Season to Attack

A Modern Usage of a Commodity

If you are gorgeous

If you are pretty

If we turn to look at how shapely you are,

Then you will be corrupted if you are porous.

You cannot trust all of those who feel they must jilt you

If you are lithe and cute, then they have to have you

Like a song on the radio they can’t get enough of

Until you are overplayed, you are turned off, and you grow cold.

Any warmth in comparison

Only leaves you scared of being burnt.

If you are a youthful god-

If you resonate the longing of despair and jealousy

Then the chances are that someone waits sorrowfully in silence

Who’s loved you all along and has to watch you

Slowly fade as you become progressively more frightened

Of being beautiful.

My body creaks and whispers her name in the disjointed slumber 

That I fight to satiate the need for- 

Stillness she carries in the small strong touch

Of her lithe frame nestled lightly in brass light, folded into dark sheets next to me

I fight to grasp her like she is sleep - so welcome and so fleeting 

Smoke through fingers, a caressing warmth

Or a zealot worshipping at the pristine feet of a spark-eyed woman

Her name is still the utterance on the tip of my tongues.

My arms to constrict the wild beating of her heart

Are tangled through her limbs as our veins form a living trellis

As I pray to a meandering deity that she can feel the blasting pressure 

Of my desire to tell her that her body is not enough, I have to treat her rough

That she kills me and resuscitates me with her gasps

That her confusion and wonder at me is not from a broken fragility

But instead is accidentally wrought of our original reluctance

To say she moved when I moved and we moved each other

Is too bold for words that destroy us  and yet we fear one another

So oddly and so compellingly

My body begs me to speak her name and materialize her from vapour

So that silken smoke in licks and curls 

With the unknowing matters of urgency from boys and girls

Could be exhaled through the cool night air 

Past the living trellis of our limbs and bones and veins and heavy sighs and worry

That I fight to satiate the need for

impoverished desperation 

led the economy/society to keep better records  

to tell you a story that’s worse when it’s expanded.

let’s get on with the pledge drive.

colleagues compare genetics and sometimes things happen

thank the doctor, pay him, and die

he lives on through our diagnostic eye

its a dream that makes the difference

its a single shot 

so take it like breath you exhaled backwards

protectionist ideals led the army to a good night and a poor day

regale us with your war cry when you need tears to moisten your communion wafer

“only zombies eat flesh,” laughed a voice from the most morbid of humour

drum lines form and war is born and flesh is torn

and only one of us will make it out alive

attractive teens fight to the death

crossbow screeches through blood and meth

pageant finalist in love with hollywood

its a very fun and typical story of enlightenment

its a scream that creates insistence

its a routine stop

so take it easy like breath you exhaled backwards

before the poison

and before the love

It came to me sort of out of the blue. Years earlier, I had purchased a painting from a gentleman with Asperger’s who was then homeless. I found it a fascinating painting mainly because it was an anatomical heart, but loved the flame coming out the pipes in the top. It always reminded me of singing- one’s heart pouring passion out of one’s “pipes.” The original painting was kind of a dark line drawing on a green background with india ink, and only the flames coloured in.

For a long time, I wanted a BIG ASS throat tattoo, and knew I’d want to relate it somehow to singing. I was talking about how I thought it would hurt to somebody I knew, and I said ” even the thought of it puts my heart in my throat!” Then I had an Oprah moment. No, I didn’t yell “Jooooohhhhhhhhn Traaaaaaaa-Voltaaaaaa!-” I realized I still had that painting a full 9 years later, and it would make a perfect throat tattoo! The centre or heart of me wants to just sing. It’s a fiery passion, pouring from me throat pipe. Boom. Visual metaphor. Theresa at ElectroLadyLux Tattoo made it rad with a crazy awesome drawing that brought it more realism. Just gotta finish the sides.

Also- thinking of getting your throat tattooed? It sucks and you may wish you were dead. I have a good amount of other ink, and this was really quite intense. As in terrible.

More tattoo stories from all of us coming! And hey- show us some of yours! Whatcha got?

