways you have made my life a good one so far. I am blessed and I thank God for you all. <br />
My mom always reminds me that today, already while I’m still very young, I can already make a difference by setting an example with my friends, by being kind, helpful, productive, and thoughtful. Sometimes it’s not easy to be all those things, especially when you come int contact with so many people not trying to be those things. But I try anyway. It’s challenging because there’s a price for all of this. I often stand out like a sore thumb and kids sometimes make fun of me. But I just try to remember what everyone who really matters tells me… No one can define who I am, but me. There is a poem by William Ernest Henley called Invictus. My mom shared it with me recently. Apparently Nelson Mandela would recite this poem daily to himself when he was all those years in prison work camps. Maybe this will help me like it helped him to remember that I am the captain of my own destiny. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Invictus</span></b><br />
<b>Out of the night that covers me,</b><br />
<b>Black as the Pit from pole to pole,</b><br />
<b>I thank whatever gods may be</b><br />
<b>For my unconquerable soul.</b><br />
<b>In the fell clutch of circumstance</b><br />
<b>I have not winced nor cried aloud.</b><br />
<b>Under the bludgeonings of chance</b><br />
<b>My head is bloody, but unbowed.</b><br />
<b>Beyond this place of wrath and tears</b><br />
<b>Looms but the Horror of the shade,</b><br />
<b>And yet the menace of the years</b><br />
<b>Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.</b><br />
<b>It matters not how strait the gate,</b><br />
<b>How charged with punishments the scroll.</b><br />
<b>I am the master of my fate:</b><br />
<b>I am the captain of my soul.</b></div></div></div>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-23397277554559356602010-03-15T00:54:00.000-07:002010-03-15T00:59:32.523-07:00Cook 'n Dine with Brig Feltus<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What happens when you learn how capitalism has completely corrupted the way we eat in this country?</b></span> You buy less processed foods. You stop feeding your kids fast food. You start educating yourself, and you try to cook more. You buy fresh produce and meats from the supermarket and prepare them yourself. <br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you safe then?</b></span> Well, no, it seems the horrifying truth is no. Even if you do these things you are exposing your body to foods riddled with<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> pesticides, genetical engineering, chemical fertilizers, hormones, and antibiotics.</b></span> That's just for starters. The horror story gets worse because beyond these very tangible and obvious crimes against humanity, we are purchasing meats that come from animals raised in the most atrociously unnatural conditions in the name of mass production and high yield. Animals are being fed foods they would never normally eat because those foods are cheaper, and because those foods manipulate the animal's metabolism, making them grow faster... up to 3 times what they would have without any manipulation. <br />
Produce is plucked green and unripe before the sun has gifted it with the nutrients, color, and flavor, just so that it can survive its journeys to far away places where that produce may not be growing at that time of year. It's often treated with chemical gases once arrived, so as to create artificial ripeness. This is why fruit from a tree in your yard tastes so different from fruit bought at your local big chain supermarket. <br />
We eat this food without knowing...<span style="font-size: x-large;"> thinking if we cook fresh food, we're doing good by our families...</span> not understanding the growth hormones given to animals is being ingested when we eat them and our children are reaching puberty at younger and younger ages because of it.... not understanding why when we buy fruit in the grocery store the flavor is so hit and miss.... not understanding that there is very little if any research to determine what the consequences are to eating genetically engineered foods.... meanwhile cancer, diabetes, autism, immune disorders, and hundreds of other ailments continue to plague us and we don't know how we get them.<br />
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</div>I'm only so far talking about those of us who try to do good. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I don't even want to get into what's in all the packaged foods and fast food we eat in this country. </b></span> Why the hell are we in such a hurry anyway? Greed is killing us. It's the other name for capitalism and convenience, if you really think about it and it's killing us one bite at a time. <br />
I am always outraged at the way you can walk into a grocery store and there can be two seemingly identical items on a shelf, sometimes from the same corporate source, one says 'organic' the other not. The organic is always more expensive. It's preposterous. Why, after all should it cost more to get your food the old fashioned way, with less chemicals, less pesticides, less interference in general? Shouldn't it be if we mess with it less, it would be cheaper? Wouldn't it make sense that if the produce grew an hour drive away, it would cost less than the one imported from South America??? Well, unfortunately, the way our food system is set up, there's no way for organic to compete on a large scale. So we reject it. Throw our hands up and give in to the poison... We are literally drinking the koolaid and we don't even realize it. <br />
So what then? What happens when you realize this? Well, in my case, I had the opportunity to live in other countries where the food systems are not all about capitalism. <br />
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They might be fascinated by our bright colors and shiny flashy labels, but back home in their countries they do things a little differently than we do. <br />
When I was living in Germany 13 years ago, there was perhaps one or two supermarkets in the cities I lived in and they weren't very popular. Why not? They were not needed. They were really just a novelty you could find in the really big cities where there were a lot of Americanized amenities. That's what they call it... <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Americanized.... </b></span>Shameful...<br />
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But again, those stores were novelties, mostly marketed towards homesick expatriots living there or poor souls who somehow thought anything Americanized was cool. <br />
The average person didn't go there. It wasn't not as convenient, as inexpensive, as fresh as what they could find right outside the door to their home...<br />
