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Ry Cooder Music

Ry Cooder Music

Ry Cooder

- one of the most amazing musicians - talents alive today. From pop to blues to country to discovering bands like Buena Vista Social Club out of Cuba... to his collaboration with V. M. Bhatt doing Delta Ganges Blues (Album: A Meeting By the River).  And if you haven't listened to 'Bob Till You Drop' ...

Listen here to one of his finer moments (From the movie: Crossroads)

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Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:
One pound piece of pork tenderloin
A bunch of fresh basil leaves
Baby Spinach (I often use this with the basil)
2-8 tablespoons of hard cheese grated(I use Asiago or Grana Padano - I have them handy for my gnocchi recipe)
2-8 tablespoons of sun-dried tomato paste
(I generally use basil pesto, with a bit of
tomato paste, the Asiago cheese and some
diced apple - about a quarter of an apple
is plenty)pork tenderloin
6 -10 slices of prosciutto ham
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Salt and pepper

Olive paste (I don't use this often)
2/3 cup pitted black olives
2-3 garlic cloves
4 tablespoon olive oil

1. Trim away excess fat(if you want - I have always found that fat increases the taste - so trim after cooked if there is too much)
Slice the pork lengthwise being careful not to go all the way through.
2. Open out the pork and salt and pepper inside
3. Lay a bed of basil leaves inside
4. Mix the sun dried tomato paste and grated cheese together and lay on top of the basil. (The original recipe on this called for a couple of tablespoons of each but this was not nearly enough.  I used quite a bit more and was glad I did.  It really adds to the overall flavours.)
5. Press the pork back together and wrap with the ham.  Start with one over each end and hold those in place with the other pieces.  Don't be shy with the ham.
6. Place in a pan/dish - I used a glass baking dish - seamside down.  Brush with a tablespoon or two of olive oil.  Place in the oven preheated to 375F.  30-40 minutes.
7. For the olive paste: you can blend the olives, garlic and olive oil or finely chop the garlic and olives and just mix in a bowl with the oil.
8. Cut the cooked pork thinly and serve.
9. We served with sliced tomato and avocado sprinkled with salt, pepper, basil and olive oil.
Note: try different stuffings.

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True Friend

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K Spencer Jones – Filmaker

K Spencer Jones – Filmaker

K Spencer Jones – Film Maker

K Spencer Jones

Son Spencer has been making films since he was 12-13 years old.  He has been doing this now in Hollywood for several years now.  Working on real stuff.  I am a proud daddy.  Please have a look and share if you can. (More below the image/link.)

Thanks,
- Martin

Click on the image to go to his website:

K Spencer Jones

 

When Spencer was 12, almost 13 he came to me and said that he didn't want to go to school any more.  I immediately said, 'OK, don't go."  I was quite happy about this.  He was not particularly happy at school and his mum and I both agreed that homeschooling where the child could make more of his or her own decisions about education and life was much more useful than cramming information down their throat.

We enrolled Spencer in a local theatre group, which he loved.  I also gave him an old video camera that we had.  The one with the VHS cassette. He did well in several plays over the next couple of years.  Many of his weekends consisted of filming.  He spent the days of the week calling his friend's moms to arrange dropping off his buddies. Saturday or Sunday would be assigning lighting and actors.  He would shoot each scene from 2-4 different angles and edit till 3-4 AM. Or 5 or 6 AM.  I would happily pay for editing software when needed.

I could go on about how much I have formal schooling, particularly public schools but I think much of the proof is in the pudding.  I know that not everything works for everyone but in this case Spencer thrived with this kind of education.

There are numerous books and websites on the subject.  

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