David

Sunflower and Cashew Encrusted Maple Flax Cakes *RAW*

(topped with a spiced coconut milk and agave reduction)

These are an amazingly filling, ultra healthy and delicious naturally sweetened breakfast or brunch item that are like a raw version of pancakes and syrup. Except quicker to make, and nutrient dense like a boss! This recipe makes about 8 small pattycakes (baker’s man?) like those in the picture. You’ll need:

Cakes:

3 cups of flax meal

1/4 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup maple syrup

3 tbsp of whole virgin coconut oil

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup cold water

chopped bananas, oranges, melon

Crust:

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup cashews

1/4 cup sugar (optional)

cinnamon and cloves to taste

Syrup:

(this part is NOT raw, so omit it if you are a snobby purist)

1 can of coconut milk

3 tbsp of agave nectar or maple syrup

orange or lemon zest

allspice and/or cloves, to taste

First, combine the ingredients for the syrup and simmer on medium low heat in a small sauce pan. Reduce until thick and creamy, about 30- 40 minutes.

While that syrup is simmering, combine all ingredients for the crust in a bullet blender or food processor. Pulse lightly until the mixture is processed into a granular state, similar in appearance to bread crumbs.  Pour onto a plate and set aside.

Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the cakes and stir together with a wooden spoon (or your hands, germaphobe!) until well combined and forming a ball. You may need to let the mixture sit for a few minutes so it can firm up, and sometimes you may need to add a bit of flax bit by bit until it is the right consistency- a well formed, but still fairly moist ball. Divide the mixture into six or eight smaller spherical portions.

With wet hands, manipulate the balls (calm down there sicko) into flat, 1/2 inch thick patties, and handle gently so they don’t come apart. Drop the moist patty into the crust mixture, coating it evenly. Once complete, place 2-3 patties on a plate with cut fruit and drizzle with the warm syrup. BOOM! Delicious!

I’ve had my share

Of tortured days

No matter how I fare

I wont shift my gaze

Its not about my eyes

It was never for effect

It’s for when my body dies

it won’t have to leave regrets

I just sit and count my time:

one more dead second that I can’t revive,

seeping minutes into hours that I could never find

I stand there asking why

What do I lack that is keeping me

From experiencing the reality

The chronology of what I’ll be

Isn’t easy to write

I’ve passed the tests

Of broken will

But no matter how much I rest

I’ll be restless still

It’s not about the prize

Or to earn respect

It’s so when I close my eyes

I can say I slept

Naughty and Vanilla Berry Parfait *RAW*

Naughty and Vanilla Berry Buckwheat Groat Parfait *RAW*

This is a relatively common raw recipe, but my twist is the tasty dried fruit whip/paste and flavour alterations. Please enjoy this healthy treat on your next brunch OR I WILL SHOW UP THERE AND ELECTROCUTE YOUR NIPPLES, SLAVE.  Oops, wrong book. You’d think I’d just delete that.

You’ll need:

1 cup whole Buckwheat Groats, soaked for at least 4 hours

2 cups whole RAW Almonds, soaked overnight

1/2 cup each of dried apricots, dates, and golden raisins (Soaked for a few minutes in warm water to soften them)

2 cups of chopped and stemmed Strawberries

1 chopped banana, or any other fruit you enjoy

1 lemon

agave nectar or maple syrup

whole ground vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon

sea salt

1/2 cup water

Olive oil

Ok, first, you gotta make some almond yogurt type stuff. Take the two cups of almonds soaked overnight and drained, and put them in a food processor with the juice of one lemon. (For whiter, smoother, and creamier results, peel the almonds as you scream and cry tears of blood as you tear out your hair.) Process into paste or small meal. Add three to six soaked dates, (the kind from trees, not people you are trying to bang) drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt, and continue to process while adding a slow stream of COLD water until the mixture is similar to yogurt in consistency. You can add agave nectar, and vanilla to sweeten and flavour it. This alone can be used in a variety of ways or enjoyed alone with fruit. Clean out your food processor or blender and set this aside. That’s one layer.

