Category Archives: Musical Kels

Music To Cook (Jam) To: Rock and Roll

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Music to cook to rock and roll

Well, hello June!

I was talking to a new friend at the market recently about how we never make new years resolutions.  Or if we do, we never keep them.  What a terrible time of year to start over!  It’s the middle of the winter, we are exhausted from holiday madness, and you kind of just want to hibernate and enjoy the cold weather. Doesn’t it seem like a funny tradition, resolving to become better, fitter, healthier people in the middle of sweatpants and hot cocoa weather?

Well apparently for me, springtime feels more natural.  The season of rebirth.  The season of growth.  The season of flowers and plants coming back to life…

The season before bikini season?

music to cook to: Rock and roll

Last year on May 6, I wrote down some serious goals for my music career.  I was going to give being a full time musician one last giant push.  And I’m happy to say that I accomplished so many of those goals.  I was really proud of myself and the way I threw myself into my passion just to see if it still fit.

music to cook to: Rock and roll

Turned out, I learned an incredible amount about myself in those months.  And after all was said and done, I ended up right where I belonged.  Which leads me to this spring, when I happened to also set some lofty goals for myself.  I have already accomplished some of them (redesign my blog! i think it looks better than ever!), and I have some big projects in the works that I can’t wait to get really moving so I can tell you all about them!

music to cook to: Rock and roll

Another “goal” I wanted to set for myself this year was to keep music as an important part of my life even if it was no longer my full-time focus.  I still write songs when they come to me.  I still pick up the guitar every now and then.  And I’m always looking out for new artists and new albums to soundtrack my life.

music to cook to: Rock and roll

Which brings me to today, when I wanted to share another list of music to cook to with you.  Because this little “Music to Cook To” series that I’ve started makes me so happy.  It combines two of my favorite things (no, mom, not schnitzels and noodles…), and it gives me an excuse to keep searching for new, fun music to share with you.

music to cook to: Rock and roll music to cook to: Rock and roll

Except today’s list started with some old favorites instead of new acts.  Mostly when Brad and I are cooking, we turn to songs we know all of the words to.  We turn to music that makes us feel good.  We turn to the bands and artists that we grew up listening to, who taught us about guitar solos and soul and the way a song was supposed to make you feel.  I turn to music that makes me move.

We turn to Rock and Roll.

music to cook to: Rock and roll

 (these are pictures of a delicious peach jam i made this week! i thought jam sounded like a musical term so… it works, right?)

Let’s get rocking…

Music To Cook To: Rock and Roll

The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar
Gotta start with the Rolling Stones.  Not that I knew anything about Mick Jagger or Keith Richards before I met Brad.  I just knew the hits.  But a lot has changed since 2007, and now I get up and dance to their tunes just as much as a teenage girl in 1970.  Just a lot less screaming..

The Velvet Underground – Rock & Roll
Another band that Brad got me into.  I didn’t used to appreciate singers unless they had trained, musical voices.  There’s just something about this song’s happy beat and Lou Reed’s talk/singing, that just makes me smile.  You just can’t help but start shaking to this fine, fine Velvet Underground music.

David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust
Listen, I still don’t really “get” David Bowie, but I think the man is crazy awesome.  This is one that’s on all the time while dinner’s getting ready.

T. Rex – Mambo Sun
Oh, T. Rex.  Yes, he’s known for Bang A Gong (Get it On), but no, we never have that one on rotation.  T.Rex provides all kinds of fun rock to cook to.

The Black Keys – Gold On The Ceiling
And now, of course on to something more modern.  We love The Black Keys.  I think this song was used for NBA finals commercials a few years ago.  If it doesn’t get you pumped up and dancing, there’s just no gold for you.  (i also like that there is a doubling on the chorus in my vocal range. i can actually sing along! nerdy musician moment…)

Dan Auerbach – My Last Mistake
Dan (half of the Black Keys) and his solo album are maybe even more soulful and blues-rock than his TBK stuff.  This is one of my favorite, fun, simple rock n roll songs.  Might be the “and you can be my queen, mama” part.

