What to Cook Wednesday's

 Mackerel in Hot Tomato Sauce and Rice

Ingredients:

1 Can of Geisha Mackerel in Hot Tomato Sauce
1 Large Onion
3 Cups of Canilla Rice
Olive or Canola Oil
Sal and Pepper

Serves: 4-6 people   Prep-Time: 5 Minutes  Cook-Time: 30 Minutes

Directions:

In a medium size frying pan heat up your Oil.
While the Oil is getting hot slice or dice your onion.
Add the onions into the pan and turn the heat down to a medium. (You don't want your onions to burn)
When the onions are translucent open the can of mackerel draining the chili sauce into the pan and adding 1/4 cup of water. (This would keep the onions and sauce from burning)
Empty out the Mackerel spilt them in half and remove the bones (This step is optional some people like eating the soft bones, I personally don't).
Add the fish into the pan with the onions and the sauce and roughly broken up the fillets. (Don't break them up to much or you'll have a fish and chili paste)
Add a cup of water and turn the heat down to a medium low.
Salt it to your taste.
(Tip: taste as you go add a little salt and as the water evaporates add a little more)
Dash some pepper (For those spicy babies like myself)
Let it cook down until its semi thick and then it's done.

Directions: My Ultimate Rice Recipe.

In a medium pot boil about 3 cups of water.
Salt the water and add a drop of oil.
Add 2 cups of rice and turn down the heat  to a medium low and cover your rice.
(Canilla Parboiled Rice doesn't take long to cook. About 15 Minutes at least. I like my rice al dente like my pasta. it has to be a cross between soft and hard just cook it longer if you like softer rice, Test your rice and add water until its your desired texture)
Once your happy with your rice and all the water is out removed the lid.
Then serve!

Story Behind the Dish:

Growing up I was always interested in cooking. Up until today my mother laugh at how I use to get up early to watch cooking shows instead of cartoons as a child. So when I was nine years old she trusted me enough to actually prepare a meal for dinner. A meal that wasn't has simple as boiling Hot Sausage for sandwiches or prepping Ramen Noodles. I was so excited to graduate in the kitchen. Something I felt was long over due. She told me that she wanted Mackerel and Rice. I was no stranger to the dish as a matter of fact it was a stable in my household in between shopping trips. I grew anxious this meant I was going to be able to chop up onions really cook.
By the time my eyes finished watering from the onions I question my excitement. The dish came out very well  of course my mother walked me through it but never the less. This quick, affordable, and delicious dish was my very first real dish.

Two Cents Tuesday's

The Other Eating Disorder

Many people think that eating disorders basically stop at Anorexia and Bulimia, but there's a eating disorder that's just as dangerous. Yet, people often over look this particular disorder simply because the effects of this disorder is the total opposite then the effect of the two most common ones listed above.
This eating disorder is called Binge Eating. Why people look over this disorder is because many classify it with just being greedy. Without realizing that in some cases the person in question is actually dealing with a mental illness that can only be fixed with the proper medical procedures such has rehabilitation. Binge Eating is often classified has emotional eating. Where a person turns to food to fill a void within themselves.
A lot of time was introduced to a child during childhood. Mainly everyone use food as a form of celebration or gatherings in general. For example if a woman is going through a bad break up she normally drowns herself in Ice Cream or If its your birthday you go to your favorite restaurant or have a party with all your favorite food. For a emotional binge eater the feeling of rejection or excitement could send them on a binge fest.
The reason I decided to write about this topic is because of how often people who struggle with this eating disorder are mistreated and looked down upon. See it in this sense a binge eater and a anorexia person basically have the same problems one just see food as a enemy the other as a friend that would never left their side. The anorexic person would loss weight to an extreme point the binge eater would gain weight.
Yes, losing weight is as simple as stop eating so much and exercise more often but what if you couldn't stop eating so much. To a binge eater its like telling them to give up the only thing that makes them happy.
I hope this short segment shined a little light on something many people over look.
So the next time you see an obese person obviously eating to much instead of skinning up your nose maybe you could be that person to feel the void that the food is currently filling in their life.

My Life Mondays: Scheduling

As children being on a schedule was one of the worst things. We hated when we were woke up, told to go to bed and have that dessert.
Now as I have gotten older I realize that scheduling is a complete blessing. I have a hard time of keeping track of the things I need to do.
After the baby leaves every day and I cook dinner I'm wiped like let me watch tv and then get ready to do the same thing tomorrow.
Forgetting that I have a blog to up keep, Stories to write, People to Call, and Etc. When it comes to house work my mom make sure I don't forget to do any of that but after I do my daily duties it like I'm retired for the day.
Recently I started to write down on a piece of paper the most important thing I needed to do the next day and place it on the table next to my chair. The whole day I would look at it as a reminder that this have to be done regardless. It helped a lot so I decided to write out a schedule and putting it on something that I knew I was going to see everyday multiple times and day. That was my fridge what I found is I get a lot more done when I schedule.

Example Schedule:

6:00 A.M Wake Up, Brush My Teeth, and Wash My Face
6:15 Remove Objects out of the way that are dangerous for a baby.
6:20 Sweep House and Disinfect.
6:30 Rest
6:43 Get the Baby out the car put him in his walker.
6:50 Make Bottles
6:55-7:45- Play ,Feed, Clean Up and Change Diaper
7:50- 10:00- Sleep time
10:00-12:00- Play and Change Diaper
12:00- Feed
1:00 Call who needs to be called
2:00 Take the Baby for a Walk
2:30 Check Mail Box
2:45 Change Diaper and Clothes
2:50 Give Snack and Bottle
3:00 Nap Time
3:30 Play
4:00 Baby goes Home
4:15-5:30 Prepare dinner
6:00-6:30 Eat dinner
7:00-7:30 Clean Kitchen
7:45- 8:15 Bible Study
8:15- 8:45- Shower
9:00-1:00- T.V. Tablet Time
1:10- Prayer
1:20- Sleep

As you can see this is just a schedule of what I do from day to day without extras the goal is to add in workout and other things. The power of scheduling is finding out what you spend most of your time doing and some how switching it in away where you could do all you what to and need to do in a certain time frame.


Petals Falling Until Next Time

Love You Guys XOXO!

Short Story Sunday: Tell Tell (Cont)

The night was dark and strange but Benz had something I wanted and apparently I had something he wanted too.

“You finally made it” He said cracking the smile he been cracking all night but for some reason this time it sent an uneasy sensation up my spine. He slowly open the door to his mini mansion and of course everything I expected to see was behind those doors. Naked women and Dope boys I swear it felt as if I stepped into that scene in American Gangsta.

A few bitches stared at me hatefully some even muttered

“Ain’t that Javi’s bitch, The Fuck she doing here” All I could do was grin how little ole me stirred up so much attention in a pair a baggy sweat pants and a camisole in a room filled with uncovered coochies left in right definitely added a couple of points to my ego.

“Yo Sysco this Havoc” Benz mention has we entered a dim back room which appeared to have been for special reason. To my left laid a mattress and to my right was a table filled with everything a person needed to turn up with.

“You Drink” Sysco asked as his eyes roamed my body up and down.

“I’m 24 years old the fuck you think” I snapped back at him momma always told me that when you meet someone no matter who the person might me stay true to who you are that way you wouldn’t build a relationship on fakeness  and no one could ever say that you’ve changed.

Benz chuckled “See man I told you, that’s your gonna love her” Sysco smirked as he passed the mixed patron drink to me.

I woke up feeling soar all over my body. My sweat pants rested on the chair next to me as I tried to sit up.

“Yo man she a freak” The cheering from the next room seemed to have grown louder as I slowly started to match my soul with my body.

“No wonder Javier bitch ass use to think he was the man, shorty bed in the bed like that”. That one statement full got my attention as I looked around the bedroom at the camera still on the tri-pod.

The lingerie shattered all over the floor. Confirming my thoughts of what took place.

                                                    “So you mother fuckers had to use a bitch like that”            I thought to myself I didn’t really have the time to react to what happened before I started craving revenge.

