March is...

...Women's History Month and this one was an interested one. Well, at least in my eyes

A Black woman's honor was defended on live American television. In a world where after turning 5 years-old girls & women with melanated skin are thought to be not as innocent & gentle as other races of women. There is even researched data to state this. As for the whole context of who, why, & how her honor was defended, I will delve into it. I am just stating it was

The first Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright passed away during this time. The first time I voted was in 1996. I put Bill Clinton in office for the second time. He appointed Madame Albright in that office. I tell you guys all the time, I Pick Winners. And now I can publicly say, I Determine the Trajectory of History. LoL Seriously, Madeleine Albright, before, during, and after being in a high office, was a champion of women. Albright supported Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign in 2016. While introducing Clinton at a campaign event Albright said, "There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other". That was a rebuke of younger women who supported the primary rival, Senator Bernie Sanders. It was "startling and offensive" to her. Rest In Peace to Madeleine Albright.

As of the time of this post, who has watched the second season of Bridgerton? It's a decent season. I won't be providing any spoilers. But I do wonder if those in the show's camp put this season with this month in mind.  And even though the show has shown quite a few ladies living fully and it has literally narrated by the free opinionated Lady Whistledown, Episode 6 made me think it was. So many emotions, decisions, & situations women go through were expressed by every female character in that episode. There is a scene between Lady Bridgerton & Lady Danbury that was humanly real. I wanted to hug both of them. But they basically had to soothe themselves. Like we, women have to do, sometimes.

And let me talk about Ketanji Brown Jackson. President Joe Biden has nominated her to the Supreme Court. Her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee opened on March on the 21st. It was difficult to hear some of the committee members ask the judge questions.

Especially Ted Cruz mischaracterizing passages in two children's books "Antiracist Baby" by Ibram X. Kendi & "Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You" by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi, and adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul to question her about her stance on the university graduated level teachings, Critical Race Theory. But Judge Brown Jackson answered & reacted to all questions & statements with intelligence, grace, & confidence. It's hard to watch people who don't even champion in their professional industries conduct an interview for a position on the Supreme Court of the United States. They don't even know the right questions to stump her. Well, it's all down to the vote. And I for one do not want to just be grateful to be nominated. I want Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the highest court in the land to interpret the laws. Ohh April...

Well, as March marches past us, I will remember the events that made me feel like being a Woman was more enjoyable than usual. The events that make me feel like I'm not beloved just because of my biological makeup. My mind & heart gets some love too. Especially since they are running the show.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Ooh Ahh the Villian's Hall Pass (Answering Questions)

Answers need Questions. If not, it is Who Asked You content. But you asked so I...

Q: I saw your answer under this post on IG and I agree with it. I think they are Overrated. But why did you pick Boyz II Men?

A: I feel like I am the Only warm-blooded American that stopped listening to the radio because they play the same 5 folks and songs all the time. And Boyz II Men is probably the main catalyst for me to turn the knob in the Off direction. Pop & R&B music media ran their melodic crooning into the ground to me. The only song I will listen to without any visceral disdain is "Ooh Ahh" from their 1st album. And because All of their tunes are going, I will have to bid it adieu, also.

This Post's Q & A Video

Can't see the video, Click HERE

I have a feeling Muh Diva will hear about this one. LoL That's why I brought up the topic in conversation with her weeks ago. 

Don't forget, if you have any questions, email them to C.OUT.SPOKEN.DIVA@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section below or on the social media site where you see this post. I will answer them.

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As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Talk About It Tuesday (It's Private)

2022 Me still approves of the actions of 2004 Me.

If I Have to Tell You to "Shut Up", I Don't Want You There. 

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

I'm Grilled Out (OUTSPOKEN_Diva's Favorite Recipes)

If you can't see the video, Click HERE

These aren't your mama's Brussels sprouts. 

Grilled Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons melted butter (or oil of choice)
• 1 (16 oz) package Brussels sprouts (frozen)
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
• 1 pinch paprika, or to taste
• 1 lime, halved
  

Directions

• Preheat a grill pan for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grooves
• Brush butter or oil over Brussels sprouts and season with garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika
• Place sprouts on the preheated pan and cook until tender and grill marks appear, about 10 minutes. Squeeze lime juice over sprouts before removing from pan.

Meat eaters, you're included also.

Grilled Chicken Caprese with Garlic Zucchini Noodles

Zucchini Noodles

Ingredients 

• 1 pkg. Green Giant Zucchini Veggie Spirals
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Chicken

Ingredients 

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze, divided
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 pound chicken cutlets
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 small tomato, thinly sliced
  

Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium-high or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat
2. Combine oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, basil, garlic, & pepper in a small bowl. Brush the mixture on both sides of the chicken.
3. Place the frozen zucchini noodles in a preheated nonstick skillet and cover with a lid. Steam over medium-high heat until al dente (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally. Remove to a colander and drain well.
4. Add olive oil to the hot skillet. Sauté garlic and crushed red pepper until fragrant, about one minute.
5. Add drained zucchini back to the pan and set skillet to the side
6. Oil the grill rack or pan. Grill the chicken until it easily releases from the grill or pan, 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Flip and top with mozzarella and tomato. Grill until the cheese is melted and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, 3 to 4 minutes more. 
8. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze and sprinkle with more basil, if desired.
9. Serve with Zucchini Noddles

The grill pan & I are on hiatus from one another. I was like this with my slow cooker & wok, too at one time. LoL Oh Well! I have so much fun making these dishes. If you try them, let me know.

