Vegan Vegetables (Healthier Soul Food)

Whoever first introduced to the world to the fact that smoked turkey seasoned vegetables as well as fatback, salted pork, & ham hock, I want to hug them. They have reduced many of my headaches. As child growing up, my head would hurt whenever those fatted items were being boiled. My family thought I was putting on until our vegetables started being cooked in smoked turkey when I became a teenager. Those headaches disappeared.

Now that I am in charge of the preparation of 90% of the meals at home, I cook vegetables in either smoked turkey or no meat products at all. Sometimes vegetables should taste like vegetables. One can achieve that by seasoning them with other vegetables like garlic & onions along with herbs and spices and they taste great.

Cabbage in a Purple Onion Stock (Household Recipe)

Ingredients:
• 2 Tbsp Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb
• 1 cup purple onion, chopped
• 6 cups Water
• 1 small to medium head cabbage

Directions:
1. Boil seasoning, onion in water for 1 hour in a large pot
2. Rinsed and cut cabbage into 6 wedges
3. Add wedges to pot. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until cabbage is tender. Do not overcook.

If I decide to go the vegan route but want a smoky taste, I use smoked paprika. It's great for adding depth to not just greens, vegetarian soups and stews but to beans (a good protein), also.

Vegan Greens (Recipe variation similar to recipe found on Food.com)
Ingredients:
• 2 lbs. greens (collard, turnip, mustard, or a mix of your choice)
• 4 -5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cups vegetable stock (store bought or homemade (I keep it on hand) recipe below)
• 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1 Tbsp smoked sweet paprika

Directions:
1. Wash greens well, submerging in a sink full of cold water to remove any dirt and grit.
2. Drain well.
3. Cut off the stems right where the leaf starts.
4. Stack about 5-8 leaves on top of each other, then roll lengthwise.
5. Cut rolled up leaves into 1" slices widthwise.
6. Repeat until all the greens are done, and add to a large pot.
7. Add all other ingredients.
8. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer.
9. Simmer for 45 minutes or until greens are extremely tender.
10. Serve hot, using a slotted spoon to drain the liquid from the greens.

Vegetable Stock
Ingredients:
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 2 stalks celery, including some leaves
• 2 large carrots
• 8 cloves or 1/2 bulb garlic, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup Italian seasoning, salt free
• 2 quarts water

Directions:
1. Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks.
2. Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add Italian seasoning and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Strain. Discard vegetables.

And these recipes taste well with the Yogurt Cornbread featured in a previous post. I know our ancestors used cured pork products (salted pork, ham hocks,fat back) to season vegetables. One of pork's most flattering characteristics is its likeness for salt and smoke. Cured pork is used in many forms to add flavor and richness to dishes but it is so fatty & unhealthy. Our ancestors didn't know that, we do. They worked hard for us to live better. I think they would want us to cook our vegetables in a healthier way now that we can. What do you think?

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

The KKK, the Doughnut Chapter

Greetings & Salutations to you all. This is the “Intellectual” personality of OutSpoken_Diva releasing this blog. If you have read these posts Personalty Profile & Favorite YouTube Videos you have know she has segmented her personality into parts. I'm am Marshall and Today I must take time to speak. I tried to quince it but something on the inside is telling me to speak my mind on this.

Okay go read this ARTICLE Now

Fun Fact about Me: I've always wondered what do other countries KNOW about the USA. Ever since I was sitting in World History, my senior year of high school, I have been curious about that. Well, I can tell my bored 17 year old self, "Just like us learning their history, Not Enough". Because clearly if they knew about the American KKK, they would not use that name for the promotions. It would be the same if there was a British sewing franchise here in the states and decided to call a its fastener (zipper) sale a "Jack the Zipper" sale. The franchise thought it was cute without knowing of it's the double meaning That is what happened to this UK franchise of Krispy Kreme. Being Cute is not always Kosher.

My reaction is "Bless Their Heart". And I mean it in every Southern way it could possibly be defined. LoL I wanted to say it's 2015 how could they be so stupid. But I can't because I didn't truly find out about Jack the Ripper until the musical episode of Psych. So, I couldn't be too judgy. Well, it was a history lesson learn for some the fine folks in United Kingdom. And 17 year old me is saying, "I Knew It". Now let me stop tempting you guys. I posted the article on FB and a high school classmate (who, coincidentally, was in my World History class) started craving them. Oh, enjoy one of my favorite poem. It is quite hilarious.