Grabbing my clothes I got dressed and crawled out the window as the evidence of them planning to do it again started to stick out like a sore thumb.

“Damn Girl you look horrible” Chuckie opened the door in his silk robe. The smell of expensive cologne hit me in the face confirming that David hadn’t let for work just yet.

“What happened last night with Benz” Chuckie asked as David stepped out of the door with his head held down see David was your typical DL brother. He had a successful job as a lawyer, nice house, nice car, a beautiful wife and four adorable children. Problem was he looked good on paper but was miserable in real life living a lie because the loving church going folks he called his parents disapproved of homosexuality.

“I was drugged and apparently starred in a porno last night” The words slipped out as I broke down into tears.

“Wipe your tears girl, its payback time” Chuckie pulled me up on my feet. See for someone such as myself who have been through every bad thing in life. This was such as painful as the others so my reaction was a little different than most. Most women would cry, scream, commit suicide, go to the police or what have you but for me I got them back.

Chuckie handed me the phone.

“Call Javier” he said almost in a whisper. It then dawned on me that all of this was happening because of Javier. Yet he was the only one who could help me this time.

“So you actually thought, that you could violate me, had no idea I like that freaky shit huh”  I sitting on top of Benz smiling as I started to undress him as he laid there tied to the bed with duct tape around his mouth. The fear in his eyes begged for me to get off him but my adrenaline boosted every time he swarmed.

“What kind of gangsta are you, how you let 3 women and a man bust up in your crib rob your shit, shoot your boys then tie you up” my voice grew deeper.

“Elly its show time” Wisdom yelled as the sound of Javier’s voice went from room to room.

You probably wonder how I got him there, Let’s just say No man take a threat to easily, especially not one on his family and a little lie or two had him raging.

See he thinks I volunteered to do some down ass bitch shit for him. Little did he know.

“The fuck is that pussy ain’t” he yelled busting in the door as I pulled out my gun pointed at Benz letting out a round of shots.

Javier grabbed the gun out of my hand.

“Yo Havoc what the fuck” he yelled in a panic.

“I took a fall for you now you take one for me” I laughed hysterically as he started to notice I had on gloves.

“You Bitch”! He yelled as he started to pace the floor back and forth.

“Where’s the keys to your ride and everything, you really thought I was gunna let you slide on my back nigga” I stood up getting dress in my all black attire.

“You ain’t getting shit” He yelled has Chuckie put the heavy metal in his hand to his temple.

“Murder Suicide that what it sounds like it gunna be “he said kissing me.

“I’m was never gay my nigga” Chuckie smiled at Javier as he started to count. The sirens could be heard from miles away as Wisdom started to whisper for us to hurry up.

“Everything in the secret room at the back of my house, here are my keys he handed the keys over in a panic as we slowly back out the room and slipped out the back door.

Javier got life. I got his businesses, house and married to Chuckie my very best friend who fooled the world for years just for my sake. In case you’re wondering David is actually his brother. There was no tape of me but of Dami and thanks to my getting even the whole world witnessed how many holes could be filled up at one time. As for Marble and Wisdom those girls are successful business women with everything that stole from Benz of course.

We all lived Happily Hood Fab After, THE END!

Petals Falling Until Next Time!

Love You Guys!! xoxo

My Life Mondays: Why did I quit My Blog Last Year

Last year was just one of those years for me I got to the point where just everything seemed wrong including my blog.
The biggest mistake I made was letting so call professional's advice stir me in the wrong direction. I would research on how to have a more successful blog and etc.
Normally I got stuff like your blog has to be about one topic, geared to one type of audience and blah blah blah.
One topic was a little hard for me personally to stick to.
I started becoming discouraged because to be honest I wasn't getting the turn over I was expecting to receive and topics wasn't so easy to come by.
I grew depressed with my blog and no longer felt the need to write anymore period.
Towards the end of last year I told myself that it didn't matter anymore who read my blog or what attention my blog gets.
As long as it made me feel good and that's exactly why I reopened a new and approved version of my blog.
Where I write what I want hopefully making a readers day by giving them my views on something, indirect advice about something in their lives or simply made them laugh.

I started to realize how much someone else's guides and opinions have actually had me at a breaking point. I would say screw someone's view of perfection I'm going to do this thing my way after all its mine  and yet I was studying other people blogs like "im not good enough" , "I'm doing it wrong" and etc.
I lied I'm just as good as the next person. I just had to realize that if I'm going to brand my name or what ever you consider getting uour name out there. I want the world to fall in love with me as a person  not some play by the book person who tries to never get anything wrong in life.

FYI: I'm doing segments

Petals Fall!!!

Love You Guys! XOXO!

What To Cook Wednesday : Recipe # 1

Kale and Pork with Corn Dumplings

Ingredients:

2 Pounds of  Pork Neck Bones
2 Large Onions
2 Bags of Glory Kale Greens or 2 Bundles of Kale
2 Cups of Self-Rising Corn Meal
1 Cup of All Purpose Flour (Opitional)
Salt
Cayenne or Black Pepper
Creole Seasoning
2 Tbsp of Brown Sugar, White Sugar or Splenda
Canola or Olive Oil


Directions:
In a large bowl empty out place the neck bones, salt, creole seasoning, and cayenne pepper. (Season to your own taste) Place in the fridge for a few hours or over night.

 After you let the seasoning and the meat marry each other. Place the neck bones into a deep pot with a splash of  oil and let the meat brown for a few minutes or until both sides of each neck bone is browned to your liking.

 Slice up both onions and put them into the pot with the neck bones and let them cook down a little.

Add water to the pot make sure you cover them, bring it to a boil cover it then turn the heat down to a medium and let them cook for about 45 Minutes to a Hour.

 Empty the bag of Glory Kale Greens into a clean sink and wash them. (Trick: add salt to the green during the washing it helps release some of  the sand) After washing I like to pull the leaves off the stem. This step is optional. If you are cooking bundles of kale cut them to your desired width.

 When the meat is almost done add the kale into the pot with a pinch of salt and pepper. ( In some cases you have to lid your greens and let the first set shrink and add the rest as you go along). 

While the greens are cooking in a large bowl add your Self-Rising Corn Meal and about 1/4 cup of water and mix   ( add more water if its too dry or add flour if its too liquid) it should be thick almost like cake batter just a little bit thicker) Add a Tbsp of  brown sugar into the corn meal mixture and mix well.

 Add the other Tbsp of brown sugar into the Kale Greens which should be wilted down and bubbling in its own juice and stir. Let the greens cook for a few more minutes before spooning the Corn Meal Mixture of Top of the Greens.

 Afterwards lid the pot and turn down the heat to medium low. (Remember the only thing cooking now is The Dumplings ). Let the Dumplings cook for 10-15 minutes or until it turns from a light pasty yellow bloop into a darker firm yellow ball. It's almost the same method of making hush puppies minus the oil. Turn off the pot and let all the flavors mingle.         

Now Serve!!!!!!!

Petals Falling!!!
Love You Guys! XoXo!             

Short Story Sunday: Tell Tell

Tell Tell

A Story from The Urban Chronicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I hope I won’t been seeing you back in here Ms. Johnson” Officer Neely said as she slowly passed me the little I belongings had on me the night I got bagged. It’s crazy what some people would do for the one they love. I took crazy to another level by actually taking a fall for the man I adored, Javier Ramirez everyone else know him as the Clyde to my Bonnie.  I flashed a sarcastic smirk as I waited for Marble my older sister to actually show the hell up.

 

“I’m here to pick up Elisa Johnson” Marble stood with her hand on her skinny hips that somehow still formed an hour glass shape on her slinky frame. Officer Lopez looked over into the release waiting area.

“Get up and get outta here Havoc” She said quickly in her Cuban accent rolling her eyes as she started to reminisce about the hell I cause of the pass 3 years.

 

 

“Damn, Havoc what possessed you to take blame for that no good ass nigga” Marble said lighting a cigarette as she started up the engine of here Camry.

“The same reason you would’ve done it for Gunz” I grabbed the semi-empty pack of Newport Menthol 100’s “Them bitches better not have took my money” I snared as I started to ramble in the garbage bag they threw your shit in after booking. Yes, normally they would put it on your books or what have you but everything I owned was customized with hidden departments.

