October 19

 Randolph Severn Parker III's Birthday
 

Trey Parker and Matt Stone
 

Trey Parker, along with his best friend Matt Stone, is the creator of what is arguably the most significant animated program this side of The Simpsons – South Park and a co writer of the Broadway megahit The Book of Mormon. Parker was born Randolph Severn Parker III on October 19, 1969, in Denver, Colorado.  He would later use the names and occupations of his parents, as well as his sister, Shelley, to form the family members of one of South Park’s main characters, Stan Marsh. 

Parker and creative partner-in-crime Matt Stone created their first joint production in 1992 – a short film entitled “Jesus vs. Frosty” that introduced South Park’s main characters and animation style.  Eventually, the duo was given the opportunity to pitch a follow-up television series to Comedy Central, and so South Park’s twisted blend of foul language, brilliant satire and childlike wonder was unleashed upon the world. 

South Park has become nothing short of a pop-culture phenomenon.  It has spawned countless pop-culture touchpoints, from the infinite deaths of Kenny to the misadventures of Towelie, the threat of Ginger kids and several mimetic catchphrases.  Trey Parker voices roughly half the major characters on the show (the other half mostly voiced by Stone), and composes most of the songs. 

For a 1998 episode of South Park, Parker penned a little ditty for the show’s character “Chef” to sing.  Chef, voiced by Isaac Hayes, was, in addition to the elementary school’s chef and resident advice-giver, a notorious lothario - prone to breaking into soulful, seductive song while romancing the women of the quiet mountain town.  In this particular episode, “Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls,” Chef devises a new culinary creation that he markets by singing: 

“Say, everybody, have you seen my balls
They’re big and salty and brown
If you ever need a quick pick-me-up
Just stick my balls in your mouth” 

In a brilliant piece of cross-promotion, Hayes released the song, which Parker wrote, as a real-life single in 1998.  It was Hayes’ first single in twelve years, and it took number one in the UK charts – a first for the late R & B legend.  So, in honor of Trey Parker’s birthday and his contributions to comedy and the world at large, why not put Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls in your mouth and watch a DVD of his first musical hit Cannibal! The Musical (1993).
 

   
 

Chocolate Salty Balls

Ingredients

3&1/4 cups oats
1&1/4 cups sugar
6 TB cocoa
2/3 cup cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 TB cold coffee
2 cups flaked coconut
1/4 cup salt

Instructions
 

1. Mix oatmeal, sugar, and cocoa in a large bowl.
2. Using your hands . incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the dough has an even consistency.
3  Add the vanilla to the coffee and mix into the dough until well incorporated
4. Fill a small bowl with flaked coconut.
5. With your hands, roll the dough into 1 inch diameter balls.
6. Sprinkle salt on each ball , then each ball in the coconut, and place on a tray.
7. Chill balls for at least one hour before serving.

Makes 24 balls

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes