Category: Audience Participation

Blakk Amerika – From Prophets to Pimps

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Image Copyright © 2015 Israylite Heritage

If you are in the Chicagoland area, I am inviting you to go and see this play! Tickets go on sale midnight and no matter your religion or nationality, you HAVE to see this play. Below is a synopsis and the link to the website, check it out if you can:

“4000 years ago bible prophecy spoke about a mighty people who would be taken captive and brought into a strange land in ships.  They would undergo mistreatment by a ruthless enemy for four hundred years.  Who are these mighty lost and suffering people? What is the true history of African Americans before slavery? Why have we endured so much hardship? The Bible foretold of our entire history in the West thousands of Years before we arrived here. Come out to witness this ground breaking stage play for a night of Truth, poetry, Song, tears, laughter and answers to Questions that have gone unanswered for hundreds of years.”

From Prophets to Pimps

Click Here to be taken to the website

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

sister-hood-award1So I would like to take this time to thank SeasonedSista2 for nominating me for my 3rd Blogger Award (I love your blog design btw! I love those kind of color combinations), as always I am always ecstatic and very thankful for those who find my blog worthy to receive an award:

Here Are The Rules:

• Thank the blogger that nominated you.
• Put the award logo on your blog.
• Answer the ten questions sent to you.
• Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer.
• Nominate seven blogs

My questions are as follows, they are followed up with my answers:

1. What is one of your favorite quotes?

One of my favorite quotes is by George Benard Shaw:

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

2. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would love to learn to speak fluent German. Chinese also appears pretty intriguing.

3. What was the last movie that made you cry?

large_v1WdKm9qQPBfhoHanBP5XxzIBDUWow, this is a very good question…..especially since I don’t really cry during movies, hmmm….I must say Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe was pretty moving. The movie is based on the life of John Nash (Crowe) who arrives at Princeton University of the prestigious Carnegie Scholarship for mathematics. Nash is super smart and can crack codes with his mind alone. But after meeting a suspicious supervisor of the United States Department of Defense, his mental genius is challenged against the backdrop of insanity and the movie takes an unexpected twist.

4. If you won the lottery, what is the first things you would do?

african-american-children-painting1When I was about 11 years old, we would go to Hamilton Park on the south side of Chicago every day after school and spend the entire afternoon there until being picked up at night. At that center we got help with homework, participated with extracurricular activities like dance and music bingo etc. It was a lot of fun. Today my husband and I run a research and fellowship center (1/5) in Shreveport LA . If I won the lottery one of the first things I would do is contribute to the development of more youth centered activity centers in the inner city areas so that children have a safe and nurturing place to go after school.

5. Have you ever had a nickname, what is it?

My nick name is EC, and Twin

6. What is your favorite holiday?

I don’t celebrate holidays so I do not have a favorite.

7. Are you an introvert or extrovert?

Lol, Definitely an introvert

8. If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?

My bible

9. What is one food that you will not eat?

Anything Pork related

10. Would you rather use Facebook or Twitter?

Hmm, great benefits to both, but while I enjoy Facebook I have to say I’m more of a Twitter baby, it’s a lot more laid back in my opinion (at least mine is lol). Seems to fit better with my personality, short characters, not so much going on, I can get in and out.

I don’t have anyone in mind to nominate at this time so I’m gonna leave it here. Of course by now you all know I’m used to breaking award rules, I’m a rebel, what can I say (I’ll publish a post about that some other time).

In the meantime, I would like to take the time to thank SeasonedSista2 again for the wonderful award nomination! 🙂

 

The Versatile Blogger Award

versatileThere are a lot of good things happening today: we all woke up this morning, I’m still married to the most handsome man in town, the sun is shining beautifully in Louisiana, I’ll probably go home early (Ok, that’s stretching it), it is a good day though and…oh yea, we’ve been nominated for another blog award people :). (*Yay me* *small crowd goes wild*). Primarily, I would like to take this time to thank Lisa of the Rebirth of Lisa Blog for the nomination.

Here are the rules I think I plan on following this time (I think):

• Show the award on your blog. (check)
• Thank the person who nominated you. (check, check, check again 🙂 )
• Share seven facts about yourself. (Hmm…ok check)
• Nominate 15 blogs. (umm)
• Link your nominees’ blogs, and let them know. (check)

Now for the interesting part, 7 facts about myself. (I actually like the number 7 by the way, but shh, that don’t count,  do over lol) here we go:

1. My name is Yecheilyah (e-see-lee-yah) but everyone calls me EC, you can too 🙂
2. I love children and I work with, teach, and tutor them outside of writing
3. I live in Louisiana but I’m originally from  Chicago, south side
4. I have a twin sister
5. I love laughing, pasta, and I think ice cream is the best desert ever made
6. My favorite colors include anything with an earth tone feel (Green, Beige, Tan, Burnt Orange and especially Brown)
7. and I’m addicted to movie nights with the world’s best husband

Thanks again Lisa for the nomination and here are my nominees for the blogs I think qualify for the Versatile Blogger Award:

The Angriest Black Man in America
http://theangriestblackmaninamerica.com/
Unequivocally Awkward!
http://unequivocallyawkward.com/
Angelicsoul
https://brookebrunson.wordpress.com/
Kindness Blog
http://kindnessblog.com/
Rachel Being Chatty
http://rachelbeingchatty.com/
Thoughts by Mello-Elo

About Me


Silver Threading
http://silverthreading.com/
Poet Creations
http://poetreecreations.org/
Write Dorne–Putting Life into Words
https://dorneawhale.wordpress.com/
Ronovan Writes
https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/

I know, that’s only ten but it took me a really long time to come up with this list! lol. I wanted to make sure to list the blogs genuinely and this is what I came up with because you are all awes…splendid :).

Recipe Sunday – All Natural Homemade Deodorant

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Today’s Recipe Sunday comes from an ingredient given to me by a sister of mine. For the record she’s more into this kind of stuff than I am. I love natural hair, toothpaste, shampoo, soap and stuff like that, but I’m not so sure I’m on the whole natural deodorant bandwagon. I don’t particularly like to sweat though your naturally supposed to, and I’m not all that into the smell of my own DNA. However, this is a really nice ingredient for all you naturalist out there; smells good and very simple to make. You will need:

1/4 cup Baking Soda
(don’t you just love this stuff? It’s good in practically anything)
1/4 cup Arrowroot Flour OR Cornstarch / Potato Starch
6 tbsp. Coconut Oil
Essential Oil of choice

Step 1: If your Coconut Oil is solid, melt it slightly. Here’s how I do mine:

Take a piece of foil paper and a skillet. Line the skillet with the foil under a low flame. It will melt quickly, smoothly, and a lot less messy than the microwave.

Step 2: Mix the Baking Soda, Arrowroot Flour, and Coconut Oil together into a smooth paste. Make sure it’s nice and smooth. No lumps allowed.

Step 3: Add an essential oil of your choice for fragrance

Step 4: Store in your jar of choice in a nice cool place. If it gets too warm it will melt into a liquid. Do not store in the refrigerator or it will also melt into a liquid after it thaws. Just store it in a nice cool place. You can actually use this right away too.

Pros and Cons:

The positive about natural deodorant is that it lasts longer. After the initial shock of getting used to wearing it, you actually don’t have to use it every day and because sweat doesn’t make you smell, you won’t be musty. And while you will sweat, sweat is normal and good for you. It cools down the body, removes toxins, helps you to breathe better, improves circulation, and your metabolism accelerates.

The negative about natural deodorant, in my opinion, is that while it last longer, you will sweat and this can be the cause of an unpleasant smell and I just don’t play that. But, let me be fair: The sweat itself does not smell actually; the smell comes from the bacteria in your skin breaking down the sweat secretions released from the sweat glands. So it really depends on finding that happy medium of what works for you. While sweat itself does not smell, sweating more can make you smell even though it’s not the sweat that stinks but the bacteria that works with the sweat. Hope I didn’t confuse anyone there, but I think you so get it. 🙂

Recipe Sunday: Spinach, Onion, and Swiss Frittata

l210500737I know, Recipe Sunday is mad late, but, better late than never is what they say. I am dying to get into this one though. I decided to switch it up a bit so this is a breakfast recipe. You can however make it a dinner if you’re a 24 hour breakfast eater like me. I’ll make pancakes and eggs for dinner in a heartbeat. But enough about me, you will need:

2 Teaspoons canola oil
2 Cups vertically sliced onion
4 Cups baby spinach leaves
8 Large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 (3/4th cup) shredded Swiss cheese

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Heat a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 10 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes, stirring just until spinach withers.

3. Combine eggs, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over vegetables in pan; cook until edges begin to set, about 2 minutes. Gently lift edge of egg mixture, tilting pan to allow uncooked egg mixture to come in contact with the pan. Cook 2 minutes or until egg mixture is almost set. Sprinkle with cheese.

 
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes or until center is set. Transfer frittata to a serving platter immediately; cut into shape of choice and devour. 🙂

Beef Stew in Red Wine Sauce

It really don’t make no sense how good this looks. Beef stew anyone? We’ll need:

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• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pounds trimmed beef flatiron steak or chuck, cut into 8 pieces
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• One 750-milliliter bottle dry red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 thyme sprig
• One 5-ounce piece of pancetta
• 15 pearl or small cipollini onions, peeled
• 15 cremini mushrooms
• 15 baby carrots, peeled
• Sugar
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, melt the butter in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange the meat in the casserole in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Cook over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 8 minutes. Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, 5 minutes. Add the flour and stir to coat the meat with it. Add the wine, bay leaves and thyme, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

2. Cover the casserole and transfer it to the oven. Cook the stew for 1 1/2 hours, until the meat is very tender and the sauce is flavorful.

3. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, cover the pancetta with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain the pancetta and slice it 1/2 inch thick, then cut the slices into 1-inch-wide lardons.\

4. In a large skillet, combine the pancetta, pearl onions, mushrooms and carrots. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 cup of water and a large pinch each of sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until almost all of the water has evaporated, 15 minutes. Uncover and cook over high heat, tossing, until the vegetables are tender and nicely browned, about 4 minutes.

To serve, stir some of the vegetables and lardons into the stew and scatter the rest on top as a garnish. Top with a little chopped parsley and serve.

– Contributed by Jacques Pépin

Nominated for The Premio Dardos Award, Whoo Hoo!

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Oh my goodness! Ok, this was much unexpected. I had no idea I would be nominated for a Blog Award and I also didn’t know I would be this excited to receive it. I would like to take the time to happily accept this nomination *waves to the crowd* , and to thank Rebirth of Lisa for nominating me, and to urge yall to run on over there and check her out at: http://rebirthoflisa.wordpress.com.

What exactly is The Premio Dardos Award anyway?

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awards

Now, for the hard part. Technically I’m supposed to nominate 15 other blogs I feel are worthy of this award but chances are I’m going to break that rule. I have no idea who to nominate for an award. Guess I should get myself over to these awesome blogs and see whose names to list here. Pardon me if it takes a few days, I’m a little slower than the rest of you people. But, I happily accept this award and the boost of encouragement. Thanks Again Lisa!