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.

 

 

 

 

 

Short Story Sunday : Even Those We Hold Close

Un-break My Heart by Toni Braxton blasted through the speakers. The night was usual for Shina she waited for what started to become obvious another fantasy. When Amani walked out on her a few months ago she was so sure he wasn’t going to be gone for long. She even went bragging about how her late night loving was his main addiction. As days started to turn into weeks and weeks rapidly turned into 3 whole months, her bragging slowly started to cease.

“Still thinking about him, Huh” Selene stepped into the dim lit room holding a glass of Mocosto”

Shina smirked shaking her head until eventually she broke down into sobs. In the past Amani would have never affected her in such a way but since her stomach keeps growing. Never could she have imagined that a relationship she infested so much in would end in the way it did.  How could simple words tear down a kingdom that was being build?

“I told you he was creeping, but girl if I ever catch him slipping Imma get him” Selene took a long drag from her cigarette.

 Selene was the kind of hood females that every girl needed as a best friend. She never had a problem wrapping her bun up for what she felt she had to handle. Especially when it came to her best friend. The girls had been through everything together. Goes to show you that even opposites could make things work out. See growing up Shina was the “Ghetto Fabulous” one. The one who never lived in the bad part of the neighborhood but always hung out there. She always had the flyest things that ever came out due to her single mother who worked 3 jobs to make up for the loss of her father but she was always lonely. Selene was the one who had to work for everything the typical “Hood Baby” doing what she had to do to survive, her mother only worried about who ever her man was at the time. So the day they became friends. They found the missing links to their lives a sister.

“Dammit, I know it still hurts though” Shina walked away from the window pane looking at the television screen that flashed picture as the music muted out the sound.

“Hello, Where you at, Igght Imma be there in a minute” Selene hung up her phone as she grabbed her jacket kissing Shina on the cheek and rubbing her stomach.

“Stop thinking Baby Dol. It aint good for the baby” she said has she walked out the door.

 

 

“Mani, you know this is wrong” Lia said wrapping her leg around his waist.

“I know, but she played out to me now” Amani placed his hands on her thigh. He knew a long time ago that what he was doing was wrong but when you on cloud 9 you just don’t think about how hard the ground is going to be when you land.

“What about the baby” Lia asked placing her hand on his chest.

“Yo, when the fuck did you start caring so much” He pushed her off of him as he slipped out of the bed. Stopping in front of the sink splashing water on his face staring at his reflection in the mirror.

“How could I’ve let this go on for so long, I really don’t even see myself getting serious with Lia” He thought to himself. He grabbed his clothes and started getting dressed. Lia stood in the door.

“You ain’t going nowhere” She looked at him with a sinister blank look in her hazel eyes.

“Lia move before I make you move, I gotta get back to my family” He said without even thinking about the fact he was in a lose situation and Lia marbles where rolling all over the place.

“I am your family, you can’t go back there that bitch have everything she wants but I’ll be damned it she have you too.

 

 

Shina paced the marbled floor in her kitchen when her doorbell rings. She swung it open hoping to see Amani then her face saddens to meet Kayla her other best friend at the door.

“I got word on Mani, come on lets go” Kayla said on the other.

Kayla drove for what felt like hours. Playing what seemed to have been ever Mariah Carey track that exist as she sang along poorly’

“You ready” she said in her thick Puerto Rican accent as she stopped in front of some three story apartment building. Jumping out ringing the doorbell.

“You ordered pizza” she said has the voice on the asked who she was. Then buzzed her in.

Kayla looked at Shina as she ran up the stairs knocking on the door. The door flew open.

“MANI”!!!! Shina yelled as Amani froze and begun to ramble.

“Bitch, he mine now” Selene came to the door wrapping her arms around him.

“Selene, really after all we been through” Shina grabbed her stomach. “You supposed to be my sister” She started to tear up.

“You have had everything in life you ever wanted but let’s remember Mani was supposed to be mine, imp just taking him back. Amani jerked out of her arms.

“Lia you know I love Shina, i

going home to her and my baby” he said grabbing Shina’s hand has she pulled away. Walking towards the nearest exit.

“Wait until I drop this baby it aint over bitch” Shina turned around staring at Selene with a face full of tears.

Selene laughed wickedly as Kayla pulled out her metal aiming at her home girl.

“Amani, go correct this shit” She yelled as he stared ate her “NOW”!

Selene stood frozen.

