Seven Greatest Candy Bars

Can we talk?  I have a problem. 

Its Sunday again which normally means guest blogger time!  Alas, I have apparently tapped out my resources.  I only know 3 people willing to write me a guest post?  That makes me a little sad.  I give you free reign.  Any topic, commentary or not, and I rarely edit.  Come on!  I'm not begging, but I'm asking you with a sad look on my face....wanna guest blog for me?

You'll wish you took me up on this once I hit the big time.  I promise you that.  I also promise to forget all of the small people.  Big time Devyn = big time friends.  Remember this, small people.




Moving on, today let's discuss candy bars!  I am in food, so I consider it my responsibility to have hands on knowledge on all things in my realm.  Candy is definitely a pastry type treat.  I am also a red blooded American which means I was raised on candy.  I have the teeth to prove it!  Candy is highly personal to me.  Everyone has a favorite and more often than not it is a nostalgic memory. I don't eat just anything.  I won't settle.  I eat what I want or I eat nothing.  

To me, there are two types of candy: bars or bite size candies.  I don't mean bite sized versions of bars, but candies that are smaller or always individually wrapped.  Like m&m's or the mints that Sonic gives out.  I have compiled a list of my favorite candy bars today and am planning out a follow up piece on the bite size variety.  

Today is just a little bit different in that I am assigning homework.  If you have not had any of the bars on this list, go out and have them.  I want you to get the full hands on experience.  Then, comment and tell me all about it and tell me what your faves are and I will rush out to the store and have my own hands on experience.   


Seven Favorite Candy Bars:



Zagnut: I first discovered this bar when I was visited Hershey, PA a little over a year ago!  Its been around for a few decades and is definitely my favorite chocolate free candy bar of all time.  Crunchy peanut butter and toasted coconut come together to create a symphony in your mouth and on your tongue.  So crispy and just delicious.  When I first saw them, the name caught my interest and the word coconut made me say “ew”.  Feeling adventurous I bought one.  I ate it right away and was hooked.  I then bought 6 to take back to Pittsburgh where I was for 6 weeks and bought several more and then brought a few dozen back to Arizona for my family.  Turns out nobody liked them like I did.  Oh well, their loss.  I now almost always have some on hand at my house.  Emergencies, you know.

(like right now, as I write this I had to tap my stash just to make sure I described it right...)


 

Kit Kat: Gimme a break, gimme a break, break me off a piece of that kit kat bar!  Catchiest theme song for a candy bar? I think so.  I almost only enjoy this bar straight out of the refrigerator.  I love the layers and the texture and the supreme satisfaction that comes from this bar.  We almost always have them at work and that is a very bad thing...

Snickers: To me, this is the perfect chocolate candy bar available.  Salty, sweet, chewy, caramely, nougaty, smooth, crunchy and just awesome.  I met a fellow pastry professional who replicated this candy bar as a dessert and it is on my top 5 list of best composed desserts I’ve ever had.  I wish I could make it as well as she did.  My biggest problem is that the bar is so small...so many calories packed into that tiny little guy, though.  

100 Grand:  Caramel is an instant winner in my life.  Gooey delicious caramel.   Makes me drool every single time.  This bar is also coated with crisped rice, which as I’m sure you will concur, provides the perfect amount of crunch and texture.  I try to stay away from these since they lead to more visits with my dentist.  Lovely guy, but I know him too well due to my frequent trips.  Let’s just call it a job hazard.  The mini 100 grands are so so so very deadly.  Beware!

Pay Day: I rarely live my life with superstitions.  That being said, one that I adhere to is that I eat a pay day on pay day.  I invented this, and I find it to be very clever.  I think it helps.  Don’t argue with me.  Anyways this bar is the definition of salty sweet to me.  Salty peanuts cover the perfect caramel center.  It can help boost energy too because of the protein.  Maybe they should market it as an energy bar?

Butterfinger: “Crispety Crunchety Peanut Buttery” Their slogan makes them a favorite of mine already!  I blame this candy bar for 50% of my cavities.  The other 50% shall be determined in a future post.  

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups:  I am pretty sure that I would be kicked out of my family if I didn’t enjoy this delicacy.  Its almost its own food group in our house.  There are usually some in the refrigerator crisper drawer.  Its one food that all 5 of us enjoy.  Chilled is the best, but I’ve eaten it every single way.  Room temp, melty, melted, puddled, off the floor, frozen, even fried!  Obviously this is a classic candy bar combination of chocolate and peanut butter. 