“Havoc , I already went shopping for you so money not even something you should worry about right now and by the way Gunz is a loyal ass nigga unlike Javi’s slimy ass” Marble put out her cigarette in her ash tray as she speeded through the graffiti decorated streets. There was a time where Javi and Marble where the best of friends so of course I was baffled by her recent distain. Although she played it off as being angry about the decision I made on his behave but there was definitely more to the story.

 

 

“Elly, Now that your home promise me not to ever get wrapped up in that bullshit again” Granny Tae said as she sparked up her blunt. It still kind of shock people of how a woman her age did the same things we did but Dantaia Mae Johnson was the truth. Even with her snow white wavy hair that covered the few wrinkles on her face gracefully.

“Granny you ain’t gotta worry about that” I said staring at the dream catcher on the wall that someone stole out of my room but it clearly wasn’t the time to bitch over material things after all they did let me come back home.

“So what you plan on doing now” Aunt Ruby crossed her legs and rolled her eyes.

“Right now I’m going out, sike nah but on a serious note I’m going to college for nursing or something like that” Aunt Ruby pouted her lips in a way of letting me know my answer didn’t satisfy her.

“You need to take your little bad ass to church” Aunty Jae said as the whole room chimed in with “Amens and Hallelujahs”

“Ya’ll are such hypocrites, up in her cussing and shit and telling me about church, worry about your souls and I’ll worry about mines” Marble fell out in chuckles clapping her hand.

“Havoc what you wearing, Chuckie said he got something put together at the club tonight for you” Marble mentioned as she grabbed my arm leading my up the stairs into my old room.

 

The parking lot was packed as I stepped out the car feeling like a movie star as I gazed at the amount of people that came out to celebrate me coming home.

Chuckie a Queen in his own sense stepped out flashing his pearly whites as he flipped his swoop bang to the side.

“Elly, Darling” !!!! He squealed throwing his arms around my waist

“Royalty, so how this come about on a Wednesday night” I whispered in his ear.

“The Queen is home, and girl you got some work to do but for now it’s your night let me get inside Imma alert you for your entrance” He stepped back in seductively in his Steve Madden Platforms.

“Wonder if Javier here” I turned around roaming the crowds with my almond shaped brown eyes.

“He here” Marble and her best friend Wisdom rolled their eyes folding their arms.

“Yo. What the fuck, Javi use to be like your brother Marble” I snapped.

“Brother, Never would I claim him as family” She snapped back as Chuckie’s alert chimed through.

 

“Welcome Home, Elisa “Havoc” Johnson” The room fell dark as the spotlight fell on me as I worked my way to the V.I.P Section.  The lights slowly started to come back on.

“Toast to my rider” Javier stood in front of me smiling.

“BABY” I screamed as I jumped up in his arms.

“Fucking Snake Motherfucker” Marble growled bumping into him as her move onto the dance floor.

“What the fuck happened between ya’ll” I asked Javi who gazed at me suspiciously, as he laughed shaking his head as he put his big hands on my ass.

“Some people just never got over the robbery and you taking the blame for your man” He licked his lips as he glanced around the room.

“Where’s Dami, I mean I kinda was expecting her to be here” I wrapped up in his arm. It had been years but his embrace wasn’t as warm as I had expected it to be and it got even colder at the mention of Dami’s name.

“I called her earlier but apparently she doesn’t know your home” He stared off into the crowd as if he was waiting to see someone before they saw him.

 

 

“Where the fuck that bitch at Jav” the yelling from another room woke me up the next morning. It’s not like I was expecting him to stay celibate for five years but the queen who laid down the foundation to this mini mansion was home and side bitches had to go. Where my exact thoughts as I rolled up in his Egyptian silk sheet and strolled into the living room.

“Dami”!!! I yelled in surprise as I ran to hug my best friend since childhood.

“Daddy who’s that” A child about 6 years old strolled in the room holding a suitcase and rubbing her eyes. Freezing in my spot things started to become clearer.

