Songs About Food: The Flaming Lips

"... she'll make you breakfast, she'll make you toast but she don't use butter, she don't use cheese, she don't use jelly or any of these ..."

The 90s were a great decade for music for a number of reasons, not least of which was that bands wrote novelty songs that were actually funny without being completely stupid. Need examples? OK, here are three: Gary Young's "Plantman," Tripping Daisy's "I Got A Girl," and, of course, this week's entry, The Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly." Sure, they were silly, but there were real songs behind the smirks - just watch this amazing piano/vocal rendition of "Jelly" for proof of that. Plus, who can argue with a song about toast, tangerines, and Cher?!? [[justin]]

Happy Family

Though I may not be "sitting here in Queens, eating refried beans" (I'm in Philadelphia, drinking ginger beer) I still feel that, like the Ramones, the world is a better place for having refried beans in it. These beans make my family happy; they're great as a burrito filler, nacho topper, or Triscuit/corn chip companion. [[jessica]]

Oh-So Punk Refried Black Beans
1 15 oz can black beans, including liquid.
1 Tb margarine
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tb chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and Pepper to taste

- Heat margarine in a non stick skillet on medium heat.
- Add spices and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- In a separate bowl mash the beans until you reach a chunky paste consistency,
leaving some beans still intact.
- Add to skillet with spice mixture and continue to cook until heat through
- Stir in cilantro and serve warm.

Songs About Food: The Ramones

"... sitting here in Queens, eating refried beans ..."

How can you argue with a band who made a twenty year career out of two-minute songs about pinheads, mental illness, and, of course, food? From Burger King to chicken vindaloo to this week's entry, refried beans, the Ramones were to New York what Descendents were to Southern California, and the world is a better place for having had them in it. Sure, their legend was tarnished when Johnny said, sincerely, "God bless George W. Bush" during his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acceptance speech, but with songs as great as this, I'm willing to let it slide. Gabba Gabba Hey! [[justin]]

Re: Yesterday's Recipe

A brief list of people who love Jessica's Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites of Spicy Love cookies:

1. Me
2. This guy:



I love me some cookies. Damn. [[justin]]

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites of Spicy Love

For the past two months I have been on a total cookie binge. I have dreams about cookies. The mere mention of cookies makes my mouth water. The notion of "cookie dinner" is the highlight of my day. My personal preference is classic chocolate chip - slightly chewy, not too crunchy, lots of chocolate - but in all honesty, I will probably eat any cookie that's within arm's reach. Don't judge. I have little self control; only slightly more than Justin, who is a self-proclaimed cookie monster with no willpower. Cookies are truly his sweet, crunchy, tasty Kryptonite. Why do you think he's so nice to me? Really, it's only because I bake him cookies. Remember that the next time you need a favor. Or just make these and be happy:


Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites of Spicy Love
1 cup flour
3 Tb cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tb Agave
2 Tb vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce (15 ml)
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
sugar for garnish

- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- In a second bowl mix sugar, agave, vegetable oil, vanilla, apple sauce, and natural peanut butter. Stir until smooth.
- Add flour mixture to sugar mixture and stir until mixed into a dough.
- Form dough into 16 equal pieces and shape into balls. Press down slightly to make neat mounds.
- Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle tops with sugar.
- Cook for 12 minutes.

Enjoy! [[jessica]]

I Like Spring. I Like Greens

"I like food. Food tastes good": I couldn't write a better lyric if I tried. Seriously. This hunger-inducing song evokes thoughts of eating my favorite foods; currently, all things green and spicy. The Descendents also remind me of my college days when things were simpler, not quite as tasty, and the only vegan option in the dining hall was the vat of canned vegetable chili. It was passable vegan meal when topped with some uncooked tofu from the salad bar. I cannot express how happy I am to have access to a full kitchen again and recipe is in honor of those sad attempts at healthy living and fervent activism.

I got the idea for Spring Green Chili by mixing two of my favorite things: salsa verde and classic vegetarian chili. Instead of using red tomatoes I used tomatillos - a small, green-husked tomato relative from Mexico (tomate verde). You can find them in most produce markets and some supermarkets. When you can, always try to use fresh, herbs and vegetables.

This recipe is very flexible: Don't have peas? Use some edamame. Adverse to all things cilantro? Then try chopped spinach or kale. It's a good opportunity to experiment, so let me know what you come up with! [[jessica]]


Spring Green Chili
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 bell pepper, diced
6-8 tomatillos, rinsed and diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 Tb oil
1 Tb minced garlic
2 tsp adobo seasoning
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 can pinto beans (and liquid)
1 cup corn
1/2 cup peas
2 Tb nutritional yeast
1 veggie bouillon
1 Tb soy sauce
2 tsp agave
2 tsp vinegar
black pepper to taste

- Heat oil in a nonstick pot.
- Add the onion, peppers, celery, and garlic and saute until tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Add the seasoning and tomatillos and cook down, about 3 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients (plus 1/2 cup water if too thick). Adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Let simmer on low heat at least a half hour to allow flavors to brighten.
- Serve hot with corn bread, rice, or grits.

Songs About Food: Descendents

"... I like food. Food tastes good ..."

The singer has a PhD in biochemistry and once said that his favorite songwriting topics are "relationships and food." Their merch store offers a supremely boss pair of completely vegan Vans (I wear size 9.5, FYI). The official band FAQ says that they drink, collectively, eighteen pots of coffee every day. Maybe this helps explain why, like, ninety percent of their songs fall far short of the three-minute mark? I could go on and on, but I think you're getting the point. If you're not already on board with Descendents, you're missing something truly, truly wonderful. "Thou shalt not commit adulthood." ALL! [[justin]]