Seven Silly Songs I Love

Hello all!

A quick bit of blog housekeeping: I have altered the settings to have any text that is a link come up ORANGE so that you know it is a link with interactive content.  It will be a brighter shade of purple once it has been visited.  Hope it works well for you!  Anything you want to see?  Let me know!

Onward!


I have another bonus post from Herc for you today.  It is packed full of links, videos, little known history and trivia! I love it!  Thanks Herc!

All together now: "Thank You Mr. Her-cu-leeeees"

Please Enjoy Hercules' Seven Silly Songs I Love:

Run Runaway - Slade
This one starts off with some very busy electronic drums.  Then some guitars are added for crunchy goodness.  And then someone starts playing the fiddle and the song kicks into an even higher gear.  The sing-songy lyrics are fun to chant along with and then the song ends like it began, all drums and guitars.   Slade was huge in Britain in the Seventies but failed to make a dent here in the States until metal health practitioners Quiet Riot took one of Slade's oddly spelled songs ("Cum On Feel The Noize") up the charts in 1982.  Their record company took one last shot with Slade in America and they were rewarded with their two biggezt hitz: "Run Runaway" and the power ballad "My Oh My".  And then Slade phaded away.

Sky High - Jigsaw
It is widescreen cinematic, a song so grandiose it can't be contained with just two measly stereo speakers.  I put it up there with Paul McCartney's epic rock orchestral Bond theme, "Live And Let Die" as the most bombastic, whirling dervish of a song ever recorded.  There are string sections, maybe a full-blown orchestra, backing our heroes in the band as the sounds swirl around them, threatening to overtake them at any minute.  But then they fight back, turn their amps up to 11 and grab your by the ears just as you are going over the cliff, and pull you to safety.  And then you want to get back in line and take the ride again.

The Lord Knows I'm Drinking - Cal Smith
I'm not a drinking man but I could be.  (If my life wasn't so great, I'd be drowning sorrows like there was no tomorrows.)  And I am not the most pious man but I maintain a dialogue with Him.  This polka struck a chord deep within me from the moment I first heard it way back when I first saw it on The Porter Wagoner Show which I used to watch at my Nan-Nan's house.  The voice is smooth and rides the loping beat like an old cowhand.  He knows hypocrisy and bullstuff when he sees and hears it so he calls that old bitty, that self-righteous woman out in front of God and everyone and confesses his sins.  His Lord, like my own, is a forgiving, loving Lord.  I hope.  And pray.

Till The World Ends - Britney Spears
My stammer comes and goes.  I know it and I try to slow down and speak clearly.  Stuttering and stammering has been used to great effect in popular music through the years and this sugar-coated apocalyptic jam is bu-bu-bu-but the latest.  I ain't too proud to say I wrote Britney off when she went off the deep end.  Didn't you?  This song is so produced, so baked, so full of effects and dubs, it should suck.  But it doesn't.  Did you know Ke$ha co-wrote it?  Who cares because Brit and them studio guys pulled it off.  I know she wants me to keep on dancing until the world ends but I think I'll keep listening instead.  I can't dance but every day I'm shuffling.

East Bound And Down - Jerry Reed
A song about driving fast and eluding the law?  Yes, please.   This theme to Smokey & the Bandit is one of the greatest driving songs ever conceived.  It works its sonic magic whether you are driving a black Trans-Am or a silver minivan.  The lyrics are matched, word for word, with a propulsive musical track that sounds like it might fly off the road at any minute.  "We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there" indeed.   It is worth seeking out in a cover version by The Road Hammers as well.  Get in, sit down and hold on.

Goodnight Tonight [12" version] - Wings
Paul McCartney is a musical genius.  His compositions sound so effortless that sometimes you get the feeling he doesn't even have to try.  It just happens.  This is what happened when he threw his hat onto the lit-up disco dance floor.  It's a little bit Latin, a little bit speakeasy and the lyrics tell you he really doesn't want it to end.  It could be the other song that never ends, it goes on and on my friends.  Also see Santa Esmerelda's scorching, feels-like-it-lasts-an-hour cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood".

Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
A sonic soda is what this one is: all bubbly and bouncy and fizzy and refreshing.  Shake it up and let it spray all over you.  Enjoy the sentiment, the sweetly silly exchange between the male and female vocalists and the rousing chorus.  Of course we're attracted to them, they are magnetic zeroes.  The perfect picnic song if you love you Ma and Pa.  Used to great effect in the season finale of Raising Hope.

