#RevolutionaryHeroes The Beatles

Almost 50 years ago, during times as confused and scary as our own, the Beatles released the song ‘Revolution.’ This song could not be more timely and wise (and wise-cracking). Check out some of the lyrics then go have a listen to John, George, Paul and Ringo.

http://bit.ly/1W4cLJh


‘You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out’

Pick your favorite Beatle and find out what that choice says about you! http://bit.ly/2l0omsL

http://bit.ly/2l0omsL

(PLEASE CUT AND PASTE LINKS BECAUSE THEY OFTEN DON'T WORK HERE--IT'S WORTH IT. I PROMISE!)

#RevolutionCookbook Grilled lemon chicken

I have a confession to make. I love my George Forman. Can I hear that again? I LOVE my George Forman Grill—the lean, mean, fat-reducing machine. Mine has the removable plates for easy cleaning. It doesn’t get much better than that.

One of my favorite recipes for the old GF is infinitely flexible and frequently relied upon to quickly satisfy me at the end of a long, busy day.

Grilled Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
• Boneless, skinless breasts or thighs
• Juice from one big (or 2 small) lemons
• Generous helpings of fresh or dried herb/spice of choice (e.g., tarragon, parsley, basil, cumin, cilantro—whatever you have)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Put chicken in bowl to marinate.
2. Add herbs, salt and pepper.
3. Cover with lemon juice. Toss and let marinate at least 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
4. Grill.

On the GF, I check it after 10 minutes of grilling. Thighs usually need a little longer than breasts. In a grill pan, check at 5 to 7 minutes then turnover and continue cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes or until done (no pink inside). Serve with greens or on top of salad.

As a delicious alternative, before you juice the lemon make lemon peels to add to marinade. Add some cumin and mint (fresh or dried), salt and pepper to taste, then marinate as usual and grill. Yum!

#QuirkyNYC: Free (or incredibly cheap) Metropolitan Museum of Art

If you’ll recall the old adage ‘All work and no play makes Jill a dull (and burned out) revolutionary,’ you’ll follow me to my indoor winter playground!

Sure, sure the place is filled with paintings, but I prefer visiting the many artifacts from distant lands. When I hit the Met, I am an adventurer!!

Did you know that the Greeks wanted their statues to look as life-like as possible? They thought that the eyeballs in particular were a dead giveaway that this was a statue perched 50 feet (15 m) above the ground on the top of some column. Really? That’s the only problem? Anyway, there were special eyeball artists to make statues look more realistic. The next time you see a statue with gouged out eyeballs, now you know why.

I love this rock. I remember the first time I saw it. A friend took me there and said I would just love this. I was beyond disappointed. It took a while for our relationship to develop. As you can see, there is a layer of water that looks like glass on top, but the sound that this rock makes is that of a babbling brook. In this one, the eyes are the deceivers. I can just imagine this crazy artist named Noguchi, who moved to NYC at the height of the 1930s depression. He set up shop across the street from cemetery monument makers, because they had the best rocks. More on him in another post.

Despite all of the discoveries you’ll make in your endless, aimless wandering (forget the map!), you’ll need a break at some point. I always head to the courtyard of the glorious American Wing and get myself a cup of tea. I alternate looking out on Central Park and in to the monumental courtyard.

Both Friday and Saturday nights are free at the Met! That’s a tad misleading because you still have to go up to a cashier to get a ticket. You’re encouraged to give a little something. On the flip side, you can really go any time you want—and pay what you want. The suggested donation is $25. As every European (and not so many Americans) knows, you don’t have to pay anywhere near that—unless you can afford to.

#metropolitanmuseumofart #noguchi #eyeballs #AmericanWing

#Resist -- and how: Tell your story

On World AIDS Day last year (December 1st for those who want to put it in their calendar for this year), I wrote an opinion piece ‘After decades of research, why is AIDS still rampant?’ http://bit.ly/2gcy0Gq

Nobody ever talks about AIDS or HIV anymore, even though 5,753 people will become newly infected with HIV—today. And tomorrow and the day after that. HIV is not an equal opportunity virus, like flu. It targets people who are historically discriminated against.

You want proof? Almost 15 years after we’ve pretty much stopped talking about HIV, AIDS remains a leading cause of death for African American men and women, and Latino men.

Our resistance is going to have to tackle the hard issues of inequality, discrimination and social justice. By identifying specific pieces of the puzzle—including health injustice, criminal justice reform, the immigration ban—and telling YOUR stories—in local newspapers, at town hall meetings, to your government representatives—we make it personal.

And it is personal.

#blacklivesmatter #AIDS #theresistance #immigrationreform

#WednesdayWomen: Genesis at Housing Works, New York City

#RevolutionaryHeroes – Bessie Colman

The year is 1921. The place is France. Bessie Colman becomes the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license.

Talk about a can-do spirit! She started school in a one room segregated school house in Texas and proved herself to be an outstanding math student. (There are lots of #HiddenFigures in the US!) Her natural talents and interest in aviation were not enough to ensure that she got training in the US. She taught herself French so that she could go to France to study. The rest is history! At least in terms of a pilot’s license.

Like many early pilots, Bessie Colman died in a plane accident. She was on her way to do flying stunts at an airshow as ‘Queen Bess.’ She was 34 years old.

#blacklivesmatter #theresistance #resist #blackhistorymonth

#RevolutionCookbook White Bean and Kale Stew

Garlicky White Bean & Kale Stew

Do you hate cold, gray winter days as much as I do? Here's a recipe for garlicky white bean and kale stew to warm your cockles.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions
6 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, but really delicious)
5 bay leaves
Pinch chili flakes
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
2- 2 ½ cups cooked white beans (lima, butter, navy, cannelini…)
2 cups packed shredded kale leaves
2 cups vegetable broth
1 can (14 oz.) organic whole tomatoes
Olive oil to garnish (optional)

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large stockpot. Slice onions and add to the pot with a couple pinches sea salt, chili, bay leaves and paprika. Cook for a few minutes until the onions have softened, then add sliced garlic. If the pot becomes dry, add a little juice from the tinned tomatoes.
2. Add all other ingredients, bring to a boil, season to taste, and serve with a drizzle of olive oil (since everything is cooked, you don’t need to heat it long). If you are going to let it simmer for a while, add the kale about 5-10 minutes before serving so that it retains more of its nutritional value.

Serves 3-4