3 way Macaroni Salad

Here is a basic macaroni salad that can be served three ways, depending on what you feel like. A great deli-style Mac salad, a shrimp salad, or a ham & egg salad. Once you get the basics down you can play with just about anything you wish to add.

First make the dressing, then cook the pasta, let it cool! Blend together. Refrigerate overnight and freshen in the morning with the yogurt.

Ingredients;

1 pound (4 cups) uncooked elbow macaroni, cooked in well-salted water

For the dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise, plus an extra spoon as needed

¼ cup white vinegar

1 or 2 tbsp white sugar

2 tablespoons mustard

2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste

½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 Tbs sweet and sour sauce is optional

½ cup green onions, white and light parts

1 cup finely diced celery

½ cup diced green pepper

½ cup grated carrot

5 oz tub of plain non fat Greek style yogurt

Directions:

Make the dressing first. Mix the vinegar and mustard into the mayonnaise. Add the sugar and taste before mixing in salt & pepper. If using, add the sweet & sour sauce now.

 

 Do your cutting: you want the dices to be even and about ¼ inch across. About the size of a green pea.

Mix the vegetables into the dressing. Cover and place in refrigerator four about 2 hours. This lets the flavors blend and partially pickle in the vinegar.

Now cook the macaroni. Cook it all the way not just to al dente'. When finished, drain into a colander but DO NOT RINSE. Let it drain for a few minutes shaking occasionally to completely drain.

Now cool the pasta by placing in a large bowl and tossing with a spatula. You want it down to room temperature. This is an important step. As the pasta cools a thin layer of starch forms that will attract the dressing.

When it is cool to the touch you will find it tends to stick to your hand. This is what you want.

Gently fold in dressing & vegetables into the pasta. Do not taste yet! Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or best overnight.

You will find that nearly all of the dressing will have disappeared into the pasta. Taste test for any salt & pepper at this time. I like to freshen it up with a bit of non fat plain flavored Greek style yogurt. This gives it a nice texture without making a mayonnaise soup out of it.

Now if you wish to make all three versions, dish out about a third of the mix. Thaw out a lbs of 31 – 40 sized shrimp. I cut each one so they are not so large. Mix this into the pasta mix and garnish with a dash of old bay seasonings. Cover and refrigerate.

Now take a half of what is left and dish it into a large bowl. Cut up 6 hard cooked eggs and about ½ cup of tiny cubes of ham. Mix these into the pasta. Again cover.

Now you have three fantastic home made salads for any outside eating you might plan. Just don't let the mayo egg mixture sit in the sun for long, it will make people sick. Even in the refrigerator, don't plan on keeping for more than a week.

For our music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJF6xSpDdZs

What a hot weather treat to serve my Master Indy.

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTMvia @amazon

Chicken Supreme

French gastronomy is part of the world's "intangible cultural heritage". So why do I include “french recipes”? Well for one they are recognized as the best in the world. For another, when a novice cook can fix a decent meal from one of these, it enhances their sense of accomplishment. It gives pride and develops the nerve to try new things, to explore, and to feel more confident in their Kitchen Temples!

 

Our recipe tonight is taken from one considered to be the pinnacle of French chicken haute cusine. A specialty recipe from the Franche-comte region. Here it has been modified for our everyday grocery selections and budgets.

Chicken in a creamy garlicky mushroom sauce is one of the great comfort foods of modern times. What's more these easy steps can lead you to a culinary masterpiece that will wow your guests.

Ingredients:

4 chicken thighs, (with bone & skin)

1 Tbs olive oil

½ tsp garlic powder

salt & pepper to taste

For the sauce:

3 slices bacon, diced

¾ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 can evaporated milk

½ cup chicken broth (low salt)

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Wash and slice the mushrooms.

Chop up the bacon.

Arrange the chicken on a plate. In a small bowl mix the oil with garlic powder, salt & pepper. Rub this on each piece of chicken to completely coat.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear the chicken, skin side down first until the skin is crisp and golden brown.

Turn the pieces and sear the underside, (about 2 – 3 minutes).

Transfer to an oven prof casserole dish and roast uncovered for 25 – 30 mins. Temp should reach: 175 degrees. Remove from oven place pieces on plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

Using the same skillet the chicken was in, pour any juice from baking. Add the bacon and fry until just beginning to crisp. Add the mushrooms and sprinkle with another tsp garlic powder.

