The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 28

March 30, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 6 Spice up your PBJ sandwiches this National PBJ Day Peanut butter and jelly (PBJ) sandwiches are something many of us have eaten since we were kids. Whether we ate them in school or had them prepared by a parent for snack time, there’s just something about the classic PBJ that is comforting. April 2 marks National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by eating one of these iconic sandwiches. Have you grown tired of the simple PBJ? Keep reading to see some ways you can spice up your sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly a la waffle If you’ve got a waffle maker, you can spice up your PBJ sandwiches by turning them into PBJ waffles. Whether you want to make waffles and slather some peanut butter and jelly on top or just want to press your sandwich in the waffle maker, the choice is yours. Just remember to drizzle some honey over it to add a little extra flavor. The fraternal twin: Almond butter and honey Want a PBJ sandwich, but are seeking a healthier alternative? Try almond butter and honey instead. Almond butter is more nutritious than it’s peanut counter and honey typically has less sugar than jelly. If you want to add in another element that still makes your sandwich healthy, add slices of banana to your sandwich for added flavor, texture and sweetness. Peanut butter and jelly a la tortilla If you don’t have a waffle maker but have tortillas from making quesadillas a few days ago, use them to make a PBJ wrap or peanut butter and jelly- dilla instead. It’s a different take on the classic sandwich and can be eaten warm or cold -- just make it however you want. You can even substitute the peanut butter for cream cheese and make yourself a cheese and jam wrap or tortilla. Make it your own: Spice it up There are many ways you can make PBJ sandwiches your own. Perhaps, you prefer a crunch in your sandwich or really want to spice things up. Try adding an additional layer of bread in your sandwich and have one piece of bread with peanut butter, another with jelly and then your top slice. Add hot sauce if you want your PBJ to have a kick or exchange your typical jelly for a different flavor -- you could do the same with your nut butter and your type of bread. Add potato chips, pretzels, granola or any other crunchy component to your sandwich. Test out different things. You’ll never know what might become your go-to PBJ snack. Get creative in the kitchen and make your own rendition of a delicious PBJ. Maybe, it’ll be a PBJ recipe you make for your kids in the future and keep the snack time tradition going. Soundbite: “Sound Ancestors by Madlib On Jan. 29, Madlib released his latest beat album “Sound Ancestors.” This is the hip-hop producer, DJ, multi- instrumentalist and de facto archivist’s first solo released beat album since 2014. However, on this project, he collaborated with Kieran Hebden, an electronic producer also known as “Four Tet.” Over the past few years, Madlib has been consistently working, creating award winning albums with rappers like Freddie Gibbs and Oh No, among others. His ability to take and flip countless records in his archive from classic pieces into new and inventive ideas that display what his ears hear is exactly what makes him one of the top producers in the industry. That ability is ever present in his latest release, truly solidifying his place at the top. “Sound Ancestors” is a 41-minute, 16-track album. Most of the tracks are between two and four minutes long. Each track has its own feeling to it, but the unifying sound of Madlib’s work makes for a coherent project. The fade into the album via the first track “There Is No Time – Prelude” sets up a cinematic and eerie feel, which truly draws you into the following track “The Call.” The first beat on the album already pounds hard with a strong drum loop and a groovy bassline. You wouldn’t normally mix groove with a hard and rough beat like this one, but Madlib knows how to chef up something fierce that goes beyond normal music boundaries. The rest of the album continues to showcase Madlib’s sampling skills and his love for interesting vocal samples. A great example of Madlib’s vocal sample use and interesting placement is my favorite track on the album: “Two for 2 – For Dilla.” He dedicates this J.L. Glasthal Contributing Writer Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor With permission to print from F. Mireles. track to the late and great J Dilla, a famous producer, whose work was very influential in the industry. Their previous collaborations, like the album “Champion Sound,” are classic. On “Two for 2,” he takes vocals, breaks them apart and arranges them on the beat. This gives the song a vibrant effect, keeping your head bopping and your mind guessing. At the end of the track, he lays down a beautiful soul sample that ties it all together and makes for a track very reminiscent of Dilla’s work. This album is a fresh return to classic hip-hop beat tapes. If you’re looking for music to study to or even rap over, “Sound Ancestors” is the album for you. I have had this album on repeat and I hope these layered instrumentals secure a similar space in your brain for weeks on end. Arts & Entertainment Sound Ancestors via Spotify