BETTER LIVING
BL-2 THE RECORD
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012
He’s got a one-liner for everything
15 MINUTE CHEF
Steven Wright brings pithy wit to North Jersey
WHO: Steven Wright with Kevin Meaney. WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday. WHERE: Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown; 973-539-8008 or mayoarts.org. HOW MUCH: $29 to $59.
By KARA YORIO STAFF WRITER
The goal was one night on “The Tonight Show” with Johnwas a hint of his life to come. ny Carson. In Steven Wright’s “The only thing I can trace head, the dream ended there. It back is in junior high in the cafewas not a career idea, it was a teria remembering laughing at MCT singular objective. the idea. … I said, ‘Imagine a ä MOUSSAKA By LINDA GASSENHEIMER “I never even thought [about] flock of false teeth,’ ” says McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE what would happen after I was Wright. “I remember saying that Olive oil spray on there,” says Wright. to my buddies, and that’s very ½ pound red potatoes, washed and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 1¾ cups) Moussaka, a layered eggplant That night of exposure in Ausurreal, but it wasn’t like I was casserole, is traditional fare at every ¾ pound eggplant, washed and cut into ½- gust 1982 – two nights, actually, doing it all the time.” inch cubes (about 4½ cups) Greek taverna. after Carson invited him back to But he has been doing it for 1 cup frozen diced/chopped onion 30-odd years. Still, he isn’t exMaking moussaka brings back perform the next day – launched 1 teaspoon minced garlic hausted by a brain that is conmemories of delightful evenings in Wright into a career he couldn’t ¾ pound low-fat ground beef (95 percent stantly seeing comedy in daily the Plaka district, a charming sechave imagined. lean) life. tion of Athens with narrow wind“I’ve been doing it 33 years 3 tablespoons tomato paste “You see the joke, it’s like, ing streets filled with tiny restaunow,” he says. “Even when I got ½ cup water ‘There it is,’ ” he says. “There’s rants and lots of good cheer. to 10 years, I was stunned. I nev½ teaspoon ground cinnamon JORGE RIOS not a lot of working the wording The dish has hundreds of variaer did anything more than eight Salt and freshly ground black pepper tions. Usually slices of eggplant and months as a job.” “I never did anything more than eight months as a job,” says around. It comes. ‘This is the 1 cup non-fat, plain yogurt sometimes potatoes are sautéed Wright’s combination of ob- Steven Wright, but he’s been performing comedy for 33 years. idea. Oh, OK, that’s how it 2 ounces crumbled reduced-fat feta would be worded.’ I don’t know and layered with a spiced ground servations, surreal one-liners cheese (scant ½ cup) meat. The dish is topped with a Preheat broiler. Heat a stove-to-oven and deadpan delivery continues dard joke-teller, there would n’t know what they were talking why it is, I feel lucky, my brain white sauce flavored with Greek casserole dish or non-stick skillet over to make him unique among the never be one at New Jersey’s ex- about. I didn’t think of Newark, just words it pretty quickly in the cheese or a yogurt sauce. medium heat. Coat with olive oil spray. cacophony of comedians. Fans pense. Growing up in Massa- I thought of where my aunt fewest amount of words to get the point across. For this quick dinner, I have Add potatoes and eggplant, cover with often come up to him and repeat chusetts, Wright fondly remem- lived.” “I just feel lucky I get to make As a kid, Wright was a self-decaptured the flavors of a traditional a lid and sauté 15 minutes, turning the a handful of favorite lines: “It’s a bers coming to Jersey to visit his small world, but I wouldn’t want aunt who lived in Ridgewood. scribed introvert, far from the stuff up. I mean, that I make it moussaka and shortened the recipe vegetables several times. to paint it,” or “I got this pow“We would go to New Jersey class clown. He was a teen who up and get to have a career [doby cutting the potatoes and egg- Meanwhile, heat a non-stick skillet plant into small pieces and cooking over medium heat and coat with olive dered water – now I don’t know and it was beautiful,” he says. “I just tried to make his couple of ing it].” what to add.” never even heard New Jersey friends laugh in the cafeteria. He them separately to form the first oil spray. Sauté onion and garlic 1 Even if he were a more stan- jokes until I was in college. I did- has one memory, though, that Email: yoriok@northjersey.com layer. The spiced meat becomes the minute. Add ground beef. Sauté 2 minsecond layer, and I topped the dish utes, breaking up the beef with a spoon. Mix tomato paste and water towith yogurt and cheese. gether and add to meat. Blend well. I used Greek feta cheese. It is Add cinnamon and salt and pepper to white, crumbly and has a rich, taste. Simmer 1 minute. Set aside. tangy flavor. Traditional feta is To assemble dish, add salt and pepmade with sheep’s or goat’s milk, per to taste to the potatoes and eggThe last tip is particularly useful at this time season a little more magical,” he says. although today many manufactur- plant. If using a stove-to-oven casse- From Page BL-1 Cipullo has an opposite approach that will ers use cow’s milk. Grated parme- role, spread the meat mixture evenly is a significant calorie source, I’ll deal with it of year. over the vegetables. Otherwise, later,’ ” says Cipullo, who was raised in Mont“At a holiday meal where you may get a car- help the calorie-conscious. Instead of infusing san can also be used. vale and now sees clients in Manhattan. bohydrate-laden meal, having a drink that’s Champagne with berries or flavors, infuse the Moussaka is a meal in itself. If spoon potatoes and eggplant into a But even those who insist on their cocktails lower in carbs would be helpful,” says Cipullo. berries with Champagne. Put the fruit into the you wish, serve it with a salad and casserole dish that can go under the can make better choices at the bar, according “It’s not because carbs are bad, but because Champagne then drop those into seltzer for a crusty whole-grain bread. It takes a broiler. Spread the meat evenly over the vegetables. to Cipullo. She suggests the following: you’re probably having stuffing or pasta with the little flavor and kick and much fewer calories. few minutes longer to make this ä Ask for seltzer instead of tonic as a mix- drinks.” There’s also a little bit of health benefit. one-dish meal. The extra time is In either case, spoon yogurt evenly over meat and sprinkle feta cheese on er (8 ounces of tonic water has 90 calories). This holiday season, Luberto is infusing “Once you had the berry in there, at least worth the effort. top. Place under broiler for 5 minutes. It ä Mix seltzer with white wine or rosé for sparkling wine with flavors like candied cran- you’re getting a little bit of nutrition – you’re This meal contains 556 calories, will become bubbly and a little brown. a spritzer (with apologies to wine connois- berry pear and toasted almond cinnamon. getting some antioxidants and a little bit of with 23 percent of calories from fat. Remove and serve. seurs) The bars have mason jars filled with toppers fiber,” she says. Serves: 2. ä Choose low-carbohydrate drinks like Cham- like mini-marshmallows and candied cranNutrition information per serving: pagne or other sparkling wine and white wine. berries. Such an added touch “just makes the Email: yoriok@northjersey.com 15-Minute Chef Sponsored By:
Drinks: Cutting the calories in cocktails
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556 calories (23 percent from fat), 14 grams fat (6 grams saturated, 5 grams monounsaturated), 231 milligrams cholesterol, 56 grams protein, 53 grams carbohydrates, 10 grams fiber, 606 milligrams sodium. COOK’S TIPS: ä To save cleaning an extra pan, cook the potatoes and eggplant in a stoveto-oven casserole dish. SHOPPING LIST To buy: ½ pound red potatoes, ¾ pound eggplant, ½ pound low-fat ground beef (95 percent lean), 1 small can tomato paste, 8-ounce carton non-fat plain yogurt and 1 small package crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese. Staples: Frozen diced/chopped onion, minced garlic, olive oil spray, ground cinnamon, salt and black peppercorns.
Tablets: Gift guide for smaller devices
From Page BL-1 Shoppers also have to decide what size tablet they’d like to buy. Tablets fall into two rough categories: full-size, pioneered by the iPad; and half-size, epitomized by the Kindle Fire. Tablet buyers who plan to use the device only for entertainment, such as watching movies or checking Facebook, have different needs than a business user who wants to be
able to download files or complete work projects, Clarke said. Full-size tablets, which generally have screens measuring about 10 inches on the diagonal, are better for surfing websites designed for PCs, and far better when it comes to displaying magazines and documents. Overall, they go further toward replacing a laptop. They cost $400 and up. If you’re buying for a child,
Clarke recommends smaller tablets. “For kids 10 and younger I would go with a 7inch tablet, because it’s a lot smaller, and easier to fit in their hands,” he said, adding they’re less likely to be dropped. Half-size tablets, which have screens measuring roughly 7 inches on the diagonal, are cheaper and lighter, but just as good as full-size tablets for e-
ä Holiday Boutique in Ridge-
Music
ä Sandy relief before concert wood: Get in the holiday spirit at William Paterson University: in Ridgewood Friday. From A food and clothing drive for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the victims of superstorm Sandy YWCA of Bergen County at 112 will be held before, during and Oak St. will host a Holiday after the Dark Star Orchestra Boutique, where more than 20 concert at 7 tonight. The drive vendors will display jewelry, organized by on-campus organiclothing, and other gift items. zations will be set up in the lobThen from 5:30 to 9 p.m., get by of the Shea Performing Arts over to East Ridgewood Avenue Center; all donations will be to join the Downtown for the given to and distributed by the Holidays celebration for tree Father English Community lighting, music, and Santa greet- Center in Paterson. For more ing. For more information, visit information call 973-720-2371 HAGMAN ridgewoodchamber.com. or visit wp-presents.org.
"WHY WAIT FOR BETTER HEARING?"
HASKILL
HEARING AID CENTER
THINGS TO DO
This listing is part of NorthJersey’s biggest events calendar. Go to northjersey.com/calendar to search or to submit your event for online and print consideration. To be included in this listing, entries must have a ticket price and a telephone number for public inquiries. To be included in this listing, entries must have a ticket price and a telephone number for public inquiries.
Staff writers Joan Verdon and Elyse Toribio and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TRIVIA
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Shopping
book reading. Not only is it an excellent first computing device for a kid, it’s also a gentle nudge into the digital world for an older adult with little computing experience. This year’s crop costs $199 and up, but last year’s models are available for less.
TV
publicly told the Los Angeles Times that Hagman had completWith a premiere that drew nearly ed filming on several new 7 million viewers in the summer, episodes before his death and TNT’s splashy “Dallas” reboot would appear in Season 2. seemed primed for success in its But the sources also acknowlsecond life. The cable series — in edged that the show’s producers which Larry Hagman reprised his hadn’t yet established how they role as the legendary Texas oilman would address J.R.’s departure J.R. Ewing — was slated to return from the cable series, which was for a second season Jan. 28. widely thought to revolve around Hagman’s unexpected death at Hagman’s portrayal. age 81 last week leaves the future The show’s writers and producof the show in question. ers are said to be working to give Sources close to “Dallas” who his character a proper send-off. asked for anonymity because they — From staff and were not authorized to speak news service reports ä What’s the future of “Dallas”?
Where would you find the world’s only country named (at least in part) for one of Jesus’ 12 followers? A. In the Caribbean B. Off the coast of Africa C. Eastern Europe D. Latin America Previous answer: Nero had those illustrious ancestors.
Send the trivia questions you’ve always wanted answered, or original TriviaBits ideas of your own, with your full name and hometown, to Paul Paquet at paul@trivia halloffame.com or visit him online at triviahalloffame.com.
BERGEN COUNTY’S ONLY 3RD GENERATION HEARING AID DISPENSER
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Edgewater. This program, run in conjunction with the Edgewater Community Center, is an opportuni- MUSIC ty for middle school and high school students to earn community service ä DELTA SPIRIT — 7 p.m., The TODAY credits. Free. Edgewaterlibrary.org. Fillmore at Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Plaza, Manhattan. $25. 212-777ä COLLEGE ENTRANCE ACTIVITIES 6800 or irvingplaza.com. PROCESS PROGRAM — 5 to 7 ä JENNY LIN, PIANO: “GET ä TUESDAY AFTERNOON MOVIE — 1:30 p.m., Dixon Home- p.m., Englewood Public Library, 31 HAPPY: VIRTUOSO SHOW TUNES FOR PIANO” — 7:30 stead Public Library, 180 Washing- Engle St., Englewood. The prop.m., Le Poisson Rouge, 158 ton Ave., Dumont. Free. 201-384- gram is geared to helping high school sophomores, juniors and Bleecker St., Manhattan. $15. 2030 or dumont.bccls.org. seniors with the college process. 212-769-0741 or ä “WHAT DOES THIS DO? COM- Free. 201-568-2215 or lepoissonrouge.com. PUTER CLASS FOR SENIOR CIT- englewoodlibrary.org. ä A TRIBUTE TO CHAVELA IZENS” — 4 p.m., Edgewater Free ä FREE COLLEGE PLANNING VARGAS: ELY GUERRA, EUGEPublic Library, 49 Hudson Ave.,
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NIA LEON AND TANIA LIBERTAD — 8 p.m., Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman Stage, 881 Seventh Ave., Manhattan. $15 to $75. 212-247-7800 or carnegiehall.org. ä NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE — 8 p.m., Madison Square Garden, 2 Penn Plaza, Manhattan. $163 and $288. 212465-6000 or thegarden.com. ä AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA PERFORMS BACH MAGNIFICAT — 8 p.m., Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway, Manhattan. $35 to $75. Lincolncenter.org. ä THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA: CHRISTMAS ROCKS EXTRAVAGANZA — 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. $41 and $62. 516-247-5200 or livenation.com.
ä Grateful Dead tribute band DARK STAR ORCHESTRA will perform at 7 tonight at Shea Center for Performing Arts, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne. The band, together since 1997, has played more than 1,900 shows. $30. 973-720-2371 or wpunj.edu.