Let cook for about 5 minutes for the mushrooms to soften and release their juice.

Pour in the can of milk, ½ cup of broth and the Parmesan cheese. Let simmer for about 3 minutes or until the sauce is slightly thickened.

* if too thick, add some milk, if too thin, mix 1 tbs cornstarch with 2Tbs milk until blended and stir into the sauce.

Taste and adjust salt & pepper, as the bacon may have added more salt.

Now carefully place the chicken thighs back on top of the sauce, making sure the crisp skin stays above and does not get soggy. Cover and let simmer about 5 minutes. This makes sure chicken is hot and flavors have melded.

Garnish with chopped parsley or grated Parmesan.

I served this with some pasta and some green mixed vegetables.

Julia Child would be proud! And so should you!

For our music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMFH29gywpI

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by 

Dan White 

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon

 

One-Pot Pasta Bolognese

A bolognese sauce is an age-old Italian pasta sauce which originated in Bologna and was very much meat-based. The original sauce is quite different from the tomato heavy sauces these days. Pronounced “Bolo- NAYS”, I first thought it was cross between luncheon meat and the Polish National Anthem.

This hearty one pot Italian feast is made with few ingredients, much time & love! It will first fill your home with the most wonderful aroma then fill your guests with a loving home-cooked meal they would never expect from a novice cook.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled & sliced thin (about 1 cup)

1 teaspoon salt

1 lb (at least 80%) ground beef

1 bratwurst, cut open and remove casing

1 small can tomato paste

1 can (15 oz) stewed tomatoes, un-drained

1 carton (32 oz) beef broth divided

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

½ lb uncooked pasta

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Parsley 

Directions:

Do your cutting: Cut open the bratwurst:

chop the onion:

 

 

slice the carrots:

In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook onions and carrots 5 to 8 minutes or until softened.

Add meats; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned.

Add 1 cup of broth and scrape any “fond” from the bottom of the pot.

Stir in tomato paste and stewed tomatoes with juice. Stir the Italian seasoning; heat to simmering. Simmer (with a lid askew) for at least 2 hours. Stir occasionally to keep from burning on the bottom.

(I stirred every 20 mins) KEEP the heat low, just barely bubbling. Otherwise you will end up with a bunch of burned crud on the pot and a bad taste in your sauce.

Thirty minutes before you are ready to serve, add the rest of the beef stock. Bring back to a simmer. Tuck pasta into simmering liquid, covering completely. Continue to simmer for another half an hour or until pasta is soft. Stir occasionally. By cooking the pasta in the sauce the extra starch will thicken the mixture and the pasta will be flavored.

Top with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley if wanted.

This was served with a side of roasted Brussels Sprouts and some store prepared garlic bread.

For our music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdoI4udLOxs Time has Come Michael Finstien

What an Italian Feast for my Master Indy

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by 

Dan White 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTMvia @amazon

Drag Queen Coronation Salad

With apologies to Her Majesty, here we present a chicken salad fashioned after one that was created for Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation luncheon. Its curry flavors remain a favorite throughout England today. Drag Queens are perhaps the most misunderstood entertainers, Learn a little about these fierce creatures after the recipe.

Here is an easier take-off made with common pantry items that will liven up any summer time get together. Not your grandmothers bland spread. A spicy chicken salad with the cool tastes of melon and dried cranberries. Serve as a sandwich, on lettuce, or in a wrap to carry with you.

Ingredients:

2 cans cooked chicken chopped

1 cup cantaloupe melon

1 stalk celery, chopped

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup mayonnaise

½ teaspoon dry mustard powder.

½ teaspoon Old Bay powder

2 TBS sweat and sour sauce

Directions:

Do your cutting. Cut the celery into fine little pieces. Cut the melon into ½ inch cubes.

In a bowl, add mayonnaise and sweet and sour sauce. Mix well. Add the ½ tsp of Old Bay and dry mustard. Again mix well. Taste test. You might want a touch of cayenne pepper if you like it really spicy, but TASTE FIRST! REMEMBER you can add but not take away.

In a large bowl add the caned chicken (this is even better if you start with a piece of chicken breast cooked in the oven and cooled, but who has time?)