Silly Spotify

Tada!  Thanks Hercules!  

Did you know who Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes was ten minutes ago? Me neither.  What else has Herc taught you?

Seven Tools I Can't Live Without - Kitchen Edition

Remember how I work in pastry? That means I'm in a kitchen all day.  I use my hands constantly but I hate how people call them the best tools in their arsenal.  I have real tools in my arsenal.  Tools that make my job easier, tools that make my job possible!

I love shopping for new tools too. So much so that I could probably throw together 3 sets of my favorite tools.  Yeah yeah yeah.  I have a problem.  I have too much stuff.  I tell myself its for work.  I have extra just in case.  I am prepared for anything.  A regular kitchen boy scout?

Seven Tools I Can't Live Without - Kitchen Edition

• Rubber Spatula.  In the 'biz we call them "spats".  As in, "pass me my rubber spat".  They do everything.  You can stir things, scoop things, spread stuff, scrape things and encourage  good behavior(if you know what I mean).  I have a couple sizes and they are irreplaceable.  I have often wondered if I could find a surgeon to replace one of my hands with a hub that I can attach a rubber spatula attachment too.
• Offset Spatula.  Basically a bent piece of metal with a handle.  It makes the magic happen.  Perfectly smoothed icings, level layers of fillings and picking up the perfect slice of cake, this is what this bad boy excels at.  I often use spatula hands, one of these in each hand and use them to move 4x as many desserts at a time.  Just ask my coworkers, they think I'm nuts.
• Razor.  Box cutter, blade, shiv, whatever you want to call it, it is always in my pocket and I use it for anything I need.  Opening boxes, cutting paper, cutting desserts, precision tasks on wedding cakes, threats, self defense, splinter removal, you name it I've done it with my razor.  Trusty little thing.  Thanks PD for starting this addiction.
• Immersion Blender.  A stick blender.  That thing in your cabinet you don't use.  I have one I never use at home.  At work, however, we have two and they are indispensable.  They can fix any problems and they can combine or stir ingredients faster than I ever could by hand and with less wear and tear on my muscles you know? Its fun to write recipes that have this as a procedure too "buzz until combined", everyone in my field knows what that means.  Sort of like a secret code(that I just un-secretized)
• Stand Mixer.  I have one that was a gift to me when I was sixteen, its a workhorse and I love it.  He's red and his name is Marvin.  True Story.  At work we have that same size, plus one 4x bigger, one 12x bigger, and one 20x bigger.  I can make any size batch of ANYTHING.  The big one, an average size human can fit in the bowl.  Can you imagine that as a form of torture?  Pastry professionals can, have and often think about that when people piss them off.  Fair warning. 
• Sharp Serrated Knife.  I actually have 3 different serrated knives in my tools at work.  A small one to cut the tops off strawberries and peel kiwis and stuff.  A medium angled one that is perfect for just about every job I have given it.  Lastly I have a 12" one that is all purpose too.  A must have for this girl.
• Sharp Chef's Knife.  This is just your average knife.  Sharp.  Real Sharp.  To cut everything, to do anything you need.  I once knew a guy who only had his chef's knife with him at a wedding where the cake didn't make it to the venue.  He put together a new one with only that knife.  We're talking iced a cake with a knife here, people.  Those are some MacGyver skills.

So, what is a tool you can't live without in your kitchen?  Do you have kitchen MacGyver skills? 

Seven Summer Songs - The Devyn Edition

Surprise!

Its not Monday, but its a music post!  

Herc is here too!  Its a special edition of Herc's 7 song playlists, featuring ME!

With summer in full swing, I felt like this needed to be shared as soon as Herc and I finished it.  We collaborated and did a sort of he said/she said situation.  This was a really fun collabo.  Is that a word?  I just made it.  Once it is on the interwebs though, its fact, right?  Right.

I can't wait anymore, here you go!  Tell us what you think!  Be sure to grab the Spotify playlist at the bottom too!

7 Summer Songs - The Devyn Edition

[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

“Party Rock Anthem” - LMFAO

DEV says:

I love this song.  It sounds like three different songs all put together in one and I love mash-ups like that.  See: Girl Talk!

HERC says:

I, too, am enamored of this party track and have hereby proclaimed it a 2012 Summer Jam!  The two guys who are LMFAO are the son and grandson of Motown founder Barry Gordy.  They are the brother and nephew to Rockwell (of “Somebody’s Watching Me” fame) whose real name is Kennedy William Gordy and are uncle and nephew to each other if that makes sense.  The video is epic goodness of the classic MTV variety.

“(Mucho Mambo) Sway” - Shaft

DEV says:

I discovered and then listened to this song over an over again for an entire summer, the year that HP4 book came out.  Non. Stop.  I still love it and I can’t get enough of it.  It is best served up loud and in your car.  Try and not dance to it, I dare you.

HERC says:

By now, Devyn has surely realized that is a classic mambo first recorded in its original Spanish in 1953 and recorded in English the next year by Dean Martin.  Scores of other artists have covered the song since including Dev’s favorites Michael Buble and the late great Pussycat Dolls.  Dev may not remember that this was one of two competing “mambo” songs from the summer of 1999 - the other was Lou Bega’s version of “Mambo No. 5”.

        “Armada Latina” - Cypress Hill featuring Marc Anthony & Pitbull

DEV says:

I have a deep love for rappers and the fast paced words.  This one just has the perfect Miami vibe.  I've never been to Miami, but I'm pretty sure this is about as close as I can get.  The hook, the lyrics, the vibe, the beat...total package for my ears.  I do like mojitos...

HERC says:

Devyn turned me on to this song last summer.  I enjoyed the meshing and blending of the different styles, cultures and voices and felt it was perfectly produced by Jim Jonsin.  You may not know his name but you have heard his work before: Trick Daddy’s “Let’s Go” with it’s Ozzy Osbourne hook; Lil Wayne’s quiet stunner “Lollipop”; T.I.’s breezy “Whatever You Like” and Nelly’s mellow “Just A Dream” just to name a few.

“Dog Days Are Over” - Florence + the Machine

DEV says:

Quiet and slow to rockin' out and loud.  The definition of summer 2010.  I had to clear my Itunes play count of this song recently because it was embarrassing.

HERC says:

This was one of those songs that came out, did okay and then faded away before roaring back and doing even better the second time around.  For many people, the first time they heard it was in the trailer for Eat.Pray.Love. which kicked off the song’s second coming.

“Summertime” - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince 

DEV says:

Another song that just nails the vibe.  This song can seriously set the mood for me.  Pop radio stations are playing it this summer which is kinda nice since it has always been on my summer rotation.

HERC says:

This has been the perrenial Summer Jam since its release 20 years ago.  What a lot of listeners don’t realize is that the song’s mellow music is courtesy of Kool & the Gang and their song “Summer Madness”.  Herc keeps plenty of Kool & the Gang on his Summer playlists.

“Kiss” - Prince & the Revolution 

DEV says:

Prince will always remind me of my dad, along with several other groups, but this song is the best sing aloud in your car song.  I rarely heard my dad sing along to songs but when he did, it was a great track.  I once heard him sing along to this, in the Purple minivan!  Work that falsetto!  

HERC says:

Your Dad sounds like a righteous fellow and it’s a cosmic conikydink that Herc once drove a sweet purple Caravan himself.  The story behind “Kiss” is this:  Prince produced a brief, mostly acoustic demo with a fragment of the verse and chorus, then gave it to Mazarati, a band he had signed to his label as they were short on material for their debut album.  They spent all night re-working the song and when Prince heard the track the following day, he promptly took it back and put his lead vocals on it but kept Mazarati’s background vocals.  He also added the distinctive guitar solo and soon had his third #1 song.  It also won a Grammy.  If you, like Devyn, can’t get enough of “Kiss”, seek out the extended version which is almost twice as long as the original album version.  The single also features a non-album B-side called “Love Or Money” (actually Prince uses the symbols for “heart” and “money”).

“In The Summertime” - Mungo Jerry 

DEV says:

I first heard this in a Denny’s commercial of all places.  I sang it all the time, without knowing the words until my dad gave me a CD with it on it to “learn the words”.  I assume he was tired of hearing me sing it in the shower, in the car, in the house, everywhere with no words or the wrong words.   

HERC says:

Speaking of the wrong words, this sunny, mellow celebration of the joys of summer has but one flaw: the lyric “have a drink/have a drive”.  As a survivor of two drunk driver caused accidents and someone who lost a cousin to a drunk driver, Herc cannot abide by the original lyrics and instead chooses to sing “have a drink/have a ride”.  This concludes this PSA.  Thanks for reading.  Oh and never assume anything, your Dad sounds like he is just a generous guy.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Seven Arguments For Boxed Brownie Mix

Hello.