Each little neighborhood... I'm talking about a couple of blocks square... had a butcher who got his meats from the farmer who raised it, somewhere within 30-50 miles on the outskirts of town, and he received it whole and cut it into the various cuts of meat himself on the premises and sold it within the same week... each had a produce stand (or two) where you could buy fresh fruits and vegetables grown nearby... yes, they still had bananas from south america and such, but the majority of the produce came from a farm close by... and if it was out of season, they didn't have it.... simple as that... I remember thinking to myself I must be tripping off of culture shock or something because I could have sworn that the vegetables tasted better and I didn't understand at the time why... each neighborhood had a bakery with fresh baked bread and such.... and if you wanted things like cereal or other packaged foods you'd go to a store that pretty much only sold that kind of stuff... even there, was no frosted flakes, cocoa puffs, cap'n crunch, or honey bunches of oats.... there were different sorts of whole grain cereals, oats, grits, wheat meal, muesli, and the occasional granola... there you could also buy your dairy products which came from a farm which was, again within 30-50 miles of the city you were in... Cheese could be bought there too, but you could get that fresher and better quality at the cheese monger in your neighborhood. All of these would be within easily 5 minutes walking distance and everyone owned one of those rolling market baskets that fold up like an umbrella. People didn't even often drive to get to these places. <br />
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</div>It was customary to buy only what you'd use in the next couple of days and that was fine because you knew that at any time, on your way in from work or school you could stop through and pick up fresh items. <br />
Foods didn't have to be advertised as organic because it was the law that they be that. They didn't need not to be because the farmers could manage to keep up with their livestock... enough to supply just the butchers in their town, and not an entire country. By the way the entire country is smaller than the state of texas...<br />
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Did you know that in America there used to be several dozen suppliers of meat? Now there are about a handful... yes, actually less than 5 major meat suppliers in the entire country! Do you know what that means? These companies have streamlined the raising, feeding, and production of meat in this country in such a way that they can cost effectively supply a country that is probably 50 times the size of Germany!!! You can imagine the atrocities without actually seeing them with your own eyes. <br />
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In countries abroad, the way they produce their food is more sensible, safer, less expensive, and truly, truly more convenient and NO ONE IS COMPLAINING! Yes, logistically it means they eat less animal products than we do. We eat too much animal products anyway... feeding the greed in us... But the truth should hurt!<br />
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Here, you can buy a cut of meat and there is no regulation that says they have to tell you if it has been treated, for example as some ground meats with fillers are, with ammonia... or to inform you of whether or not the meat is from a cloned animal. Or whether the 3 lb chicken you're buying has been fed animal waste products mixed in its meal and is really 2 lbs and the rest is salt water injected into it to make it look more plump.... (by the way, they're selling it to you by the pound and you're paying for that pound of salt water... basically paying to be lied to... ) Our regulations are in reverse. There are regulations for those claiming to be organic but none saying that non-organic food producers have to disclose anything... Okay, they disclose "ingredients" but nothing about the processing, nothing about the growth, nothing about the pesticides, hormones or antibiotics... because we would be outraged! <br />
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So what now? In my case, I am now slowly weening my family off of non-organic eating habits. We are shopping farmer's markets for produce when we can and buy from the organic section in the supermarket. We're eating less meat because it's expensive to buy free range, grass fed, hormone free, antibiotic free animal products. We also shop at small bodega type markets which we know buy their fresh foods locally within our state. <br />
I cook more often. I seldom eat at fast food places anymore except in an emergency, and I try to hit up one such as Chipotle which is a known practitioner of sustainable foodsWe are not religious about all of this. But everytime I buy food, I am conscious now. I am aware now. I don't ever put anything in my mouth without understanding the consequences. It is a matter of awareness. <br />
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And this is how Cook 'n Dine with Brig Feltus was born. I wanted to share what I'm learning with people who would listen. We're making it fun by visiting farmer's markets, watching films, cooking together, and then dining together. <br />
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</div>The first one was a great success, with a sold out attendance and raves afterward. We went to a farmer's market, watched a film about farmers markets around the country, and then cooked a delicious Sunday Brunch style meal. <br />
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</div>This month, we'll be headed out early in the morning to a local organic farm that supplies fresh produce to high end restaurants and farmer's markets in Los Angeles county. We'll be watching Food Inc. and then cooking with the foods we bring back from the farm. <br />
If you are an Los Angeles local and any of this post inspires or moves you to make a change in your own life, please join us! Let's learn together and spread this information to others that we love. As corruption crumbles this obscene way of life all around us, just like in other living species, only the fittest will survive. I don't intend to be among the feeble. I intend to be among the strong, and I'm starting with this small baby step and I hope you'll take it with me. <br />
Monthly sessions can be attended by signing up at <a href="mailto:brigfeltuscookndine@earthlink.net">brigfeltuscookndine@earthlink.net</a><br />
You can also join our facebook group to stay in the loop regarding future events. <br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=233645999509&ref=ts">Co-Ed Cook 'n Dine with Brig Feltus group page on Facebook</a>Brig Feltushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04385021845002324052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441850667037871240.post-90463244846635664192010-03-01T17:44:00.000-08:002010-03-02T18:52:45.574-08:00March 5th Show at Dakota Lounge!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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