I don’t know how my mom did it. Every night she cooked for four kids, of which three were growing boys. Yet every night, there was a hot meal on the table. When you are a kid, you just expect this without having an appreciation for the time and effort put in on a nightly basis. Home cooked meals. Thanks, mom.
After putting in a long day, it’s easy to either go out or pick up dinner. We don’t have children, so this made it an even easier decision. It didn’t help that we used to live in the city, walking distances to a variety of restaurants. One of the impacts of COVID was eating at home more often. At the time, there wasn’t any other option. Are we good cooks? Certainly not, but we came into the habit of preparing healthier meals for dinner. They say it takes 66 days before a new behavior becomes automatic. Well, COVID certainly tipped the scales on that one. We still occasionally go out or pick up, but the first option is always to consider cooking. We have to celebrate the silver linings, no matter how small. I wouldn’t say we have a specialty, but our go to is either baked chicken or broiled salmon with steamed broccoli or cauliflower on the side. Easy and healthy.
Pairing music with food adds a positive effect to the meal. When I was in my twenties, the song choice ranged in style and volume. Loud certainly was not out of the question. But as I get older, the volume has come down quite a bit.
Ultimately, mellow music is the best choice for meals. It’s been shown to increase satisfaction in what you’re eating and is even associated with consuming less food.
– the daily meal
Why not also add a glass of wine? You can’t go wrong with UB40’s Red Red Wine. This is a reggae cover of Neil Diamonds 1967 hit.
UB40’s version features a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to that of Diamond’s somber, acoustic ballad.
Neil Diamond has stated that UB40’s “Red Red Wine” is among his favorite covers of his songs. He frequently performs the song live using the UB40 reggae arrangement rather than that of the original version.
– Wikipedia
It says a lot when Neil Diamond prefers UB40’s version to his original. Press play and grab a glass with dinner. Bon appetit.
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For a complete playlist, please click here.
For the Spotify playlist, please click here.
Red red wine
Goes to my head
Makes me forget that I...
Still need her so
Red red wine
It's up to you
All I can do, I've done
Memories won't go
Memories won't go
I'd have sworn that with time
Thoughts of you would leave my head
I was wrong, now I find
Just one thing makes me forget
Red red wine
Stay close to me
Don't let me be alone
It's tearing apart
My blue heart
I'd have sworn that with time
Thoughts of you would leave my head
I was wrong, now I find
Just one thing makes me forget
Red red wine
Stay close to me
Don't let me be alone
It's tearing apart
My blue, blue heart
Red red wine you make me feel so fine
You keep me rocking all of the time
Red red wine, you make me feel so grand
I feel a million dollars when you're just in my hand
Red red wine, you make me feel so sad
Any time I see you go, it makes me feel bad
Red red wine, you make me feel so fine
Monkey back and ease up on the sweet deadline
Red red wine, you give me whole heap of zing
Whole heap of zing, you make me do my own thing
Red red wine, you give enough of love
You're kind of loving like a blessing from above
Red red wine, I loved you right from the start
Right from the start, with all of my heart
Red red wine in an eighties style
Red red wine in a modern beat style
Yeah
Give me a little time, let me clear out my mind
Give me a little time, let me clear out my mind
Give me red wine, the kind make me feel fine
You make me feel fine all of the time
Red red wine, you make me feel so fine
Monkey pack him Rizla pon the sweet deep line
The line broke, the monkey get chocked
Bunjah, ganjapani, little rubber boat
Red red wine, I'm gonna hold on to you
Hold on to you cause I know you love truth
Red red wine, I'm gonna love you 'till I die
Love you 'till I die and that's no lie
Red red wine, can't get you off my mind
Wherever you may be, I'll surely find
I'll surely find
Make no fuss, just stick with us
Give me a little time, let me clear out my mind
Give me a little time, let me clear out my mind
Give me red wine, the kind make me feel fine
You make me feel fine all of the time
Red red wine, you make me feel so fine
Monkey back and ease up on the sweet deadline
The line broke, the monkey get chocked
Bunjah, ganjapani, little rubber boat
Red red wine, you give me not awful love
You're kind of loving like blessing from above
Red red wine, I loved you right from the start
Right from the start, with all of my heart
Red red wine, you give me whole heap of zing
Whole heap of zing, you make me do my own thing
Red red wine in an eighties style
Red red wine in a modern beat style
Yeah
Red red wine, you make me feel so fine
You keep me rocking all of the time
Red red wine, you make me feel so grand
I feel a million dollars when you just in my hand
Red red wine, you make me feel so sad
Any time I see you go
It make me feel bad
66 days for a new habit huh? That’s an interesting number. I wonder how they arrived at that. “Red Red Wine” always makes me think about that movie “Sliver,” even though it wasn’t in the soundtrack. It was “I Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Somehow I connect the two songs anyway.
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Can’t Help Falling in Love is a great song. There are so many great covers of this song. I even like Elvis’ original version. Thanks for the reminder
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Yes agreed
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Oh wow, I never knew that song was originally a Neil Diamond cover from the 60s. I’ll have to listen to the original. Your mom sounds amazing!
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Moms are the unsung heros! I imagine you are the same!
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Home cooking every night for FOUR kids is above and beyond!
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I agree that one of the best things to come out of the COVID shutdown was cooking meals at home again. I baked all kinds of things…cookies, cakes, even homemade bread.
Sorry, but I’m not a big fan of “Red, Red Wine.” I think it was just overplayed on the radio when it was released. I got so tired of hearing the lead singer’s whiny voice singing, “Wiiiiiiiiiiine.” Maybe I should give it another listen since it has been so long since I’ve heard it.
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Hahaha… it may still be whiny!
Homemade bread…. Yum. Bread is my weakness.
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True that
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I really appreciate your heartfelt words about your mom. They brought a smile to my face. It’s my hope that someday my son will be able to say something beautiful about me too.
As for myself, I enjoy cooking and make a different dish each day. I think your idea of having a protein dish accompanied by a vegetarian option is a good one. Perhaps we should swap recipes sometime. 😊
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I know they will. When I went out on my own, I began to realize how much my parents did for us growing up. Sure, there were ups and downs, but life gives perspective. I have a deep appreciation for everything they’ve done for us.
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Every time I hear “Red Red Wine” it reminds me of when me and my brother got left alone at home when my mom and step dad would go out drinking. My brother and I would watch MTV until like 2 am and that video would always come on. We also would get freaked out after watching “Something Wicked This Way Comes” late at night on the Disney channel. We were only like 6 or 7 years old living out in the middle of the woods. “KISS and the phantom of the park” also freaked us out. I watched it recently and realize how much of an imagination i must have had because it wasn’t what I remembered. They are good memories.
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MTV… those were the days!
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Nice post 🙂
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Did UB40 EVER have a hit that wasn’t a remake?
Sometimes the remakes are better than the original. I’m reminded of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. When the Johnny Cash remake came out, Tent Reznor said “as far as I’m concerned, it’s Johnny’s song now”
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I think their hits are remakes. I have a few of their CDs and remember the rest just being ok.
I like covers and remakes. Good to listen to different interpretations of a song
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Good song but, I prefer Diamond’s version.
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I like both. Diamond’s definitely a different vibe.
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Yessss
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Yeah, they had some jams!
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Agreed
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“Pairing music with food adds a positive effect…”
Kind of the same direction I went with this DWP. And by “kind of” I mean “exactly” 🙂
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Great post 🍷
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Thank you!
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