From our Music Collection...

From our Music Collection...

Snap your fingers and tap your toes!

Are you familiar with one of our most popular Music CD series, Ultra-Lounge? There are over 20 different titles in the series and they are for the lounge lizard in all of us. There are a lot of great classic vocalists like Wayne Newton, Bobby Darin, Vic Damone, Lena Horne, and great instrumentalists like Martin Denny, Billy May and Al Caiola. If you like drums you'll love Bongoland, or maybe you have Mambo Fever?  In a mellow mood, try Rhapsodesia, and everybody likes Vegas, Baby! Don't forget to have some Christmas Cocktails when its that time of the year again.

What's that song from that movie?

If you enjoy soundtracks from films and television, browse our Movies and Television section in the Bliss Music Center. We have classic films like Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls and more modern films like Hunger Games and Lord of the Rings. We also have soundtracks from popular TV shows like Mad Men and Glee. Also popular film score composers like Ennio Morricone.

What have your favorite Artists been up to?

Making music, of course! Check out the latest CDs from popular favorites like, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, Billy Idol, Bette Midler, Bob Seger, Boyz II Men, Jackson Browne. They've all come out with new studio albums in the past year. Pick up some of your favorites today!

What does our World sound like?

Come and listen for yourself! Browse our World Music collection and hear music from all over the globe. From Asia to Africa to Australia, we've got a wide range of musical styles represented. Whether you like Vocals or Instrumentals or National Anthems, there is bound to be something for you to discover.

Here are some of the newly arrived music titles we'd love for you to check out! 

Contributor: Annick Rodriguez, Librarian @ NRPL.

Spices & Seasons

'Spices and Seasons'
Rinku Bhattacharya 

Cookbook author and teacher, Rinku Bhattacharya, recently joined us at the New Rochelle Public Library for a delectable overview of seasonal Indian cooking. Participants left with helpful tips and methods for cooking with essential, healthy Indian spices, and learned how to incorporate the Indian flavors in a practical and accessible manner. For those of you who couldn't make the cooking demonstration, Ms. Bhattacharya has been kind enough to provide us with the following recipe from her book, Spices and Seasons: Simple, Sustainable Indian Flavors. Described as a "meatless one-dish meal or side dish depending on your preference", this gluten-free, vegan recipe takes little time to prep and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Feel free to add more vegetables or proteins to suit your own taste. 

Mushroom and Chickpea Pilaf with Fragrant Spices

Prep Time: 3 to 4 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil

1 ½ teaspoons cumin seeds

1 onion, chopped

3 green cardamom pods

3 or 4 cloves

1 (2-inch) cinnamon stick, broken

1 cup thickly sliced button mushrooms

1 ½ cups white basmati rice

¾ cup cooked chickpeas

1 teaspoon salt 

For garnish

Red pepper flakes (optional)

Chopped cilantro

Chopped cashew nuts

Preparation

1. Heat the oil in a pot on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the cumin seeds and cook for about 30 seconds until they sizzle and become aromatic.

2. Add the onion and cook for 7 - 8 minutes, until they soften and begin to turn golden.

3. Add the basmati rice and chickpeas and mix gently. Add 2¾ cups of water and the salt and cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Keep the rice covered and let it rest for about 10 minutes.

4. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. Fluff gently and garnish with cilantro and cashew nuts before serving.