Did you know that I work in pastry?  I can make some of the most delicious, decadent and beautiful desserts you can imagine.  I don't bake at home a lot anymore, but when i do I usually like to make brownies.

Brownies are a highly opinionated topic.  Most people know exactly what they want in a brownie and most of the time there are two teams.  Team Fudgy or Team Cakey. I am a card carrying member of Team Fudgy.  My brownies will not be iced either, they should have a crackly top.  You know what I mean?

I have a secret though: I prefer boxed brownie mix.  

I've made every brownie recipe you can imagine.  I even tried creating my own.  It is just not possible to mimic the taste of the boxed brownie mix.  Once I resigned myself to being an embarrassment to my industry, I set out to find the perfect box of mix.  I bought and made them all.  Expensive and cheap.  Gourmet and simple.  Add water as well as the add everything boxes.  Low and behold I found a winner.  

The Chosen One

This is it ya'll.  Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies.  Trick is making the 9x13 batch in an 8x8" pan.  Thick. 

Seven Arguments For Boxed Brownie Mix(from a pastry chef):

• Cost.  This box of mix retails at $1.99.  I have found them on sale for $0.89 though, and that is when I buy my supply for the year.  You can't beat that!
• Ingredients.  To make brownies from scratch you need butter, flour, eggs, chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar and maybe even more things.  Most people don't keep all of this on hand.  It can also be expensive to buy these things since chocolate and cocoa are not cheap!  The box only requires eggs, oil, and water.  Most people I know have these three items at all times, and they are affordable.
• Time.  It takes 5 minutes to mix the batter, and 30-45min to bake.  Quick!  Scratch brownies take eons because you are scaling out every ingredient.  At work it takes me about 20min to get brownies in the oven and 60min or more to bake...
• Texture.  Boxed brownies are soft and dense and fudgy but they hold their shape.  I could never find a recipe that had the proper texture.  Maybe its all the chemicals.  If so, I love chemicals.
• Flaky Top.  I don't eat brownies that don't have that flaky top.  You know the one that looks as dry as the Sahara?  Makes the brownie for me.  
• Consistent.  When you make a recipe from scratch there are a lot of variables and your finished products can often vary from batch to batch.  Boxed mix will be the same every. single. time.
• The Yummy Factor - With a cold glass of milk, nothing beats a warm brownie.  They are just plain yummy.  Anyone who disagrees with that is no friend of mine.

Do you have a favorite boxed mix?  Arguments for me?  Are you disappointed in me?

PS Herc made a spotify playlist for brownies!  He's cool like that Spot the brownies!

Seven Best Pizzas I've Eaten

Silly question: Who doesn't like pizza? 

Everyone has their preferences.  Everyone has a favorite pizza.  Deep dish, thin, saucy, no sauce, cheeses, herbs, vegetables, fruits, meats, crusts, baking method, well done, underdone, etc etc. I have tried a lot of pizza and have compiled a list of my favorites as of this moment.  My list varies from gourmet to cheap frozen pizzas, but they are all delicious.

I love pizza.  I will probably never turn it down.  I don't like beer, but would take a six pack of Dr. Pepper and any one of these pizzas as my best easy meal.  If I ever go on a date ever again, I want to have a weekly pizza date.  So casual.  Some of my favorite moments happened over pizza or with pizza involved.  Birthdays, moving, family time.  Pizza might just be one of my faves. 

The Seven Best Pizzas I've Ever Eaten:

Barro's Mega Meat - Barro's is an Arizona phenomenon.  I was only introduced to their magical thick crusted pies about two years ago, but I have long since made up for the years I never knew it existed.  This pizza has every meat on it, along with plenty of cheese and sauce.  Their crust is thick and sturdy and can handle all of the meat and still taste great.  I love it.  Meaty goodness.


Peter Piper Pizza's Bacon Double Cheeseburger - This pie is a go to staple in my family's house in Tucson.  I have only had it once outside of Tucson and not in the company of my family and it didn't taste the same.  It must be Tucson magic at work again.  Beef, cheddar cheese AND mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, bacon bits all atop their thinner crust.  So.Darn.Good.  Peter Piper does carry out too.  We used to have our birthday parties at PPP for YEARS, but now its like a circus in there and I'd rather eat my pizza sitting on the curb and using my jeans as a napkin. 

Pizzeria Bianco's Wiseguy - This is one of the most popular restaurants in Phoenix.  Its tiny, they don't do carry out or take reservations and sometimes you can wait HOURS just to get a table.  Luckily there is a bar next door to help pass the time.  PB has been named best in the country many times.  Chris Bianco, owner/chef of this joint is so dedicated to quality that it puts others to shame.  Let me give an example: Ships his water from NYC, makes his own cheese, makes his own dough, makes his own sauce, makes his own sausage, grows all herbs right there on property and OH YEAH still can be seen at the restaurant every night.  The wiseguy pizza is one of only 6 pizza offerings.  It has caramelized onions, that homemade fennel sausage, smoked house made mozzarella cheese and no sauce all on their amazing chewy crust.  I am drooling all over my keyboard thinking about this pizza right now, I kid you not.  Please come visit me here and I will take you to this place.  My treat.

Kirkland Signature Frozen Cheese Pizza - Yes, this is the Costco house brand.   At that great big warehouse, $9.99 will buy you 4 ten-inch pizzas from the freezer section.  KM and I can polish off one pizza in a sitting together, so that's dinner for 2 @ $2.50.  SOLD.  Its a four cheese blend, on a better than average crust that has panko breadcrumbs on the bottom as opposed to cornmeal.  A pleasant surprise, and the very best part, I must say.  Costco has its flaws in our society, but this is definitely a step towards world peace, I just know it. 


 Red Baron Four Cheese Pizza - Another frozen delicacy.  This one hails from my childhood and I am pleased to say it still exists.  Its a boring thin crust pizza, with supposedly 4 cheeses on top of some tangy sauce.  The magic here comes from the green herb sprinkled all over the top.  Until I discovered that Costco pizza brand, this was my go-to.  Sadly it is not anymore, but I still have the memories from back in the day.


Mama's Pizza Supreme - This joint is hidden behind a shopping center, and adjacent to a high school in Tucson's east side.  My family has been going here for as long as I can remember.  They serve pizzas as big around as you can imagine.  Huge ones that a single slice of equals three regular slices.  They make this traditional supreme pizza that is just perfect every single time.  I really only go here for the doors that lead to the restrooms, they are swinging western saloon style doors.  I get such a kick out of barging through with my hands on my holsters, getting ready to go wrangle up some cattle just as soon as I finish my pizza. 

Pepperoni Pizza From That Bowling Alley - When I was in grade school, we had hot lunch every Thursday.  It alternated between pizza and either McDonald's or Eegees every other week.  The pizza you could order cheese or pepperoni and it cost $1.50.  You had to bring an envelope with your money, your name, your classroom and your order on it every Thursday.  Mom and Dad would write our envelopes out for us and help us decide our order and we would proudly carry them to school.  Then at lunch time, we got our treat.  The pepperoni pizza was always just a little too greasy but always DELICIOUS.  Guess where this pizza came from?  From the little cafe in the bowling alley across the street.  A bowling alley.  Go figure.

Runners up include: KM's vegetable pizza, Hungry Howie's anything, Papa John's garlic butter, and Pizza Hut's Pan pizza/lunch buffet/dessert pizzas

Seven Songs Associated With Purple Rain

Monday already! I am learning to love Mondays and its all because of Herc's posts.  This post is of a time sensitive nature, Herc demanded I publish it this week.  This week is the 27th anniversary of one of his favorite movies of all time, date happens to fall on the 27th of the month as well.  I believe this is a golden birthday, but is it a golden anniversary?   

You'll notice that there is a link at the bottom of the post to a Spotify playlist.  Maybe scroll down and click it and listen to the tracks while reading about them.  I did, and it sets a nice mood.  Its also thundering and lightening and pouring rain outside my window right now which is SO SO SO PERFECT.  Not even joking. At 9:48 PM there is a monsoon at my house right now.  Just another sign.  

Read this post and as you read it, soak up some of the incredible bits of knowledge that Herc shares.  Educational, recreational, and inspirational reading!

7 Songs associated with Purple Rain

[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

On July 27th, 1984, Prince’s debut film Purple Rain was released on an unsuspecting public.  It contained some of the rawest, most electrifying concert scenes ever filmed.  Herc viewed this movie no less than 10 different times on its opening weekend with just about everyone he knew at the time, even taking his own parents to the drive-in for a screening.

The soundtrack album, containing only the songs performed by Prince and the Revolution, was released a month prior to the film and it was preceded by the lead single “When Doves Cry” at the beginning of May.  By the first week of July, the song was #1 on the Pop charts and the album was rising fast behind it, hitting the top spot the week after the movie opened and staying there for the rest of the year as well as the first two weeks of 1985.  Four additional singles were spun off from Purple Rain: “Let’s Go Crazy”, the title track, “I Would Die 4 U” and “Take Me With U”. Two albums by other acts in the film were released as well: The Time’s Ice Cream Castle on July 2 while the self-titled Apollonia 6 followed in October.

Here are seven songs associated with Purple Rain:

(no video links)

“Let’s Go Crazy [Special Dance Mix]”

For whatever reason, the soundtrack album did not feature this version which is the actual opening song of the movie.  Thankfully it was released as a 12” vinyl single and later on the Ultimate Prince compilation CD in 2006.  It is longer and stronger then the album version or the abbreviated single version.  Rock band Incubus covered the album version on their 2009 hits & rarities collection Monuments and Melodies.

“Erotic City (“make love not war Erotic City come alive”)”

Another in a long line of ultra-funky non-album B-sides from Prince, this song featured Sheila E. providing supporting vocals.  The irresistible rhythmic track is topped with equally suggestive lyrics making it unequivocally the sexiest war protest song ever.  Seek out the full version which clocks in at just over seven minutes on the aforementioned “Let’s Go Crazy” 12”.  Funkmeister George Clinton later covered “Erotic City” for the movie PCU.

“17 Days (the rain will come down, then U will have 2 choose. If U believe, look 2 the dawn and U shall never lose.)”

This long titled B-side to “When Doves Cry” was originally recorded for Vanity 6’s second album but Prince took it back and re-recorded most of the vocals himself leaving only Vanity 6 (and later Apollonia 6) member Brenda Bennett’s backing vocals.  Herc includes this song on all of his Rain themed playlists because of the song’s pleas to “let the rain come down”.  Living Colour covered this song as a B-side to one of their lesser known singles.

“The Bird”

Originally recorded with all instruments played by Prince (like every other previous album and single by The Time), this one was rerecorded live with the actual band and included in Purple Rain and on The Time’s own release, Ice Cream Castle.

“Jungle Love”

Prince plays every instrument on this one except lead guitar which is handled by Jesse Johnson.  Perhaps the band’s most popular song, it has been featured in Bringing Down The House, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

“Baby I’m A Star”

In another head scratcher, this song is the last song played in the film yet is third to last on the soundtrack album.  A high-powered rocker featuring Prince tooting his own horn, this song served as a musical pick-me-up after the melancholy title track was performed in the movie.  HERC’s Purple Rain playlist features the songs in their proper order for the desired effect.

“Darling Nikki”

This is the song that caught one mom’s ear and changed the way records and later CDs were sold forever.  The mom was Tipper Gore, now estranged wife of Al Gore, and she bought the Purple Rain soundtrack for her children but was shocked to hear her oldest daughter, then 11 years old, listening to this song and, in particular, it’s lyric “I met her in a hotel lobby/masturbating with a magazine”.  Tipper watched music videos with her family and became “frightened” by the graphic sex and violence she saw.  She formed the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) with other like minded Washington Wives and mothers and the group drew up a list of of 15 songs they called the Filthy Fifteen. (Prince holds the two top spots: #1 is “Darling Nikki” and #2 is a song he wrote and produced for Sheena Easton called "Sugar Walls") The PMRC succeeded in getting congressional hearings held on the subject of labelling or rating records much like movies are rated and in just over a year, record companies agreed to voluntarily place “Parental Advisory” stickers on albums.  This led to Wal-Mart’s refusal to carry any stickered albums and the sales of rap as well as metal albums skyrocketed.  Bands who had never used profane lyrics or violent imagery felt compelled to do so, to get a sticker as a badge of honor in order to sell their albums.  Offending bands went so far as to self censor their own albums, creating two versions, to place them on Wal-Mart’s shelves.  As an informed parent, Herc bought several of these edited versions of CDs for his own children because those were the versions they heard on the radio and saw in music videos on TV.  He remains an anti-censorship crusader.  In case you didn’t know, Foo Fighters covered “Darling Nikki” as a B-side to one of their singles, too.

