ms.christiana

First 2012 Photo of the Week.

2012-01-21T22:51:00.000-05:00

Georgie @ United Aid for Africa

"The Aim of the Wise is Not to Secure Pleasure, but to Avoid Pain." Aristotle

2012-01-21T22:45:00.000-05:00

HBD GB LUV MsC!

2011-12-12T11:04:00.001-05:00

33 Never Looked So Good. . .

Photo of the Week.

2011-11-09T16:35:00.000-05:00

Now don't tell me immigrants don't work hard.

Woman pushing a cart of recyclables on 9th Ave & 37th

Occupy Times Square!

2011-10-16T16:02:00.001-04:00

First and foremost let me say that this nerdy chick, who loves puns, had to resist the temptation of titling this, "Sign of the Times Square." That being said, yesterday was truly something magnificant. It was amazing to be at a protest with such a hopeful and positive outlook. I sincerely hope that Occupy Times Square is the beginning of a global economic movement. Thanks to all the folks who let me snap their photo. Peep my favorite shots below.

Stormin' And Rainin'

2011-10-15T11:34:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qazje-d3I0&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL9693CD91AB62557C

Indigo Hippies at Tillman's.

2011-10-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

Photo of the Week.

2011-10-13T09:43:00.000-04:00

Central Park North

Ms Camilla's B'day Weekend.

2011-10-08T21:01:00.005-04:00

P'Burg Bodega.

2011-10-08T20:14:00.001-04:00

The Kids are Alright.

2011-09-07T22:48:00.001-04:00

Street fashion at the Labor Day Parade.

So Black, So Brooklyn. West Indian Day Parade 2011!

2011-09-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

My friend and undying source of youthful enthusiasm, Femi, invited me to vend the Labor Day Parade with him & family friend Ali. It was by far the wickedest time I've had and the best way to end the summer. {Literally end the summer, what the f's with the weather?!?!?}

I shot over 500 photos, met a ton of beautiful people, and wine up me waist! Here's part one of my favorite photos.

Jesus is Good. {To Columbia University.}

2011-08-18T23:36:00.001-04:00

Broadway & 127th

Last Supper.

2011-08-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

Wild Shrimp with a Golden Tomato Sauce over Purple Basmati Rice.

Well I gotta say, this dish beats the hell out of bread & wine. It's my last full cooking venture for many suns and moons. I've been, as you can see by this blog, eating very well. Perhaps too well though. I've been feeling kinda gross and bloated lately. It happens to the best of us right?

I watched the documentary Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead last Thursday afternoon. I was inspired to do a 30 day juice fast about a half hour into the film. It's going to be tough 30 days dudes, but I'm psyched for the challenge! I might do before & after photos but I make no promises.

Natural Beauties.

2011-07-28T11:14:00.000-04:00

I took off from work the weekend of my birthday and had a little bbq with my sister. {Happy B'day Deeje!} As I was running errands before the bash I passed my local farmer's market on 110th & Manhattan Ave. This is the thing about working weekends, you have to dilute yourself about what you're missing out on. I was grateful to be able to stop by if even for a little while. I picked up a stunning bunch of golden carrots.

I was so in awe of this beauties that I wasn't quite sure how to prepare them. I had also never eaten golden carrots before. So I decided to keep them light and simple to get a true sense of the vegetable. This was definitely the way to go. I first tasted a light sweetness grounded by a strong earthy flavor.

Head Game.

I made a glaze of garlic olive oil, organic honey, cinnamon, & kosher salt. Then I drizzled it over the sliced carrots and tossed them around a bit. Lastly, I hit them with some black pepper for color contrast and a bit of zip.

Honey Roasted Carrots over Brown Rice w Ocean Perch

RIP.

2011-07-27T15:42:00.000-04:00

The music world suffered two major losses this week. Amy Winehouse passed Saturday and Joe Arroyo passed just yesterday. Although from very different genres both musicians were influenced by black music and each of them struggled with drug abuse. While they'll be missed, I hope their souls are finally at rest.

Food Crush.

2011-07-21T10:49:00.000-04:00

Ah Mr Bittman {cue dreamy music} . . . I must admit, I have a little crush on the man. When I see his videos on the NYTimes my heart flutters, my mouth waters, and I get all giddy inside. What can I say, the man can cook!

His recent dish was a creamy leek and garlic pesto pasta. Now as you folks know, I regretfully don't eat bacon, so I had to come up with an alternative option to make my dish pop. Low and behold, wild salmon was on sale this week, haaayyy! {You'll be seeing a lot of it by the by}

While Bittman's recipe is minimalist, it's not easy peasy. Especially when you've got a few burners going in a 90 kitchen. It was well worth the effort in the end though.

Leeks! Dudes, make sure you clean them very throughly.

Slice them in half a rinse downwards to get rid of dirt and sand.

I lightly seasoned the wild salmon with some kosher salt & pimenton.

First of all, this is my Cuisinart. This introduction is well overdue.

Inside my friend is the leek & garlic pesto.

Put the pesto back in the pan you sauteed the leeks & garlic in.

You'll add the pasta and some pasta water to complete the dish.

Hello Lovely. . .

Yeah . . . this is the shit you don't get to see . . .

Here's to the Ladies Who B'day Brunch. . .

2011-07-21T10:05:00.000-04:00

Ms C's 30!

2011-07-18T12:01:00.001-04:00

Who knew 30 could look this good?

Photo shot by the Unforgettable Ms Glendy B Rivera.

Barclay's Center, BK.

2011-07-10T12:02:00.000-04:00

"Experience is Not Enough."

Worker's Glove

"Transformer mixtape says if God blesses you with opportunity USE IT"

Taco Time.

2011-07-07T16:03:00.001-04:00

It's summer, it's grossly hot, there's so much cool shit going in the city. Who wants to sweat it out in the kitch all day? I made two different taco styles. The first is a steamed shrimp taco with yellow peppers and carrots. The second is a veggie beef taco with shredded carrots, sauteed red onions, and corn.

Both are topped with a simple fresh salsa made from plum tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, freshly chopped garlic, lime juice, and salt. Light, filling, and I barely broke a sweat. {Ha, yeah right. Not in my hot ass apt!}

Lastly, let me say,what a difference 11 megapixels makes.

Shrimp Taco w Fresh Salsa

"Beef" Taco w Fresh Salsa

It looks like this blog is about to get a whole lot more delicious!

Jason & PG

2011-07-07T07:04:00.000-04:00

She's Shootin! Ha, Made You Look. . .

2011-07-07T06:57:00.000-04:00

Just the Two of Us.

2011-07-03T02:06:00.000-04:00

Mama's got a brand new bag.

Hello Beautiful.

2011-06-23T09:19:00.000-04:00

Steamed & Curried Cabbage, Carrots, & Tilapia over Purple Basmati Rice.

Photo of the Week. {Flashback!}

2011-06-23T09:16:00.000-04:00

An Ode to Sandwiches!

2011-06-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

It's been over a month mes amis! I've been busy with work, friends, and eating of course! Between the warm weather and little time for a lunch break, I've been devouring a variety of delicious sandwiches!

Seasoned Tofu, Fresh Spinach, & Roasted Red Pepper & Pumpkin Spread on a Multi Grain Bread.

Soy Chirizo Sausage, Yellow Peppers, & Imported Swiss on a Multi Grain English Muffin.

Fried Fish Sandwich @ Karloff in Cobble Hill, BK.

Shrimp Poboy with Fresh Spinach, Onion, & Roasted Red Pepper & Pumpkin Spread on Italian Roll.

Two Fried Eggs, Imported Swiss, Roasted Red Peppers, & French Dijon Mustard.

Looking Cool and Looking Pretty Just Aren't the Same Thing.

2011-05-13T21:18:00.001-04:00

Orchard St, 5/11/10

2011-05-12T10:28:00.001-04:00

Me in White America.

2011-05-12T10:28:00.000-04:00

Dreamland.

2011-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

A to BK.

2011-05-01T20:18:00.000-04:00

Cumin Basa.Sauteed Spinach.Brown Rice.&Roasted Pumpkin Red Pepper Sauce.

2011-05-01T20:06:00.000-04:00

Mexico & Me.

2011-04-23T23:10:00.001-04:00

I bounced down to visit my friend Ms. Cinthya in Mexico in early March. It was my first bounce out of these lovely States since I actually started this blog is October '09. It was also the first time I learned what it means to take a vacation. It certainly wasn't easy for this city girl to lazily chill on a beach all day but I got into the swing of things by day two. Playa del Carmen is a super clean, beautiful, peaceful, barely Mexican town. It was a huge adjustment for me photographically. There was barely any dirt, or grit, or filth for me to capture. So I embraced my surroundings and decided it was okay to shoot pretty things. Shout out to Ms. Cinthya! Thanks for the great time.

Who know there was such a high demand for tea at the laundromat?

2011-04-23T22:07:00.002-04:00

Zuke Girl!

2011-04-21T12:39:00.000-04:00

I remember eating {and loving} a lot of zucchini growing up. We usually had it sauteed in some butter. It was heavenly. It's back in season now, so I decided to buy zucchini and carrots, then put my kitchen gadgets to work.

I wanted to make several dishes using the vegetables in a similar fashion but with different flavor combinations. Take a goose, take a gander.

Omelette with shredded veggies.

Swai in a Balsamic Peanut Sauce w Garlic Sauteed Zucchini

Swai w Curry Sesame Seeds & Balsamic Peanut Veggies.

Old School Swag.

2011-04-20T21:36:00.000-04:00

"We are like a living museum here."

2011-04-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

This weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the failed Bay of Pigs mission. But who are the real victors? For Castro, Bay of Pigs is a perfect example of winning the battle but not the war. He successful staved off American efforts to squash his revolution, however his people have suffered tremendously. And what about us? What kind of commentary is it on our government to say we've held a grudge for political decisions made half a century ago? I can only hope both governments will eventually, at the never least, agree to disagree because ultimately we the people are the ones who feel the pain in the end.

Photo of the Week.

2011-04-15T23:29:00.000-04:00

Negro y Amarillo.

2011-04-15T23:26:00.000-04:00

I bounced out abroad in early March and returned about a month ago. I like to say I didn't take a trip, I had a journey. One of my first dishes I made when I returned, after battling a few days of intense indigestion, brought some of the overseas flavors home. Above is cumin swai fish with black beans and corn over brown rice.

Birthright.

2011-04-15T22:26:00.000-04:00

My mother was baking cookies when she went into labor with me. It's really a chicken vs egg situation. Was she baking cookies because I was on the way or did the smell of the cookies tempt me out of the womb? Considering the intensity of July heat, I'd like to think my sweet tooth was already calling the shots.

I decided it was high time I start whipping up a few batches myself after I bought a Cuisinart last fall. It was the first time taking a crack at them since my sophomore year at Rutgers. Cookies are deceptively tricky to back. It's all about finding the right recipe and keeping your eyes on the clock. So far, I've made chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips and the reverse.

Los. Ninos.

2011-04-07T11:58:00.001-04:00

HBC.

2011-03-17T19:17:00.001-04:00

Say Hello to My Little Friend.

2011-02-23T23:20:00.002-05:00

Meet Mr. Otis. He's my brilliant little vintage typewriting friend. {shoutout to Ms. Joanne for the gift!} Mr. Otis may look a tad familiar. He made a cameo appearance in the gold wall post. Today marked a memorable day in his long life because he was finally named. {after Otis Redding} And of course, in Ms Christiana fashion, I took some photos to mark the occasion. Be sure to treat him well if you should ever pay a visit.

The Party's Over . . .

2011-02-23T23:10:00.000-05:00

It is with great sadness and deep regret that I have to announce the commencement of clementine season. Alright they are still around, but not in abundance nor nearly as cheap. I was downing them like a Hunt's Point hoe. And as much as I adore their sweet juiciness, I'm not willing to turn tricks to afford them. So it's the end of clementine season for this broad broad. It was a fun ride.

What perverted fool thought of that slogan? It sounds like something I would write. Hahaha!

Photos of the Week.

2011-02-22T14:56:00.000-05:00

Harlem Dreams Deferring.

The Accidental Twins.

2011-02-22T14:02:00.001-05:00

Don't you love Sundays? Spin class, old movies, dinner with friends that's the shit that makes the day grand. This past Sunday my good friend Ms. Camilla came over for some gab & grub. It turns out we had similar sweater on which meant of course, we had to take photos of the coincidence. Proving once again that great minds certainly think alike.

Whoa, talk about your CP time . . .

2011-02-22T13:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Belated Valentine's Day Mes Amis! ~ Ms. C

Crustless Asparagus Quiche & Layered Yukon Golds.

2011-02-07T15:25:00.000-05:00

Manhattan Ave & 122nd.

2011-02-06T17:46:00.001-05:00

The Soul's of Black Folks.

2011-02-02T20:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Black History Month! Some sixth sense must have kicked in this weekend because I started cooking a bunch of black folks food. See below. By the by, there are a bunch of shots of collards because I think they're gorgeous. And shit it's my month, I can do what I want, hahaha.

I rolled about 4-6 leaves into cigars then cut them into thin strips.

This is about a pound and a half.

There goes Mr. Steamy. I put a few shrimp in the mix.

Meanwhile, on another burner. Black Eyed Peas from scratch simmering w red onion & green pepper.

I added the steamed collards to a butter, garlic, kosher salt, chopped peanut sauce. It's the best!

Look who's back in black {eyed peas}.

Coconut Sweet Potato Custard Pie. Nuff said!

Snow Shots.

2011-01-31T12:50:00.000-05:00

Farewell Farinata . . .

2011-01-29T21:07:00.000-05:00

It is with deep sadness and regret that I have to announce Mr. Mark Bittman has retired his weekly column, The Minimalist. Ughs and expletives all around. I can't say I followed religiously, but Bittman's work often brought me out of a cooking slump. His recipes introduced me to pimention & chickpea flour, which are now two staples in my kitch cabinets.

Bittman's final column was a compilation of his 25 favorite recipes. I prepared Socca or Farinata as a solitary homage. And of course it was easy and delicious. You will certainly be missed.

Batter Up!

I broke out the hand mandolin to add some red onion.

Out of the oven & into the belly.

Golden, light, & savory.

She Waan Di Vitamin S.

2011-01-29T20:19:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed by now that I rarely have any breakfast food here. The first meal of the day is usually my simplest one. Let's face it, I live alone, I'd have to be a damn glutton to whip up a stack pancakes every morning. I like to keep shit light & easy with a simple smoothie. Here's the latest mix:

1/4 C Yogurt

1 Banana

Few Squirts of Honey {Let's call it 1 -2 tsps}

2 Scoops of Protein Powder

2/3 C Frozen Blueberries

2/3 C Frozen Pineapple

About 3/4 C Orange Juice

Blend it together for around 20 secs and start your day with a delightful boost!

Brown is the Color of My True Love's Tomato.

2011-01-27T22:03:00.000-05:00

Hey folks! So about a year ago a grocery store, Best Yet, opened let's say around he corner. I was very skeptical at first because as you can tell food is near and dear to my heart. Therefore, where I get my food is of the upmost importance. Fairway was my clear favorite back then. I could buy cheap veggies, everyday staples, and specialty items like pimenton. It's an amazing store.

Needless to say, Best Yet had to really be the shit. Luckily it is. Okay so there are regular groceries of course. In addition to that you have the most random ass shit that food nerds such as myself cream their pants for. I've found purple potatoes, blood oranges, and the subject of this post, Kumatos. I'd never seen nor heard of them before. Of course I had to try them. I didn't want to do anything too complicated because I wanted to get a sense of the tomato's true flavor. I made a simple sauce, see below:

1 1/2 Tbsp of Olive Oil

3 healthy heaps of chopped garlic

1 package of Kumatos {I think there were 5-7 tomatoes}

8-10 garlic & parsley anchovy filets

A few dashes of kosher salt {not too much though b/c anchovies are oh so salty}

A few dashes of coarse black pepper

Italian Parmesan for garnishing

And it goes a little something like this:

Brown Beauties. Dice tomatoes, then add to a pan with chopped garlic and olive oil.

Sim-Simma, who's got the keys to my Beamer? This is a good time to add anchovies.

I think it got to this consistency after 12-15 minutes of cooking. The anchovies dissipated into the sauce. Well except for a few pesky little bones here and there. Hey man, it's so worth the flavor!

I added spaghetti to the tomato sauce, then bowled {not plated} with some Italian Parmesan Cheese. I tasted a difference in the sauce, but it may have been the anchovies. It was delicious either way.

http://www.sunsetproduce.com/product/speciality/kumato-tomato

170th Btwn Haven & Fort Wash

2011-01-27T16:14:00.000-05:00

Breakthrough.

There are Some Benefits to Laziness.

2011-01-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

I bought a whole mess of kale last week. To be frank, I wanted to eat it but didn't really feel like chopping the shit up, putting in a pot, and checking on it periodically. Now that's pretty pathetic, I know. But it also led to this stroke of genius.

I bought some salmon steaks & cut them in half. I also cut off a few heaps of kale. I'd say about 12-15 leaves. Watch out for that wet floor!

Then I sprinkled them with Lawry's {feelin lazy!} and some garam masala. Next I nestled the salmon in between two pieces of kale, like a sandwich you shouldn't eat.

There goes Mr. Steamy. I placed the extra leaves of kale on the bottom of the steamer, then covered, and let it cook for I'd say 15-20 minutes. Don't quote me on that.

Luscious!

The great thing about steamed fish & veg is that you can eat as much mac & cheese as you want!

Mr Steamy.

2011-01-13T16:36:00.000-05:00

So, unfortunately, if you haven't seen the informercial product the subtle hilarity of this title is lost on you. My family celebrated Christmas at my sister's apt in BK. She prepared a delicious spread and I felt full for days. My Mom, my sister, and I all have different approaches to food which is brilliant because I always pick up some new ideas when we spend time together. {food is a regular subject.} One of the stand out, "ah that's a good idea," dishes was steamed salmon. I found myself thinking, wait why don't I have a steamer? It would certainly make shit easier and healthier. I think it's also a merit badge on my Food Nerd Merit Badge Sash. {Shit, now I actually want one of them.}

As you can imagine, I've been steaming veggies like crazy. First bunches upon bunches of broccoli then I moved onto every kid's favorite, brussel sprouts.

Meet the newest addition to the kitchen gadget family.

Gorgeous!

I sliced the piping hot brussels in half then sauteed them in a

pan with butter, red onions, chopped garlic, and sea salt.

So f'n good!

Just An FYI . . .

2011-01-13T15:13:00.000-05:00

This is my new bitch and my new theme song.

Somewhere btwn Frankfurt & New York

2011-01-13T15:09:00.000-05:00

September 2009

2010 Fav Flix!

2011-01-10T15:37:00.000-05:00

So last year I composed a list of 25 movies I loved and recommended to people just starting to get into the film world. I watched so many many flix in 2010, what was life before Netflix, and therefore felt compelled to make a new list of my top favs. You can always email me for the complete rundown. Here are my top five. Wait, let me just say the first three a brilliant for the score alone. Alright, now look:

1. Umberto D. (1952) It's a very simple premise, an old Italian pensioner is struggling to pay his rent. There is something about the feel of this movie that makes you fall in love with it. For me it's the score, Carlo Battisti's subtle yet emotive performance, and the gorgeous shots of an Italian town in a state of decay. Oh Umberto, you've got my heart. Here's a clip:

2. A very, very close second is Fellini's I Vitelloni (1953). Watch the trailer. I'd say Scorsese's quote captures the film best.

3. Elevator to the Gallows (1958), is about the coolest suspense movie you will ever see. Miles Davis is the soundtrack which gives this film noir/French New Wave Masterpiece a warm breezy flow. Peep the trailer and don't even try to tell me it's not some sexy shit!

4. Shoot the Piano Player (1960) - So we'll stay in Paris, because it's wonderful there and the French make brilliant movies. Charlie is a piano player who's swept back into his criminal family's drama without warning. We learn about his professional career, past loves, and regrets in two days of his life. The trailer's a bit funky but the movie is grand!

5. A Prophet (2009) Whoaaaaa, wait 2009? Ms Christiana doesn't only watch old movies? Answer to that, sometimes. And films like this made me realize there is some really good shit out there now that I'm missing out on. Netflix threw this movie my way and honestly, I only watched it because it's French. And let me tell you something friends, it is no joke. Tahar Rahim plays Malik, a young North African new to the French prison system. He is muscled into working for the Corsican gang which places him at odds with the Arab community. That's just a basic synopsis, it goes really deep from there. The directing and cinematography is bold, inventive, and exhilarating. And hey, it's in color!

All That Glitters . . .

2011-01-10T10:50:00.000-05:00

May be my golden photo wall! My photo wall is a major part of my gallery like uptown apt. I got the idea late last year to create a grid of 36 photos that visitors can re-arrange to their liking. And then about a year later I firmly decided to paint my massive 10'X17' wall gold. I get these romantic visions in my head and I'm telling ya, I just go for it. The first attempt was extremely disappointing. DO NOT USE Ralph Lauren Metallics! The paint is heavy and very hard to apply well. My bright apt became so dark and I literally ripped all the paint off the wall. The photo wall was in a state of chaotic limbo.

About a week later I was fortunate enough to meet two warm and helpful interior designers. {Huge shoutout to Tim & Stuart!} The suggested checking out metallic colors at Benjamin Moore, which worked out brilliantly. One of my neighbors, who is a contractor, painted the base and first coat {shoutout to Ant}. I put on the final coat while watching Muppets Take Manhattan on a chilly Monday morning. I adore it! The photo wall is just as I envisioned it.

Later that evening, I framed, arranged, and nailed 38 new photos from 2010. One of my resolutions for the past year was to take 10,000 photos. The ones featured on the wall reflect some of the people, moments, and changes that impacted me.

It took several gallons of paint, hundreds of dollars, and oodles of time, but I finally struck gold.

Don't Call it a Comeback!

2011-01-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, Happy 2011 peeps! To put it frankly, 2010 was a shitty year for a lot of people. But hey, we got through it right? One of my last dishes of the year was courtesy of Mark Bitman once again. I'm not the biggest fan of gnocchi, but there was something about Bitman's Ricotta Gnocchi recipe that appealed to me. Here's how it went down:

Scoop out pasta dough, I used a tablespoon and fingers. Add the dough to a large pot of boiling water.

Then transfer to a small pan and sautee in a pan with fresh sage.

So you'll notice my gnocchi is darker than Mr. Bitman's. There is an awful lot of multi-tasking involved with this dish. I got distracted and the gnocchi started to brown. I thought they looked even more beautiful and it added another texture to the dish.

I diced some campari tomatoes then simmered them in a pan for a few minutes. The lightness and sweetness of the tomatoes were a perfect contrast to the saltiness of the cheese.

Superb!

First Photo of the Week of 2011.

2011-01-06T05:02:00.001-05:00

M Train btwn BK & Manhattan

Morning Loveliness.

2010-10-23T08:33:00.000-04:00

Astoria Blvd & 23rd.

2010-10-21T06:51:00.000-04:00

Greenery.

Throwback Photo of the Week

2010-10-07T12:39:00.000-04:00

Moore St, Dublin 2008

On the Subject of Laughter.

2010-10-06T19:32:00.001-04:00

Tennis world number one & number two, giggling like children while trying to shoot a commercial. Delightful.

On the Topic of Friendship.

2010-10-06T17:51:00.000-04:00

How do you measure a brilliant friend? To me it's a person you can laugh with endlessly about a subject as random as Travis the Chimp. Me & my beautiful friend Kristin were absolutely obsessed with theTravis/Charla Nash tragedy that claimed the life of an eerily human chimp and the face of a good woman. Not to say there is anything humorous about the brut strength of a primate mauling an innocent person. But there is something quite hilarious about people who are stupid enough to own wild animal and pretend it's some normal shit. Anyway, Kristin made me this funny video to give me a good laugh. To all the primates who have ever been made to dress up in silly outfits and ice skate, Kay & I feel your pain. And to my very dear friend, love ya Kay, thanks for the video.