Stir in the celery and the dried cranberries. Now add the dressing mix and make sure everything is coated well. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours to blend flavors.

This makes wonderful sandwiches, or serve on a piece of lettuce for a luncheon, or wrap up in a tortilla to carry with you.

For our music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx227986hc8

So happy to serve this for my Master Indy

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon

=======================================

Drag Queens

A drag queen is a person, who uses clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate famine gender traits and looks for entertainment purposes. Historically, most drag queens have been men dressing as women. Drag shows frequently include lip-syncing, live singing, and dancing. They occur at events like gay pride parades and drag pageants and in venues such as cabarets and nightclubs. Drag queens vary by type and culture. What is most common is portraying over the top and exaggerated femininity.

Drag Queens are different from the way actors had to portray woman's roles back when real women were forbidden to appear onstage. Whereas most cross-dressers or transvestites do not want to draw attention to themselves, a drag queen demands attention. In Eastern cultures many drag queens present more of a Kabuki affectation. Note the film “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.

Another term for a drag queen is female impersonator. Female impersonation has been and continues to be illegal in some places. American drag queen RuPaul once said, "I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven-inch heels, four-foot wigs, and skintight dresses?" He also said, "I don't dress like a woman; I dress like a drag queen!"

                                  RuPaul

The first person to describe himself as "the queen of drag" was William Dorsey Swann from Washington DC. In the 1880s Swann started hosting “drag balls” attended by other men who were former slaves, and often raided by the police, as documented in the newspapers. In 1896, Swann was convicted and sentenced to 10 months in jail on the false charge of "keeping a disorderly house" (euphemism for running a brothel) and demanded a pardon from the president for holding a drag ball (the demand was denied).

When vaudeville become popular, it allowed female impersonators to become popular as well. Many female impersonators started with low comedy in vaudeville and worked their way up to perform as the prima donna. They were known to perform song and dance routines with multiple outfit changes. In New York City, famous female impersonator Julian Eltinge found success, and he eventually made his way to the Broadway stage performing as a woman. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Bothwell Browne was the top female impersonator of the West Coast. He performed at the Grand Opera House and Central Theater, among other venues, went on tour with United Vaudeville, and later appeared in the film Yankee Doodle in Berlin (1919), produced by Mack Sennett.

In the early to mid-1900s, female impersonation had become tied in the public mind to the LGBT community and thus criminality, so it had to change forms and locations. It moved from being popular mainstream entertainment to something done only at night in disreputable areas. Here female impersonation started to evolve into what we today know as drag and drag queens. People went to these nightclubs to play with the boundaries of gender and sexuality and it became a place for the LBGT community, especially gay men, to feel accepted. As LGBT culture has slowly become more accepted in American society, drag has also become more, though not totally, acceptable in today's society.

                        Marsha P Johnson

Drag Queens have always been in the fore front of LGBT rights.

The Cooper Donuts Riot was a 1959 incident in Los Angeles in which drag queens, lesbians, transgender women, and gay men rioted; it was one of the first LGBT uprisings in the United States.

The Compton's Cafeteria riot, which involved drag queens and others, occurred in San Francisco in 1966.

Drag queens were also involved in the Stonewall riots, against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn. The riots are widely considered to be the catalyst for the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States.

When AIDS hit the community it was the drag queens who first raised money for support of the patients. 

 In December 2015, Radar Productions and Michelle Tea developed the concept of Drag Queen Story Hour. Launched at the San Francisco Public Library, Drag Queen Story Hour was adopted by the Brooklyn Public Library in the summer of 2016, and has since traveled to various libraries, museums, bookstores, and recreation centers, and parks across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Such events sometimes prompt opposition against the libraries and organizers.

The process of getting into drag or into character can take hours. A drag queen may aim for a certain style, celebrity impression, or message with their look. Hair, make-up, and costumes are the most important essentials for drag queens. Drag queens go for a more exaggerated look with a lot more makeup than a typical woman would wear.

Many parts of the drag show, and of the drag queens' other intellectual properties, cannot be protected by intellectual property law. To substitute the lack of legal protection, drag queens revert to social norms in order to protect their intellectual property.

Drag Queens tend to be performers who dress and perform in an exaggerated female persona. While appearing female, most of these performers don’t want to actually be female; they don’t even try to fool you into thinking they’re biologically female.

As a drag queen they’re able to perform their act, show their skills and be their true self.

Drag King

Drag King is the term used to define a drag performer who dresses in an exaggeratedly male persona.
Often the costume and personality of the performer will be a lot larger than the look and feel of an everyday man.

While performing as a drag king is as legitimate as a drag queen, it hasn’t enjoyed the fame and accolade provided to drag queens.

Leslies Chops & Potato Sheet-Pan Dinner

Over the years I have lost count of the recipes for oven frying potatoes. The secret to having potatoes come out fluffy from the oven is to pre-cook them in the microwave. Tonight's meal is to honor LGBT hero Leslie Gore. You might remember her great songs from the early sixties, but not know of her work as an advocate.

Pork chops,Yukon Gold potatoes, some corn starch and green beans will give you the best oven dinner ever.

Ingredients:

4 pork chops (bone in – ½ inch)

3 - 4 Yukon gold potatoes

1 lbs green beans

2 tbs kosher salt

1 tbs pepper

1 tbs smoked paprika

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 tbs cornstarch

4 TBS oil divided

cooking spray

2 tsp corn starch

Directions:

Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 18x13-inch rimmed sheet pan with cooking spray.

Cut into the fat side of each chop a few times so it wont cup up as it cooks.

Mix the salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar and 1 Tbs cornstarch use to rub into each chop both sides. Cover and let sit.

Scrub the potatoes, and cut lengthwise once, then crosswise into planks.

Arrange potato in a 1-quart microwave-safe dish. Add water, and cover. Microwave at HIGH 8 minutes or until tender. Remove to a colander to drain and let cool.

In a large bowl mix well, 2 tsp corn starch in ¾ cup water

Cook this 1 minute in microwave, stopping to stir every 20 sec. This cooks the cornstarch, into a pudding like consistency. Yes I know how it looks!

When it is slimy, dump the potatoes into this so that they have a slight coating on each.

Spray the cooking tray then add 3 Tbs oil and tilt to coat.

Arrange the potatoes into two columns leaving enough room for the chops to go in latter.

Roast for 18 minutes. Remove and flip each piece over.

Lay the chops down the center. I found the chops were bigger than expected, so I lined another tray with foil for the green beans.

Mix the green beans with some olive oil and spread on the tray, sprinkle with salt.

Roast 12 to 18 minutes or until pork is no longer pink and meat thermometer inserted in center reads at least 145°F, and potatoes are browned and tender.

Remove and let the chops rest for 5 minutes before serving.

For our music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTpvirQ-hPA

So excited to discover this for my Master Indy.

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White 

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon

==============================

Lesley Gore

Lesley Sue Goldstein (1946 – 2015), known professionally as Lesley Gore, was a singer, songwriter, actress, and activist.

She was born in Brooklyn, New York City, into a middle-class Jewish family. Her father was the owner of Peter Pan, a children's swimwear and underwear manufacturer, and later became a leading brand licensing agent in the apparel industry. She was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and attended the Dwight School for Girls in nearby Englewood. 

 

At the age of 16 (in 1963) she recorded her version of "It's My Party" with Quincy Jones. She was a junior in high school. It became a number-one, nationwide hit. Gore's record sold over one million copies and was certified as a gold record. It marked the beginning of her fame.

"It's My Party" was followed by many other hits, including the sequel, "Judy's Turn to Cry" (No. 5); "She's a Fool" (No. 5); the feminist-themed million-selling "You Don't Own Me", which held at No. 2 for three weeks behind the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand"; "That's the Way Boys Are" (No. 12); "Maybe I Know" (No. 14); "Look of Love" (No. 27);. In 1965 she appeared in the beach party film The Girls on the Beach in which she performed three songs: "Leave Me Alone", "It's Gotta Be You", and "I Don't Want to Be a Loser".

Gore recorded composer Marvin Hamlisch's first hit composition, "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows",in 1963, while "It's My Party" was still climbing the charts. Her record producer from 1963 to 1965 was Quincy Jones. Jones' dentist was Marvin Hamlisch's uncle, and Hamlisch asked his uncle to convey several songs to Jones. "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" was released on the LP Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts, but did not surface as a single until June 1965.