Spotify playlist

Seven Kitchen Appliances That I Desperately NEED

Howdy! Happy Sunday again.  These days sure keep coming up huh?

Today I bring you another guest blogger!  Her name is Stephanie and I have known her for something like 6+ years? Our lives have gone in opposite directions but we still remain connected thanks to the interwebs!  She has been a follower of this blog since the beginning, and she wanted to post, told me so and then BOOM! In my inbox was this post! I quite like it.  I may follow up with one of my own...later.  Let's see what Stephanie's creative seven looks like first!

Seven Kitchen Appliances That I Desperately NEED (ok, want)… 

Lately I have become somewhat of a health nerd, which puts me in the kitchen A LOT. And unlike the lovely Devyn I do not enjoy the kitchen. I do however enjoy order and simplicity and I have found that if you have the right products you get just that (unfortunately the right products cost a lot of money…). So without further ado I present to you the top 7 kitchen appliances of my dreams. Enjoy.

Flat Top Stove – Who doesn’t want one of these? I guess people who like gas. Do they only come in electric? Anyway – I HATE cleaning the crumbs out of the stupid holes in the top of the stove. And I hate that the little silver plate things never get cleaned! It drives me batty. I have to buy new ones every year to save my sanity and when I am poor my sanity goes on the back burner and things get crazy over here. I desperately NEED a flat top stove.

Counter Depth Refrigerator – In our condos kitchen there is one of those little cabinets that sits in the corner on the bottom shelving unit. And right next to it is the refrigerator. The problem is that the refrigerator juts out 6 inches further than the countertop blocking me form being able to put anything useful into my lazy suzan-ed corner cabinet. ANNOYING. I desperately need a counter depth refrigerator.

Deep Sink – Our sink is decently deep, but not deep enough and it also is split perfectly into two sides. I need it to be deeper and either a 2/3 to 1/3 split or just 1 giant sink. I need to clean vegetables, I need to wash cookie sheets and giants bowls and I cannot effectively do that in my lame sink. I realize a sink isn’t necessarily considered an appliance, but I desperately need a deep sink.

Breville Juice Fountain Plus – I watch A LOT of documentaries and my most recent was called “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” about this awesome Aussie named Joe that puts himself on a 60 day juice fast to cure himself of an auto immune disease. This isn’t your Tree Top apple juice my friends, this is fresh from the fruit AND vegetables juice. Stick the whole fruit/veggie in and OUT comes the juice! I desperately need this Breville Juice Fountain Plus so that I don’t have to do something awkward like colonics to clean out my gut.

Blendtech Mix and Blend – I bake my own bread, because I soak the grains for added nutrients and of course I want to know what every ingredient is that goes into my food. My Kitchen Aid isn’t cutting it people. I never wanted one to begin with and now I just want to beat it with a hammer every time I enter the kitchen. It just doesn’t have the power I need and when it’s kneading the dough the dough climbs the hook and it’s up all over the top, where you load the hook onto the machine. It is just aggravating. I desperately NEED a Blendtech Mix and Blend (which PS has an awesome blender attached that I also NEED) to make my kneading easier.

NutriMill Grain Mill – We lose a significant amount of nutrients from our grains by grinding them and then storing the flour for long periods of time. As soon as you grind the wheat it begins to go rancid, which means nutrients are dying off. Fresh ground flour should be stored in the refrigerator. I am still using store bought flour (Wheat Montana – AWESOME COMPANY!) because I don’t have a grain mill. I desperately need the NutriMill Grain Mill.

A Magical Griddle – Finally I need a magical griddle. I absolutely DETEST griddles! Every day I see that ugly thing sitting on top of my microwave or on top of my refrigerator – usually dirty – and just making my kitchen look UGLY with its ugly black and greasiness. My husband insists that he needs it for pancake making, because he can make so many more all at once. There has got to be a magical griddle somewhere that is EASY to clean and EASY to store! I desperately NEED a magical griddle! Have you ever heard of one? Do you own one? Fill me in!

PLUG FOR STEPHANIE'S BLOG – Check her out at www.FamilyHealthNaturally.blogspot.com where you can "learn all about my family’s crazy and apparently appliance-less (at least the good ones) journey to health, because even people with a limited supply of crappy appliances can be healthy."

So, what appliances are missing in your life? Could you care less about appliances?  What do you desperately need?  Show our guest some comment love, ya'll.