Blog
Listen: In The Heights
Matt C. For a lot of people these days, hope goes a long way. Some hope I'm getting has come from a dig back into a special experience I had from seeing the Lin-Manual Miranda musical In The Heights on Broadway in 2010. I was re-inspired to listen to the original Broadway Cast Recording because of the trailer drop for the movie version of the musical, set to premiere in theaters and on HBO Max later this summer. I would encourage you to stream the soundtrack for some Latin and Hip-Hop inspired fun based on the experiences of the tight-knit community in Washington Heights, New York - but that just might spoil what is come on the big screen this summer! For now, you can enjoy watching the trailer on a loop like I have here, or just dive right in and take a big bite out of the Original Broadway Cast Recording on Spotify here.
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Watch: Da 5 Bloods
Matt C. Spike Lee has spent his entire career making films that force America to confront its history, and how it's been told. His latest film is no different. Da 5 Bloods, a Netflix-joint, released last year, centers on Vietnam veterans. In the initial screenplay, the majority of the characters where white, but Lee and his cowriter Kevin Willmott purposefully rewrote them as Black soldiers. The inspiration behind the revamp is best told by Lee, himself: "The fact is that the majority of the films that dealt with Vietnam, the Black experience was not a part of the story," Lee told NPR. "When we got the script from the producer ... Kevin and I automatically knew what we needed to do. ... This would give us the opportunity to tell the story of the Black effort, the 'Bloods,' who fought and died in Vietnam." The highlight for me was Delroy Lindo's performance as Paul, a vet struggling with PTSD who ends up being the focal point of the story. You can stream Da 5 Bloods on Netflix here and watch the trailer here.
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Camping Tips
Bethany S. Camping season is upon us and if you’re able to get to a local campsite this summer I have some suggestions for a satisfying overnight stay! Make and pack ahead a large portion of pasta salad: here’s a quick and delicious recipe from Pinch of Yum. It’s a quick easy snack or meal when you’re not feeling like the same boring hotdog you had for lunch Stores easy in a big resealable bag in your cooler which is a great space saver Hack your S’mores by making it with Celebration milk chocolate cookies The milk chocolate is built right into the cookie! And the cookie is the perfect shape! Magic. Bring a couple of games like Taboo or Mad Gab When things dwindle down after your day of adventuring, games like these are great to keep things fun Pack an all-natural bug spray that actually goes a long way like this one from Shoreline Body Co. Honestly this stuff packs a punch! I used this while working on a film set in Tofino and the mosquitos were a plenty. I was the only one not getting bit or bothered thanks to this amazing natural repellent. And bonus! No crazy smelling chemicals that seem to barely work anyway. I hope you have a great camping season and if you have any tips you’d like to share, write them in the comments below!
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How To Survive an Earthquake
Rebecca L. I have never experienced a major earthquake, but just a little one once many years ago. No major damage was done and just a couple of glasses smashed in the kitchen, but I realized I had no idea what to actually do if a major earthquake hit. The devastation that such an event can deliver is terrifying, and recently I came across a video that outlines some of the important steps to take if you ever find yourself in such a crisis. One thing that we can all do is identify a safe spot for ourselves and our loved ones to meet…usually you want to have 2, one outside the house (in the street or the yard) and another open space outside of the residential area like a local park, or field. Another good idea is to have a few emergency supply kits accessible in the house. Enough water and snacks for a few days, a first aid kit, flashlight and a radio are helpful. When it comes to the actual moment, the DROP, COVER and HOLD practice is outlined in this video. Anyone else who sometimes finds themselves lost in a YouTube hole, might also recognise this channel dedicated to surviving disasters. Check out the super intense episode on surviving an earthquake here:
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Spanish Tortilla
Rebecca L. ¡Hola! I’ve been learning Spanish over the past few weeks, and luckily for me I live with some lovely Spanish ladies. A topic of debate that often comes up in our kitchen, other than which wine or cheese is the best, is Tortilla. This traditional Spanish dish is an omelette made with egg and potato. One might argue that a little bit of green onion is the perfect addition to this delicious dish, and another might tell you that pepper will ruin the taste of the oil. I have another friend who keeps a jar of oil ONLY for tortilla and reuses the same oil every time. I have personally never tried to make a tortilla as I'm scared of messing it up, but I am eager to have a try and see what my Spanish mates think. Here’s a simple recipe to follow, and I mean simple. It’s up to you if you think the onion or the pepper is needed! INGREDIENTS: 4-6 Medium potatoes (white)1 cup of Olive Oil½ Dozen Large EggsSalt/Pepper NOTE: As a guide, my friend says her proportions are one egg for every medium potato and as potatoes are always different sizes, a 6-person tortilla would roughly be around 4 potatoes and 6 eggs. METHOD A skillet works best for this (preferably one that is smaller than your dinner plate): STEP 1 Scrub, Peel and chop the potatoes into little 1-2cm cubes. Meanwhile, heat all the oil in your skillet for about 4-5 minutes. Drop in a potato cube to see if the oil is hot enough, if it bubbles around the potato edge it’s ready! Add potatoes with a little salt in batches, being sure not to overcrowd the pan. Use a wooden spoon to gently turn the potatoes in the oil, reduce the heat just so the oil bubbles gently. STEP 2 Continue to turn the potatoes every few minutes, until they are tender, and you can easily pierce them with a fork. Keep adjusting the heat so they don’t burn, you don’t want them to brown or break. As the potatoes are cooking, whisk up the eggs in a bowl with some salt. STEP 3 Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them in a colander or sieve, but keep the oil aside in a bowl. Combine the warm potatoes with the beaten eggs and gently mix together (Some people say to leave this mixture to sit for 10 minutes). Wipe the skillet with some paper towel and return to a medium flame adding a couple spoonsful of the reserved oil. Add the eggy potato mixture to the skillet and watch as the edges start to bubble and firm up, once they do reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for a further 5 minutes. STEP 4 With the top of the tortilla still runny, run a spatula around the edges of the pan, put your dinner plate on top of the skillet and very carefully, but firmly, flip the tortilla onto the plate. Add a bit more of the reserved oil to the skillet, and carefully return the tortilla to it using the spatula to guide it in. Cook for another 5 minutes, and then slide the tortilla onto a clean dinner plate. Don’t eat it immediately, let it rest for around 15 minutes as it tastes best at room temperature. My friends usually serve tortilla as a dinner with a simple cheese board, some charcutier and lots of wine. It’s also delicious completely on its own, and cold, as a snack or breakfast. Try it with a mixed leaf salad and a blob of mayonnaise. What’s your favourite tortilla recipe?
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Courgette and Summer Squash Salad
Bethany S. Spring has officially sprung here in the Pacific Northwest and we couldn’t be happier for all this sunshine and warmth. It already has me dreaming up beautiful picnics, tapas nights and BBQ. One of my favourite dishes to make is for those warm spring/summer evenings, a perfect accompaniment to whatever you’ve just taken off the grill. A ribboned courgette(zucchini) and summer squash salad! It’s got a zesty citrus finish with a kick of heat from the chilis that you keep you going back for more - if it lasts during first helpings! The Recipe: 2 Courgette (Zucchini) 2 Summer Squash 1 Cucumber 1-2 Fresh red chili or ½ tsp chili flakes(Optional) Feta Cheese Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1-2 Tbsp Fresh dill Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil Maldon salt and cracked black pepper to taste Directions: Step 1 Using a vegetable peeler make long ribbons with your courgette, summer squash and cucumber. Make sure you stop with the cucumber once you reach the seeds as we don’t want to add water to the salad. Place into large bowl. Step 2 Thinly slice your chili and pick your dill off the stem and toss into bowl. Then Zest and juice lemon straight into salad as well and toss. Step 3 Drizzle in olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Finish by crumbling desired amount of feta cheese on top (I would go for the whole pack personally!) And that’s that! Super easy, bright, and delicious! It’s sure to be a Summer favourite. Let us know if you try the recipe or if you have any salad recipes you like to make in warmer weather in the comments below!
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LISTEN: Still Processing Podcast
Matt C. Throughout the year, I have had a tumultuous relationship with podcasts. Whether it is finding the right fit, weighing the pros and cons between the value in listening to something informative vs. informational... the list can go on. It wasn't until the recent return of probably my favourite podcast of all time, The New York Times' Still Processing, that my woes were put to bed. The podcast talks everything popular culture, and the culture that surrounds being a young-ish, mindful-ish human person trying to survive in the 'modern' world! In their returning episode, Now That's What I Call A Bridge!, they broke down the recent boom of the song Drivers Licence by Olivia Rodrigo and its impact on popular culture, explaining, 'Bridges used to be a core feature of popular music, but they’ve become an endangered species, right next to the sitcom laugh track.' Some of my favourite episodes include their deep dives on the lives and careers of some of our most beloved musicians including Lauren Hill, Whitney Houston and Tupac. You can listen to Still Processing on Apple Podcasts here and Spotify here.,
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