Wednesday, August 30, 2006

just like the real thing...

big shock, i know...but i missed this week's elimination round of rockstar: supernova (stupid cable), but found this gem on my search for the results. thank god for the interweb. i don't know anything about this blog or this blogger...but the liveblog of tonight's episode made me laugh out loud. more than once.

some of my particular favorites:
  1. Reference to Supernova as Supermediocre
  2. We interrupt this review to ask, "Why is Dilana wearing silver horns?"
  3. Ryan says that he could have made 20 years of good music with Supernova, and his "good luck" to them sounds for all the world like he's saying, "You're going to suck now without me." Oh, Ryan, Ryan. They'll suck no matter who they choose.
heh. it's almost as good as watching it myself. Although I do wish I saw that Ryan drama live. What a tool that guy is.

fix your jones for a clever little blog @ Ramblings of a Cat-Controlled Mind

Posted by sarah t. at 9:54 PM 4 comments




Monday, August 21, 2006

Try Your Hand in the Kitchen

Friday night, I had a yummy dinner at a nice little restaurant nearby...and topped off the hearty meal with a fantastic, if a tad strange sounding, dessert. Olive oil cake sounds like exactly the type of thing that is not, in fact, a fantastic dessert--it conjures something a little too greasy, a little too tasteless, a little too...weird. But, when I asked our waiter about it, he waxed rhapsodic and exclaimed that it was, indeed, perfect...like a poundcake without the butter...the perfect blend of sugary, floury goodness.

He was right. For those of you who are trying to watch that cholesterol intake (those scary trans fats get you every time in the baked goods arena), olive oil cake is a great idea--i would have used "substitute," but it didn't feel like a substitution at all.

Try this recipe from Tulocay's Made in Napa Valley:

Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 extra large eggs, separated, at room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Lemon
3 tbsp grated lemon zest

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease and flour an 8" springform pan, or line a cake pan with parchment paper.

Place egg yolks, sugar, olive oil and lemon zest in a large bowl and mix until combined. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add to above mixture and mix until just combined. With a mixer, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold into the flour mixture until combined, being careful not to overmix.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Rotate the pan and turn the oven down to 325° and bake for another 15 minutes. The cake will rise and turn a nice deep golden brown color. It is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Garnish with lemon zest and serve with a side of fruit and crème fraíche.

Fix your jones for more olive oil-centered recipes @ www.madeinnapavalley.com and oliveoilsource.com

Posted by sarah t. at 3:02 PM 1 comments




Wednesday, August 16, 2006

is it safe to have a dad crush on a metalhead?

first, apologies to jonesing readers...i don't have a very good excuse for going AWOL, except that i went to New Orleans for a week at the end of June and came back with a desire for my next post to be about that. I'm still trying to figure how to explain the emotions, the experience, and the reality i found there...and the post is coming...it's just taking some time.

so...instead...i give you a little piece of fluff. enjoy.

as you may recall from last year, i have a frightening love of the "Rockstar" reality tv show--born of my equaling frightening love of the band Inxs. Last summer, Rockstar: Inxs captured my attention like no other reality television show has ever done. without it, i am certain i would have been a far more productive human being! when it was announced this year that Rockstar: would continue with a brand new band headlined by Tommy Lee, I was skeptical. I've never been a hard rock kind of girl...motley crue was never how i rolled...i have little to no knowledge of the genre--except, perhaps, of crossover hits like "Enter Sandman" and "Welcome to the Jungle." My knowledge of Tommy Lee's contribution to the world of music is even further limited. I knew him, not as a drummer, but as a familiar face from the pages of my US magazine. (Thank goodness for Wenner Media)

Nevertheless, I endeavored to persevere--committed in equal parts to producer Mark Burnett, and co-star Dave Navarro (who doesn't love a guy with the balls to wax his eyebrows into points and wear arm warmers?)

And lucky me. My knowledge of Enter Sandman and Welcome to the Jungle pays off! Supernova is more than just kooky Tommy Lee! It is Jason Newstead, former bassist for Metallica, and Gilby Clarke, former rhythm guitarist for Guns n' Roses! (Did I know who these people were before hand? Hell no! Does it matter now? No! I am converted!) They are smart where Tommy Lee is not. Clever where he is heavy handed. Good humored where he appears not to "get it."

Which brings me to the title question of this particular post. I have developed a strange crush. It's odd. It's unfathomable. But it's true. I have a dad crush on Jason Newstead. Is that wrong?

Jones, you may say, what exactly is this dad crush you speak of? Well, I'm glad you asked. To be blunt...I would like Jason Newstead to adopt me. He's so supportive and kind...so concerned for the best interests of the crazy rockers on the show. In one night, he cautions Lukas to take care of his "incredible" voice and congratulates Zayra on a beautiful, if completely ludicrous, song. He's the dad we all wanted: slightly nagging, challenging without being critical, supportive without being Ward Cleaver. Is it any wonder that I adore him?

I wonder if he'll give me away at my wedding? If I ask nicely?

fix your jones for the rockstar of your choice @ rockstar.msn.com, jasonizer.com, gilbyclarke.com, tommylee.tv, or 6767.com

Posted by sarah t. at 12:54 PM 2 comments




Monday, August 14, 2006

puppetry is the greatest of artforms


it's been a while, i know.
here's a little something for your patience.
xo, jones

Posted by sarah t. at 2:02 PM 2 comments