Very quick and easy, especially if you have a food processor, this flavorful slaw pairs well with grilled or roasted meats, such as my previous pork tenderloin post.

INGREDIENTS:

6 cups thin sliced savoy cabbage

1 cup coarsely grated carrots

1 cup coarsely grated radish (daikon, if available)

2 cups red bell pepper, cut into strips

½ cup each fresh mint and cilantro

4 or 5 green onions, sliced

½ cup seasoned rice vinegar

2 TBSP each sesame and vegetable oils

2 or 3 serrano chiles, seeded and finely chopped

Combine cabbage through green onions in a large bowl.  Whisk the oils together with the chiles and season to taste with salt & pepper.  When ready to serve, toss dressing with the slaw and season with salt & pepper to taste.

3 cloves garlic, pressed

2 TBSP each:  lime juice, olive oil, thyme leaves, minced shallot and minced ginger

1/2 tsp each:  ground cinnamon & allspice, freshly grated nutmeg, coriander, salt & pepper

2 – 1 lb. pork tenderloins, silver skin removed and butterflied (cut lengthwise to unfold about 3/4 inch thick), which cuts down the cooking time and gives the spice rub more area to penetrate.

Whisk together all ingredients except pork, then pour over butterflied tenderloins, turning to coat.  Cover and refrigerate while marinating, 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the oven “grill” and cast iron skillet or grill pan.  Lightly oil the pan and place on the top rack of your oven to preheat.  Set the temp as high as it’ll go, either 500º or 550º.  When it reaches that temp, switch the setting to broil, then carefully remove the pan and put the marinated pork in.  The cooking time will vary from kitchen to kitchen but for this well done’s probably close to 10 minutes.  Flip the meat halfway through cooking time to sear in the juices on both sides.  You’ll want an instant read meat thermometer (most grocery stores carry them) and when it’s inserted into the thickest  part of the meat it should peak at 160º for medium, 170º for well done.

Remove the meat from the pan and let it rest on a platter, tented with aluminum foil before slicing thin, on a diagonal, against the grain.  This is delicious with fresh apple sauce or just a sliced fruit like a plum, nectarine, mango or peach.  Also great with Savoy Slaw with Mint & Cilantro … recipe comin’ right up!

Produced by Songwriter Hall Of Fame member John Oates and the Wheeler Opera House, The 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival is the nation’s most intimate musical weekend, as it creates the shortest distance between the artists who write the songs and the fans who want to hear them in their purest, most real form. Legendary writers perform side by side with the next great generation of songwriting talent. Be on the cutting edge of the music with 7908!

CMT

MusicFog

Washington Post

“The singer’s poise is particularly impressive with “Bad Angel,” a swaggering, roadhouse-ready tune about facing down addiction. Flanked by Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson — two of Nashville’s heirs to the outlaw country mantle — Bentley holds his own. “I’m standing at the crossroads of temptation and Salvation Street,” he sings, his voice packing enough bravura, you actually believe that he’s not only been to the bottom — he’s going to pull through, too. ”

-Chris Richards

Get Dierks’ new album at Amazon or at Dierk’s Store now!

For all its hot licks and just-right harmonies, Dierks Bentley’s new full-length Up on the Ridge lets its bluegrass-meets-country concept disperse into songs that skirt Music Row hackdom and playing that is virtuosic but empty. On his 2005 single “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do,” Bentley and producer Brett Beavers achieved a dense fusion of bluegrass and country-rock. A limited if genial singer, Bentley has made records more notable for their sonics and devotion to the mythos of the road (and the free love it encourages) than their emotional depth. Still, Up on the Ridge plays out as intermittently interesting bluegrass-flavored country. Jon Randall Stewart’s production gives room to guests on the order of Sam Bush and Alison Krauss — hot licks abound. Bentley covers Dylan and U2 effectively, but his bluesy version of Verlon Thompson and Suzi Ragsdale’s “Bad Angel” is the keeper.

Hello Fellow Cooks,

I’m just now deciding what to make this Easter Sunday … and as I’m so predictably last minute, I’m opting for the quick and easy.  Not sure what my main course will be as of yet but I have decided on a Thai-flavored menu and have chosen this side dish:  Easter Peas & Coconut Rice

Take a half cup unsweetened, flaked coconut and toast in a large stock pot, stirring frequently until light brown, then remove and set aside.  Pour a teaspoon of canola or light olive oil into the same pot and saute 2 cups of jasmine or basmati rice until starting to brown, 5 or 6 minutes.  Add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste and saute another minute or two.

Add 3 cups chicken stock & 1 (15 oz) can unsweetened coconut milk.  Stir, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes.  Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1/3 cup chopped cashews and 1 cup frozen green peas.

Serve with your favorite main course … green salad … favorite bread … chocolate bunny (maybe not) …and eat!

Happy Easter!

Suzi

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Altville In Store

Hey Everybody, I just realized I’ve been clear across this beautiful country in the past couple of months and thought I’d share a little travelog with you.