And I bid a Might Fine Two.

OUTSPOKEN_DIVA will be back for the next post.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

In Those Jeans (What I Wear)

Mom Jeans Skit from SNL

I do Not like Jeans!!! You can't tell by my Saturday fashion choices this winter I feel like this but I do. 95% of my sweatpants are stretched out and I didn't buy new ones last summer. So, my choices for relaxed casual pants this winter are my jeans. But I am anything but relaxed.

Peer Pressure is the only reason why I even own jeans. Some how when I was a kid I bought into the notion that you are not American unless you own jeans. I actually own 2-4 pairs of jeans at a given time.
1. My Fat Pair: If I fit these jeans I am at least 2 1/2 dress sizes into a depressive state. If I can wear these jeans I am Too Fat for even my eyes. I keep them for weight management.
2. The Regular Pair: The jeans I wear the most. Some of mine probably looked like mom jeans but I don't care. They usually only go to the grocery store or NYE at church. Both events wear comfort in clothing is needed.

The reason I own Jeggings,
My Over-the-Knee Boots

3. The Jeggings: I bought some over-the-knee boots. I tried to wear them with leggings but my belief that leggings are Not pants is so great I bought some jeggings.
4. The Jeggings that Got too Big/Backup Regular Pair: Humblebrag: I lost weight and my original jeggings were too loose. They didn't look to bad on me so I wear them interchangeably with the Regular pair.

My issues with jeans are IMO, unique. People who complain about jeans never state my issues. I can find my fit, color, & shape. Those are not my problem. Let's start with comfort.
1. They are Not Comfy: Jeans are hot. I've already stated in the Pant post of this series that I try my hardest not to wear them in the warmer season. Jeans are a definite No-No when it is hot. I live in Texas and my legs sweat. Also have you ever got your jeans wet while wearing them. It takes them forever to dry. I learned that the hard way on a trip to Six Flags with my family. I also do Not stand on the Splashwater Fall bridge anymore because of that lesson.

My short legs in Jeggings

2. The Petite Plus Size Factor: Oh, an amusement park ride is not the only way I know about wet jeans. Like other pants I don't prefer jeans in the rain either. My hemming skills are not bad but sometimes I've missed the mark. I remember numerous of school days with cooled ankles because the hem of my jeans wet from rain getting to school. Yes, the fit and style are not problem. Wide legged, Carpenter cut & Boyfriend cut jeans look great on me. Fits my hips & thighs well. The problem that those styles that look good on me rarely come in Petites. And when they do All the short thick ladies rush to get them before I can get a pair. Jeggings get a pass because the extra length help keep my feet warm in my boots.
3 Jean Boners: That's the annoying bump in the crotch area of jeans that resembles an erection. Some people have that large protrusion in the genital area in other zippered pant but not me. I only have it in jeans. But it is something that seemly I am the only person weirded out by. It is the reason why All my jeans in middle school were elastic waist. I am a woman not a man. I like to look like it in All clothes.

My Regular Jeans

Yes, I was talking Only about the long pants. Denim dresses, skirts, capris & shorts are good. Denim pants a*k*a jeans are the devil. Can't wait until sweats get to clearance sections so I stock up. Titles like Rules to Finding the Perfect Jeans & I Found the Perfect Jeans get major side eye from me. When they make a real pair of Jeans that do Not feel or fit like jeans (Pajama Jeans still feel like jeans) then maybe, Maybe I'll be relieved.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Baking with Yogurt (Healthier Soul Food)

A few years ago I read a study that said,
One cup of whole milk has as much saturated fat as 5 strips of bacon.
One cup of 2% milk has as much saturated fat as 3 strips of bacon.
One cup of 1% milk has as much saturated fat as 1 and 1/2 strips of bacon.

I had already switched to 2% milk by then. Now, I drink or put 1% milk on my cereal. I only use 2% for special holiday baking. I use non-fat plain yogurt for my daily baking uses, now. This idea came from a family friend suggesting I put sour cream in a failed pan of cornbread and a brand name yogurt commercial came to mind.

One cup of Sour Cream has 26g of saturated fat of its 45g of total fat content.

One cup of Low-Fat Yogurt has 2g of saturated fat of its 4g of total fat content.

Combine those with the fat grams on butter or oil was still too high for me. 

One cup of NonFat Yogurt has 0.2g of saturated fat of its 0.7g of total fat content.

So, it was a better choice for lowering the fat content in the baked goods in my home.

The first thing I tested on was Sweet Potato Pie. I loved making and eating this pie but it is very heavy. Once I learned how to switch the milk for yogurt it became a hit in my home.

Low Fat Sweet Potato Pie (Recipe found on Diet Solutions Facebook Page)

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 Tbsps vanilla extract

• 2 1/2 cups sugar

• 2 Tbsps pumpkin pie spice

• 4 eggs, beaten

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt 

• 2 (9 inches) unbaked 9-inch pie crusts

Directions

1. Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Put on baking pan unwrapped. Bake at 350 ° for about 1 hour and 45 minutes or until potatoes feel soft. Remove from oven, cool and peel. Keep oven at 350 °

2. In a large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, vanilla and spice mix. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, water, and yogurt and blend into the sweet potato mixture.

3. Pour into pie shells and bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until done.

Cornbread is an item on my "Burned Out" list for me but eaten in my home weekly. My 1st time using yogurt in cornbread is a blessed result of me praying that it came out ok. If you mess up cornbread in my Texan, southern, black home, your feelings will be hurt. I thank God for those results. Now, my household does not want it made any other way. Recently, I ran out of yogurt and used canned milk and they noticed. 

Yogurt Cornbread (Recipe Idea came from Taste of Home)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup yellow or white cornmeal

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 1 cup (8 ounces) fat-free plain yogurt

• 1/2 cup water

• 2 Tbsp. canola oil

• 2 tsp sugar

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients.

2. In another bowl, combine the egg, yogurt, water, oil, and sugar. 

3. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. 

4. Pour into an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray. 

5. Bake at 425° for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Easier Yogurt Cornbread (Recipe is my own recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 1/2 ounce) box corn muffin mix

• 1 egg 

• 1/3 cup yogurt

• 3/8 cup (6 Tbsp.) water

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients well. 

2. Use either cupcake paper cups or a greased pan. 

3. Bake at 400 ° or according to box instructions for 20-30 minute

Whenever I attend a Soul Food theme luncheon or dinner I hope somebody brought either some vanilla ice cream with the cobbler or a pound cake. If not I opt out of eating dessert. So, this one is for the pound cake makers that understand that everyone does Not eat Banana Pudding or Peach Cobbler. Oh yeah, I don't like Banana Pudding or Peach Cobbler. LoL

Yogurt Pound Cake (Recipe from Cooks.com)

Ingredients:  

• 3/4 cup butter, softened

• 2 1/4 cup sugar

• 3 eggs

• 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/8 tsp. baking soda

• 3/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt

• 1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

• 1/4 tsp. almond extract

• 1/4 tsp. lemon extract

Directions:

1. Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer.

2. Add eggs, gradually; after each 1/4 cup addition, beat well. 

3. Combine flour and soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with yogurt, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until well blended.

4. Stir in flavorings.

5. Pour batter into greased and floured 10" Bundt cake pan. 

6. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

7. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove from pan; allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

I also use non-fat yogurt in other dishes like nacho dips and mashed potatoes. Same taste as sour cream with less of the fat. Valentine's Day is coming up. Add a little non-fat yogurt in place of your regular dairy products in your baked goods. Give your sweetie's something to help them be here a little longer to love you for it. *wink*

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

OUTSPOKEN_DIVA'S Guide for Singles on Valentine's Day

I get tired of all these lists of things for singles to do on Valentine's Day. How many bored, lonely single folks are there complaining "Woe is Me" that All these lists are needed? Oh and this year I heard a new term "Galentine's" It's what you think it is. A single woman spends the day hanging with her female friends. Women have been doing this for years. Heck, I did that last year. Now somebody wants to name it.

