All music, Kool and the Gang, best base line since Motown

This post is about my personal base line favorites. This example from Kool and the Gang was a classic. I hope they fired the choreographer. I never under stood the halo thingy across Kool's forehead.

Rare Earth was the only white group that ever had a contract with Motown. This performance in my opinion, was the best drumming vocal I ever witnessed. I saw them live at an Octoberfest of all things.

 Robert Cray Band, "Smokin Gun" One of the best base to lead guitar mixes, effortless. I really thought Robert Cray  was going to be in the running for BB King status. I guess there's still time.

"Simple Man" by Lynard Skynard. This song has always  given me a kind of peace, just like the video I chose to couple with the song, Enjoy! I've got room for one more, some of you may not have even knew this last one existed. Let me go get it, be right back!

 Van Morrison, to me this group musically was one of the absolute best. They were fluid, tight and talented. Let's face it, their were far  better front men than Van, but his uniqueness,  song writing talent and his band, left a very special mark on contemporary music. I've got more, but that will be in another post. Can you say Joe Cocker? That will be in the All Soul post.

"Simple" Cookie Making Tips for the Holidays and Every Day

• Read through the recipe and check the ingredients, pan sizes and any special requirements, such as chilling the dough. Be sure to measure all the ingredients accurately and always preheat the oven before baking. Oven temp. 325 degrees (wait for the beep.beep...beep)
• To easily shape drop cookies, use an ice cream scoop with a release bar. The bar usually has a number on it indicating the number of scoops that can be made from one quart of ice cream. The handiest size is a #80 to #90 scoop. This will yield about one rounded teaspoon full of dough for each cookie.
• When a recipe calls for greasing the cookie sheets,  use shortening or a nonstick cooking spray. What I use is parchment paper instead of greasing. It eliminates clean-up, bakes the cookies more evenly and allows them to cool right on the paper. I have three cooling locations, when they first come out, I lay the paper (hold paper, pull edges until paper  lays flat and put on cooling rack on the left counter) Put the next batch in and move the cookies you just took out, and lay them on another counter to the right counter on a cooling rack and repeat, over and over until you're happy with the number of cookies. Once you get the rhythm,they can go in gift boxes or refreeze for a later time. They will freeze well for 60 days.
• For even baking and browning, bake cookies in the center of the oven. If heat distribution in your oven is uneven, turn the cookie sheet halfway through the cooking time.



Christmas Cookies



Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip

• Most cookies bake quickly and should be watched carefully to avoid over baking. It is better to slightly under bake, rather than over bake cookies

Cookies should bake, edges should start to brown 12 minutes Max. Then take them out! Simple recipe for the simple man or woman!  I love being a simple man.Enjoy the video, thanks for looking and Happy Holidays!

A Poem from Jackie to Mom~

That's me watching something, there was so much stuff to look at!

She didn't cook, she didn't iron and never thought of
 cleaning, but that's alright, were family.

She taught us right from wrong, she sometimes came on a little too strong, but that's alright, were family.

She saw beauty in junk, kept a lot of it around, which made her the talk of her tiny little water town, but, that's alright, were family.

She taught us to be strong, could have used a little of how to get along, but that's alright, were family


She loved life, and saw beauty everywhere, she lived in her own world, but that's alright, were family.

We are older now, and see things differently, hoping that all the strength, courage and zest for life she had was passed on to us, that's the true Legacy of family.

She taught us to be strong, taught us to push on, taught us to be family.

She came in with nothing and when she left she was rich, she had people who loved her she had family.

Our sorrow is great, our emptiness is deep, but she didn't leave us alone she left family.

 

 

God knew what we needed before we were born, she made sure we got to church, she made sure we were reborn, it's what you do for family.

I know you are walking with God hand in hand, someday we will all be together and we all will be a part of God's family.

Mom, you gave us life, you gave us love, there were many tears and much laughter, one thing I want everyone to know is that you left your kids, their spouses, your grand kids and great grand kids with great families.

Love you Mom,

Jackie