Leftover in the Kale Chips

I was cleaning out the fridge and found some kale that my daughter needed for a recipe. She only needed about two stalks of kale for her recipe, so she placed the rest in a Freezer bag and then put it in the fridge. I have tried to adhere to the saying "waste not, want not." As I was cleaning out the fridge and found this perfectly good bag of kale...I thought, let's get to cooking. I immediately set the oven at 450 degrees and a sheet pan with parchment paper. I placed stalks of the leftover kale on the pan, drizzled Olive oil,  sprinkled some bacon bits (homemade and leftover from breakfast), added a pinch of garlic powder and adobe, and a dash of pepper to taste (no salt, yet). Placed it in the oven for 10 min at 450 degrees. I checked them to make sure they did not burn. Then, removed them from the oven, drained them on paper towels, then added salt to taste, and "boom, there goes the dynamite!" I had amazing KALE CHIPS! Easy, fast, and so yummy to snack on! Try it!!!!! Y'all know I don't measure, so I encourage you to get in the kitchen and do what you can while having fun.

Book Time! 

I finished An Academy of Liars!!!!! Lennon is one of my favorite fucked up characters. This story is grotesque, romantic, and powerful. It is full of twists and turns as Lennon uncovers the truth about herself and her surroundings. Alexis Henderson had me in horror and tears all at the same time. I can't wait to read House of Hunger (another book on my list by the author).  

Gail inspired Kale and Potato Soup and Many Reads!

Hello, Fellow Beautiful Foodies and Readers! 

Due to work commitments, it has been a couple of weeks, but I have a moment to connect with you all over some amazing soup and books. Let's jump in! 

I recently had brunch with my mentor, Gail, and she mentioned her kale soup. I have been making soups on Sunday for my weekly lunch, and craving some dark greens. Gail is a master at making soups with seasonal veggies, and the way she described it made me want to run home and make it, so I did. Well, I ran to the grocery store first, but then, I ran home and made it. I started with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter. Once the butter was melted, I added the mirepoix to the lipids with salt and pepper to taste. Once the veggies were translucent, I added mild Italian Chicken sausage to the Dutch oven and let that sear a bit. Then, I went in with the Yukon gold potatoes (8 cut into cubes) and 1 tablespoon of garlic and herb mix seasoning; I wanted to start building that flavor. The smell of just this concoction is beautiful. Now that everything is sizzling in the pot and gets a bit of color, it is time to deglaze with one and a half containers of chicken stock (no, I did not make it myself, I'm busy!). I let that come to a boil, then turned down the heat to low so it could simmer until everything was tender. As it was simmering, I ripped up a head of kale and dropped it into the soup, then added a touch more salt and pepper to taste. Don't let this overcook; you want the nutrients of the kale. 

Can I just say this was the best soup I have had in a long while! Each day at lunch, I had a moment of comfort and warmth. Thank you, Gail! Yum fucking yum! 

Here are some non-professional pics, lol! 

Many Reads! 

Okay, I am in the middle of the "LegendBorn" Trilogy by Tracey Deonn. I am in the middle of "BloodMarked" and I am living!!!! Brianna Matthews is one of my favorite characters of all time, and I have a soft spot for William in my heart! Please pick up this trilogy and get into it. It is the trilogy read of the year! 

I recently finished "An Academy for Liars," and I just can't! This book had me feeling everything from visceral pain to frustration to heartbreak. I literally cried the final 3 chapters. Lennon and Dante had my all mixed in every chapter. I was not expecting anything this book had to offer...so many twists and turns. I could not put it down. This book by Alexis Henderson is a 10 out of 10. Get it! My next one-off is "Immortal Death"; I read the prologue, and I am caught. I am gathered! Blac female vampire...you got me fucked up and I am excited! 

I am making my way through "The Shadowed Sun" ("The Killing Moon" duology) by N.K. Jemison. I am transported to a mythical world each time with characters with such depth. I am enamored with this duology. Note to the reader, please use the glossary, it is needed! 

Yes, I have a formula...I read a one-off, duology, and trilogy all at one time. I decide what world I want to jump into each day. No, I am not a fast reader, but I give myself grace to indulge and enjoy on my own time. 

Happy reading and eating! 

My Mom's QAF Chicken Pot Pie!

The month of March as an Arts Program Coordinator is insanely busy with County and State assessments. This year, I promised myself that I would not allow my job to strangle my life, so cooking at least 5 nights a week and eating correctly has been a part of that promise. Cooking my Mom's recipes has brought me a comforting joy and I feel so close to her when cooking. 

Here is  the recipe: 

I started with olive oil and 1 teaspoon of butter (salted) because let's be real, I hate unsalted butter unless I am baking. Then, I threw in the Mirepoix (onions, celery, carrots) and let that cook until the onions were almost translucent. I saved time by going right to the freezer section for the mirepoix. When I have time, I take the time, but this was a later Sunday night and I needed to keep it moving.

To the pan, I added thyme, parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Then, I added shredded roasted chicken breast (this is quick, so it was already cooked from Whole Foods). I added 1 cup of Chicken Stock (store bought, again, operative word is quick) to the pan and scraped up all the bits from the bottom of the pan.  Then, I added a small can of cream of mushroom and combined. 

Finally, I then poured everything into a casserole dish and topped with Amy's buttermilk biscuits. I let bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until the biscuits were golden brown and the topping was bubbly. 

The entire process took about an hour and it was worth it. I forgot to mention this casserole was not a dinner item, but my lunch all week and it brought me calm and comfort in what became a chaotic week at work each day! I hope you try it because it was QAF and GAF! 

#chickenpotpie

Oh…We are back; this time with books!

Hello Readers! 

It has been a minute and so much has happened in my life. Literally, my last blog was in 2020…Jesus, what a time?! I have loved, lost, gained, grown, and continued to eat and read! 

Right before my 45th birthday, I lost my courageously smart beautiful mother, Rev. J. R. Atkinson. Before, she got sick and transitioned to be with the ancestors, I had kind of lost the love cooking and eating. I did start reading more and more, but then, I my oldest daughter (who wants to be a chef in the future) started asking me to find recipes for her to cook each week. Not only did it lovingly force me back into my cookbooks, but also back into the kitchen with her and my youngest daughter. It reminded me of me, my Mom and my sister in the kitchen when I was young. Then, about a day or two after my Mom’s funeral, I found her recipe box filled with recipes from the 70, 80, and 90s from Bisquick boxes to cans of Campbell’s soup. I left them in the house, because I wasn’t ready to dive in without crying but I am gearing up the courage to come back to them. In the meantime, I have immersed myself into books (mostly, fantasy and sci-fi by BIPOC author’s) and food again!

So, we are back and I will be documenting through writing, videos, and pictures. I I just discovered Edna Lewis through a PBS documentary and ordered one of her many books. So, I will be making some recipes with my babies from her book and talking about the amazing food I have had in the past couple months, one place specifically, Barcelona in Pittsburg, PA (there is a DC location, I will try soon as well). 

So stay with me as I rediscover my love for food and books! 

Current Reads: 

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

Pick them up NOW! I can’t put them down….so essential to my being right now. 

Rustic Soup Bitch!

Potato, Kale, Sausage Soup...come at me!

Yep, yesterday after eating some really bad Chinese food my stomach was not having it. So, I said, let me make some soup and get myself right. I decided to make Potato, Kale, Sausage soup. 

In the Crock-Pot (yep, cause this Bitch got things to do....). 

8 Yukon Gold Potatoes (cubed for the size of a spoon)

6 roughly cut sausage link (I leave up to you what kind...go crazy)

1 head of kale torn

1 tbsp of Garlic finely chopped

6 Cups of Chicken Stock (you can also use water or Veggie Stock), basically, cover all of it

Thyme (sprig)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook for 4 hours as I go live my life! 

I came back from 3.5 hours of running errand and holy pajamas this soup was FIRE! Thrown some Parmesan on top or toaster some bread. It is amazing. Try it!

Much love #DanceWhoLikestoEat

Turns Out.. Eggs Over Easy

Been a while...again...my apologies. So it turns out having 2 children, being a working artists/teacher, and an Artistic Director (Light Switch Dance Theare..shameless shout out...Coke does it all the time) takes away from your Blogging leisure time. Go figure!

I come to you today with nothing...I have been cooking lots of eggs late at night when I get home from rehearsals and performances..with the occasional soup, stew, or pasta bake making on the weekends so my family doesn't starve. Before you judge, I did make an fantastic on the spot Thanksgiving meal complete with Cornbread stuffing, Pulled Turkey BBQ, Kale with Garlic, and home made Mac n Cheese (werq!).

Now, I just mentioned I have been eating a lot of eggs late at night after rehearsals and performances, right? So, I know as a self labeled Foodie...I should LOVE and GUSH over runny eggs (I accept...the eye rolls). Well, I am a scrabbles well done type of lady up until a couple months when I was like "I am going to do it...go for it." I made Eggs Over Easy and my whole world "turned upside down (Hamilton: The Musical reference)."  Since, then I have tried this with a side of toast, biscuit, grits, Fried Rice left overs, etc.....all so so good! Then, I did it. One late late evening I placed those babies over Ramen (store bought...plain old Ramen) and I had a "Come to JESUS Moment" of FUCK YES!!!!! This is the best thing I have ever had...okay..that is a reach but putting those two Over Easy eggs on top of that stack of noodles changed the way I will forever eat Ramen. Is this new? No, but it is to me!  I have found the light in Over Easy Eggs. Now...on to cooking Holiday cookies!

Tonight: #dancerwholiketoeat will have her first meal at Le Chat Noir (Tenley Town, DC)...I will Tweet about it....cause I love me some French food!

Been a While...It's Okay

Wow...last year was crazy. My schedule (like most people) was insane and so, I have not had the time to blog. Actually, as I write this I am thinking of all the grants, proposals, marketing, grading, and  scheduling I should be done...but it will all get done in time, RIGHT?!

So food. Yes, food. I have not been experimenting and trying new things kitchen lately. I have been on Twitter.com (@SandraMoves) tweeting about my favorite local food places, but have not been aggressive about jumping in the cook books and getting it ON in the kitchen. I started to think about the other day, why? Cooking relaxes me; so why have I not be eager to dive into new recipes? Then, it came...BING! The REASON! All I have wanted lately are the foods that provide memories, sanity, and warmth to my soul. Recipes that remind me of a moment in time (smells, touch, the people associated), especially, when I am cooking with my daughter. It's been foods like homemade baked mac & cheese, cornbread stuffing, potato and leek soup, lasagna, sauteed okra with vinegar, baked chicken with stewed potatoes that have made me excited about being in the kitchen. I was feeling bad about my lack of adventure in the kitchen, but then realized that like art, food imitates life. My home is my sanctuary (the place that provides support, sanity, and love) and the amazing family and friends that dwell in it give me LIFE. So, making these classic dishes have done just the same to my nose, belly and soul..given me life, support, and LOVE. 

I promise to be more adventurous in the months to come but for now I am staying with what I know. 

A Light Mix: Wine, Cheese, Dance presented by my company!

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