SING! Joe Raposo!

I just learned, while listening to the glamorous and authoritative Jonathan Schwartz, I learned that JOE RAPOSO was an American of Portuguese descent.  I've heard his name many times in association with the Great American Songbook, but I finally looked him up.

He had written extensively for Sesame Street, including songs like the Theme, "Bein' Green" and "C is for Cookie" (He is rumored to be the inspiration for the Cookie Monster!!). Also for "The Electric Company", "Shining Time Station", "Three's Company".  For you Broadway lovers, he was music director/arranger for some favorite shows.  House of Flowers music for "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown".  More on Wikipedia  and a great page of one of his biggest fans, Frank Sinatra, who recorded many of his songs.  Here's Ole Blue Eyes singing  "You Will Be My Music"-English & Brazilian Lyrics.

He's probably best known for a song that makes everyone happy.  Recorded by the Carpenters and done repeatedly by Sesame Street, SING!  It's also the name of a documentary tribute to him.  He passed away a few days before his 52nd birthday.  He brought so much music into this world, he should be honored!!!

Muito Obrigada por todo musica, Joe!!

Bife com Ovo A Cavalo

One of the staple meals of my Portuguese childhood was always Bife com Ovo A Cavalo.  Although my mother used just called any fried beef "Bifes". I had to go to Portugal repeatedly to hear the translation of the full name, which means essentially:

Beef with Egg on Horseback

I always had it with white rice and homemade french fries, I thought the egg was on top of the steak because it was the easiest placement.  And the runny yolk was VERY good with the molho, i.e. Gravy.  Or as we always called it, "molinho", which means "little gravy"-I always took that to mean pan drippings vs the American Style of heavy gravy made with corn starch.