“So you love playing home wrecker” She smirked “I told you never to touch mines, yes I know about Rico”

 

THE END!

Is it Them? or Is it You?

You might have just finished a conversation with someone you use to  love talking to and instead of feeling happy and upbeat, You feel drained. Like the whole conversation  seemed like a bunch of point less discussions about irrelevant topics. Which end up in a debate about the actual importance of what was discussed.
Have you been out lately with someone you use to have fun with all the time, but it seemed like this time wasn't fun at all. Then you start to realize the only difference between those past outings and past conversations are the time frame.
Normally when things like this happen it's not so much of the other person who have changed. Maybe you have gone through a period of hardship, became a parent or simply grew up. I call these growth periods. Growth periods can be  mental, emotional, or spiritual. Which tends to change the way you look at life around you.

Mental Growth Periods: Causes you to change your perspective on things. You at some point in your life thought that new  "Bratz Dolls" was everything but now The only reason you would look at one is because you're thinking about buying it for a little girl in your life. It's the same thing that goes for the conversations you have. When you were younger you probably could spent hours and hours talking about how cute your celebrity crushes are with your best friend, how your going to dress up as 'Sailor Moon" for Halloween, What Jimmy did on Degrassi  or even how you want to try the experiment you just watched on "Zoom" (I'm sure by now you know what era I grew up in). Now such topics are mind less conversation. Just like mind less conversations the same goes for Mindless Outings. For most teenagers the places to be is the movie theater, the mall (with no money) or your friends house having a slumber party. It's not that this things have changed or became bad, Just that you think differently about them. Degrassi is still a good show but it's more of a pass time now, instead of something you  lived for. The mall is still a wonderful place to go to  for  shopping but to just hang out there and window shop "Ahhh No".

Emotional Growth Period: The difference between this and Mental Growth Period is the way you react to things.
If you grow emotionally the things that once made you happy , sad, and angry. Doesn't trigger those emotions anymore. Does this explain the numb way you feel about things? Maybe so.
For example as a child, Dropping Ice Cream, the word "NO", or your best friend not coming to school. Were things that made us sad now we could careless about all three although sometimes (the word "NO") can still trigger sadness but not the way it did in the as a child. So your probably trilled to know that your not becoming some "evil emotionless being" your just becoming more mature about life.

Spiritual Growth Period: This growth is like a package deal of all the growth put in one. Once you start a spiritual journey within your self. It would change you mentally and emotionally. Things that were once looked at as fun are now looked at has troublesome. Things that you use to say, you now realize you should say them. The way you look at life would change completely. Everything around you would no longer seems as important has they use to. As a effect you would become more peaceful and if your life was filled with drama you would learn to stay away from things that cause discomfort in your spirit.


So It's you!   I know I mainly spoke about how you look at things differently during and after a growth period in your life. The same thing goes for the people around you. People tend to associate with others that are of either the same mindset, up bring, lifestyle and etc. Something is similar about any group of friends even if the differences stand out boldly. Say you and you group of friends are friends because y'all think alike but you start thinking differently. Your friends either become boring, immature, or crazy to you. In there eyes you start acting like your better than they are and You don't want to be around them. Which isn't the case on your behalf you're u still confused of the changes in the way you react to things. This is how a lot of relationships goes to dust.  Positive change is always good and sometimes during or after growth period you realize that some of the company you keep shouldn't be around you. Growth should only effect your relationships positively and if those around can't seem to understand you've made some positive changes in in your life then you just might have to hold them at arms length.


Petals Falling Until Next Time!

Love You Guys!

2015.....

Now that we are in a New Year. Its time to remember those mistakes of last year.
Every year is a growth period. We go in with so much hope if only we kept the same faith throughout the year we came in it with.

It hard sometimes not to get discouraged when things flip flop in our lives, but change is good.
Change is the only thing that's going to happen rather  you plan for it or not. So embrace change.
I remember when I first moved to North Carolina. I hate the whole concept of being here. Hated the culture shock that I wasn't use to, the lack of mobility, the lack of diversity and the fact that I thought nothing good could ever come out of being here. Now I still some what agree with the first four things I mentioned but something good did come out of it and that was my personal growth.
I've learned so much about myself, the main thing I have learned was self loving. I remember being young and people would say such and such about self love and I figured I love myself. Coming here showed me that I was putting myself on the back burner and then wondered why others did the same.
(I'm Rabbling) Moral of the story is that change is good even if it seems to be the worst thing at first.

