Friday, August 31, 2012

EVERYBODY HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!

Labor Day is not just a fun day to enjoy relaxing activities with your family and friends and it is not the last big barbecue day of the summer, more importantly it is a time to recognize the contributors America’s working men and women, as well as the achievements of the organized labor movement. My Mother and Father told use that back in the day where they lived, the community usually host a big weekend celebration at the park that actually starts on Thursday with activities for the entire family. This includes a live DJ and a dance and talent contest for the youth, a spectacular gospel fest with special guests on Sunday afternoon, and a huge parade with marching bands and colorful floats on Monday. They would really go all out for their Labor Day weekend. Today I spend Labor Day barbecuing in the backyard where there’s lots of good food, fun, family and friends and we celebrations morning ‘til night. . This holiday is the biggest summer event of the year and it seems to get bigger and better each year.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Let's share some of my salad recipes for July.

If there's one food that really captures the essence of summer, it's salad. All kinds of beautiful, ripe produce are overflowing from gardens and orchards. When fruits and vegetables are at the peak of their season, there's no need to do anything fancy with them - they're just begging to be tumbled into a salad bowl enjoyed in their raw, natural glory.
FRUITED CHICKEN SALAD INGREDIENTS 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halve 1/2 cup seedless grapes 1 red apple, diced 3 green onions, chopped 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish 1/2 cup mayonnaise 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced 1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks, juice reserved 1/8 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 cup chopped pecans fajita seasoning or your house seasoning to taste DIRECTIONS Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add chicken and cook until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink inside, approximately 20 minutes. Drain, cool and chop. In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, apple, onions, relish, mayonnaise, celery, grapes, pineapple (with just a little juice for flavor), cilantro, pecans and fajita seasoning to taste. ENJOY Try grilled chicken or a whole rotisserie chickens

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

I hope you all are having a great 4th of July

After your great 4th of July dinner let have a like dessert
Strawberry shortcake is one of the simplest low fat desserts to make. Angel food cake's light texture and sweet taste is the best choice in this recipe. Ingredients: 1 container strawberries, rinsed and sliced 1 angel food cake (purchased in rectangular shape is the best) 1 low fat container of vanilla ice 1 container low fat cool For final preparation, cut 1/2 inch of angel food cake and place on saucer. Put a scoop of low fat vanilla ice cream on top. Add 1/2 cup of strawberries, on top of ice cream. Put a dollop of low fat whipping crea

Thursday, June 7, 2012

HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had become official January 1. One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with: The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer. Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. The story often was the messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. A range of activities were provided to entertain the masses, many of continue a tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are a few of the typical Juneteenth activities. Certain foods became popular and Synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations such as Strawberry soda pop.Today the most popular traditional is barbecuing. On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official Texas states holiday.

WHAT'S COOKIN' IN JUNE

What a year we are moving right along can you believe we are half way through the year. June doesn’t have a major holiday but my family celebrates June 19 with a big Juneteenth picnic. This month I will share some of my family favorite Juneteenth recipes. I would love to share the story of Juneteenth with you, it one of those story every African American should know.