Ok, Whatever!!! Most that will be done on Valentine's Day that can't be done on any other day of the year. Actually many things are marked up in price because it is Valentine's Day, like most holidays. Look at the candy aisle at any store and tell me I am lying. The only thing consistent about Valentine's Day, like any day, is that we need to Live.

And that is what I want singles, as well couples & umm groups to do just that LIVE!!!!

That's All!!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

The DUFF and My Dislike for the Term

DUFF means Designated Ugly Fat Friend.

The ugliest pic of me I could find.
And I actually think I was cute for
the end of the school day 

I don't know if I have ever been anyone's DUFF. I might have and didn't know it. I don't care too. I know people who have been the DUFF and they felt like crap. I have been accused of having one. And that is not a good feeling at all.

 I can't wait for this movie to come out. I'm going to see it in theaters.
1. It has an eye candy lister in in it. Romany Malco is the principal. 2. Strangely the teen angst movies of the millenium actually helps me understand my high school days. I first saw it with "Mean Girls" (We All were Mean Girls to somebody) and I have feeling this movie will be an aid also.

When I thought my forehead was big

High School was just that High School for me. There were ups and downs and by the time the last semester rolled around, I couldn't wait to graduate because I knew College was going to be much better. I went to a small turned gigantic magnet school for high school. Trust me the same high school social issues happen at magnet schools. Magnet school students are the same as those at a regular comprehensive school. They just did better academically in middle school. I came away finding out two things about myself when I left high school.
1. Proving to Adults, that tried to box me in, that I am smart is Fun (I did a stint in Summer School because of Chemistry. Counselor wanted me to drop down to the Regular High plan and that was not acceptable. The next school year we got a new counselor. And I did well under her & stayed on the Advance plan.) 
2. I hate for anyone to think I am mean & malicious to anyone I consider my friends. (The reason for this blog)

The same crap that gets me praise for now got me looked at weirdly in high school. I was a Christian, Plus Size, Sarcastic, Nerdy, Black girl that liked to read all types of books especially one with black characters. My grades were high A's to average B's (except for Chemistry). No matter how smart a-word I could be or how frequent (very) cuss words left my mouth, I was thought to be a good girl with many of the guys (Learned that my Senior year, the hard way). I was the teacher's pet to teachers I thought were Stupid (That is a phenomena that started in the 4th grade).  My favorite teacher was the most dislike but most respected in the school. I dressed by my own rules. Any random day, I would wear dress clothes, just because I like dressing up. I owned an obscene amount of cotton/spandex blend short skirts.

Looks at those shorts

My shorts (culottes actually) were knee length and longer. And the few times I wore jeans (I'm gonna blog about it, I promise), they were elastic waist mom jeans. They only thing consistently current or trendy about my look was my hair. I had a standing salon appointment every two weeks. I did gossip a tad but I was Not the go to gossip person. Oh and I was extremely clumsy. I fell a lot. My knees cuss me out about it, daily.

That face screams "Snark"

I guess I was "Popular Enough". I got invited to some of the parties. The popular people knew me. One of the popular people was/still is my friend. I ran with a small group people that resembled most of the same personality quirks I had, except for grades or smartness. That aspect varied. I ran with people that were graduating early or with honors and I was also friends with people who did Not graduate. Also the people I hung out with varied in looks. Ok I believe that No One is Ugly, They Just Don't Look the Way You Want Them to Look. Well, I ran with someone most people at school didn't look like they wanted them to. One day one of my other friends, who is also still my friend, actually said that was why I was that person's friend. I didn't even know how to respond to such a horrible accusation. So, I confided in another friend and I found out that one thought that about me with not just the one friend but also the friend that I was confiding to them about. So, I quietly did a poll of the others and found out most of them thought that person didn't look like they wanted them to look. I also found out that a few more thought I only hung with that person to make sure I looked better. I also quietly polled my non-school friend and family and they thought that about that friend and other outside of school friends also. I hated to know people thought that of me. Well being a teenager, what did I do? I tried to make sure that person looked good. That was what the teen angst movies of my teen years suggest I did. That failed big time because that person was comfortable in the skin they were in. As they should've been.