Next, combine the dried apricots, dates, and golden raisins in the food processor with maple or agave, and spices to taste, and blend into a paste. Some people enjoy adding lemon zest and grated ginger as well, but mostly just losers. Just kidding. I was just being a sourpuss. I’ll fix that with some almond yogurt. Anyway, put this mixture into another vessel suitable for storing it temporarily. I like an antique bedpan. That’s two layers ready to go.

Lastly, depending on taste, roughly chop the strawberries and banana ( or other fruit of your choosing, rogue) as their own layer, pulse in the food processor to mince, or straight up puree it, depending on your taste.

TEAM PARFAIT ASSEMBLE!!!!!!

In a glass, or champagne flute for you fancy panties, add layers gradually to make a delightful layered dessert. I start with buckwheat groats and the chopped fruit, then the yogurt, then the apricot/date paste, and repeat. If you puree your fruit, you may need to thicken it with chia or flax meal so the heavier ingredients don’t sink through. Look at the picture and do it like that - ish. Easy as pie, if pie wasn’t cooked, and assembled in layers.

From your friendly non-evangelical yet still somewhat militantly vegan singing friend,
David, vox,

Season To Attack. 

Olive Tapenade is a simple and tasty bastard that you can use a spread for crackers, as a sandwich condiment, or as complimentary additions to humous, baba ghanoush or other mediterranean/middle eastern/italian dishes. Use high quality dried black olives or well drained, good quality jar or deli olives, always pitted. 

2 cups of pitted black olives

1 red pepper, roasted or raw

2 cloves of garlic

juice of one lemon 

1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbsp fresh rosemary 

2 tbsp fresh basil

Put this all into a food processor or blender and process until creamy smooth and spreadable, just like you at a country bar. If you get my meaning. Don’t sweat it. I have forgotten to put my pants on under my chaps too. Is what it is.

*Get our EP Threads on itunes and most other online retailers for less than three bucks!

This is a fun and easy raw recipe that is CRAZY HEALTHY and TASTES AWESOME that I just made with mind-hurting detail this past weekend, so here it is:

You’ll Need:

1Medium/Large Butternut Squash, rind and seeds removed.

(enough for 2 cups of raw, rough chopped squash.)

1/4 to 1/2 cup of tahini or raw sesame seeds, depending on taste

Juice of 1 Lemon

2-3 Tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 large clove of Garlic

2 Tbsp chopped Red Onion

1 tsp ground Cumin

1 tsp Sea Salt

set aside:

1/4 cup of fresh, finely chopped Parsley

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Paprika

other ingredients:

Half a head of fresh Purple Cabbage, cut into triangles. 

*See alternate flavours and ways to jive this mutha up at the end of the recipe.*

First, lightly pulse the rough chopped squash and garlic in a food processor or a blender until it is all a uniform size, in bits approximately the size of rice. Add all other ingredients (except for the ones you set aside, Spanky…)and process until it is a smooth and creamy mixture. If you are using raw whole sesame, you must process it into a flour using a coffee grinder or food processor. Gradually drizzle a bit of olive oil in as it’s stirred to make a thick paste, and add that to the processed squash. Do your best to not rub this all over your tits, even though it will be tempting.

When this shat get it’s dip on after some blending, stir in the parsley and spoon it into a bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the hummus, and sprinkle with paprika. Set this bowl in the centre of a plate and arrange the Cabbage “chips” around it and serve. Get ready to punch the first dick who proclaims that these aren’t actually chips, and enjoy!

This a great tasting dip all around, but feel free to add other delicious flavours, pureed or chopped fine and stirred in. Some good ideas: Olive Tapenade (recipe coming soon), saked and pureed Sundried Tomatoes, Marinated Artichokes, Red Bell Pepper, Pureed Pine Nuts, Rosemary, Pureed Chipotle, Liquid Smoke, or anything else you can think of. Except kerosene. I wouldn’t add kerosene. Or Cat hair. Maybe just stick to those ideas I already said maybe.