Mark Freeland Remembered

I am taping the WLKK (The Lake) tribute/bio of Mark Freeland, if anyone is interested. It's two hours of interviews, music, etc.

Consuming Consummation

Welcome, readers (if any) of Consumption By Celia.

Reading
The Happiness Myth - Jennifer Michael Hecht. Best book I've read in ages, about opening our thinking via historical perspectives on drugs, sex, enlightenment, and the body. Wonderful to read about happiness, as rendered by a poet-historian.
The Witch Family - Eleanor Estes
The Book of Miso

Listening
old radio interviews I did in the 90's
Victory Gardens - John & Mary
Kenneth Patchen poems

Eating
Saag Paneer
Pesto made from any thriving herb in the garden, gathered between rainfalls
lemon-poppy seed muffin

Watching
Gilmore Girls re-runs
Ahmet Ertegun profile
The Weavers - Wasn't That a Time

Celia reads at the Screening Room, Tomorrow

I'll be reading at the Screening Room on June 20 at 7:30. (After, Joe Rozler and Rob Lynch are playing at Nietzsche's--so make a night of it!)

Here is some info about the reading:

- Celia White, active poet in the WNY poetry scene. Former host of the Tru-Teas poetry readings, now focusing on education, and continuing the Urban Epiphany Readings. She has a new collection, Letter, newly published by Ambient Press. This is a great opportunity to purchase this books of poems new and old.
- With Rose Salley, who we are happy to say, has agreed to share her wonderful words with us this month after facing a challenge back in March, which prevented us from enjoying her words, only for a moment.

Located in the Northtown Plaza Business Center, 3131 Sheridan Dr. (837-0376). Parking & entrance located in area behind Tom's at Bailey & Sheridan across from Orville's Appliances. Admission is $2. Time 7:15 (sign-up) – 9:30.

ps- As we all know, things can change, but we hope not. For your information, we generally start at 7:30, opening with two/three open mic readers, our 1st featured, followed by a few more open mike, then our 2nd featured, closing with the rest of the open mics, ending at around 9:15 -9:30.
The open mics are about 5 min. ea. and our featured(s) are 20 min. ea. As always, we will have an "artist(s) basket" so that whoever would like to, can give a donation, with all the proceeds going to the featured artist(s) and musicians (From time to time BASS and CO. will be in the house)

(Image: an old one, taken by someone I don't know, long ago.)

I made this yesterday, and had it with frozen/heated-on-skillet paratha from SuperBazaar Indian Grocery on Sheridan Drive in Amherst, NY. Really wonderful. I didn't use cream, and I added some onions. It is fast, easy, and delicious.

Saag Paneer

Madhur Jaffrey World of the East Vegetarian Cooking

1 inch cube of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped

3-6 cloves garlic, peeled

½ to 1 fresh hot chile, sliced roughly (I use jalepeno)

Paneer (I use queso fresco, got at Wegman's, inexpensive), cut into chunks

salt

¼ tsp garam masala

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

6 Tbs vegetable oil

1 ½ pounds spinach, washed, trimmed, and very finely chopped

3 Tbs heavy cream (optional)

Put ginger, garlic and green chili into the container of an electric blender or food processor along with ¼ cup water. Blend until you have a smooth paste.

Heat the oil in a large, non-stick saute pan over medium flame. Put in the pieces of paneer and fry them, turning gently as they go golden brown on all sides. (This happens fairly quickly.) Remove from pan and place on plate in a single layer. Sprinkle with a bit of salt, the garam masala and cayenne. Set aside.

Put the paste from the blender into the hot oil in the pan (keep your face averted) and fry it, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds. Now put in the spinach and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir thespinach around for 1 minute. Cover the pan, lower the heat and let the spinach cook gently with the ginger-garlic paste for 15 minutes. There should be enough water clinging to the spinach leaves to cook them. If all the water evaporates, add 1 to 2 tablespoons and continue cooking.

Now put in the paneer and cream, stir gently, and bring to a simmer. Cover, and continue cooking on low heat for another ten minutes. Stir once or twice during this period.

I've been putting up recipes for A LONG time, but have been keeping it from you! Please accept my apologies.

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My father, C. Patrick White (1920-2007) has passed away at the age of 87. He often said that he'd had a great life and that he did not want to live to be very old. I hope he can listen to some Ella Fitzgerald now.

P.S. for local readers, artist/musician Mark Freeland has also just passed. RIP.