As Always Talking to You Adult Terms!

 

When February Meets March

I love when Black Women do Great things. Say hello to Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner.

Born: May 17, 1912, Monroe, North Carolina

Died: Jan. 13, 2006, Washington, D.C.

Best known for: filing the most patents of any African American woman, most notably, the development of the adjustable sanitary belt.

What is a sanitary belt?  It was a narrow belt, usually of elastic, for holding a sanitary napkin in place. It looked like elastic worn around your waist with two clips or holders in front & back. The ends of the pad were stuck into the holders. Pads didn't always stick to ladies' underwear. It amazes me how most of us are barely 1 or 2 generations away from using belts still haven't heard of them. As soon as the adhesive tape was introduced to sanitary pads, it was as if mothers gave up teaching about what they had to go through. 

I know about them because my mother had bought me one in preparation for the start of my menses. I have a feeling she bought those elastic things in bulk. I saw a box of them on her dresser a few years after I started. Muh Diva laughed so hard and explained. I remembered seeing some pads called Modess that didn't have the adhesive backing in our bathroom and it all made sense. That was the 1990s when I was told. Yes, do the math. It wasn't that long ago. Now I wonder if Muh Diva knows about Mary Kenner. 

I learned about Mary Kenner via a Facebook post I saw And because of the nature of social media & a lesson learned from the 90s movie, Players Club, "I don't trust anybody's information but my own", I had to verify. Glad, I did because the post was misleading.

Mary Kenner invented an adjustable sanitary belt with an inbuilt, moisture-proof napkin pocket. She completed the patent application in 1954. In 1956, her application was approved. The invention was described as an eliminator for chafing caused by similar devices. But the company that first showed interest in her invention, the Sonn-Nap-Pack Company, discovered that she was African American and rejected her. Kenner never made money from the sanitary belt. The patent expired and it became public domain, allowing it to be produced freely. She later invented a modification of the sanitary belt that included a "moisture-resistant pocket."

Between 1956 and 1987 she received five total patents for her household and personal item innovations. She had patented the carrier attachment for a walker in 1959 after her sister, Mildred Davidson developed multiple sclerosis.

She shared the patent on the toilet tissue holder with her sister, Mildred. She also held a patent on a back washer that could be mounted on the shower or bathtub wall, aka a backwash. That invention was patented in 1987 as Patent Number: 4696068.

Now, while mothers & grandmothers as a collective may not have taught us about sanitary belts. And they may have not known about Mary Kenner. It is up to us children & grandchildren to teach our past. That's what these History months are really about. The Past, Present, & Future have much to learn. Time to give diction about what White Male pens refuse to include. 

Happy February & March!!!

✊🏾❤👸🏾💚👩🏾‍🦱🖤👧🏽💛

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Talk About It Tuesday (Asking Ma's Zaddy Something)

I really just want to know. 

Hopefully, the Little Daddies & Mommies & their lovers will go easy on me.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Yellow Cake is Black Cake?

 

Yes, I said Yellow. Yellow is a Flavor. And yes, Butter is a nice substitute for Yellow.

Yellow Cake & the Black community... Is it a thing? I've seen the discussion a lot since Covid-19 entered our lives. Social Media is full of this opinion. 

I thought surely my favorite cake (I told y'all that HERE) is not the culture's favorite cake too. I would've thought it was a Buttermilk or Lemon Poundcake maybe Sock-it-to-Me with its pecans & cinnamon swirl. Growing up in the 80s & what I thought was the bundt pan boom, I saw many of those flavors. But then Yellow (& Butter) cake is closely related to Poundcake. It replaces some of the eggs with a leavening agent to make them not as dense. Matter of fact I've seen a few unfrosted ones (successfully & unsuccessfully) passed off as Pound at bake sales. Then I thought about a black-owned shop in Dallas named Cake Bar. It has a yellow cake with chocolate frosting (Old Fashion) on its menu. It and the Wedding Cake are my go-orders (Yes, that could consider a hint) when I have gone there. My thoughts are easing to maybe this is a thing.

So, I went to the internet. I know the intelligent cultural foodies have already done the research. All I found was THIS one & THAT one. I'm not surprised. I'll put it on the list of the other black cultural mysteries. 

It could be just a matter of opinion. Again, social media is full of those. And I probably just got excited because, with my dislike for peach cobbler & banana pudding, my love for Yellow cake with Chocolate frosting was going to keep my Black Card safe. It stays in jeopardy because of my opinions on cultural food, music, and the movie Love Jones. Maybe I will start stating my love of Yellow cake with Chocolate frosting after I say my dislike to keep my Black standings from risk.

Do you think that would work? 

And yeah, do you think Yellow cake is Black cake?

Let me know in the comments.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!