Hanni El Khatib – You Rascal You
I’m not going to lie.  This one was produced by Dan Auerbach.  Apparently I have a crush on anything the man touches.  But this is just such a dirty, gritty song full of crunchy guitar.  Any Hanni El Khatib song could fit in here, I just like this one the best.

Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?
I liked the Arctic Monkey from their first few albums, but their release last year – AM – hooked me for sure.  I guess this is more indie-rock than rock and roll, but the guys have a song called Why You Only Call Me When You’re High?  Talk about a booty call.

Jack White – Sixteen Saltines
Can’t leave out Mr. Jack White.  This song is rock all the way.  When we saw him live, people were jumping all over the place during this song.  It’s perfect to get you moving in front of the stove, right?

So have fun rocking and jamming and cooking and doing whatever else you want to do to these tunes.  Mondays will now officially be dedicated to combining my love of music with my love of cooking, so look out for another Music To Cook To next Monday!

(you can check out the whole Music To Cook To playlist here on Spotify!)

xoxo

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A Monday Mashup Vlog

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Guys, pineapples are totally cool right now.

Plus, so are vlogs… so I made another one.  There was just a lot happening and the music was right (Music To Cook To happening in real life!!) and I just thought you’d find my situation pretty silly.

So… Happy Monday!

xoxo

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Music To Cook To: Ribs & Black Keys “Turn Blue”

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It’s no secret that Brad and I are big Black Keys fans.

Brad’s been a fan for years and years.  He introduced me to them back when we first started dating, and I was drawn toward the bluesy rock, the grittiness but soul that they brought to the table.  I liked the simplicity of their first albums, with just guitar and drums.

Plus, Brad was really hot – so I probably would have liked any music he brought me.

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Since then, we have seen them in three very different venues.  We’ve been front row, just a few feet away at the Hollywood Palladium.  We’ve been underneath the stars in Liberty State Park with the Statue of Liberty practically behind the guys.  And then we saw them with my family at the Verizon Center in DC.

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But we most often listen to the Keys while we are whipping up something delicious for dinner, or driving down to the market, or over to Hollywood…

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Or just anytime, really…

DSC_0135The Black Keys aren’t just good music to cook to, they are good all the time music.

But if you’re throwing together some dinner tonight and need a pumped up, bluesy-rocking, but slightly chill soundtrack – throw on iTunes and stream their new album Turn Blue, out May 13th.

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Because it goes just so nicely with a rack of ribs and a glass of rose on a weeknight.

xoxo

Music to Cook To: Four Hour French Baguettes

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four hour baguette

In seventh grade, we had the choice to start taking Spanish or French in school.

I very adamantly insisted on taking French.  I remember thinking it was such a beautiful, exotic language.  I thought it was the language of love.  It was the country of butter and croissants and pastries and delicious things galore.  It seemed exciting and romantic in a gorgeous way that, at the time, I didn’t find Spanish.

I don’t think my parents were thrilled – Spanish is so much more practical in our country – but when a kid is excited about learning a new language, who’s going to stop them?

four hour baguette

I ending up sticking with French up until my junior year in high school.  When I graduated, I could absolutely hold a formal conversation with someone in the language.

In college and beyond I became interested in wine, which – of course – included those of the French varietals.  I was thankful I had the background to understand a little extra from the labels.

four hour baguette

And now, as the wife of a chef, I have found so much happiness in baking.  Recently, I even tried my hand at what looked like a relatively simple recipe for Four Hour Baguettes.  Because who doesn’t love a hot, soft loaf of bread with dinner? Continue reading →

Fox Day 2014 Mixed CD

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Alright, post concussion sweets addiction meltdown, I gotta get back on the horse.

But today is Fox Day at my alma mater, Rollins College – so I decided that although I didn’t crack my first beer at 6:30AM, I had to at least see the ocean today.

IMG_3436Not exactly a picture perfect beach day, but it was a nice day for my first post-concussion run.  And college-aged Kels would have already had enough of a tan by mid-April to care about a little fog.IMG_3437

Here are a few new tracks I’ve added to my playlists that get me motivated, but would also be a nice start to a Fox Day 2014 Mixed CD. Because when I was in college, we were still somewhere in the gray between Napster and Spotify…

This is just the first single I heard from Danish singer MØ a few weeks ago, and it had me hooked. (and dancing like a crazy person) Check out her album.  So many good, upbeat and funky tunes.

Little Dragon‘s first single off their latest album, due out May 13th, is everything I expected from them and more.  They also just released a video for a second single, “Paris” the other day.  You can listen to that one here on Pitchfork.

I loved the Tune-Yards first album.  Crazy horn parts, crazy looping, crazy beats and percussions, crazy vocals.  I first saw them on Jimmy Fallon years ago before immediately downloading their first album, but any of their live videos will equally blow your mind the way that performance blew mine.

I just recently found Kiesza, and not only is this a great song to run to, but the chick was a code breaker for the Canadian Royale Navy, attended Berklee and competed in the Miss Universe Canada patent.  Hello, I’m listening.

I know nothing about Chuck Inglish, but I know that this song makes me smile.  Plus, it makes me want lean, long legs.  So I keep on running.

Happy listening!

xoxo

 

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Playlist: Mellow Music To Cook To

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Yesterday, I had good intentions.

I wrote a blog.  I caught up on a few things around the house.  I edited some photos.  I ate a healthy breakfast.  I made myself tea.  I made a to-do list for the week.

And then, at 2:00, I decided I would do a quick workout before taking a shower and heading out to work.

I put on a fun playlist.  I pulled up one of my saved workouts from my super-hero strength friend Steven.  I tied up my sneakers.  I did two burpees.  The dog always gets excited when I start working out because she thinks I want to play.  She started running around.

I did a third burpee.  Gibson happened to jump up right where I was jumping down into a pushup.  Our heads cracked.  She yelped like I’ve never heard her yelp before.  I basically fell to the floor.

I think March was mad at me for kicking it to the curb.  It was leaving me with a parting gift.

About five minutes later, I had gathered myself and the dog was hiding under the table.  A giant welt had formed on my forehead and I had a splitting headache.  I sent a picture to my manager with the caption “So… this just happened…” and she basically told me to ice my ridiculous injury and stay home from work.

No one wants to order food from someone with a welt this good growing out of their forehead.

(I will not subject you to the photo I shared with her.  Basically, imagine an egg coming out of my forehead and you’ll have it.)

So I spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch, icing my head and trying to convince Gibson that I wasn’t mad at her.  That, and trying to reassure myself that I didn’t have a concussion.  Every time that I’d forget where I set something down or how to spell a word on a text, I started worrying a little.

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But then, I got bored of the couch.  And Gibson had started bringing me toys to play with her, so I knew she was ok.  Plus, I suddenly had a craving for chocolate.

Because silence makes me anxious even when I have a nagging headache, I put on a mellow playlist (who knew Spotify has a hangover playlist?  Perfect for minor head injuries, too!) and got to baking.

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After a while, I realized that this is music I would almost never cook to, as cooking usually goes hand in hand with entertaining for us.  And when entertaining, you usually want something a little more upbeat and exciting.

But not last night.  Last night I was the opposite of upbeat.  And I was on my own.  With caramel and chocolate.  So mellow it was.

I’m sure that many of you sometimes have mellow nights when you have minor head injuries and just want to bake cookies and make caramels, too, right?  Well… for when that happens (I hope the head injury part doesn’t!), here is a good mellow playlist to cook to.

And now, back to icing the forehead.  Thank goodness for makeup.

xoxo

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