Look at the roller prints in that hair
Still wear that dress around the house

We grew apart once I went to college. That person visited me once while I was at UT-Arlington and I knew then we were worlds apart. We haven't spoken since then. The two accusers, are actually the only friends from high school I even still speak to without the aid of social media. Trust me, God is going to have to break us up. We have hurdled a lot worse issues than this. We are not the same people we were in high school, at all.

But I was Not that person's friend just so I could look better. That is a gross thing to do. I think that DUFFness is actually a natural occurrence among friends. DUFFs are not just the "ugly friend". DUFFs can be the "not a book smart friend", "goofy friend", or maybe the "not the same gender" friend of a group of friends. It's just a natural occurrence that somebody is different in someway in the group. If my opinion is ever proven true, we all are/will be DUFFs at some point in our friendship life.

Oven Fried (Healthier Soul Food)

Who doesn't like fried protein? Fried Chicken & Fish (fresh water & seafood) have to be leading proteins in items eaten & sold. Bone-in or boneless, sauced or sauceless, battered or non-coated, fried chicken or fried fish is eaten by many of us. Other than vegetarian & vegan restaurants, I can't think of an American cuisine restaurant that doesn't serve a some kind of dish with fried chicken or fish. But we can't have fried foods all the time. I love oven fried foods. Oven-Frying is a great alternative. They have a great taste without the heavy & greasy feeling that traditional fried foods do.

I went to a public elementary school that tried their best to give us quality nutritious foods. We didn't have pizza, hamburgers, Frito pie, & chocolate milk except on Friday. There was a Oven Fried Chicken served that I loved. When I started cooking I was obsessed in finding the recipe and mastering it. Well after a loved one's failed attempt at Shake & Bake and searching through several recipes that contain breakfast cereal, I finally found the recipe several years ago.

Oven-Fried Chicken (Variation of the Betty Crocker recipe)

Ingredients:
• 1 cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pounds)
• 3 cups cold water or milk
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• 2/3 cup baking or pancake mix
• 1 1/2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp of dried Italian seasoning. salt free or poultry seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
1. Soak the chicken in cold water or milk & garlic powder for 1/2 hour to 8 hours.
2. Remove the chicken from the water or milk mixture.
3. Preheat oven to 425°F.
4. Heat oil in rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches, in oven.
5. Combine the baking or pancake mix & seasonings in a plastic zip-top bag.
6. Add the chicken and shake bag to coat the chicken.
7. Place chicken, skin sides down, in dish.
8. Bake 35 minutes; turn chicken. Bake about 15 minutes longer or until juice is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.

Confession: There are foods I Never want to eat again because I am Burned Out on them. Fried Catfish is on that Burned Out list. If chitterlings started me to cook, fried catfish is what helped hone my skills. I Only eat fried catfish if I am starving , too tired to cook anything else, and it is the only thing available. I avoid all fish fry gatherings. If prepared in my home, I bake or grill my portions.

At Hatties with besties, LJ & TT and our college bud, Ms. Scarlet (that's what she'll be called for the purpose of this blog post)

Well, I had a dish at a nice low country place here in Dallas called Hattie's (Website) that introduce to my palate a catfish dish I could eat instead just seasoned baked or grilled catfish. It is called Pecan-Crusted Catfish. Often when my mother is frying catfish, I will take my reserved pieces and prepared them this way.

Pecan Crusted Catfish (Recipe found on Diet Solutions' Facebook page)

Ingredients
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 pounds catfish
• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup pecans pieces
• 5 wedges lemon, for garnish

Directions
1. Preheat oven at 500 °
2. In a large bowl, mix the cornmeal, garlic powder and pepper. Dip the catfish in the cornmeal mixture; coating well.
3. Place catfish on a flat, greased baking sheet. Pour the oil over the fish.
4. Bake in for 15 minutes or until catfish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with pecans toward the end of the cooking period.
5. Garnish with lemon wedges. If missing salt taste squeeze some of the lemon on fish.

Oven-frying instead of deep-frying reduces saturated fat and cuts calories. Oven frying helps us to make peace with our cravings by surrendering to them without so much guilt. So put that frying pan down sometimes and get out the baking pan.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms