Been Feeling a Bit Blue...

...so of course I need some music. All of these songs make me happy, although maybe not dancing-round-the-house happy.  But better. I'm sure they will help with my blues. Now I just have to remember to play them.

The Good and the Bad by The New F-O's (This was the background music at the party in the TV show Wilfred, episode 11, "Isolation."  I've been puzzling over what F-O means.  Don't know--perhaps I'm naive.)

The Golden Age by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour  (heard this on a recent Heineken commercial)

Till IGet There by Lupe Fiasco (from the album Lasers)

My Foolish Heart by Jazmine Sullivan  (now, of all places, I heard this in Ross.  You know, Ross Dress for Less?  One never knows where one might hear good music, does one?)

All Night High by Lisa Shaw

Solitude Charmante by Cafe Americaine

Good Night Good Morning by Beth Ditto (There are terrible National Enquirer pictures of who looks, uh, not so good in a bikini, and this name always comes up.  Never knew who she was until I came across this song, which is really good. And not that I read the Enquirer. Well, not very often.)

Season's Trees by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi  (This is from an album called Rome, which was made as an homage to Italian movies of the '60s. Really good.)

Antenna by Zion I

Out Go the Lights by Spoon  (I'm always surprised Spoon doesn't get more play.  They are one of my favorite bands, ever.)

What Should I Do with All These Apricots?

[caption id="attachment_539" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The crops"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_540" align="alignleft" width="210" caption="The jam"][/caption]

Whilst sitting by the pool today with my good friend Mr. Heineken, enjoying a gorgeous Vacaville day, listening to Danger Mouse's latest disc, Rome (which is wonderful, by the way), it slowly began to dawn on me that if I have something to say about apricots I had best do it posthaste.  Apricot season is short but intense, leaving one with a frantic need to quickly do something with a lot of apricots.  Apricots are my very favorite fruit, but one can only eat so many. So, yes, yesterday I made yet another batch of  jam.   And then I also made a batch of Apricot Chutney.  My mother made this every year when I was a child.  I have only one apricot tree, but the house where I grew up came with about six.  Sort of an embarrassment of riches.  This chutney smells wonderful as it cooks, instantly taking me back to my childhood summers, where the kitchen was hot, the windows were flung wide, and chopped apricots, onions, and limes, as well as little piles of chilies and raisins, covered the counters.  This is a spicy chutney,  and it goes well with Indian food, as well as with your average roasted chicken or grilled pork tenderloin.  Chutney is so much easier than jam--no skimming the foam, no water bath needed. It's a nice change from Major Grey, and makes a good Christmas gift, too.  So here you go.

[caption id="attachment_544" align="alignleft" width="210" caption="Chutney in progress"][/caption]

Apricot Chutney    

makes 4 pints (or 8 half pints)

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup cider vinegar

1 Tbl. minced fresh ginger

1 tsp. allspice

1 tsp dry mustard

Dash ground cloves

3 small dried chile peppers, crushed

1 small whole lime, finely chopped (peel and all)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup raisins

1 clove garlic, minced

[caption id="attachment_545" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Chutney complete!"][/caption]

4 lbs. pitted apricots, cut into 1/2" pieces

Put all ingredients except apricots in a large pan and bring to a boil.   Add apricots and bring mixture back to the boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.  Ladle into hot sterilized jars and seal with hot sterilized lids and rings.  Yup, that's it.  We're done.  This recipe is from the '60s--feels very M.F.K. Fisher, n'est-ce pas?