Do you ever get a song in your head and sing it whenever you are doing a mundane task? It could be a song theme, something from the radio or maybe commercial jingle.
My song lately has been one that isn’t one I can explain…Super Freak by Rick James. Do you know the song or at least part of the song?
She’s a very kinky girl,
The kind you don’t take home to mother
She will never let your spirits down,
Once you get her off the street.
(Part of the chorus:) She’s all right, she’s all right
That girl’s all right with me yeah.
She’s a super freak, super freak,
She’s super freaky, super freak, super freaky
I not only sing it, I do some wicked dance moves as I vacuum, empty the dishwasher and make the bed. There is a lot of arm pumping, clapping and something that resembles a super sexy pelvic thrust.
Well, maybe that is an exaggeration. I saw myself in the mirror dancing the other day and it looks more like I am trying to get my undies unwedged from my fanny with no hands. I am sure there is someone out there (like a prisoner who hasn’t seen a woman in 38 years) who would find it enticing.
The funny thing is I’m not a super freak. I’m not a very kinky girl (unless wearing undies that ride up is kinky). I am the kind of girl you want to take home to your mom. (I make an awesome first impression.) I guess I do keep your spirits up but I see no reason I am on the street. (Is the super freak girl a hooker? Is that why she is kinky and your mom doesn’t like her? I never thought of that before. If any hookers read my blog, let me know your thoughts.)
I was searching my brain on why this particular song was in my head and then it came to me…..I’ve been making “fricos” lately.
I’m sure you have seen a frico before…they are crispy little rounds of melted cheese. A lot of restaurants like to use them as garnishes on salads and appetizers. You can make them in rounds, cups or little tubes. They really are quite versatile. (Ooooo, I could have made a wedding dress out of fricos and really been super freaky on my wedding night! Nom. Nom.)
People love fricos because they are lacy looking, a little crunchy and taste like cheese. (And really, what doesn’t taste better than cheese!?)
I love it because a nuttiness (and I know about nuttiness) comes out of the cheese when it gets cooked. Think of a corner piece on a lasagna….there is always the couple of corners that get a little browner than the rest of the lasagna and taste awesome!!!
Here are a couple of keys to a super frico success….
Use a high quality Parmesan cheese. (I’ve never made it with anything but parm but I am going to experiment.)
Finely grate it. Super fine.
Don’t make your mounds too big. They should look like this.
Make sure you check on it frequently as it is baking.
Cook it on parchment paper.
When it starts to smell, nutty…they are just about done.
If you are going to shape it, do it immediately as they come out of the oven.
If you aren’t going to shape them, let them cool on a baking rack or paper towels. Don’t leave them on the hot pan or they will just get soggy.
Make sure as you bake them, you sing Super Freak and dance around the kitchen. Pump your arms in the air and slap your butt because that is the only way to make them super frico-y.
Frico
Ingredients
1 cup of Parmesan cheese, finely grated.
Directions
Oven 375. Prepare baking sheets (3) with parchment paper.
Make little mounds (about 1 Tbsp each). I was able to fit about 6 on sheet.
Press down lightly so the cheese spreads but is not compacted.
Set timer for 5 minutes. Take a peek. You want to stop them from cooking when they just start to turn light brown. Keep checking on them every minute or so. Mine took exactly 7 minutes per pan.
Pull them out of the oven and glide the sheet of parchment off of the pan.
Form into desired shape (Place on a rolling pin or bottle to make a little tube or the bottom of a ramekin to make a little cup.) I just let mine cool and be flat little circles.
I’m sure Rick James would have loved seeing a Midwestern housewife singing his song will cooking cheese. He would be saying “She’s all right. That girl’s all right….she’s superfreaky.”
