I Brought The Green Bean Casserole (OUTSPOKEN_DIVA'S Favorite Recipes)

There is no secret, I am a black woman from a black family that loves Green Bean Casserole. According to "popular" opinion, my family is not "black norm". Guess what? Like me, my family has never been popular. LoL, Our favorite recipe is made by my mother. Muh Diva made it one year in the 90s. We loved it & it is a beloved Thanksgiving star on our table. Her version has a family inside joke of a mistake in it and that's why I won't ever share it. I don't feel like telling the story. I just let greatness be Great. LoL

I will say if you have had the dish at Highland Park Cafeteria(Not A Sponsor) in Dallas, then you came very close to tasting my mother's recipe.

And since she knows I love Green Bean Casserole, the wonderful owner & consultant of Diet Solutions(FB Page) asked me to try a lightened version she saw me talked about on social media before the holidays. As many recipes & pictures that Diet Solutions has let me use, of course, I would review a recipe for them. Will this be a good dish? Will the absent calories be missed? Should this version be served on Thanksgiving?

Skillet Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans (fresh or frozen)
• 2 (1-oz.) slices whole-wheat bread(We used toasted white wheat)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh garlic 
• 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese (about 6 Tbsp.), grated and divided 
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion 
• 4 ounces white mushrooms, sliced 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch 
• 1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson) 
• 1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  
  
  

Directions

1. Preheat broiler to high.
2. Cook beans in a large saucepan filled with boiling water 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. 
3. Plunge beans into ice water; drain well.
4. Place bread in a food processor; pulse until coarse crumbs form. 
5. Stir in parsley, 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons cheese.
6. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium. 
7. Add onion and mushrooms; sauté 8 minutes. 
8. Mix cornstarch, stock, and milk together. Stir in cornstarch mixture.
9. Bring to a simmer; cook 3 minutes.
10. Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining 4 tablespoons cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. 
11. Add beans to pan; toss to coat.
12. Sprinkle evenly with breadcrumb mixture. 
13. Broil 2 minutes.
14. Rest for 5 minutes
15. Serve after resting

Skillet Green Bean Casserole is a delicious dish. It stands well with the beloved recipes we know. Because of green beans, onions, & nutmeg, it's sweeter taste gets to shine a bit. Having 41 calories less than most traditional recipes, your "health conscience" loved one might hug you for making this. It also is lower in sodium because of none of the ingredients from a can. I think if you pair this good & hearty casserole with a simple garden salad, you would have a nice balanced meatless meal. My household & I had it with that salad & some balsamic baked chicken. It was a hit. Because of its ease for us, it has been added to our regular recipes.

Should one make it for Thanksgiving? The politically correct answer is Yes. Whatever the Lord blesses you to have on the table that day belong. LoL But okay in my humblest opinion, unless you are serving less than 7 or 8 people, I say No. I don't recommend mass producing this casserole. Keep it simple & serve it hot.

No matter what you have on your table, remember those who are less fortunate and be grateful for whatever you have. I tell people all the time if material things are how you define the word Blessed, then your dictionary is wrong. It's my whole-hearted belief & I hope it is yours.

Be Thankful! Be Joyful! Be Blessed!

As Always Talking o You In Adult Terms

Tell Those Turkeys To Mind Their Business (Answering Questions)

It's the holiday season, guys. Time for family, friends, food, & fun and also the underlying foolishness that come along with it. But it is ok, we will get through it.

Q: My family loves to ask the most offensive questions during the holidays. I Hate It!!! How do you handle those offensive questions dealing with Dating/Marriage, Kids, & School/Career?

A: Simple Answer is "Not Well at All".

I Love my loved ones! I truly do!!! But unfortunately, I act like a jerk with those type of questions. Pray for me, you hear. I have been such a jerk, my family dislike asking me anything about me. Two of my aunts tried to talk about boys with me as a teenager. I stopped them, immediately. My sex life will never be topic I talk to everyone about. Around the same time, I observed how people were talking about those that would bring someone different all the time to family events. So, by the time I was 18, I knew not to bring no one I was dating to family events unless he & I were nearing engagement. And because of that personal rule, I have Never officially brought any man home.

Oh & when I graduated from college and many were confused that my degree was in Family & Consumer Sciences and not Nursing. I understood my extended family like great aunts, great uncles & their offsprings having questions. But I knew I had informed my immediate family about the change after I did it, two years prior to graduating. I felt unheard & ignored and some folks were told off. Pay Attention, The First Time!!! I also come from a family that have a few that loudly say, "When I graduated from high school, I was through" when anything about education comes up. I know they're not dissuading anyone from going to school, but I give them some fierce, educated side eye, whenever I hear them say that.

Don't Act Like Me!!! I do work hard at not being rude. But we must find direct & considerate ways to tell people that those questions are not something you will be talking about.

And even though I am rude if you ask me something that will offend me, I make sure I act how I want to be treated when talking to others. If you say school or work is Fine, Fine is the answer. If that person is not expecting a child, "having children" is not topic I bring up. I don't have children and believe it is more to everybody than being fruitful & multiplying. When people bring their significant others over, I engage with them. But if my loved ones have to ask me later if I like them or not. I don't offer that opinion all willy, nilly. The day I bring "The One" to a family event, I want him to be treated like I have treated others.

So, How to Handle Offensive Questions...

• Do be Direct about your feelings but not Rude
• Don't be Offensive to Others also
• And be as Loving as possible

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

On the Dope Science Show!!!

I'm so excited to tell you this information. Yes, I Was On A Podcast!!! That podcast is the Dope Science Show With Science Steph. t is one of my favorite podcasts. Stephany Lowe is such a sweet & knowledgeable lady. In her words, she is "Making science a daily conversation. We are all dope scientists"

Her main show is a fun science-inspired show. That has covered topics like Sickle Cell Anemia, Space ~vs~ Atlantis, Artificial Intelligence, & even a little Love. She also has two shorter shows called Dope Science Minute & Hit the Street. On Dope Science Minute, Steph talks about the science behind topics like Koalas & the movie, Get Out. Hit the Street is a lady of the street style show where she interviews strangers at a day party spot in LA about things like Memories & Evolution.

On this episode featuring myself, we talk about Black Female Characters in TV & Film who are Awkward & Nerdy. The kicker is sometimes while enjoying these characters we don't see them as such. We just see them as a part of that weird monolith called "The Black Woman". The interview is based on a blog post I wrote. HERE is the link if you have not read it. It is a Fun show full of Blerdette love and some memories of the 80s, 90s, and early Millennia. She also announces a live tweet event featuring some of the entertainment's great Blerdettes. The hashtag will be #BlerdetteTV.

So, listen to Episode 30

Android Users

https://m.soundcloud.com/thedopescienceshow

iTunes Users

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dope-science-show-podcast/id1157965145?mt=2
Google Play Users
http://bit.ly/2yiNrtz

And show your love. On Apple, Leave a 5 Star Rating, or On Soundcloud, Hit like❤ & Leave Comments. And listen to other shows she has up. Treat your ears to some goodness.

To know more about Science Steph & The Dope Science Show, Visit

http://www.thedopescienceshow.com/home

Hope you enjoy it & I will see you on Twitter, on November 5 for the 1st week of the live tweet event!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Ooh Shut Up!!! Scary Movies are Scary!

Dear Horror Movie Lovers,
If I say it's scary, my racing heart & I say It Is Scary.
Alright,
My Frightened A-Word

I don't watch horror movies. The last movie I watched that I consider horror was Skeleton Key. I prayed through it with all the lights on at 9 am. I will leave a room or hum during a horror movie commercial. I know it's not real, but I still get scared. I also am not a fan of my heart racing while I am sitting & watching a movie. That's a sedentary activity, I need my heart in a resting state.

I knew I had a problem after seeing the movie, Tales From the Hood.  I saw it in theatres when I was in high school.

I had a serious crush on Joe Torrey then. That movie was not scary to watch at all. But hours later, home alone with my brother, G, I got scared. Around 11 pm, I was washing dishes while my grandparents & mom picked my sister up from work. The pilot on the water heater reset itself and all I could think about was Clarence Williams III turning into the devil & taking Joe Torry & the other two to hell. I left those dishes, rolled G into the lit living room, and sat in there until our family got back. Yeah, I knew I had a problem at that point.

There are other instances through my life that say horror & I are Not friends

• For 6 months, I was scared to eat ice cream & yogurt after seeing "The Stuff" as a little girl. Threw a bowl of Blue Bell on the floor and my grandmother took a switch to my butt. *hangs head in shame* Yes, once I disrespected Blue Bell. Texas, Forgive Me!!!
• I hid my Learn How to Dress clown because of the movie, "Poltergeist".
  
  I smashed him deep down in the toy box. A lost library book brought him back to the top. Now, I wonder was that why I wore velcro sneakers until the 3rd grade.
• Freddy Krueger will Forever be the scariest horror movie villain. Only a psycho maniac would mess with a person's sleep. Like seriously, I can avoid the woods. I can avoid clowns. I can avoid colleges. I won't buy talking dolls. But my sleep, My Sleep??? That's Evil!!!

