The Queen of Soul covers Adele

Aretha Franklin: "Rolling in the Deep/Ain't No Mo…: http://youtu.be/Bl8iBkjnRdA

Happy Birthday To Me

Yass.....God/Goddess has blessed me with another year. I look forward to more fabulousity and finer womanhood.  #StillGotIshToDo

Pizza Pizza Pizza

I love a good slice of pizza…In Chicago, nothing beats the one slice, pack of fries and a drink special at Ricobene’s or the cornbread crust at Gino’s East. One of my best foodie finds in L.A., was the BBQ Chicken Pizza at California Pizza Kitchen. That slightly sweet honey wheat crust, the smoked gouda cheese, the tangy sauce and red onions combined for a delicious treat. I would add Cheddar Cheese, forego the cilantro. Nice.

 But I can’t get to the restaurants and the frozen variety just doesn’t make the grade. Although, I want to get my hands on that new create-your-own frozen pizza kit.

 

La' BBQ Chicken and Cheddar Pizza

But I still love and crave pizza. Lately, I’ve been making my own quick pizzas, using pita, naan or flatbread.

I even came across a recipe using flour tortilla and one for a cauliflower crust. I'm sure the tortilla would make for a nice crispy crust.

Still trying to wrap my mind around the veggie crust…

These flatbread pizzas are super easy and super quick, taking less than a half hour depending on your toppings.

That’s right.
Add the toppings that rock your boat.

Make it a meal by adding a delicious side salad.

Here’s how I do it:

 

 

 

 

La’s BBQ Chicken and Cheddar Pizza

1 cup grilled chicken breast, diced

A few slivers of Red onion

¼ cup Red onion, diced

1 small clove garlic, minced

2 tsp chicken seasoning blend (onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, thyme,

2 Tbsp ketchup

1 tsp mustard

2 squirts Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp honey

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp brown sugar

Shredded cheddar cheese

1 small flatbread

·         Preheat oven to 400F.

·         In a bowl, mix ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, honey, brown sugar and vinegar. Adjust to taste. NOTE: You can omit this step and use your favorite BBQ sauce.

·         Add light coating of sauce to flatbread, reserving some sauce for the chicken.

·         In a skillet or sauce pan, sauté ½ cup of diced onions in olive oil. Add garlic. Add chicken. About ½ minute until warmed through. Add chicken seasoning and remaining sauce. Constantly turning for another minute or so. Lightly cool  

·         Sprinkle Cheddar on flat bread

·         Add onion slivers

·         Spoon chicken on top

·         Add more cheese if desired (I love Cheddar)

·         Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and bubbly.

·         Enjoy!!!!

 

 

La’s Pepperoni Pizzazz

7 to 10 pepperoni slices

1 Naan bread

¼  cup of pizza sauce (tomato sauce or ketchup mixed with Italian pizza seasonings, onion powder, garlic powder)

½ cup Pizza cheese blend

Olive oil

·         Preheat oven to 400F

·         Lightly coat bread with pizza sauce

·         Sprinkle Cheese on top

·         Cover pizza with pepperoni slices

·         Sprinkle a wee bit more Pizza seasonings for flavor

·         Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and bubbly

Fashion Just Got Scandalous: New Scandal Collection Debuts

Kerry Washington has been my celebrity girl crush ever since I saw her in She Hate Me.  She is smart, stylish and sexy. She always owns her fashion sense, whether walking the red carpet or speaking out as an activist or addressing the Democratic National Convention. Washington made history as the first Black woman to play the lead in a prime time drama in more than 30 years.

If you are a true fashionista like me, I tune into Scandal each week to  not only find out what top secret confidential  situation is to be handled,  but also I live to see what chic ensemble Olivia Pope HGIC (Head Gladiator in Chic) is wearing. And I’m not alone,  I cannot count how many times someone  tweets about who designed a certain coat, jacket, sweater, bag, etc. and how can they get the look. There’s even a website dedicated to Olivia Pope style.

Well, Gladiators, if you really want to dress like Olivia Pope, then head on over to The Limited and snatch up a few pieces from the new Scandal Collection, which debuts in stores and online today.