Last Night's Dinner/Today's Lunch

2010-10-01T18:20:00.002-04:00

This dish ain't no trouble at all. Boil some water with a bit of salt & olive oil. Then add the pasta once the water is boiling rapidly. Saute strips of tofu in some oil olive and season with kosher salt & sesame seeds. Cook until each side is crispy, then remove them from the pan. Add Italian chopped plum tomatoes, yellow peppers, and arrabbiata sauce. Simmer for about 7-10 minutes, add the tofu, and plate over pasta. Garnish with pecorino romano & black pepper.

Every Little Step. . .

2010-10-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

This is quite simply, so f'n brilliant! I'm really not a fan of Wayne Brady and have been known to call him the c word on occasion. But between this and his cameo on The Chapelle Show, he gets a pass for any past or future corny, dare I say Uncle Tomish work. Mike Tyson is what really makes this video hilarious though. Poor bastard has no rhythm and has an expression on his face like a kid in a middle school talent show who forgot all the choreography. Keep an eye out for his suspenders bit. It's quick but one of my favorite parts. Love it!

Ms. Dominique.

2010-09-30T13:42:00.001-04:00

Color Blocking.

2010-09-23T09:26:00.000-04:00

In honor of New York's fashion week I watched The September Issue. It's a brilliant documentary about Vogue's largest and most influential edition of the year. It's fascinating to watch even if you aren't deep into the fashion world. The Color Blocking shoot, which was quite contentious in the doc, inspired my cooking over the next few weeks. Peep the trailer and my take on the concept.

Mac, Cheese, & Tomatoes.

Flax Oatmeal w Dried Cranberries

Roasted Golden Beet, Carrots, & Purple Potatoes

Onions & Orange Pepper

Pimenton Perch & Purple Potato Hash

Teriyaki Tilapia w Steamed Spinach, Garlic, & Orange Peppers

On The Vine Tomatoes, Mesclun Lettuce, & Organic Ciabatta

Spicy Coconut Rice with Peas & Crispy Curry Tofu

Around Town.

2010-09-23T08:55:00.000-04:00

21st Street & Astoria Blvd.

2010-09-23T08:44:00.000-04:00

Manhattan in the Midst.

125th & 2nd Ave

2010-09-09T22:33:00.000-04:00

Recent Eats.

2010-08-19T19:01:00.000-04:00

Olive Oil & Bruschetta @ Franks

Organic Eggs, Zucchini, Cheddar, & Pimenton

Mesculun Greens, Plum Tomatoes, & Thessalia Feta

Vanilla Yogurt, Blueberries, Natural Almonds, Honey, & Cinnamon

Recent Photos.

2010-08-19T18:47:00.000-04:00

Out of Towners.

Greek Fest.

Morning Junkie.

Illuminated Love.

21st Street & 27th Ave

2010-08-18T08:23:00.000-04:00

Sacre Coeur, Queens.

"We don't have to be dramatic, just romantic."

2010-07-27T19:06:00.000-04:00

Taking another sip of Black Coffee this evening. This song is so sexy and features the same vocalist, Bucie, as "Turn Me On." It's definitely one of my new favorites. Shout out to Craig, my spin instructor at NYSC 125th!

B'day Picnic!

2010-07-22T07:02:00.000-04:00

Charles & Me.

Ms. Camilla.

Ms. Anna.

Ms. Kay Kay.

Ms. Camilla & Mr. Edwin.

Ms. Jayme.

Ms. Erica.

Shot by Kay.

Ms.C

Salsa. Shot by Kay.

Yoga Crew.

Photos of Two Weeks Ago. {Me poor Mac was sick, but she's all better now.}

2010-07-22T06:41:00.000-04:00

All the essentials.

Pardon?

Wreck on 125th & ACP

AfroCuba.

23rd & Park Ave South

2010-07-22T06:29:00.000-04:00

City Sunbathing.

Jasmine Rice.Coco Black Beans.Curried Cabbage.

2010-07-22T06:26:00.000-04:00

122nd & Manhattan Ave.

2010-07-14T08:06:00.000-04:00

Instant Water Park.

Reunion Sunday.

2010-07-06T10:24:00.001-04:00

Gbenga & Charles

Shot by Charles.

Manhattan Ave & 121st.

2010-07-06T10:11:00.000-04:00

Rahuligan.

This Week in Photos.

2010-07-02T21:08:00.000-04:00

171st btwn Haven & Fort Wash

2010-06-28T15:34:00.000-04:00

121st & Manhattan Ave

2010-06-28T15:33:00.000-04:00

{Photo of Last Week.}

Weekend Photos.

2010-06-21T01:18:00.001-04:00

Samedi

Mike playing Miles on the BK Court steps.

Mike's friend & photographer Dawn

Caracas, LES

Mike

Dimanche

Femi @ Sundae Sermon

Rizz.

2010-06-19T08:17:00.000-04:00

Quan.

2010-06-19T02:12:00.000-04:00

My Jam of the Week!

2010-06-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

Damn, I don't know if it's pride month {Happy Pride!} or what but I am crushing hard on Ms. Janelle Monae. Her slick hair, crisp suits, amazing voice, and high energy dancing, what's there not to love? I'd say the adoration really hit full swing after watching Ms. Monae on Letterman. Her first note made my heart sing. Listen and be dazzled:

Here's the actual video:

See Them/See Me.

2010-06-16T20:21:00.000-04:00

How I See Them/How They See Me is a new photo project I'm exploring. The basic concept is that people I take photos of will then turn the camera on me so they become the artist and I'm the subject. I usually try to give back to friends and strangers I photo by sending them unedited jpegs. This project takes it one step further since participants will not only have images of themselves but work they created. I have to say this new project is definitely influenced by Marina Abramovic's show at the MoMA. I like the idea of having my subjects participate and there being a creative exchange. This project will also examine ideas of perception and control. I've taken a numerous amount of self portraits, but I'm rarely photoed by others. I will select the best shots that are taken from an artistic point of view, but I will not edit regardless of my opinion on how I am presented. My first participant was mon ami Garan. You may remember him from a earlier photo of the week. Here is how we see each other.

St Nick & 125th

2010-06-16T19:18:00.000-04:00

Swiss.Free Range Egg.Mesclun Lettuce.Beefsteak Tomato.Mustard.Pita

2010-06-14T02:15:00.000-04:00

Last Week in Photos.

2010-06-14T02:12:00.000-04:00

PG @ 121st & Manhattan Ave

Bruce Nauman: Days @ The MoMa

Naked Bike Riders in Washington Square Park

Are You Calling Me Yellow?!?!?

2010-06-07T08:15:00.003-04:00

I'm sure some of you have noticed I love curry & turmeric powder. I made a quick fish & veg dish last night and I had to restrain myself from adding a dash. It's such a bright, fragrant spice it's hard to resist. Here's an amazing, yes amazing, dish I threw together last week.

I simmered some onions & peas in sauce of turmeric, garlic powder, kosher salt, cumin, cream of coco, & water. I then added some cooked basmati rice & the pan.

I added some chopped plum tomatoes after cooking the sauce so they would retain texture & vitamins.

Lastly I mixed in some soy sausage I sliced and crisped in the oven. You can easily replace the sausage with a crispy tofu, real sausage, chicken, etc. Definitely a new favorite.
{Dude I don't know what's going on with the text. Sorry it's all wonky.}

Shit, Paula Deen Was Right . . .

2010-06-07T08:06:00.000-04:00

I'm not so much of a Paula Deen fan since I'm convinced she's trying to kill all of us with tacky greasy food. But, I will agree with the bitch about one thing, butter does make it better. I was vegan for many years and became accustomed to using soy margarine. Then one day my sister was talking about how she prefers butter to margarines since they are highly processed. And alas a light bulb went off. I took me a bit to embrace the creamy, salted ingredient mainly because of price but Whole Foods produces a delicious non RBST butter that's only $2.49 a pack. Here's what I made last Sunday:

I rough chopped some cabbage & a Spanish Onion

Melted about 2/3 of a stick in a pan on a low simmer & boiled some basmati rice.

Spices used: garlic powder, turmeric, cinnamon, kosher salt, & cayenne pepper

I added the onion then cabbage to the butter and lightly sauteed. I really had to keep stirring to make sure the butter was equally dispersed. You may need to add more butter and I suggest covering the pan so the cabbage will sweat a bit and add to the sauce. Then I added the spices, let them simmer and become friendly. Next in the pan was the shrimp, followed by some corn, and finally the rice.