Musically Influenced

We are all influenced by our environment, time and place. There is no where that this is true as much as with music.

My first influence (beyond typical children’s music), of course, was my parents. My life was in the early 70’s and my parents were listening to both folk music (The Kingston Trio and Peter Paul and Mary) and California Surf Music (The Beach Boys). To this day I can sing the lyrics to M.T.A (Charlie on the M.T.A.). One of my first CD purchases back in the mid 80’s was Endless Summer.

When I was five or six, we moved to Denver, Colorado, where my parent’s musical tastes changed rapidly. First there was John Denver (I own An Evening With John Denver and tortured my kids with it by playing it repeatedly as we drove through Yellowstone this past summer). Shortly thereafter Willie and Waylon made their way onto the family turntable. That move signaled the end of my parent’s influence on my music. I think I may have one Willie song (On the Road Again) on my iPhone and none from Waylon.

My musical tastes stayed fairly top 40 at that point until I spent the night over at a friend’s house, Fred Y. Fred loved the band Styx. We listened to the albums all night long to the chagrin of his dad who listened to nothing but classical music. As I was new to the area (northern Virginia by then), and wanted to make friends, I started listening to Styx as well. I quickly learned to like them and I now own several albums of theirs.

While I was firmly planted in top 40 land, my brother went a little different with his music. He both went a little heavier rock and in some to alternative. From Queen to Kansas to Ultravox, those musical influences stuck and I have greatest hits albums from all.

For some reason while in high school  I really got into rock music from the 50’s and 60’s. That is in my library. I began performing in theater productions and developed a love for theater. Broadway music is a significant category in my library. I played in band from 5th grade through college playing classical, jazz and marching music. I have quite a bit of all three genres. My middle school and high school years were in the 80’s and as I was in the first MTV generation, all of that music was important to me and made the library.

I continue to be influenced in my musical tastes. I make it a point to listen to current Top 40 and alternative music and like a decent amount of what I hear. The most curious thing is that I more often than not will be listening to a podcast to and from work rather than music.

This dish is a great medley of ingredients and a symphony of flavors!

Your typical pot roast ingredients.

Making the rub.

All in the pot.

Doing a little slicing of the meat. I could have done it with a feather as the meat just fell apart as it was so tender.

Such a hearty and flavorful dish.

To Die for Crock Pot Roast

Makes: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 (4 -5 lb) beef roast, any kind
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package brown gravy mix, dry
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package dried Italian salad dressing mix
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package ranch dressing mix, dry
• 1/2 cup water
• Baby carrots
• Small onions
• Small potatoes
• Celery

Directions:

1. Place beef roast in crock pot.

2. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.

3. Pour the water around the roast. Add veggies on top.

4. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

Nutritional Info:

Calories 295.2
Calories from Fat 87
Total Fat 9.7 g
Saturated Fat 3.9 g
Cholesterol 149.8 mg
Sodium 380.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 2.6 g
Dietary Fiber 0.0 g
Sugars 0.0 g
Protein 49.5 g

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/to-die-for-crock-pot-roast-27208