Flax & spiced herb panko fried eggplant over pea shoots

I kinda made it up as I went along...

But basically sliced eggplant laid out fresh lime and salted...

Heat 1/4" olive oiled pan to about 350...

Beat an egg set aside..

Mix ground flax seed and panko with your fav spices...

I used world market rub for pork with:
sea salt, onion, garlic, lemon peel, majoram, mustard seed, coriander, oregano, nutmeg, orange peel, cinnamon, cilantro, ginger and clove....

I also added a lil cayenne (helps the blood flow)

If you have any of these things, throw in a pinch.
Mix well with hands.

Dip the eggplant in egg
Coat in crunch mix
Pan fry for a minute or two on each side... till golden.

If the pan is hot you will get crunch and no grease if the pan is too cold the oil will be absorbed...

Remove from pan and rest on a rack so any remaining oils drip off...
Always rest fried foods, bacon ect on a rack which wicks oils away,  and not a paper towel which pushes oil back into foods.


I found these yummy baby pea shoots at the Chinese market....
And they are my new fav...
Remember to always eat a raw fresh green with your crispy foods...
Eating greens with lightly fried foods, helps absorb any remaining fats in our belly.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A perfect spa day

It's a Friday, as it usually is, when I hit my fav local Korean $20 all damn day spa.
I have a ritual. http://www.theimperialspa.com/

First I make a quick stop for a brow threading.

Then off to imperial.

When I arrive, I just chill in the parking lot for a moment. I roll down the windows and acclimate to the day. It will at this point be the first moment I have not been "inside"... My home... A building.... Whatever.

I relax, traffic is behind me for now, and ahead all there is... warm salty love.
A few minutes more to get a little extra ZEN, while listening to Gotye "we are watching" ; Seriously my favorite song right now.

I enter the long marble hallway and feel the coolness turn to warmth, as I am greeted by a woman, very soft spoken to me but loud to the man who just walked up...

I pay my Jackson proper, and in exchange?
Pale pink jammies and toothbrush ( but I brought my own ;)
Have I entered " the island"?








There's a magic key you wear round your wrist... It opens the shoe locker... Shoes are not allowed, and your personal locker, and any foods you want, you just show your number.... It's beautifully anonymous.... Although I'm sad I never get the number 80.

I get naked, and walk into the women's' wet room.... Hot!!!
I have to say that woman, fat, skinny, curvy, flat, doesn't matter it's really beautiful. I'm glad at this moment to be one....

My first stop is and will always be.... The Salt bath. Honestly it took me thinking about it here to understand why.... So much of what I do is instinct...

The salt bath is the only one in the room not chlorinated... The water is soft, not drying, not toxifying... I'm usually the only one who ever uses that tub for some reason. I like to soak for a few... Then behind me is a bucket of sea salt for the salt steam room.... That's next...

Two handfuls of salt is more than enough, armed and ready already wet from the salt bath.... I scrub, every inch of me, with sea salt, between my toes, and everywhere, and then steam for 5... I can breath clear now...

The salt is in my mouth and my gums feel clean..

Hot, wet, and salty, I fully plunge into the ice pool, closing my pores....
Freezing? Yes! You have to commit... No pussy footing around. All in.

Out again and in the salt tub.... I want a sheer layer of salt on my body before I hit the red clay sauna, detoxifying.








Change into pinks, and hit the main floor, heated of course and marble.







Having not yet eaten, I'll order my favorite treat in the world, shaved ice with fruit and red bean. Pineapple Kiwi banana watermelon and red bean over shaved ice with wheat germ... Omg










Next stop is the red clay ball room.... Chambers filled with millions of small clay orbs, as I wiggle my way deeper into my personal pit, I grab handful for my throat gully, and shove two into each ear, don't worry they won't go in.

It gets hot in every nook you never knew you had, and I can take it in here for about 8 minutes... On then to the ice room....










It's nICE in here, and I can keep on blogging while chillin...
Most folks don't hang in here to long, but I like it cool...real real cool.








The red clay room is my final spot. It's not too hot, and it smells like grass mats and birch, I love it. Each person or two, has their own little cave, and it's comforting, though the girls can be quite loud chatting sometimes. So headphones is a good idea.

I spend a while here, sometimes I watch a movie on my iPad, or just listen to music... The aroma reminds me of Indonesia and I wish I could make my own home smell so inviting.

There's a few other crannies around here, a VIP room for adults upstairs, since children are allowed at $10 sometimes being in an adult room is needed. Theres a treadmill outside, another salt sauna, and in infrared sauna....

But after camping here in my hut for a bit.... I decide to finish my day in the ladies wet room.

I start with a good face wash, mixed with baking soda, and scrub, I use baking soda everyday everywhere, if you break out or have rough skin or just want to maintain smooth skin, use baking soda, every day.

Queen Heleen mint clay mask I have been using since high school, creates a firm foundation, tightness pores, clears skins, smells yummy and is cheap.

Then my favorite seated spa shower, I scrub and wash every surface.
Finish with a moisture mask, different ones depending on the season.

And then rest, a short nap in the VIP or women's area.

My day fullfilled, the aches of the week, ushered away, and my tiny cracks of time, softened and waylaid once again.

Every human, should take moments like these. I find that once a week, taking time for myself really pays me back.

Whether you can get to the cheap spa or not, make a day each week, to do for yourself, to re-energize, invigorate. You are no good to your kids, man, woman, job, self, if you don't take these days to regroup.

4 days a month, to a Happy healthier life.

So sayeth the Eighty Bug






Refreshed and on my way home... Er maybe one stop off ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Imperial Health Spa Fullerton ($20)

Throat Tightness Sent by Marsh Mar 03, 2012

Hey 80,
I saw your post about the muscles getting tight in your throat.
I am also a singer and I went to my doctor and they said that they couldn't feel anything swollen so he
just assumed it was a strain of a muscles that i use.
To explain what it is, I feel this tightness on the left side of my throat, it feels like it's in-between my jaw
and adams apple. When i try to sing i can feel it tightening up again. If i don't think about it or if i am distracted it doesn't seem to tighten up. Also if i get stressed it seems to tighten up again. This has been going on for almost 2 weeks but it seems it might be feeling a little better. Did you experience the same thing? and if so how do i help it?
Thanks!


Hey Marsh

You know its kinda of like a throat cramp... and mostly I notice them when Im maybe not warm enough in my throat area... or when Im overwhelmed even.

Being a girl, I can get away with wearing scarves to keep my neck warm year round, and I find this helps generally... Also I try not to drink cold things before or during singing...

Its funny how stress affects us in weird ways.... you know that Bell's Palsy (makes one side of the face droop for days or months) is stress induced...

Now... Im a big hype'r for warm tea... Kava Kava (which is an herb used in the islands for trance like ceremonies) goes a long way to keeping me calm and sane.

I hope any of this helped...

The Great French Press (Coffee at its best)

Im not a big coffee drinker... But when I do have coffee I want it to taste amazing, rich, dark and a little sweet. Not a coffee purist by any means my favorite coffee is Don Fransciso Hawaiian Hazelnut or Organic Mayan Blend (with a hint of chocolate) and Vanilla Creamer. To me this is like a wonderful warm desert in a cup.

I have friends who are not coffee drinkers and they have these huge coffee makers on their counters taking up space, they have boxes of filters in their cabinets. It makes me sad. Not only do I not care for the taste of the coffee they create, but theres all this precious kitchen space... lost...

My resolution, is to replace all those coffee burning, space wasting appliances with the filter free quick making, delicious coffee press.

I assure you side by side the coffee pressed coffee has more flavor and is less bitter...

Let me recommend that you get a thermal press as glass presses often turn cold quickly and if you like a second cup, you want it to be hot and not burned.

Here's mine Cafe Tiere Thermal French Press its an inexpensive investment... and you can even take it camping...

Use can also use your new french press for loose leaf tea... I love to make a Moroccan mint tea and drop a little cocoa in the pot too...

Remember don't skimp on the coffee, you need about a rounded tablespoon per cup (or 8oz of water)

Spoon your coffee into the press, add boiling water place lid on top... DO NOT PLUNGE YET.

Wait 3 minutes (any longer and your coffee will start to bitter) Then plunge.. GO SLOW... allow the water to finish gently pushing through the internal sieve.. this will get that maximum flavor out of your grounds... add some creamer to your cup pour in coffee.. no sugar needed.

enjoy.

Low (ish) Fat Applesauce Oatmeal Bread

Prep: 15

Cook: 45

Ingredients

1 cup Flour (Gluten Free Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon *fresh ground Cardamom/Cinnamon and/or Cloves
2 teaspoons **Coffee grounds
1/4 Cup ***Pecan bits
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup Quick Cook Oatmeal (I grind these up, you can also use gluten free oats)


2 whole Large Eggs
1-½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 teaspoon Vanilla


Preparation Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for nonstick pans).
2. Sift together flour, sugar, spices, salt, and baking soda into a bowl.
3. Stir in oatmeal ****
4. In large bowl, beat eggs briefly, and then stir in applesauce and vanilla.
5. Pour wet ingredients into the dry and fold until the entire mixture is wet. Do not overmix.
6. Pour batter into a large greased loaf pan (9 inch x5 inch).
7. Bake for 45-60 minutes until a knife inserted just comes out clean.

Be careful to not over-bake!
8. Remove bread carefully from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool.

*I use a old coffee grinder for this, and grind them all together the flavor is sooo much better.
** This is about 2 tsp really I just like to sprinkle it with my hand across the dry mix.
*** Nuts of course are optional, but Almonds and Pecans are Lowest in Fat, I prefer pecans for their dryness)
**** I like to grind 1/2 Cup in the same grinder I used for the spices (this helps clean the grinder and embed more spice in the oats) and then put 1/2 Cup in whole.

Props to A Tasty Kitchen for providing the base of this recipe... to which I added my madstyle.

Additionally you will see I served this along side an amazing Carrot Ginger Soup that comes in a box from Trader Joe's I added cayenne and sour cream to the soup for some cool heat, and it made the most amazing light but filling meal...

Especially since last night I made a pork loin (not lion) and lemon potato mash... mmm...

^^mmm, Pork LION makes me ROAR!!! ^^ @djstevepagan

a.d.d

Im at it again.

Obsessing over things I cannot control, contain or command.
I just want to thank you for this, kind word, I'll be holding these thoughts in my mind till morn.

Wishing the thought only makes it burn more.
Turning over again, its like a bad movie, and I the protagonist of my real life dramedy,
always wanting the be the heroine, forever just the fool.

Strength, not being my forte, erodes my ability to be quiet. I cover my shame with laughter, my nervous too muchness.

Go ahead take the road less traveled, you will find my name carved into the trees, my tracks set deep in the dirt and sand, my fingerprints on each stone; But no melody new, no lyric divine. a cycle of old, an upcycle of life.

Stuck, in my own way, I wait. Slowly making steps, carving the heart of the intention last.
But what if by then there is nothing left to give.
Alone like the Shel's tree, a stump... a stump with the most meaningful earnestness.

The NeyBuzz Featuring 80bug video in San Francsico

Check out the new NeyBuzz record featuring 80bug.

Latest tracks by Neybuzz Music


What a weekend, who knew shooting in the back of a convertible in the very blustery San Francisco would leave one so frizzled.
As usual it started out awesome, there were ups and downs.

ups^

Hanging out in the sun
Listening to great music (mine)
Going to the beach


downs

Getting burned by the sun
Listening to the same song 500 times (mine)
Getting pelted by wind and sand at the beach







Its always a joy and a pain trying to express ourselves in our art, how to dress, how to act, or overact...

But grateful for the wonderful Director Salvador Bautista (Benito) and Emma his partner had such a great vision, and organization.

The best parts of course are always the people that we meet, On set I met my new buddy Dre, it was nice to connect with someone and of course having Lucid be a part of things is always a joy, she suffered pelting sand and crazy wind conditions all with a smile....

Let me just say that when it comes to working with your friends, those who can keep a smile are the best ones to have around...

Looking forward to the video coming out.

Of course the weekend would not be complete without a charity dinner with Bud E. Luv and Huey Lewis. Fantastic wines and amazing food.
My new favorite red would have to be the St. Francis Zin 2008, this one is a keeper ya'll.

Follow that up with a party with all the people I love the most in the Bay Area.
And of course you have to check out Clay White's new bus. Its a double length Provost Tour Bus with an accordion center. SICK!!!

Then the week finished with PORTAL 2 all nighter thanks to Darren and CB... too much fun.

Athena and Pan

I had the craziest dream last night, I was living in NY, and hanging out with an old friend (whom I've never met) Jack, and he asked if I would have dinner with his parents that night, Well like most workaholic non committal men in NY, Jack had not had a girlfriend in years, oh he tried, but too much work made Jack a dull boy, dull in relationships anyway, oh he knew how to drink, dance, fight and fuck, but that was the extent of it, too long had he gone without any real joy, and his folks were coming in from Europe, so would I be his pretend girlfriend of two years. How long he had been telling them that I was his girlfriend was a little shocking, but as always I was up for the game.

What neither of us realized, is that Jack parents had planned a surprise wedding for us, and my mother was there even (from honduras) Of course I knew it was a dream, but you know how you hold onto sleep just to see what happens.

Well I took a break from the craziness, flowers and dj's spontaneously appearing, ect. And I went to lay down for a bit in the bedroom of this boat that was close by, Jack showed up and was in the hottub at the foot of the bed, another diver came into the room and revealed himself to be Hades, and that Jack was in fact Pan, and I was in fact Athena, Hades grabbed me by my ankle and dragged me into the water, bubbles bubbles, and then the phone rang.... damn it.

So..I baked this strawberry rhubarb pie...

It took me three days though, to figure it all out, so many options, recipes, and variations, gotta get all the right ingredients, quick cook tapioca, to add a custard like feel to the pie ( I feel is a must); and then deliberation over crust: Even though I prefer baking with Butter Flavored Crisco; I used just butter to make the crust; Which was whole wheat.

What can I sa

y it tastes delicious; I took the time to weave together my first lattice crust, and the appearance is lovely;

Though I rolled my top dough a little too thick, and so the top crust was a little heavier than I would have liked, but the flavor is spot on, sweet with just a little bitterness... ki

nd of like life.

Pie Crust Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup shortening or butter or any mix thereof

1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

1.In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water un

til mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

2.Roll out dough on a floured counter. Don't over work it. Use as directed in pie recipe.

Strawberry Rhubard Pie Filling Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups diced rhubarb

3 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1 1/2 cups white sugar6 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

1/4 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

1/4 Tsp Cardamom (optional)

Pinch Cayenne (optional, but so good)

1 egg white/water mix for crust

(For a crumb topping, omit top pie crust. Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, and salt. Cut in butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. Spoon over filling, and bake as directed below. Use remaining crust for pizza!!! )

DIRECTIONS:

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line a pie pan with bottom crust.

2.With hands, Mix together rhubarb, strawberries, spices, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and tapioca. Pour into crust. Roll out second crust, and place over the filling. Seal the edges. Brush with 1 egg white whisked with a little bit of water to make it liquid.

3.Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and bake for an additional 35 minutes.

YUM!!!!

Water is so cooler.

Im sick to death about how many plastic water bottle people use, it blows my mind really, where do they all go. And then you try to have these 5/7 gallon containers in your house, storing water like we like in a 3rd world country.

I've found an interesting solution. It's a 5 stage water filter that lives on top that water cooler you already have at home, but you fill it yourself, a pitcherful now and then, and it saves you money, and your back. And if you run out of water at home you don't have to run out to get some... just fill it up. So here it is.

" Zen Water Filter" <<<< CLICK

Now its not the only one on the market but it does to me at least, seem the most cost effective and least priced for filters....

Ill let you know how it goes when I test one out.

Washington Dc

So it wasn't my first trip to DC, I had been there once, with a friend of mine Elihu, we were only there for the day having come back from our friends wedding in Virginia, headed back to the city. The stop entailed a visit with some college buddy and a trip to the Vietnam Memorial, which while poignant was a very heavy experience.

This trip on the other hand was amazing, I never ate so many great meals in my life.

From Ethiopian to Soul Food, such love and care in every bite.

You know I get frustrated with LA sometimes, so many here want to be something other than what they are, and when you go to other cities well the waitress is a waitress, not anything else and she is present, and well its just not like here.

Anyway some great things about DC, did you know that all the museums are free, who knew. I had so much fun bouncing from room to room, Old Russian Rockets, African Artifacts, the Kitty Hawk, Americana at its finest, and free, can't get over that part especially.

At Mattise we had foie gras and mango's, at OOhs and Aahs shrimp and grits.

It rained, it shined, it hailed, and the winds blew and blew. It got very hot, and very cold, and I walked and walked and walked and walked... It was wonderful.

And even though LA is not my favorite place. Its good to be home. With wonderful memories and inspirations.