Many of us made our resolutions, Most of us would fail at keeping them within a few months. The reason why we fail is because we don't continue to try. Life happens and it has it's way of changing your priorities. Some of those resolutions become pushed back because something came up that was more important. I'm in no way saying don't handle your business but to find away to juggle all of it.
Not to be a hypocrite, because I do the same thing. More then I would like to admit, So I'm saying it to myself as well as I'm saying to you. "Pick Yourself Up And Try Again"

Never lose sight of yourself. Rather your goals are to lose or gain weight, get a job, go back to school, get married, start a business, become healthier, write a book, start a youtube channel, create a better life for your family or etc. I'm sending you my best of wishes and all my love.


(P.S Started a New Blog!)


Petals Falling Until Next Time! XOXO

Empress-Rose

Be-Aware of Halloween

To tell the truth I use to look forward to Halloween.
As a young child I resented my mother for never taking me trick or treating, and spent most of my teenaged years trying to make up for lost times.
There was always something fun in dressing up and free candy but there was also something mystical surrounding October the 31st.
Although my mother use to say Halloween was a night of evil also known as Satan's Birthday.
I never really understood what she meant after all I was young and wasn't raised in a bible based household. It wasn't until recently over the last 4 years that we as a family really started to seek and understand the true meaning of what it meant to be a child of God
My perspective of God and Jesus was totally different then compare to now. In contrast my perspective of Satan was different as well. It was kind of like the cartoon version of the angel on one shoulder and then devil on the other.
Everyday I learn more and more during my journey.

This is why I decided to write this. As Halloween slowly approaches and Chirstians/Chirstian Parents are Considering Costumes, Planning Parties,  and/or Going to a Church version of Trick or Treating. 

In no way or form in my opinon should you have any celebrations on this day.
Did you ever ask yourself where did the origin of Halloween come from? Whats the actual dangers of Halloween? Why is Halloween consider a Holiday, and If its a Holy Day what why is it so dark and gloomy? Well hopefully sharing a few things from my research can answer those questions.

According to my research Halloween originate from the ancient celtics, Who basically are ancient Irish. During this period they had scholors and teachers called "Druids". (Some places referr to "Druids" as Clergymen)
The anciet Celtics celebrated their New Years on November the 1st. So starting October the 31st through November the 2nd they celebrated. (Sound pretty ok, Right?)
Here's the creepy stuff, During that celebration the Druids made sacrifaces to Samhain.  Who is Samhain? He's "Lord of the Dead" according to my bible based teaching. Satan is the "King of Death". The dead are assembled by of course Samhain who decides what body their souls would go into next. Some where humans and the really evil ones where said to become animals. On these days those spirits go about tormenting the village and returning back to their homes.
"Your probably saying we don't celebrate Halloween in such ways. That's anicet stuff from 2,000 years ago, and it was in Ireland not the good ole United States."
According to my research here's where everything becomes a bit familiar.
Those same evil "Druids" dressed up and went from door to door asking for what ever they wanted. ( Mostly Bread, Fruit, and Cheese). When a person refused to comply with those demands the Druids had the nerves to curse them. Also the "Druids" where known for carving demonic faces into turnip in order to worship as a personal God. Maybe it's just me but that

Sounds like our typical. Trick or Treat and Jack 'O Lantern scenario. Thats  supposedly the origin.
Does it still seem harmless? Your probably wondering how this apply to us in this present day and age.
Well did you know that Satan has worshippers to?
Well in case you didn't know he does. There's actually Churches of Satan across the world but anyways back to the worshippers of satanic. Halloween is the most important day on the Satanic Calendar because it truly is the birthday of Satan (Momma tried to tell me) on this night Evil Spirits are Raised, Demons roam the streets, Curses are Placed, Sacrifices and a number of Demonic things take place.
That why I personally could never understand how Churches could do events on Halloween? Not unless its a Prayer Meeting! Doing any form of celebration on this day is still celebrating Satan's Birthday.

Now ask your self why is such a day geared around children? Maybe because they are the most Vulnerable, Naive, and Blind. Thats why we has Adults especially Chirstian Adults have the responsibility to inform them properly.

I purposely left somethings out about my research. I challenge whom ever reads this to do their own research.  Maybe you'll find something I missed or something you didn't agree with that I said. So leave me some comments.

What is the truth behind bobbing for apples?
(Answer in comments)

Stay Prayed Up, Love You Guys..
Toddles