Deep down in the Cave

You load sixteen tons . . . what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Last night I had a great time at the Cave in Chapel Hill. Performing was The Virgo 9 and a touring band called Cicada Omega. The Virgo Nine was tight with their blues-punk sound, and Cicada Omega just drove it all home with their transcendental junkyard blues style. Towards the end of their set, Cicada Omega performed "Sixteen Tons." At first, I thought it seemed so outdated, but when I read this article in the NY Times today- "Gas and Food Prices Push Up Inflation", I thought that choice of a song was right on.

The article and the show made me think of Sunday night when I was eating dinner, and I made this dish that I call my depression era meal- thin spaghetti with sautteed tomatoes. Trying to always be quick like a bunny with my cooking and cheap, I am going to give you my recipe for a 15 minute meal. Yeah, beat that Rachel Ray! This will feed 2 people easy. You can use any pasta you have in the house. I just like thin spaghetti because it cooks up in 7 minutes.

6 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons of dried basil (fresh would be better, but this is cheap eating)
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
a pinch of salt
4 fresh roma tomatoes, diced

Heat the olive oil in the pan and then saute the garlic til it's soft, then saute all the other ingredients in the pan with the garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes later throw it on your noodles and you have dinner.

On the side steam some squash or broccoli, cause you need to eat your veggies.

Yes, yes!

Yesterday I was lucky to receive a demo CD of the Virgo 9. First thing I did when I got home last night was pop it into the CD player. I can't wait to hear a full length. The Virgo 9 takes rock n' roll by the balls and squeezes until you beg, baby, please, please, please, please. It's garage-punk that takes you back to their Southern roots with hints of blues and gospel. One of their best songs is the visceral "No Means No," but when you hear it you are going to say, "Yes, yes!"

photo by Gavin Wissen

QLAB has been been a lame reviewer

Yeah, I know I have been a bad music reviewer. Life and its goings on have just not been conducive to sitting down to reviewing. Instead, I have really been into gardening, working in the backyard, and having friends over to eat and relax. I suppose you could say I have been domestic.

So, I am going to give you a rockin' recipe for Thai Peanut Sauce, that is awesome on just about anything you are willing to put in your mouth. I prefer to throw it on some noodles with veggies for a quick meal.

I am not kidding this sauce rocks and it is quick and easy. So, there is your quick like a bunny for ya'.

All you need is a food processor or blender to make it in a few minutes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of water
4 tablespoons of rice vinegar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 limes- use the juice of
6 cloves garlic, minced and crushed
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

Whirr it all together and VOILA you have peanut sauce.

Toss it with some noodles, snow peas and garnish with some cilantro and you have dinnah.

While you are in the kitchen, you could listen to music. So you might want to check out these bands...Sugar in the Dirt or The Virgo 9.

If you are looking for a really great food blog, then I also recommend Rockin' the Stove.