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.