Scary Movies Are Scary!!!

But anyway, enjoy Halloween in a safe & fun way. Black, Brown, Red, & Yellow face is still RACIST.

I'm watching "The Worst Witch" on Halloween. Let me know if you want to join me.  It's Not Scary. Oh, can anyone bring me a couple of packs of SweeTarts & a Caramel Apple Laffy Taffy or two? My taste buds would appreciate it.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Y'all and That Kink Shaming

When I was asked would I ever talk about sex on this blog, I started to say "No". Kink Shaming is one of the reasons why. Ignorance & self-shaming are of the reasons I have observed that people shame anybody. And that is truly a shame.

Before I continue, I need all who ran to this post for some hot, steamy, gossipable info to Leave!!! Thank you for the click, but this not a place I have sex & you guys are not the man/men I wish to be intimate with. My personal opinion about any "kinks" discussed will not be seen here. Again, Thank You for the Click!!!

I had no desire to talk about this. Then the actress, Gabrielle Union said she had engaged in anallingus with her husband & some kind of info came out about a radio personality named DJ Envy engaging in pegging.

My social media timelines erupted. It's amazing how the rapists & sexual predators of Hollywood barely get a grumble from some. But let someone say they engage is sexual activities that are not even shown on Cinemax, the internet becomes a judgemental opinion city.

And what was the wildest part, some of the most opinionated people during this kink shaming time were self-professed Freaks. I always have want to say this. Define Freak! Heck, Define Kink, too! Whatever the definitions are for these loosely used terms, I would hope it included an understanding that there are probably levels to kinkyness. And even if it is not, Judging others is Wrong.

I saw a guy, who was kink shaming Gabrielle Union say, "Nipple Rubbing is My Sh*t". I thought about a comedian I heard years ago joke that nipple play made him feel vunerable & he wasn't into it. I wonder if that comedian has Facebook. I kid, I kid! That comedian wouldn't dare kink shame that guy. LoL

One day, Everyone Will (morally & legally) Like What They Like and It Will Be Alright!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Without My Flugga Mugga

God picked another pretty flower for his eternal bouquet. That flower was my brother, G. I know one day was going to be a day. I just thought maybe 10, 20 years later.

I'm sad. I was putting toiletries away and his body wash came up and I lost it. Twice I almost prepared his plate, like I always did. And that was just Day 1.
The thought of the "Rest of My Life" mocks me. It knows I don't know what lies before my family & I. All I know to do is to rest on these two facts.

1. Because of Cerebral Palsy, Doctors said he wouldn't live to be 5, 10, 15.

2. Because he is omniscient & all knowing, God proved he would live to see 49.

Fact 1 has had me watch my miracle of a brother surpass every surgery & ailment that this world threw at him. Fact 2 tells me, God had this all in control since his Day 1. All of this in his hand & we will understand it better by & by

My brother, G has left this world leaving my family & me a lot of lessons & memories. Even inside jokes like, Flugga Mugga. Hope that Flugga Mugga is eating peppermints & potatoes while getting up to "push play" because the tape ended.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Purple & Pink Clothes, Again?(October Awareness 2017)

Because You Never Know! That why I only wear pink & purple in public in October. You didn't ask, but I told you anyway. No, in offline land people have noticed & asked me about my outfit color choices in October.

October is the month where we talk more about Breast Cancer & Domestic Violence awareness. If you are new to my blog(Welcome), these are two topics that are very near & dear to my heart.

I have several people in my life who survivors of breast cancer or suffered from domestic violence. I have yet to do a walk(Keyword is Yet), but years ago I decided to let my look honor those I care about. When I wear makeup, I create a face using the colors pink & purple.(Reason is HERE) But I don't wear makeup all the time, I do wear body coverings all the time. And because of my stereotypical feminine style, I have enough purple & pink to wear most days of the October. Oh & I forget my pins are still on the previous tops.

But yes, it's all because you never know. You never know that your cashier ringing your groceries is a ten year BC survivor.

You maynever know why a friend is helping a friend with their makup is because of a blackeye caused by a lover's fist. That guy you have nicknamed Man Boobs, might have a lump and is scared to see a doctor. But your insults causes you not to know. And you'll never know when you look at national commercial, you would see the face of a former classmate, who once thought they were stupid for being a DV victim.

But you do know that we all should be educated, mindful, & awareness. So, Let Us All Be Those Three Things. Because you don't know, if it could be you next.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms