The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • F2

F-2 THE RECORD BETTER LIVING SUNDAY, JUNE 21 2009 ON THE WEB: www.northjersey.com COMING MONDAY HOMETOWN BLOGS In tune with television production CONTACT US PAGE Do you have a comment, story idea or suggestion? Let us know. Call us at 973-569-7079 or e-mail us at featuresnorthjersey. com. Features editor: Barbara Jaeger Jaegernorthjersey.com Assistant features editor: Marc Schwarz Schwarznorthjersey.com Virginia Rohan pays a visit to MediaMix Studios in Allendale, a state-of-the-art television production and post-production facility, and meets with owner Joe Vargas. Also: With farmers' market season upon us, Sachi Fujimori introduces a few newcomers, Entertainment editor: Marlaina Cockcroft Cockcroftnorthjersey.com Food editor: Bill Pitcher Pitchernorthjersey.com Calendar and listings editor: Raymond A.

Edel Edelnorthjersey.com BILL ERVOUNO The award-winning humor columnist is un-unplugged. FOOD Second Helpings: North Jersey food and dining by Elisa Ung and Bill Pitcher. RAYMOND A.EDEL Compostings: Certified master gardener helps your thumb become greener. and we provide a list of all the local markets; readers' best garden photos in Photo-Synthesis. FOOD MAY WE SUGGEST.

WEEKLY PLANNER 1 IIP ENTERTAINMENT MOVIES In theaters Friday (unless noted): Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Opens: Wednesday. Who's who: Shia LaBeouf, Rainn Wilson, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro. What's what: Fox and LaBeouf return to join with the Autobots' battle against the evil Decepticons. My Sister's Keeper Who's who: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Bres-lin, Alec Baldwin, Jason Patric, Joan Cu-sack. What's what: A young girl, conceived to provide a donor match for her leukemia-stricken older sister, seeks to earn medical emancipation from her parents.

Cheri Who's who: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates, Rupert Friend. What's what: Pfeiffer stars in the turn-of-the-century tale of an experienced French courtesan and her young lover. The Hurt Locker Who's who: Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Ren-ner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce. What's what: An elite Army explosives squad battles insurgents and each other as they seek out and disarm a wave of roadside bombs in Baghdad. Quiet Chaos Who's who: Nanni Moretti, Valeria Goli-no, Isabella Ferrari, Hippolyte Girardot, Silvio Orlando.

What's what: A successful executive Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf star in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." falls into a strange routine of bereavement Marno, Jim Caviezel, Navid Negahban. What's what In a remote Iranian village, behavior to deal with the sudden death of his wife. a woman tells a journalist the harrowing tale about the bloody death of her niece just one day before. News service reports The Stoning of Soraya M. Who's who: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mozhan CD TV This listing is part of North Jersey's biggest events calendar.

Go to to search or to submit your event for online and print calendar consideration. COMEDY EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH IMPROV COMEDY SHOW 8:30 tonight, Times Square Arts Center, 669 Eighth Manhattan. $10, plus a two-beverage minimum. 212-568-6560 or eightimprov.biz. SERVICE NOT INCLUDED 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Comix Comedy Club, 353 W. 1 4th Manhattan. $1 0 to $1 5. 212-524-2500 or comixny.com. MUSIC BROOKLYN MUSIC FESTIVAL 1 p.m.

today, Floyd Bennett Field, 3292 Flatbush Brooklyn. $45 to $100. 718-282-8041 CELADON YOUTH SUMMER CONCERT 1 :30 p.m. today, Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Manhattan. $15 to $25.

212-247-7800 or carnegiehall.org. NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT: FOLKLORE URBANO 2 p.m. today, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Brooklyn. Free. 718-638-5000 or SUNDAY SHOUTIN' WITH DAVID MORALES, JON CUTLER AND ERIC KUPPER 4 p.m.

today, Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th and $20. Websterhall.com. SOCRATIC PLUS PUNCHLINE tonight, Mexicali Live, 1409 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck. $1 0.

201 -833-001 1 or mexicalilive.com. THEO BLECKMANN AND KNEE-BODY 7:30 tonight, Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Manhattan. $15. 212-539-8778 or joespub.com. THE AGGROLITES 1 0 tonight, Mercury Lounge, 217 E.

Houston Manhattan. Mercuryloungenyc.com. SIGNAL PERFORMS STEVE REICH'S DOUBLE SEXTET 7:30 p.m. Monday, Le Poisson Rouge, 1 58 Bleeck-er Manhattan. $25.