“Daddy”?? It took a few seconds for it to process “You bitch” I yelled swing after her ha Javi held me back

“You aint about to hit my wife, and definitely not in of my child” Javier said pushing me to the floor “Get you shit and get the fuck out my house” he continued saying has Dami started to laugh hysterically.

“Bitch you been old news” she rubbed the salt into my wound.

“Really Javi after all I’ve done for you” I screamed fighting back tears.

“you haven’t done a damn thing for me bitch, everything you see I build from the ground up your dumb ass took a fall for a nigga who already had cut you out of the picture”

Dami cheered him on as if he was the winning team during the super bowl, as I grabbed my stuff and left.

 

 

“You have to eat something” Marble said as she opened the blinds, it had been two weeks since the embarrassment took place and I’m not going to even lie I couldn’t get over it so easily. Invested too much time was an understatement and for him to not only have cheated on me with my best friend but marrying her was the ultimate betrayal on my woman hood and I was torn.

“The point I don’t understand is why the fuck no one told me” I said sitting up fixing a gaze on Marble as she twisted her lips and shrugged her shoulders.

“Something’s you have to find out for yourself “She sat down on the foot of the bed “Chuckie gonna be hear soon so get up, wash your funky ass, and look decent” She continued throwing a book in my direction.

Best Friend therapy is always the best when you’re getting over a real fucked up situation and having someone on your team like Chuckie meant you was always winning.

“Girl, I got the scoop and the plot” He said strolling in wearing his male attire it times like this where you look at him with the “IF ONLY YOU LIKED GIRLS” looks Chuckie stood 6’3 with a deep almond complexion and a baby face which made it easy for him to transform from Chuckie to Royalty in a snap of a finger.

“What is it” Marble jumped up and Wisdom followed. Chuckie popped up the bottle of Grey Goose pouring out 3 double shots and one triple.

“This would keep the calories away can’t have you getting chunky summer is right around the corner girl” He said handing me the biggest shot.

“As for you two sit down, this one Elly is going to have to mainly do alone” Marble and Wisdom looked at each other as if the news disappointed them.

“Then spill it Chuckie what is the scoop and the plot” I downed the shot eager to get my pay back.

“Well for starters, the coke that you took taps for wasn’t a set up, It was his he was starting the cross over from nicks and dimes to something with a better pay off, During this time he had dealings with some guy named Benjamin Rosales street name “Benz” let’s just say the cocaine empire Javier started up was built on both Benz and yours corpse.”

“Uh Huh so what Benz gotta do with Havoc” Wisdom blurted out being the light weight she is slurring her words already.

“Damn bitch let me finish, to wrap up this history lesson if there’s anyone in the world that hate Javi more then you right now its Benz and he wants to meet you and the Expo tonight”

The room fell quiet Marble eyes grow twice their normal size.

“Tonight” I said is a whisper “It’s going down” I prepped up really quick.

 

 

The expo was a strange place for anyone to set up a meeting being that it was the one club in town that was never jumping but all the while for that reason alone inly a genius would by caught with a plate full of buffalo wings in a side booth waiting to disgust business.

The little black dress I slipped into was so tight that I was almost afraid to move around inside of it and the heels that Chuckie paired with it wasn’t making it any better.

Benz stood up hugging me as if we knew each other for ever.

“Anyone who’s an enemy of my enemies have to be a friend of mines” he said letting me good.

Everything about him spelled money, but looking at the whole picture as a whole spelled drug money.

Although I was never superficial as a woman I could lie about the fact the expensive cologne, suit, and shoes was attractive.

‘’ So what’s you beef with your ex” he said wiping the hot sauce off his finger smiling.

“I took a fall for him and he cheated and married my best friend then took all we’ve worked for together and decides that he owes me nothing” I said waving down a waitress.

“Looks to me that you can get close to him and I got the things you need to accomplish what you need done, but what in it for me”? He said after round of going back and forth of all that Javier have done to us both.

Couldn’t even deny the fact that I was expecting him to want something.

“I use someone like you on my team” he said looking me over rubbing his chin.

“Just come to my spot later” he cracked a smile handing me his card.

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED.