coconut shrimp

*I usually serve with light fruity marmalade for dipping. You can pick this up at any local store. For this setting I used Apricot.

Peel and devein your shrimp. Set your fryer and prepare for a 400 degree prep for cooking.

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Dry coating:

1/2 cup coconut

1/3 cup oat flour

1/4 cup whole wheat cracker crumbs

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1 egg white

1 T organic unsweetened soy milk (or whatever milk you fancy)

1 T Whole Wheat Flour

Pat your shrimp dry. Season (to your desire with salt, pepper, garlic) and toss with flour. Whisk egg white and milk. Mix coconut, oat flour, and cracker crumbs. Spread on waxed paper. Coat shrimp in egg/milk then roll in dry coating. Drop into heated oil for 5-8 minutes or until golden brown. Strain. Serves 1.

spinach pies

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To make crust...

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, chilled and diced

1/4 cup ice water

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.  

             

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Spinach pie filling...

Fresh Spinach
Salt/Pepper
White Onion chopped
Red Pepper Flakes
1T Olive Oil
Pepper Jack Cheese

Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Saute fresh spinach in oil. Add salt, pepper, pinch of pepper flakes, and 1/2 cup of chicken broth.

Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain liquid from spinach and set aside.

Roll crusts out at room temp. Cut into circles or squares 3 inches diagonally or in diameter or larger. I prefer 5 inches to produce a surface to hold 3-5 T of spinach.

Spoon spinach onto crusts, sprinkle chopped onion and pepper jack cheese on top. Fold upwards to pinch and seal edges.

Bake in the oven at 375 degrees until golden brown on a nonstick sheet. Serve. You can freeze extras and eat leisurely. I usually make 2-4 at a time, store the leftovers in the refrigerator and eat within a day or two.

my favorite things—natural makeup

Years ago, I only wore a lip liner and a medium rose glossy tint. It took me less than two minutes to apply and I would be out the door. I never carried a makeup bag. Then in 2003 I joined a wellness company and struck gold. Nicole Miller was a lifesaver. I did not wear much foundation throughout the years but usually kept a staple in case I needed to cover an occasional blemish.

This list will grow as the year progresses. I want to tell you about this now, instead of waiting until Christmas.

On a trip to Sephora, I contemplated walking right back out, but decided that since I was no longer a residual player on the Nicole Miller team, it was time to find a new family. For years I watched infomercial after infomercial about Bare Minerals. It never convinced me.

My sensitive skin craves natural products. It loves oil free, water based goods. I sat in the chair and let a consultant give me the once over. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE BARE MINERALS. I also love tarte and JOSIE MARAN. Every time I wear it, my sister cannot stand not complimenting me. She’s even planning a visit to the SEPHORA store for a consult. 

hair grease haul

First, forget what you have been told about throwing away 'hair grease'.

When I started this natural hair journey, I was new. The last time I saw natural hair Muhammad Ali was fighting Leon Spinks. Yeah! Some of you folks born in the 80's forward have no idea what I am talking about.  Naturally speaking, the words of the wise are from tested true natural veterans with flowing locs.  Right?

Well, let me tell you a thing or two about ditching what you know once worked on your hair. Not everyone is the same. You will find this on YouTube. Most of the soft luscious wash-n-go girls are 3c and below with hair that shrinks but is fine textured to be manipulated without drying out. For us 4-type folks...uh...we need the twist outs and 'da grease'.

Not everyone is the same, even amongst the 4's. Some do not experience the shrinkage that  I encounter. Some do not like their hair so much that they wear weaves, braids, wigs, extensions, etc. 98% of the time when their hair is not flat-ironed or when doing 'length checks'. Listen up...they hardly blog about the wonderful ways their 4 type hair is styled daily. They hide!

Why? They hide because they are too chicken shit to admit that all of these oils and expensive materials pimped by the natural community for profit are not working for them. They do not want to deflect from the core, so they talk all of this chatter about 'protective styling' and hide their natural hair. Some even duck and run back to the creamy crack. Some, admit the truth and get back to the old ways that worked, which grew thick voluptuous ponies that everyone admired back in elementary school. You remember elementary school? That was the time when your mother still styled your hair, and it was long and thick, before you entered junior high and your poison fingers broke it all off.

My point here is that with all of my 3.5 years natural from a bald head, I started with what I knew. That consisted of the maintenance my mother used on my hair. As I branched out from a smooth bald head to a curly twa (teeny weeny afro) I wanted to see what others were doing with this 'hair' I discovered which was multi-textured. The good part is that I learned. Through this learning I became a product junkie, trying every product that I heard worked. I am not ashamed to say this. You learn by doing. No one sent me free tries so I was left to purchase my 'learning tools'. Sorry, student loan does not cover natural hair styling. Ha!

I will not list all of the products that I tried and tossed. It was a lot. I will tell you that I am ditching more of the stuff that does not work and adding GREASE! That is right. I am not talking about the stuff that you buy in a tiny tub for five dollars, with three trials and you are replacing it. I am speaking about the 1-3 dollar tubs of Bergamont, Castor Oil, and Coconut Oil. Royal Crown was a staple in my home. Some folks used Dixie Peach. Some had hair that just bathed in Dippity Doo (gel).

I know this. I need moisture and I need oil. Conditioner washes are better for me than Shampoo. Leave-ins are the bomb! Cheap Shampoo works! Cheap Conditioners work 10x better than the poos! I did discover a wonderful leave-in by a blogger on the YT. It consists of equal parts: aloe vera, conditioner, oil, and (water...my personal touch). I like my leave-in as a spray. I purchased little bottles to store it in, shake it up before applying, then add my GREASE! Yes sir! I am loving it!

Do you and do what works. Do not be afraid to try. By all means, when the trials fail to give you improved results, do not be afraid to go back home! We are not the rulers of the natural hair world. We do not own you or your journey.

the precious things we take for granted

No matter how many people die and leave us, there will always be those that will not understand or value the precious things that we are blessed with until they are gone. I learned how to let go of precious life very early. I lost my father when I was nine years old. I hold fond memories of him. That lost taught me to love those who I love without fail. As time lapsed, I grew from this lanky teen to a buxom young woman. Over that time life continued to slip out from my grasp.

At 17, there were all of the earmarks to becoming the woman I am today, only then everything was new and untested. Today, at 42 I recognize the things that are not important and the things that deserve the utmost attention. No matter the turns life take us through, some will never understand the beauty of the gifts we are given. Life brings enough struggles for us. It is undoubtedly a careless waste of time and life to take for granted the things that present themselves amidst the bleak and dank options that are so plenty.

When the people I love leave this world, I do not want to hang tirelessly onto their coffin, pleading to God for one more day, an hour to show them how much I loved them. When their time is done, I will salute them on their journey and may Godspeed. Not everyone values life the same. In spite of the precious gifts of love, we seek the attention of that which is unimportant. Instead of cherishing the days we have we look to what we do not have. Instead of counting our blessings, we lament on our sufferings.

And then we wonder why nothing changes in our lives, after toiling and begging for blood from a stone. The truth is here. Where we place our treasure is where our heart rests. Our gratitude for the small blessings allows for God to Bless us more abundantly.

beautiful skin

In my last post I mentioned the rediscovery of the steam pot tradition. It was something I faithfully used to relieve sinus pressure and occasionally subscribed to for at home Saturday facials. Well here are a few added bonuses for you acne sufferers out there.

First. Relax. Understand that acne is treatable. You may never solve the root causes but you can treat the symptoms like any other condition. Now if you find anything I mention here offensive, just remember that I am not a dermatologist. Any advice presented is for the purpose of blogging my own successes and failures in the treatment of the various skin disorders that make it next to impossible for me to use prescription medications. Most medications have the potential to work. The trouble is getting them to the target, which is beneath the skin layers where acne is rooted.

Second. Know your skin. You have to know what it is that doesn't work. In my discoveries, as I have mentioned, I suffer with at least three conditions: acne, rosacea, and eczema. They each require very specific treatments. You have to find the treatment that guards you against them all with the least amount of irritation. One thing I know for sure is that there will be a presentation of one or all of my conditions on a regular basis. My skin is not flawless and I do not expect that it will be. But I can minimize the outbreaks.

Third. You need a cleanser and an exfoliate. You need a toner. You need a topical medication. You need a natural oil for moisturizing.

I have used a varied amount of soaps and truly there is not one that works better than the rest. I simply tried what I heard would work, like a product junkie. I do know that what works for one may not work for others. Find one that cleanses with the most natural products. I am moving towards 'less is more' even with my hair care. Don't judge me. LOL. My favorite soaps are the Sulfur Bar, Ambi Complexion Bar, and Cetaphil Anti-Bac bar.

My favorite exfoliates are the buff, Ambi Even & Clear, St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub, and Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub. Anything else shows redness and irritation. These three items I could exchange for the other, budget dependent.

My favorite toners are a low grade alcohol, tea tree oil, Vitamin C splash, and Witch Hazel.

My topical solutions are any 10% benzoyl peroxide or 1-2% salicylic acid. My oils are vitamin E or Bio oil. I also use Ambi fade cream for even skin. It contains vitamin E and a sunscreen.

Fourth. After cleansing skin daily up to two times at least 8 hours apart, I steam it before or after soap cleansing. In the morning I steam it first. In the afternoon I steam it after. This is need dependent. Sometimes I even skip the bar cleansing if I do not leave the house. The steam is incredible. I like to use my citrus peels and a tea bag. This is green tea or peppermint. Any one you choose should be fine. After wiping gently away any loose particles using my toner, I steam again. Repeat the process up to three times. On the final I do not use a toner but gently apply my topical. My pores are open and the topical can go where it needs to do the most good, not sit on the top of the skin and irritate it. A light film to cover the entire face will do fine. Since my skin is wet from the steam only a tiny bit will go a long way. It dries as the moisture dries. Make sure to avoid the eye area but go to the edges of your face and even your neck if troubles are there too. Wait 10-15 minutes and apply your oil. Fade creams should not be applied in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide to avoid irritation.

If you follow this and it shows break outs that seem uncontrollable, do not lose your patience. Any treatment will follow with worsened conditions as your skin adjusts. I experienced this and was about to throw it all away until I realized in photos how much more my skin improved. I love how youthful it looks. Try not to: over dry your skin with product, irritate your skin by over scrubbing it during exfoliation, or rub excessively when applying toner. Be gentle with your skin. Pretend you are wiping over the membrane of an egg yolk, without breaking the seal.

Remember, you cannot clear imperfections (scarring) until you treat the irritations (acne, rosacea, eczema). After you get your irritations under control, you will begin to see your skin improve gradually even before the use of fade creams. Give it at least 30 days but follow a strict guideline. You have to follow the guide or else you cannot truthfully say it did not work. Patience.

skin...the traits we inherit

I guess it is hormones. I know the truth. Heredity plays a significant role in what you deal with or choose to ignore. As I have aged, it is remarkable how much my appearance is growing to favor that of my parents. At 12, I had this tree growing on my back. Of course it did not sprout roots or give fruit. It certainly needed pruning. Actually, it needed to be gone and fast. Dermatologists and my mother's careful loving hang, I was able to recover from my first bout with an eczema scar. Eczema? Yes, I call it my father's DNA. Years, later eczema is not the only disorder I have encountered in the Atopy triad. At 17, I encountered my first bout with hay fever, not to mention countless skin irritations that seemed to come out of no where. My skin was hypersensitive to everything. If something touched my hands, and my hands reached my face, a new outbreak would occur. For years, I believed the battle of teenage acne would end and a new life would emerge, allergy free.

Wrong.

In my mid to late 30's asthma reared its ugly head, eczema was in full bloom, and the return of acne. Acne has no relation to the triad, but if I mismanage the treatments for the triad, acne is a viable result. After nearly two decades of virtually being acne free, I was shelving out money for prescriptions that were deemed 'new' and 'cutting edge' but gave little results. I grew frustrated with my condition and even more so with my dermatologists. A few simple self-care, at-home treatments resolved my issues.

Then came the 40's...

Hormone struggles are officially added to my list of 'causes' for skin irritations and the return of acne. However, this round, I do not intend to shelve out money to a dermatologist. My skin has been erratic for the last 7 years. I would say the late 30's forward. It is tricky. I have to basically stay consistent and try at best not to over clean it. Now that I am outside a lot running, I have to keep it cleaner but without soap. Same goes for my hair. I cannot over dry or risk overproduction of sebum. My skin follows the same protocol.

A simple steam pot with vitamin c added, along with herbs, teas, etc. but not necessary, helps to open my pores allowing me to cleanse them and treat them instead of just the surface of my skin. This is so cheap and certainly not a recommendation by dermatologists, hence another reason I find the medical profession/insurance community laughable.