212-505-3474 or lepoissonrouge.com. CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO AND STICK MEN 8 p.m. Monday, B.B. King's Blues Club Grill, 237 W. 42nd Manhattan.

$25. 212- or bbkingblues.com. DRUMMER ALVIN QUEEN QUINTET 8 p.m. Monday, Turning Point Cafe, 468 Piermont Piermont, N.Y. $15.

845-359-1089 or turningpointcafe.com. THINGS TO DO FATHER'S DAY 1 0 a.m. today, Staten Island Zoo, 61 4 Broadway, Stat-en Island. Dads are free with paid child. seniors children 3-1 4 $5.

71 8-442-3100 or statenislandzoo.org. "WE REMEMBER THE GREATEST GENERATION" 1 p.m. today, Pas-cack Historical Society, 19 Ridge Park Ridge. Free, 201-573-0307 or RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM BAILEY: CONEY ISLAND BOOM A RING 1 and 5 p.m.

today, Coney Island, 1 208 Surf Brooklyn. $1 5 to $65. Coneyisland.com. HARLEM MEER PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL 2 p.m. today, Charles A.

Dana Discovery Center, 1 10th between Fifth and Lenox avenues inside Central Park, Manhattan. Features local emerging and established Latin, jazz, world and gospel artists. 212-860-1370 or centralparknyc.org. HANDS-ON EXHIBITIONS AND ARTS AND CRAFTS AT CGJC -2 p.m. today, Children's Galleries for Jewish Culture, 515 W.

20th Suite 4E, Manhattan. $8. 212-924-4500 or cgjc.org. RUTH WILLIAMS DANCE FDN INC. 4 p.m.

today, Harlem Stage, 150 Convent Manhattan. $35 and $40. 212-281-9240 or harlemstage.org. "CELEBRATING WILLIAM APPLING" 4 p.m. today, Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, Manhattan.

Free. 201-854-7483 or theriversidechurchny.org SUMMER FAMILY NIGHT HIKE 7 tonight, Tenafly Nature Center, 31 3 Hudson Tenafly. $1 members $5. 201 -568-6093 or tenaflynaturecenter.org. HBO BRYANT PARK FILM FESTIVAL: "BREAKING AWAY" 5 p.m.

Monday, Bryant Park, 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue, Manhattan. Free. 212-768-4242 or bryantpark.org. YONGEY MINGYUR RINPOCHE p.m. Monday, 92nd Street 1395 Lexington Manhattan.

Rinpoche, author of "The Joy of Living and Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom," explains meditation as a physical and spiritual process. $27. 21 Packaged spices can be expensive as much $4 for a small container of ground cumin. Here are three strategies to keep your foods seasoned and your budget under control. Grow your own: For less than the cost of a small container of many dried spices, you can buy small pots of fresh herbs including mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and others at garden shops.

Pinch off what you need and the plants will keep on giving. Buy what you need: Check the pantry before you shop or you could end up buying items you already have and there goes another $4 just sitting on your shelf. Go to seed: Whole seeds, such as nutmeg, allspice, coriander offer optimum flavor longer than the dried powders in the bottles. The shelf life of properly stored whole spices is about four years, according to the experts at McCormick. Ground spices are good for two to three years, and leafy herbs are good for one to three years, depending on the herb.

(However, humidity and heat cut those life spans by half.) A coffee bean grinder will pulverize seeds and whole spices in seconds. Orlando Sentinel Spiced lamb chops 2 7-ounce loin lamb chops 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Va teaspoon cayenne pepper Olive oil spray Remove visible fat from lamb. Mix allspice, cinnamon and cayenne pepper together. Spread mixture on both sides of chops. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray.

Add the chops and brown 2 minutes, turn chops over and brown 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium, cover with a lid, and cook 5 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 1 25 degrees for rare, 1 45 degrees for medium. Servings: 2. Per serving: 288 calories, 1 4 grams fat, 6 grams saturated fat, 106 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram carbohydrates, 41 grams protein, 101 milligrams sodium, no fiber.

WW Series premieres: Merlin Banish that image of an old bearded wizard from your head. "Merlin" reimagines the medieval adventure and pegs it to a hot young hunk (Colin Morgan) with magical powers. 8 tonight, NBC. Make It or Break It Something tells us that this new drama about the cutthroat world of high-stakes gymnastics will be teeming with competitive little drama queens. But will it earn a "10" in the ratings? 9 p.m.

