News 01.12

Happy New Year and many thanks to the ‘Corned Beef Lover’ for emailing in the cover of Cool Cooking: Recipes of Your Favourite Rock Stars by Roberta Ashley back in 1972.

Google helped me find a recipe from the book, from none other than Elton John.

Elton John’s Favorite Shrimp Curry
¼ cup butter
4 large onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups water or coconut milk
3 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped
2 large apples, peeled and chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 Tbsp. shredded coconut
1 small piece ginger root (or ¾ tsp. powdered ginger)
1 Tbsp. sugar
1½ Tbsp. curry powder (or more)
1½ Tbsp. flour
1½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3½ pounds raw shrimp, shelled and deveined

Heat the butter in a large skillet; add the onions and garlic and cook until lightly browned. Add the water or coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes, apples, celery, shredded coconut, and ginger and bring back to a boil. Blend the sugar, curry powder, flour salt and pepper together. Add enough cold water to make a paste and gradually stir into the boiling mixture. Partially cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are very tender, about 40 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook 5 more minutes or until shrimp are done. Serve over rice, for 8 people.

Send us feedback if anyone dares make it.

Roberta Ashley also published Singers & Swingers back in 1967: They’re hip, mod, delicious recipes from today’s top scene-makers – and guaranteed to turn taste buds everywhere! For barbecues, parties, soul sessions, double dates or happenings, here are dozens of easy-to-prepare, easy-on-the-bread, satr-studded dishes that will keep you grooving with the greatest.

Guest contributors include The Animals, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, The Animals, Sonny & Cher and Barbara Streisand.
But wait, there’s more… The book includes fan photos, personality lowdowns, Party ideas, Menus, Kitchen Quickies and Snaknik Delights (whatever they are!)

And so to our picks for 2011…
International album: Tom Waits, Bad As Me
Local: Fabulous Arabia, Unlimited Buffet
International Gig: The National
Best Local Gig: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Drink of the Year: Lighthouse Gin
Magazine of the Year: Dazed & Confused
Movie of the Year: Melancholia
DVD of the Year: Senna
Best TV Show: Treme
Guilty Pleasure TV Show: America’s Next Top Model (the series when Ann Ward won)
Disappointment of the Year: Elbow, Build a Rocket Boys, Tricky at The Powerstation

The image of the Roller Disco was taken with our new Holga Plastic Camera, the ones that the Hipstamatic App imitates, only this is shot on colour negative film, oh so analogue.

And finally we’ll be working on a new b>side in 2012. It is taking a bit of a turn in both content and form, but more on that later…