It’s been the best past few weeks. I have reconnected to a world that I didn’t even realize I was missing. A friend of my invited me to an AIDS benefit concert, being it was such a good cause I didn’t hesitate to join her for the evening. The GAIA organization brought Habib Koite & Bamada to perform. Habib Koite is a Malian musician who sings and plays guitar. Even though it wasn’t in English the melody was universally upbeat, strong rhythms, and percussions. It was impossible to sit down. The music swept you away to an island beach with pure white sand and crystal blue water. You could envision the black night and torch lights illuminating the night sky as people pounded the sand to keep beat with the music. When they finished performing, I knew I would would hear them in my head for the rest of the ride home and I did.
Then a week later I was invited to the symphony where I heard Andrew Watts performing with our city’s classical orchestra. He was magnificent passion poured out of his fingertips and dazzled the audience with his brilliance. The music was all encompassing and etheral as if one was lifted in the clouds to reign with the gods for an evening.
Two evening with music completely different but equally satisfying. The beauty also lied in the ease of the evening. I called my husband invited him to join us both times declined so I left without having to worry about cooking for anyone or in the real old days getting a baby sitter. There is definately some major pros to not having children living at home full-time.
A recipe to eat with gusto………By Rachael Ray
1 lb of large shrimp shelled & deveined
1/4 C extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
! T grated lemon peel
2 grated cloves garlic
1/2 t crushed red pepper
salt and pepper
1 lb fresh linquine
4 leeks trimmed, thinly sliced
1/2 C dry white wine , or vermouth
1/4 C chopped parsley
In bowl toss shrimp with 2 T of EVOO, lemon peel, garlic & crushed pepper
Season salt and pepper. Boil water, add pasta cook 5 minutes. Large skillet heat remaining EVOO, cook leeks until wilted. Push leeks to side cook shrimp pour in wine and stir. Add pasta to skillet season with salt and pepper, Add parsley and serve. YUM.