Monday, ABC Family. The Superstars Celebrities live out their sports fantasies when they pair up with professional athletes In stores Tuesday: Dream Theater, "Black Clouds Silver Linings" (Roadrunner) The 10th studio album from the progressive rock group features six trades, four of which range from 12 to 19 minutes in length. Cheap Trick, "The Latest" (Cheap Trick) The 35-year-old band's first new material since 2006 will also have limited pressings of vinyl and 8-track tapes. Regina Spektor, "Far" (Warner Bros.) Latest from the Soviet-born singer-songwriter and pianist. The Mars Volta, "Octahedron" (Warner Bros.) The single James Purefoy stars in "The Philanthropist." Soviet-born Regina Spektor has a new release.

"Cotopaxi" is named for a volcano in the Andes Mountains known for its frequent and violent eruptions. Peter Yorn, "Back and Forth" (Sony) Yorn wrote all 10 songs and recorded the album in Omaha, with producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Rilo Eley). Escala, "Escala" (Columbia) Debut album from the all-female electronic string quartet that reached the final on the second season of Britain's "Got Talent." News service reports and compete against other duos in grueling physical challenges. But the Olympics it isn't. 8 p.m.

Tuesday, ABC. NYC Prep If you're going through "Gossip Girl" withdrawal, check out this reality series tied to a group of pampered, fat-free prep-schoolers in New York. But can they match Chuck and Serena for pure naughtiness? 10 p.m. Tuesday, Bravo. The Philanthropist In the new drama, James Purefoy stars as a billionaire bad boy who becomes determined to distribute riches to the needy.

Just call him a one-man stimulus package. 10 p.m. Wednesday, NBC. Season debuts: America's Got Talent Susan Boyle and her fellow British standouts have thrown down the gauntlet, and now it's time for America to respond. Does the United States have the acts to match them? We'll find out beginning this week when singers, dancers and various other performers begin parading into our living rooms while dreaming a dream of show-biz superstardom.

New host Nick Cannon joins returning judges David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. 9 p.m. Wednesday, NBC. The Cleaner Remember when Whoopi Goldberg could and did actually act? She gives it another go in a recurring guest stint on the second season playing Benjamin Bratt's ex-sponsor. 10 p.m.

Tuesday, The Real World For its 22nd season, the show heads south of the border to a resort in Cancun, Mexico. Just a wild guess, but we don't expect to see much in the way of clothing. 10 p.m. Wednesday, MTV. Worth watching: Impact And you thought the economy was our biggest problem.

Here comes a two-part disaster flick in which the moon comes hurtling toward Earth. David James Elliott, Natasha Hen-stridge and James Cromwell star. 9 tonight, ABC. Virtuality A sci-fi adventure flick about a starship that goes on a 10-year exploratory journey in space. But then some very bad things happen and people get stressed out.

8 p.m. Friday, Fox. Ellen's Bigger, Longer and Wider Show With that title, the latest variety special from Ellen DeGeneres better be, well, special. Among the acts: rap star Kanye West, magician David Blaine and comedian Nick Cannon. 9 p.m.

Saturday, TBS. News service reports DVD In stores Tuesday: The Pink Panther 2 (2009, Sony, PG, $30)- At its best, the 1 1th flick in the Pink Panther series and the second starring Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau -serves up plenty of old-fashioned slapstick silliness. Watching the clueless Clouseau torch a restaurant not once but twice is worth the price of a rental alone. Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau in "The Pink Panther 2." Tomato-mint couscous 1 cup water cup precooked couscous 1 cup thinly sliced red onion 1 ripe tomato, cut into 1 -inch cubes V2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn into small pieces 2 teaspoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper Bring water to a boil and stir in couscous and onion. Cover and remove from heat.

Let sit 5 minutes. Add tomato, mint, oil and salt and pepper to taste. Fluff with a fork and cover until needed. Servings: 2. Per serving: 302 calories, 6 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, no cholesterol, 55 grams carbohydrates, 10 grams protein, 12 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.

Martin manages to comically click with a cast that includes Emily Mortimer, Lily Tomlin and John Cleese. Extras: featurettes, gag reel and a bonus disc featuring 27 "Pink Panther" cartoons. Also "Confessions of a Shopaholic," "Waltz With Bashir," "Inkheart," "Phoebe in Wonderland," "Noble Son," "What Goes Up," "Last Year at Marienbad," "Let Freedom Sing," "Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection," "Dr. Strangelove," "John Lennon Plastic Ono Band: Live in Toronto '69," "Blue Murder: Set 4," "Bergman Island." Amy Longsdorf.