Hi everyone and welcome to the blog. This week’s blog is dedicated to the memory of two legendary entertainers who’s deaths are commemorated this week Frank Sinatra and Sammy David Jnr. The recipes this week are Somerset Stew with Cheddar & Parsley Mash, Chicken with Harissa & Tomatoes and Sausage Casserole.
Frank Sinatra, (December 12, 1915 - May 14, 1998) was an American singer and film actor. Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the "bobby soxers", he released his first album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra in 1946. His professional career had stalled by the 1950s, but it was reborn in 1953 after he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in From Here to Eternity.
He signed with Capitol Records in 1953 and released several critically lauded albums (such as In the Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Come Fly with Me, Only the Lonely and Nice 'n' Easy). Sinatra left Capitol to found his own record label, Reprise Records in 1961 (finding success with albums such as Ring-a-Ding-Ding!, Sinatra at the Sands and Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim), toured internationally, was a founding member of the Rat Pack and fraternized with celebrities and statesmen, including John F. Kennedy. Sinatra turned 50 in 1965, recorded the retrospective September of My Years, starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, and scored hits with "Strangers in the Night" and "My Way".
With sales of his music dwindling and after appearing in several poorly received films, Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971. Two years later, however, he came out of retirement and in 1973 recorded several albums, scoring a Top 40 hit with "(Theme From) New York, New York" in 1980. Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally, until a short time before his death in 1998. Sinatra also forged a successful career as a film actor, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in From Here to Eternity, a nomination for Best Actor for The Man with the Golden Arm, and critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate. He also starred in such musicals as High Society, Pal Joey, Guys and Dolls and On the Town. Sinatra was honoured at the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1983 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sammy David Jnr (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities. Primarily a dancer and singer, Davis started as a child vaudevillian who became known for his performances on Broadway and Las Vegas. He went on to become a world famous recording artist, television and film star. Davis was also a member of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack".
At the age of three Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father and "uncle" as the Will Mastin Trio, toured nationally, and after military service, returned to the trio. Davis became an overnight sensation following a nightclub performance at Ciro's after the 1951 Academy Awards. With the trio, he became a recording artist. In 1954, he lost his left eye in an automobile accident.
Though his film career had begun as a child in 1933, in 1960 he appeared in the first Rat Pack film, Ocean's 11. After a starring role on Broadway in 1956's Mr Wonderful, Davis returned to the stage in 1964's Golden Boy, and in 1966 had his own TV variety show, The Sammy Davis Jr. Show. Davis' career slowed in the late sixties, but he had a hit record with "The Candy Man", in 1972, and became a star in Las Vegas earning him the nickname Mister Show Business.
As an African American, Davis was the victim of racism throughout his life, and was a large financial supporter of civil rights causes. Davis had a complex relationship with the African-American community, and attracted criticism after physically embracing Richard Nixon in 1970. One day on a golf course with Jack Benny, he was asked what his handicap was. "Handicap?" he asked. "Talk about handicap – I'm a one-eyed Negro Jew." This was to become a signature comment, recounted in his autobiography, and in countless articles.
After reuniting with Sinatra and Dean Martin in 1987, Davis toured with them and Liza Minnelli internationally, before dying of throat cancer in 1990. He died in debt to the Internal Revenue Service, and his estate was the subject of legal battles. Davis was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP, and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his television performances. He was the recipient of the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1987, and in 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The full version of this article can be found at www.garfysplaceinfo.blog.co.uk
My first recipe is Somerset Stew with Cheddar & Parsley Mash Courtesy of Good Food magazine, February 2011.
Serves 4, Prep 15 mins, Cook 35 mins
1 tbsp x Oil
1 x Onion, finely chopped
1 x Garlic Clove, finely chopped
1 x Large Carrot, finely chopped
1 x Leek, chopped
1 tbsp x Tomato Purée
400g x Can of Chopped Tomatoes
200g x Can of Butter Beans, drained
400g x Can of Flageolet Beans, rinsed and drained
200ml x Dry Cider
250ml x Organic Vegetable Stock
A Few Sprigs Thyme, leaves only
Cheddar & Parsley Mash (see tip below)
2 x Sausages
4 tsp x Olive Oil
1 x Onion, finely chopped
1 x Garlic Clove, finely chopped
1 x Large Carrot, finely chopped
1 x Leek, chopped
1 tbsp x Tomato Purée
400g x Can of Chopped Tomatoes
200g x Can of Butter Beans, drained
400g x Can of Flageolet Beans, rinsed and drained
200ml x Dry Cider
250ml x Organic Vegetable Stock
A Few Sprigs Thyme, leaves only
Cheddar & Parsley Mash (see tip below)
2 x Sausages
4 tsp x Olive Oil
Heat oil in a large pan and fry the onion, garlic, carrot and leek until soft but not coloured. Add the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, butter beans, flageolet beans, cider, stock and thyme and simmer for 15-20 mins until the stew has thickened and the veg are tender.
Meanwhile, if you're adding sausages to any portion, snip each sausage into 3-4 chunks. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and brown the chunks for 5 mins, then stir in appropriate portions of the stew and gently simmer for the remaining cooking time. Serve with the mash.
Meanwhile, if you're adding sausages to any portion, snip each sausage into 3-4 chunks. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and brown the chunks for 5 mins, then stir in appropriate portions of the stew and gently simmer for the remaining cooking time. Serve with the mash.
Try, cheddar & parsley mash Peel 850g potatoes, cut into chunks, and boil in salted water for 15 mins or so until tender. Drain, return to the pan and mash with a splash of milk, 25g butter, 75g extra-mature grated cheddar and a handful of chopped parsley. Season. If you like, put the mash in a heatproof dish, dot with butter and place under grill for a few mins for a golden and crisp finish.
My next recipe is Chicken with Harissa & Tomatoes Courtesy of Good Food magazine, June 2008.
Serves 4 Prep 2 mins Cook 15 mins
4 x Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 tsp x Harissa Paste
1 tsp x Olive Oil
1 tsp x Dried Oregano
250g x Cherry Tomatoes
A handful of Kalamata Olives
2 tsp x Harissa Paste
1 tsp x Olive Oil
1 tsp x Dried Oregano
250g x Cherry Tomatoes
A handful of Kalamata Olives
Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Put the chicken into a medium roasting tray, then rub with the harissa, oil and oregano.
Cover with foil and roast for 5 mins, then remove the foil and add the cherry tomatoes and olives to the tray. Roast for 10 mins more until the tomato skins start to split and the chicken is cooked through. Serve with boiled new potatoes.
Cover with foil and roast for 5 mins, then remove the foil and add the cherry tomatoes and olives to the tray. Roast for 10 mins more until the tomato skins start to split and the chicken is cooked through. Serve with boiled new potatoes.
My final recipe is Sausage Casserole Courtesy of www.Slimmingworld.com
Serves: 4 Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 45 mins
4 x Carrots, chopped
4 x Celery Sticks, chopped
1 x Onion, chopped
1 tsp x Freshly Chopped Rosemary
2 tbsp x Freshly Chopped Parsley
300ml x Organic Beef Stock
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
12 x Low Fat Pork Sausages
Fry Light
300g x Button Mushrooms, halved
1-2 tsp x Artificial Sweetener
2 x 400g Cans of Chopped Tomatoes
4 x Celery Sticks, chopped
1 x Onion, chopped
1 tsp x Freshly Chopped Rosemary
2 tbsp x Freshly Chopped Parsley
300ml x Organic Beef Stock
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
12 x Low Fat Pork Sausages
Fry Light
300g x Button Mushrooms, halved
1-2 tsp x Artificial Sweetener
2 x 400g Cans of Chopped Tomatoes
Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Chop the carrots, celery and onion, place in a large pan with the herbs and stock. Season well, bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 5-6 minutes.
Place the sausages on a baking sheet, spray with Fry Light and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into thick diagonal slices. Add the mushrooms to the vegetables with the sausages, tomatoes and artificial sweetener. Season well, transfer to an oven proof dish and bake for 10-12 minutes until bubbling. Serve immediately.
May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine. – Frank Sinatra
Tune into my shows on 6townsradio "The Thursday Morning Show with TheRealTonyc" every Thursday from 10-12 & my Sunday show “UndertheCovers with TheRealTonyc” at http://6towns.co.uk/ It's what your Sunday's were made for.
If you have enjoyed my blog, or have tried out the recipes I have included and wish to comment, please feel free to comment using the comment button or by visiting my guestbook, all comments and suggestions will be gratefully received.
Hope you enjoy!!..... ChefGarfy =D