Hamlisch composed three other songs for her: "California Nights", "That's the Way the Ball Bounces" and "One by One".

Gore was featured in the T.A.M.I. Show concert film, which was recorded and released in 1964 by American International Pictures, and placed in the National Film Registry in 2006. Gore had one of the longest sets in the film, performing six songs including "It's My Party", "You Don't Own Me", and "Judy's Turn to Cry".

Gore performed on two episodes of the Batman television series, in which she guest-starred as Pussycat, one of Catwoman's minions. In "That Darn Catwoman", she did the Bob Crewe-produced "California Nights", and on another episode "Scat! Darn Catwoman" she did "Maybe Now".

"California Nights", which Gore recorded in 1967, returned her to the Hot 100. The single peaked at No.16 in March 1967 and stayed for 14 weeks on the chart. It was her first top 20 since "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows". Gore also performed "It's My Party" and "We Know We're in Love" on the final episode of The Donna Reed Show, which aired on March 19, 1966.

This all happened before she graduated High School in 1968.

 

 Gore signed a contract with Mercury Records but did not have her previous success. “He Gives Me Love (La La La)", only rose to #96! She was then paired with successful soul producers Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell for two singles: "I'll Be Standing By" and "Take Good Care (Of My Heart)." However these soul songs just did not her image, and the singles were not played. Her contract with Mercury ended after the release of "98.6/Lazy Day" and "Wedding Bell Blues" failed to make headway on the charts.

Gore’s string of hits ended when girl-group pop gave way to psychedelia. But she kept performing — in movies, on television, on theater and club stages. 

 

 

Ms. Gore did not write her early hits. But after she was dropped by Mercury, she worked on becoming a songwriter. She moved to California in 1970, and her 1972 album, “Someplace Else Now,” was full of songs she wrote herself or with the lyricist Ellen Weston.

Leslie Gore moved on composing songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film Fame, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for "Out Here on My Own", written with her brother Michael. Michael won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the theme song of the same film.

She played concerts and appeared on television throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Gore returned to New York City in 1980 and continued to sing her oldies on the nostalgia circuit. She also performed in musical theater, including a stint in the Broadway production of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.”

Gore co-wrote a song, "My Secret Love", for the 1996 film Grace of My Heart. The film includes a subplot about a young singer named Kelly Porter, who is based in part on Gore and is played by Bridget Fonda. The character, who is a closeted lesbian, performs "My Secret Love" in the film.

In 2005, Gore recorded Ever Since (her first album of new material since 1976). The album received favorable reviews from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine and other national press. The album also included a revised version of "You Don't Own Me", about which the New York Daily News wrote: "In Lesley Gore's new version of 'You Don't Own Me'—cut more than 40 years after its initial recording—she lends a pop classic new life." Gore commented: "Without the loud backing track, I could wring more meaning from the lyric". And: "It's a song that takes on new meaning every time you sing it."

According to Gore: “When I heard it for the first time, I thought it had an important humanist quality. “As I got older, feminism became more a part of my life and more a part of our whole awareness, and I could see why people would use it as a feminist anthem. I don’t care what age you are — whether you’re 16 or 116 — there’s nothing more wonderful than standing on the stage and shaking your finger and singing, ‘Don’t tell me what to do.’” 

 

Beginning in 2004, Gore hosted the PBS television series In the Life, which focused on LGBT issues. In a 2005 interview, she stated she was a lesbian and had been in a relationship with luxury jewelry designer Lois Sasson since 1982. She had known since she was 20 and stated that although the music business was "totally homophobic," she never felt she had to pretend she was straight. "I just kind of lived my life naturally and did what I wanted to do," she said. "I didn't avoid anything, I didn't put it in anybody's face."

 On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Lesley Gore among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.

Gore had been working on a memoir and a Broadway show based on her life when she died of lung cancer on February 16, 2015, in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 68. At the time of her death, Gore and her partner, Lois Sasson, had been together for 33 years.

Her New York Times obituary stated that "with songs like 'It’s My Party,' 'Judy’s Turn to Cry' and the indelibly defiant 1964 single 'You Don’t Own Me' — all recorded before she was 18 — Gore made herself the voice of teenage girls aggrieved by fickle boyfriends, moving quickly from tearful self-pity to fierce self-assertion."