Just for Fun: Top Five Songs

So, last week my friend Ned asked for people's favorite albums. This week it's singles. Here are five songs that just pluck at my heartstrings no matter how many times I hear them.

This Woman’s Work--Kate Bush

I discovered Kate Bush when I was about 16. Thank God. Even today, This Woman’s Work is my favorite song. It’s perfection for me.


The Highwayman--Lorenna McKennitt
Oh, Bess!  I really love stories about men or women loving someone they shouldn't—even if it means it eventually ruins them. While I’m not the world’s biggest romantic, hearing her sing, “Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky, with the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!” when the Highway man learns his love is dead makes me swoon a bit. Each time I hear the song, I think, “He went back. He.went.back.”





Closer to Fine--Indigo Girls
Okay, I’ll admit this song has become something of a cliché. A song for folks who hang out in coffee shops (read: my people). I don’t care. It makes me happy.





All That’s Known--Spring Awakening
I could put together a list of my favorite songs from musicals. However, I doubt Ned will be doing a “Music: Theater Geeks Edition” list.  Of all the musical numbers I love, I think it’s funny that this song makes the list. Why? I’ve not seen Spring Awakening!  I think that’s why I had to include this song in my top five. A song from a musical that *gets* you even if you haven’t seen the show? Awesome!





Piano Man—12 Gardens Live Version--Billy Joel
Of course Joel’s classic Piano Man is, ya know, classic. I like it alright but I adore the live version from later in his career. There is something about a voice that’s aged—reflecting a life that’s been lived—that imbues this song with a depth that original can’t match.

(In the same vein, I love Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now-Remastered. Her voice, so radically different than when she first recorded the song, is just perfect.)




Honorable Mention

I Love Rock N’Roll—Joan Jett

Numb—Linkin Park

Annie’s Song—John Denver

Live to Tell---Madonna

Jack and Diane—John Mellencamp

Gluten-Free Cheese Biscuits

Oh my goodness, I love biscuits so much. Actually when testing this recipe, I might have loved them too much. Several seemed to disappear after baking. I was the only one home...hmmm...I wonder how that happened...

This recipe makes fluffy gluten-free biscuits that are just loaded with cheese. They're amazing. After baking they have a lovely golden hue that just makes my mouth water. Sadly I wasn't really able to capture that color in the photo. I've been baking for years but am just now learning how to snap a good photo. For some reason, capturing the color of these biscuits eluded me. Sorry! But let me just say again, they are a gorgeous color when they come out of the oven. They all but scream "cheese!"

Here's the recipe. You'll love it! I just know it!

Dry Ingredients
1 1/2 cups white rice flour
1/2 cup sweet rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients
6 Tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
4 Tablespoons butter
3/4 cup milk
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the dry ingredients. (Don't have a food processor? Use a medium bowl and whisk them together.)
3. Cut the butter and shortening into the dry ingredients until no large pieces remain. (Do this with either the food processor or a pastry cutter.)
4. Add the milk and cheese and pulse until a dough forms. Don't over mix. (Just stir to combine if doing this by hand.)
5. Drop the dough, about 1/4 cup each, onto prepared baking sheet. 
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. 
7. Serve warm. 

Makes about 1 dozen biscuits