At the end of January, I gave myself the gift of Grammy tickets (I’m so good to me!) and flew out of snowy Nashville to sunny LA.  KKGO, one of the stations that’s been playing my record had invited me to be their guest for an in-store at LA Audi where owner and Americana artist, Darryl Holter shared the stage with me.  Vicki Pepper, the host of KKGO’s show “Altville” was there along with Nancy Nisi who helped to organize the show.  All are pictured in the first photo above.  Now I normally don’t wear cocktail dresses, chandelier earrings and 5 inch heels to play my little folk songs but this gig was at noon on the day of the Grammys! From the in store I went straight to Staples center for the early awards.

@ the Grammy pre-telecast awards

It was a people watching extravaganza, well catered and casual as the nominees and their entourages floated in and out of the ceremony.  High points were talking with Jamey Johnson, meeting Adam Rodriguez from CSI Miami and watching my friend Buick Audra win a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album.  Well, she wasn’t actually able to be there but won for her duet of “This Little Light of Mine” with Joss Stone.

The televised Grammy ceremony was truly spectacular!  We actually had great seats and were thoroughly entertained – favorites were Elton John with Lady Gaga and Pink… three hours went by pretty quickly.

@ the Grammy After Party

The after party was pretty amazing too — even more well catered with endless buffets of seafood, tenderloin, salads, pastas, Asian, Mexican, vegetarian … you name it … everything to drink as well, my favorite being the Ultimat Vodka Martini ice sculpture bar.  Yep, the entire bar was made of ice, complete with an ice Grammy award.  Had to have my picture with it … got my shoes wet …

Ice sculpture martini bar @ the After Party

As the night was winding down we sat to watch the stage and I couldn’t believe it, my friend Sam Moore was the grand finale!  The original “Soul Man”, “Hold On, I’m Comin’” (which Sam asked Barrack Obama to stop using during his Presidential campaign, not wanting to endorse either party), “I Thank You” and many others.  Well, I couldn’t resist.  When he went to the side of the stage to let one of the background girls sing lead, I went around and told the security guard I knew Sam and his wife, Joyce.  He let me through, we all hugged and reunited and they both said, “Get up there and sing!”  I said, “Oh, no, I couldn’t”  I’m kidding!  I joined his back up group for the last 6 or seven songs of the night, feeling grateful and thrilled to be there.

"Soul Man" Sam Moore

Chick Singers

Ok, I know this blog’s getting long … I’ll wind it down.

The next photos are from a short trip east of Nashville, first to the Blue Plate Special radio show on WDVX in Knoxville (thanks, Tony Lawson and Red!)

WDVX Blue Plate Special, Knoxville

… then to the Down Home Pickin’ Parlor, where I’ve been playing periodically for more than 18 years.  My guitarist Craig, co-writer Chancy and I had to get creative with our lodging, due to the NASCAR races in Bristol, so we stayed at a local B&B with 5 llamas and two very sweet innkeepers …

with Craig @ the Down Home

Furry Beasts

The last photo is from my most recent trip to Cape May and Boston, where I had the pleasure of interviewing with John Laurenti of WUMB.  Later that night we went to the Lizard Lounge and enjoyed the open mic challenge…

with John Laurenti in Boston

It was all good … but I’m happy to be home!  Spring cleaning, gardening, writing … beautiful sunny day, gonna go soak it up!

Cheers,

Suzi

Hello Yogis & Yoginis,

Just back from the Singer Songwriter Cape May Fest in Jersey and from Boston, where I had the pleasure of visiting NPR station WUMB.  Great time, though I managed to contract a pretty severe head and chest cold, burning the candle at both ends in the wind and rain…

Which prompts me to blog about an ancient & affordable (free!) yoga remedy for congestion, Pranayama.  In Sanskrit, the meaning of Prana is ‘energy’ or ‘life force’ (breath) and ayama means ‘extension’ or ’stretch’.  So Pranayama or controlled breathing is just energy management.  Kapalabhati and Bhastrika Pranayama are pretty simple.  It’s more from the diaphragm than the chest and a bit more forceful and rapid than regular breathing.

First, get a box of tissues, then sit comfortably on the floor, preferably in lotus position or cross-legged.  Rest your hands in your lap and take your shoulders up then back then down to open your chest.  Inhale fully, allowing your belly to inflate and diaphragm to descend.  Then exhale fully, drawing your abdomen in as the breath leaves the body.  After a couple of breaths, try holding your breath at the top of the cycle for a few seconds, then again at the bottom of the breath.  Do this for about 20 breath cycles and afterward, take a few slow breaths to keep form feeling dizzy.

This is especially effective after using a neti pot.  And if you want to go all out, boil a large pot of water with fresh ginger sliced into it and breath in the steam before or even during the exercise.

… or you could just do some drugs.  Kidding!

Take it easy,

Suzi

Don’t forget to enter for one of three chances to win a Capresso MT600 coffee maker, Suzi’s own coffee blend, a cool French press travel mug and a Best Regards/Less of the Same CD digipak ! A $190 value!

The coffee is fair trade, organic Peruvian mountain, African & Arabian Yemen Mocha Mattari & Indonesian Old Government Java.
All entries must be received by Monday, April 19th!!  Winners will be notified via email by the 23rd.