SHOUT OUT TO FRIED OREO'S!

There are several things that i love about NYC in the summer time. Dear friends let me tell you, the street fairs in NYC are out of this world! I know all of us have been to various street fairs or County Fairs throughout our lives, but there is nothing like the Fairs that happen here.

Imagine a whole world of cuisine coming together on one block! Do you have any idea how good that smells???

One of the big draws for me are the Fried Oreo's! Thats right, i said it, Fried Oreo's! And let me tell ya kids, you really have not lived until you have had one. You can travel all over the world, taste some of the most incredible, delectable cuisine created by some of the most note worthy chefs of our time, and not have that same rush of emotion, that only happens after you have eatin a freshly fried and hot out of the oil, Fried Oreo.

Yes its the simple things that mean so much, and let me tell you those are just little pieces of heaven wrapped in powered sugar. Now if your going to eat Fried Oreo's, Please be prepared to get your hands dirty. They will be sticky. Also get ready to have powdered sugar all over your face. Then finally, you might need to bring a different shirt because you will, i repeat will have powdered sugar, and crumbs all over yourself.

But these lil dew drops from heaven are so good, i think after the first bite you will probably let go of all of your vanity, and surrender to that which is, the Fried OREO!

California Dreamin

Well i have been home for the past two weeks now, and boy does it feel good. I had forgotten how truly beautiful this place is where im from. The San Francisco Bay Area has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. It feels so good to be able to leave the cold, lonely pace of NYC to come home to the warm, loving arms of family and friends. I had almost forgotten just how loved i truly am. Its been nice having friends drop by that i have not seen in a long time. Several friends and family members have had receptions for me, and its really been lovely. I look at everyone and see just how well they have all done for themselves and it make me feel really good. To see how everyone's life has progressed. Some have gotten married with children. Others have chosen to take the single route, and be completly self-involved. They are also doing well.

One of my friends decided that he wanted to pick me up in his corvette, and take me for drinks at the very distinguished Clarmont Hotel in Berkley California. The calimari was wonderful, and the drinks were out of this world. I could tell that he was really trying to impress me but really, i just liked hanging out with him and going back over the past with him and laughing at the stupid stuff we used to do. After that we went dancing. We met up with one of his many girlfriends, and he entertained them while i danced the night away.

It feels good to be home where i can get real mexican food. mmm! how i love a good carne asada burrito. And some real chinese food. im not feeling the chinese food in NYC.
The other night a big group of us got together and hung out. it was the first time in years that we had all been in one place at the same time, and boy was it great. i was such a tom boy. the only girl in a big group of guys. They all loved me, and they all looked out for me. after all the party goers left, it was just us. The old gang. We laughed and talked for hours. All of us wished the night would not end. But it did. But the memories of that night i will keep with me forever. I will always remember the laughter.

I realized that life is made up of all these little moments. Not so much the big stuff, but the little stuff. its those moments that i treasure. So today i stayed home with the family and just chilled out. we ate chinese food, and watched the Oscars. It rained all day today, like it tends to do here in Northern California. Im so blessed to come from a family that i truly enjoy being around. We have a good time together. This is exactly what i needed. To take a break. To step out of the hustle and flow of the city, and come home to remind myself that i am loved. I feel as if i have been able to regroup, and im ready to go back and tackle the big apple again.

Kisses,

LaLa

Nothin' Like Beans & Rice!!

"Beans, Beans Good for your heart, the more you eat em' the more you fart em!" Sound familiar?

Say what you will, but there is nothing that makes me happier than eating just a good ole bowl of rice and beans. Any style will do too. Im not pickee. It seems as though every culture has their own way of doing these dishes as well. As the economy worsens, we are all being challenged with whats the best way to stretch our hard earned dollars.

Its time to go old school yall! With the quickness too! Its seems as through our Grand Parents had the right idea. They grew their own produce. They saved jars and recylced them for other purposes. They boiled their water. My dear Grandmother even knew what to do with old moldy bread. Yep you guessed it! She turned it into the most amazing, and moist Bread pudding you have ever had in your life!

Ketchup was not just something you put on hot dogs!! no, no, no, it was the base of only the best sphagetti sauce on the planet! My Grandparents rice and beans were too die for! They would flavor their water with pork fat to start, season it with onions, garlic, and whatever herbs that were in season in their garden. Add their beans and rice together, and let them simmer, and you almost didnt need a main dish. My Grand Father being the man that he was, could never go for just that though, so my Grandmother always had a nice piece of meat with his rice and beans.

The way that they taught me to cook, was always with the idea that it would last for a couple days. They new how to remaster left overs. I say its high time we go back to that way of doing things. Eating out everynight is just not the thing to do. Its waistful, and can be harmful at times. I personally dont like too many hands touching my food.

My personal goal this year is to cook more at home. Bring my lunch to work with me more, and stretch my meals out to last longer. By doing this my hope is that i will save a little money, and increase my fiber intake. I just feel bad for whom ever is near by on the output of the fiber!!

Ok-So there is no place to go but down from this point, so why dont i stop here? just love your rice and beans folks, trust me you will be a happier and relaxed person!

The Upside of Anger!

There are those that say that anger is not a productive emotion. I tend to disagree. I think anger is great! i think that anger, when its used properly, can fuel changes that can move mountains! I have changed, and I have moved mountains! I came to New York alone, with few options, and even less money. I had to work it out, and you know what?..........I did!

New York is hard. But in New York i have developed a fight. A fight that I had no idea was inside me but it was there. I guess it was always there. i know who i am and what i am about. I am strong, and a force to be reckoned with! I have the power to change the energy in a room. Me, all by myself! I can walk into a space and completly change the dynamic! This is something that i am just now realizing. Here in this concrete jungle, I have came into my own.

A man that i used to love told me that i was too powerful for him. I got so affended when he said it too me, because i knew that what he wanted was this subdued docile creature, that i wasnt. i tried to be "her". Then i realized that, that is not who i am. I am not some submissive creature, that is going to stand behind a man, and do what he say's no matter what. No! thats not me. I am the kind of woman, that will stand beside my man, and love and support him, and be his partner. Not his child!

That relationship ended thank god! but what that relationship gave me, was the courage to understand that I am strong, I am powerfu! I am beautiful! I am unique! I am a Goddess! Now i revel in my beauty! I have accepted who i am. What can i say? I love me! love yourself! It's an amazing feeling!

!LaLa

Grilled Corn Anyone?????

For those of you who know me, and i mean know me well, Know that i have a deep and abiding love for grilled food. My first little Catering experiment(we wont call it a business) was called "Catering by the Grill".

We tried to specialize in Grilled light food. The only problem was i enjoyed more hearty meals! I have southern roots, what do you people want from me??? So clearly there was a problem. My solution? I started to integrate more grilled veggies into the menu and boy were they a hit!

Among the favorites were Grilled Portobella Shrooms, Grilled then stuffed Bell peppers, We would even do some Grilled stuffed Potatoes. Probably the simplest most requested Grilled vegetable food was the Grilled Corn on the cob. There is something to be said about the taste that the grill gives to the corn. Its like it brings out the sweetness of the corn.

Now, the choice of sauces for the grilled corn are limitless. But just plain off the grill with nothing, not even salt, and you just loved it!!

Its cold outside right now. When i think of Grilled Corn it makes me think of the summertime. But you know what i don't care! Who says you cant have Grilled Corn in the dead of winter?? Who?? I mean after all, this isn't like the same stupid rules that apply to fashion, apply to the culinary world right? You cant wear white on labor day! Get outta here! I'm going home, and I'm going to grill my corn. I don't care how cold it is outside!! I don't care if its six feet of snow out, i am standing up, and i will grill my corn!!

Wait a minute. What the heck am i talking about? its freezing outside right now. I don't even want to brace the cold to go back home from work. Who am i kidding? I do love my grilled corn, but i think i like being warm a little bit more right now. I know, i know, you are probably thinking why doesn't she just use an indoor grill? Well i do have one of those, but as the saying goes, it just ain't the same. Standing outside over a BBQ pit is the last thing i will be doing tonight But a girl can dream cant she???

Dont miss the train!!

Hello everyone!

It's been a while since I've blogged, so I hope that everyone has been ok since we last spoke. I wanted to share something interesting that happend to me this morning on my way in to work.

As many of you know, i live in Brooklyn, but i work in Midtown Manhattan. My rountine is typically the same everymorning. I take the F train to west 4th, and transfer to one of the express lines, which ever comes first. Either the D or B train.

For what ever reason this morning i guess i just was not on top of my game, because i got off the f train which is the local train, and i walked accross to get on the D train that had just pulled up, and opened its doors. I was trying to wait until everyone got off the train, so i stood back, so as not to be rude. (what can i say, im from california)

Im standing there waiting, and waiting for my chance to get on the train. everyone else is crowding their way into the train but im still waiting. I go to make my move to walk into the train and just before i could step my foot in, the door shut right in my face and pulled off!
I quickly tried to turn around and run back over to get on the f train but just as i got accross the platform the door was closing and that train pulled off as well. I couldnt believe it! I thought to myself, "Now how the hell did i miss both trains, when they were both right here?".
Pissed off with myself, i sat down, and started thinking to myself, you know what? Life is just like that isnt it? We could have everything going for us, and be headed in the right direction, but one small slip up, one small misstep, could cause us to miss out on everything that we had been working towards. I missed both trains that were right in front of me, because i didnt act quickly enough at an chance that was right in front of me. Dam! if only i had acted sooner. Pushed my way through, forced myself on board and not tried to be so polite i would be on my way.

Sometimes in life we have to make a decision, act on it quickly, and then follow through. if not then things will just pass us by. The older we get, the less our options become. Friends, dont let a good thing pass you by. When something good comes your way, recognize it, act on it, and stay the course. Dont waist time, thinking that something else or better is coming, cause it may not.

We are not stupid! We know when we have something wonderful! Accept your blessing, and take hold of it! Jump on board and see it through!

What a shame it would be, to look back and say, that we had something truly spectacular in our lives, but because of our inability to make a clear decision, Or because of fear, we let it pass us by. No matter what, Be it a realtionship, a job, starting our dream career, taking that dream vacation, doing something that you have always wanted to do, but were always too afraid too, now is the time! The train has pulled up and opened its doors to let you in. The question is, will you jump on board and take a chance? Or are you foolish enough to let it pass you by?

Dont miss the train kids!!
LaLa :}

Yummy pulled chicken Mini's

Can i just say that i love pulled meat??? Anything pulled, splattered with sauce and snuggled between a soft warm potato roll, i dont know, just warms my heart. These pulled chicken mini bites are no exception!

We did these for a Party last year, and can i just add that the host was very impressed. These little sweeties are not too tricky to put together, and if you can manage to get the balance or sour and sweet right in your sauce, you are in for one heck of pulled sandwich my friend! Get ready to fall in love.

Grandma's Hands

Today on this very cold New York City Morning, I am missing the love and the warmth of my dear Grandmother. A woman whose love, warmth and hospitality new no bounds. My grandmother taught me very early that when someone entered your home you were always to offer them something to eat or drink. Her thinking was, that you always wanted a person leaving your home in a better state than they were before they entered into your home, and your presence.

Its funny, because I still to some degree, live by the creed. Becoming a Chef has been one of my greatest joys, and one of my biggest challenges. For me, cooking is one of those things that you will never out grow, because there is always a new challenge. There will always be something new to figure out in the kitchen. I love that.

So now like my grandmother i really enjoy cooking at home for those that i love and care for, and also for those who may be entering my presence for the first time. Everyday after school i would come home do my homework, and then get into the kitchen with grams. My grandfathers dinner was on his tray at 5pm every day. Just before the evening news began. I could still hear her voice calling to me, to run outside in the garden and get the fresh collards, or pick a few tomatoes off of the vine in our backyard garden. Or pick some apples off of the apple tree in the back for dessert.

I would bring the fresh fruit or veggies in, and wash them off for her, and then watch her create her masterpieces. My grandmother, who was a nurse by trade, probably could have been a Master Chef had she had the chance. I learned things from her that i just could not have gotten any where else. I sat on the stool in the kitchen under her watchful eye picking and cleaning the greens, shredding the cheese, slicing tomatoe, i was after all her Soux Chef. Let me tell you, i loved every minute of it.

For some reason, as a kid, everything that she made tasted so good. I mean, if she made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you can best believe that it was the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich that you had ever tasted before in your life! I realize now that i have grown up that it was the love she had for her family that made those meals so good.

My grandmother doesnt cook anymore. She has grown old. Her eyesite is bad, and she is in a lot of discomfort most of the time. When i go home to visit i like spending time with her. washing her clothes, giving her, her baths, changing her bed doing small chores for her. Now when i go home to california im the one cooking for her. Her recipies were passed down to me just by watching her cook. I am amazed that i can still remember her style of cooking. But i am glad that i was blessed by her. Because of the love and energy and time she put into me, i have been able to come to the big apple, start my catering business, create a cooking show, and now start writing this food blog. So to my beautiful Grandmother i say Thank You. I love you.

This Food blog is all about urban cooking. You wont find anything too fancy-smancy on this blog. Im a fan of all things basic and simple. Im a home chef so most recipies will come from my kitchen. I will share my food experiences with you, the good and bad. And hopefully, we can learn some new things together.

Welcome to eatin' good in da hood!