Washington and Lyn Paolo, costume designer for the hit show, collaborated with The Limited to create a 78 piece collection priced from $49 to $250,  of stylish and sophisticated separates including pants, pencil skirts, blouses, coats and jackets _there’s even Pope’s signature cape.

'Women often feel that they have to be either smart or beautiful, powerful or pretty, either fashion forward or successful, and I think this clothing line says you can be all of those things,” says Washington, who is not just the face behind the collection. She’s one of the designers.

'With these 78 pieces, you could come up with about 3,000 different looks because you can interchange pieces with each other and stuff from your own closet,' said Paolo. Based on Washington’s award winning character, the collection is comprised of cool, neutral colors and feminine yet tailored separates.

My only con -where is the luv for Curvy Girl Gladiators?

Now,  I  hope there is an Olivia Pope doll in the works.

Green is the New Healthy

 Now that Chi has finally thawed, I am more than ready to bust out of L7.

When the weather warms up, I just can’t be bothered with  my usual hot coffee or tea and hot meal for breakfast.  Sometimes I have fruit, nuts and/or yogurt. But most times, I make a smoothie. I first fell in love with Jamba Juice back in the 90s during visits to L.A.  and then I discovered prepared smoothies and juices from Naked, Odwalla  and Evolution. An actor friend got me hooked on Naked’s green machine cause it satisfied my sweet tooth but still had so much fruits and veggies packed in. I would guzzle gallons, especially when doing the bi-annual Daniel Fast.

Since it was becoming a daily meal choice and I wanted to control what fruits and veggies I was putting in the drinks (the fast has many restrictions as far as preservatives, added sugars, etc.), I got a blender and started making my own smoothies. A few years ago, I happened on a recipe for a “green” smoothie and I’ve been adding greens to my drinks ever since.  

Benefits of drinking green smoothies include regular digestion, more energy, decrease in sugar or salt cravings, better skin, hair growth, weight loss, stabilization of blood sugars and more.

Here is a fool proof formula for making green smoothies.

How To Create A Green Smoothie:

2 cups liquid (i.e. water, coconut water, juice, milk ­_cow, almond, coconut cashew, rice, green tea)

2 cups leafy greens (Spinach, Kale, Romaine)

3 cups fruit (fresh, frozen) and veggies (beets, carrots, celery, zucchini, avocado, cucumber

Blend greens with liquids first, then add other ingredients. You might have to adjust measurements according to desired consistency so I recommend starting with 1 cup liquid and adding in small increments.

Another Tip: buy a bunch of bananas (Aldi’s and Sam’s Club sell for good prices); allow to ripen (they will have brown specks and spots – remember the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice (smile)). Peel, slice and store in freezer. When ready to make smoothie, this frozen banana will act as sweetener and provide a creamy consistency. I like using frozen fruit so you don’t have to add ice which waters the smoothie down.

Other add-ins include:

·         Raisins and dates for sweetness

·         cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne

·         lemon, lime, orange, apples, carrots,

·         cocoa or cacao powder

·         vanilla bean or extract

·         flavored extracts such as mint, rum, coconut, etc

·         yogurt or coconut milk

·         oatmeal,  quinoa or chia seeds, nuts or nut butter (peanut, cashew, almond) _these provide fiber and help fill you up

·         coconut oil

Green Smoothie Recipes:

·         Pina Colada Goodness: 2 cups coconut water, 2 cups spinach, 1 cup pineapple, 1 banana, ¼ avocado

·         Coconut milk, spinach, green grapes and banana

·         2 cups almond milk, 2 cups spinach, bananas, blueberries and peaches

·         2-4 cups spinach, ¼ cup pineapple tidbits, ¼ banana, 2 Tbsp ginger, water

·         2 cups spinach, 1 cup mixed fruits, ginger, water

·         3 cups frozen peaches, 1 banana, 2 cups spinach, 2 cups water

·         Coconut milk +frozen fruit (pineapples, blueberries, mango) +  spinach

·         Cucumber, apple, lime

·         Spinach, blackberries, blue berries, raspberries, pineapples, ice and water

·         Banana, spinach, granny smith apple, ginger and mint leaf

·         Almond milk, honey, strawberry, spinach

·         Bananas, blueberries, spinach and coconut milk

·         Frozen berries, spinach, yogurt, orange juice

·         Shamrock Shake: frozen banana, avocado, spirulina or spinach, fresh mint or mint extract, cacao nibs

·         Fat Burning Green Tea Smoothie: 2 cup fresh spinach, 1 cup fresh romaine, 2 cups brewed green tea (chilled), 2 ½ cups peaches, 1 banana, 1 inch fresh ginger. This recipe is great for those who want to kick the caffeine habit

Other Smoothies:

·         Vanilla soy or almond milk, banana, peanut butter

·         3 peaches, 2 bananas, ½ coconut almond milk, ice

·         This smoothie has a day’s worth of fiber: Strawberries, frozen banana, peanut butter, almond or soy milk, Greek yogurt, ice

·         Thick Chocolate Shake: 1 ½ cup water, 5 frozen bananas, 1 ½ Tbsp cocoa powder

 

So are you going green? Share your fave green smoothie recipe below.....

 

Luv La

Happy Belated Queen Re Re

DAY DREAMING by Aretha Franklin.mpeg: http://youtu.be/gYoIFz3mSws

Happy Belated Diva Boss Chick!

Diva Diana celebrated 70 this week. She's still fab as ever.

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out & The Boss 1981: http://youtu.be/H3ZLbtWEQ54

Rhonda Byrnes Helps Us Get The Magic Back Into Our Lives

Rhonda Byrnes Helps Us Get The Magic Back Into Our Lives

I’ve been inspired by Rhonda Byrne’s writings since The Secret. I love her teachings because the practices are truly self-centered. You don’t have to have any special tools or privilege to access this information. And it’s based on the simple Law of Attraction, like attracts like. You attract what you focus on. By focusing on the positive, we bring more positive and good to our lives. Because we are changing our vibration….we let go of the negative, fear, anger and surround ourselves with the light of love and abundance.

Long ago we were taught that God promised us our heart’s desire if we ask and believe. But more than likely our good God-fearing, bible-toting caregivers, teachers and the media infused our life with fear and doubt. Fear of doing wrong, the troubles we’d see if we didn’t go a certain path, how there are so many bad hateful people we have to be weary, always looking over our shoulder. We grow to dread late night phone calls because it was inevitably bad news. Why couldn't it be someone in another time zone sharing a good fortune or inviting us on an all expense paid vacation? We fear the dark; fear change, even the unfamiliar… Life is a struggle. Women of color can only do so much. There is never enough money. Men are low down dirty dogs not to be trusted. Guard your heart. You’ll never make money as a dancer, writer, or actress so get those dreams out of your head and get one of those good government jobs. Don’t expect too much out of life and you won’t be disappointed. But I thought you said I can be anything I want, I can have my heart desires if I’m good. Well, why would God give me these desires if I’m not supposed to want them?

 Yes, most of us were required to go to church every Sunday, perhaps bible class on Wednesdays and Vacation Bible School during the summers, but they were counteracting all that good with steadily focusing on the negative in the world. And for whatever reason most of us soak up all that fear, belief in lack and anger and carry it through life. We grew angry with God, the bible and church because we just went with what was taught instead of seeking our own interpretations of God’s word. So now, in order to live a life of abundance,  it is our mission to get back to our right minds. Return to the way of thinking that assures me I am a Child of the Most High, a Queen and everything I touch turns to gold or platinum.

“I discovered a secret about life, and as a result of my discovery one of the things I began to do was practice gratitude each day. As a result of this, everything in my life changed, and the more I practiced, the more miraculous were the results. My life truly became magical,” explains Byrne in her book, The Magic.

 “There is an exquisite feeling many of us had as children, that everything is good, that every day promises more excitement and adventure and nothing could ever thwart our joy for the magic of it all.  But somehow as we grew into adults, responsibilities, problems and difficulties took their toll on us, we became disillusioned and the magic we once believed in as children faded and disappeared.

“I am here to tell you that the magic you once believed in is true, and it’s the disillusioned adult perspective of life that is false. The magic of life is real and it’s as real as you are.

“In fact, life can be far more wondrous than you ever thought it was as a child, and more breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and exciting than anything you’ve seen before.  When you know what to do to bring forth the magic, you will live the life of your dreams.

The book features twenty eight practices that teach how to use gratitude’s power to revolutionize your health, money, job and relationships and to make your smallest desires and your biggest dreams come true. It also claims to also teach how to practice gratitude to dissolve problems and transform any negative situation. There are practices like The Magic Check (remember the infamous check Jim Carey wrote to himself which made him a millionaire), Make All Your Wishes Come True, Magically Heal Relationships, Magically Transform Mistakes Into Blessings and so much more.

The practices are designed to be completed consecutively, allowing you to make gratitude a habit and a new way of life.

The first twelve practices use the magical power of gratitude for what you have now and for what you’ve received in the past, because unless you’re grateful for what you have, and what you’ve received, the magic won’t work. These practices are said will set the magic of gratitude into motion immediately.

The next ten practices use the magical power of gratitude for your desires and dreams.

In the last six practices, you learn how to use gratitude’s magical power to help others, dissolve problems, and improve any negative situation or circumstance you may encounter throughout your life.

I have a lot of built up resistance so although I’ve been seeing the magic, I’ve not become a master magician in 28 days. Due to my current state of consciousness, I was unable to do some of the practices so I would skip to one more to my level of comfort. However I have remained consistent to Counting My Blessings, the first practice taught, every day for the past few months, and I have seen changes in my life.

My life is still not all cocktails and cupcakes but I feel more hopeful and happy. The fog is lifting. And I am able to really get joy from things once taken for granted.

So yes, I recommend adding The Magic to your arsenal of positive literature. Join me in becoming a master magician of life.

Luv,

La

 

Easy Cheesy Broccoli Soup

There is nothing like a delicious bowl of soup to bring warmth and comfort to these treacherously cold winter days we’ve been experiencing. And yes, you can break out a can of your favorite soup. But why when in less than an hour you can make a fresh cheesy chowder that is guaranteed delicious. I also whipped up a few cheesy cornbread muffins to crumble in the soup. That’s right; just call me Chef Queen La De (Da). After scouring the web and magazines for the best recipe, I put my twist on a combination of faves from  iheartrecipes.com, Divas Can Cook.com,  a Panera bread copy cat from Youtube and a Marshall Field’s Cheddar Soup copycat. Here is what I did:

 

 

 

Ingredients

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp flour

1/2 cup of sweet yellow onion, finely chopped

2 cups of holy trinity (onion, carrots and celery), chopped

¼ cup green onion or chives, finely chopped  (optional)

2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped   (I used a broccoli, carrot, cauliflower mix for color)

3 cups half and half

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth/stock

1 cup extra sharp cheddar, shredded

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Salt, pepper

Pinch of nutmeg

Cajun Seasoning Blend (garlic powder, cayenne, pepper)

 

Steam broccoli mix for about 4 minutes, to soften. Set aside to cool, then chop.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the sweet onion, holy trinity and broccoli mix; sauté, stirring, for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Sprinkle the flour, paprika and Cajun seasoning over the vegetables and stir for 2-3 minutes.

Whisk in the half and half and broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer, whisking occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until thickened. Decrease the heat to low and whisk in the cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and incorporated. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Let simmer another 5 or so minutes to meld flavors.

Depending on the desired consistency, you can add more broth/stock if the soup is too thick or a little flour if it’s not thick enough.

I whipped up a half box of cornbread mix according to package directions, then I added about ¼ cup of cheddar cheese to the batter. I put those in the oven right after I added the veggies so they were done around the same time as the soup.

Makes about 6 bowls.

 

The Ultimate Game Changer _Gratitude
Welcome 2014!!! They say Insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results. Well this year I am determined to best my best and I'm going to do it with the magic of gratitude.
 
2013 proved to be the most challenging year of my adult life. So much loss, anger and sadness. And although I upped my faith game,  fear, resentment and frustration was soooo heavy on my mind and soul, I just couldn't flip the script and get back on track. (I realize I am still learning the lesson of forgiveness and faith).
 
However, I was able to break through on a minor level as I got serious about my spiritual practices. When I began meditating, I couldn't quiet my mind or regulate my breathing enough to hear Spirit speak to me. When I was praying, I could barely raise my voice in praise or express the pain and fear I was experiencing for all the tears. I was so hurt and confused. Dazed and Angry that I even found myself in such predicaments. No matter which way I turned it, seemed I couldn't catch a break.
 
I began Counting My Blessings because despite the setbacks I endured, there is still so much for which to be grateful. And things started changing.
 
The Magic of Gratitude
 

In her book, The Magic, Rhonda Byrne says “Counting your blessings is one of the most powerful practices you can ever do, and it will magically turn your whole life around!

“When you’re grateful for the things you have, no matter how small they may be, you will see those things instantly increase. If you’re grateful for the money you have, however little, you will see your money magically grow. If you’re grateful for a relationship, even if it’s not perfect, you will see it miraculously get even better. If you’re grateful for the job that you have, even if it’s not your dream job, things will begin to change so that you enjoy your job more, and all kinds of opportunities for your work will suddenly appear.

However, Byrne warns ,“The flip side is that when we are not counting our blessings, we can fall into the trap of unintentionally counting negative things. We count negative things when we talk about the things we don’t have. When we criticize or find fault with other people, when we complain about traffic... not enough money, or the weather. When we count negative things they increase too, but on top of that, with every negative thing we count, we cancel out blessings that were on their way. I have tried both _counting my blessings and counting negative things_ and I can assure you that counting your blessings is the only way to have abundance in your life.”

Byrne suggests starting your day by Counting Your Blessings. “First thing in the morning, or as early in the day as you can, Count Your Blessings. You can write out your list by hand, type it on a computer, or use a special book or journal to keep all of your gratitude in one place. Make a simple list of ten blessings in your life you are grateful for.

“When you think about the reason why you’re grateful for a particular thing, person or situation, you will feel gratitude more deeply. So with each item on your list write the reason why you’re grateful for it.”

Here are some ideas for writing your list:

·         I am truly blessed to have WHAT?, because WHY?

·         I am so happy and grateful for WHAT?, because WHY?

·         I am truly grateful for WHAT?, because WHY?

·         With all my heart, thank you for WHAT?, because WHY?

After you’ve finished making your list of ten blessings, go back and read each one, either in your mind or out loud. When you get to the end of each blessing, say the magic words three times, thank you, thank you, thank you, and feel the gratitude for that blessing as much as you possibly can.

I Can Do Magic

Each day I awake, I am so grateful to be alive. It's a testament to my failure to break or be broken; my resistance to crumble. I'm a survivor and I'm going to keep on surviving.

I thank God with all that I am for giving me another chance to do good and get it right. I'm so grateful for the support of loving family and friends _the calls and texts, the outings and visits really help me stand tall as the life that I knew and lived changed so drastically. I used to pride myself on being an independent, strong Black woman but I am so thankful to find out I do have people to lean on, I'm not out here living all alone. And it feels so good to have an encouraging, dependable support system helping me rebuild and refocus. I'm grateful that the naysayers, thrill seekers, vultures and back stabbers flew the coop, leaving me surrounded by the good intentioned and loving.

I am so grateful for the public library with free WiFi and computers less than a block away from where I’m staying. I’m so grateful for my strong legs that allow me to make that daily walk to apply for jobs and get information about other resources and opportunities. I’m so grateful for the chance to breathe in fresh air and clear my mind. I’m so thankful for the books, DVDs, music and magazines I get to use for free.

I’m so grateful for the government assistance so that I can get groceries that I can prepare delicious and nutritious meals and keep away from fast, processed foods and overindulgence in spirits and other health risks. During this time I’ve dropped a few pounds and even ended my dependence on a fully beat face each and every time I stepped foot out of the door. Now, I may only fill in my eyebrows, apply a little color to lips and cheeks yet still receive lots of admiration and pick ups. I’m showing the real she, flaws and all!!! And I luvs it.

And so my journey continues. Prayer, meditation, gratitude and affirmations are my tools for success. I've been setup for a comeback. And I'm confident I'm coming back bigger and better. I'm still La with a love for pretty things, strong cocktails, handsome men and good times. And I'm confident I will have all those things and more once again. I'm grateful for all I've enjoyed in the past and the blessings I continue to receive. And for that which no longer serves me , I will gratefully lose the desire. It's all Good!

Divine Activity is operating in my mind body and affairs, whether I see it or not. I Believe in Miracles and Magic! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Luv,

La