I do all my own stunts

The soul sessions

My new obsession:  Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry

I am so excited about this book!  When I first saw it in the PCC up the street from my house, I thought, Yes!  Vegan food that's not rabbit food!  I flipped through the pages briefly and saw some of the amazing-sounding recipes for southern, soul and Caribbean dishes.  I was salivating.  But then I thought, does my ass really need this book?  Can my jeans withstand these Black-Eyed Pea Fritters with Hot Pepper Sauce without busting the zipper?  In an uncharacteristic fit of dietary conservatism, I put the book back on the shelf and left the store. 

That only lasted a month or two.  I finally gave in and bought it.  AND I LOVE IT!  'Fresh, healthy and creative African-American cuisine' is the subtitle, and upon thorough perusal, I see that this recipe collection isn't entirely deep fried.  There are 150 plant-based recipes, many of which are low in calories and fat.  Bryant Terry is amazing.  All his recipes are accompanied by a personal story which embodies his commitment to nutritious, sustainable, cruelty-free, delicious food and to the rich cultural tradition behind all these soulful recipes. 

Everything I've cooked so far has been out of this world.  Some were so heavenly I couldn't be bothered to take a photo before diving in.  For example:  Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Ginger-Peanut Dipping Sauce (this recipe can be found online here), Cajun-Creole-Spiced Tempeh Pieces with Creamy Grits, Citrus Collards with Raisins Redux (You Tube video and recipe here).  I can't recommend the Citrus Collards enough.  It is Mr. Terry's signature dish and it will change your life.  No lie. 

Here is my attempt at Coconut-Pecan Pralines:

Sweet Tea drinkers rejoice:  Agave-Sweetened Orange-Orange Pekoe Tea (recipe is available online here).

Mouthwatering and exquisite:  Sweet Cornmeal-Coconut Butter Drop Biscuits and Uncle Don's Double Mustard Greens and Roasted Yam Soup (recipe here ). 

My apologies for the dark photo. 

I haven't tested it out yet, but you can find the recipe for the Black-Eyed Pea Fritters with Hot Pepper Sauce here.  Skinny ass be damned.  This one might be on the menu in my house tonight! 

A miracle of science

Miraculous silver polish solution + a punch recipe

Old Time Party Punch

Look at my gorgeous new punch bowl!  My lovely, thoughtful and creative friend Sarah is one of my favorite ladies on earth and she is the best gift giver.  Every year she pulls out all the stops for my birthday and finds something beautiful, indulgent and just perfect.

Isn't she pretty?

I've always coveted a fancy and festive punch bowl.  I have been on the look out for a the perfect specimen for years.  Punch has always reminded me of one of my other favorite ladies on earth, my grandma.  My grandma is a supreme genius at hosting lavish, elegant parties.  Sipping sweet punch out of a delicate cup brings me back to my childhood and the many jubilant celebrations she hosted.  

Here is a picture of my grandma and I.  Isn't she pretty? 

Sarah found this antique silver punch bowl along with a ladle and 8 punch cups on ebay.  I absolutely love it!  She is also quite crafty and put together the most adorable collection of punch recipes for me.  I wanted to try the Old Time Party Punch because I imagined it would be the most reminiscent of the sweet and perky punches my grandma used to serve.   

Old Time Party Punch

1 can frozen orange juice

1 can frozen fruit punch

1 can frozen lemonade

1 can frozen raspberry juice

8 cans water

4 liters ginger ale

Mix all juices and water.  Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.  Add ginger ale before serving.  Add ice if desired.

Note:  I don't much like the taste of fruit punch and I couldn't find frozen raspberry juice so I just substituted them each with a can of Minute Maid 'Berry Punch'.  It turned out great.  I also used some sliced oranges, lemons and mint as garnish.  Gotta have a garnish.  Also, this punch is quite sweet and I think the ice is a necessary addition.  

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Polishing silver sucks, doesn't it?  Some find it meditative and fulfilling, but I am not one of those folks.  When I was polishing up some antique silver coasters I got Sarah for her birthday last year, all I could think was, Ugh, this sucks!  

Sarah did a fantastic job polishing the punch bowl, cups and ladle before she wrapped it all up for my birthday.  But there are some nooks and crannies that are truly impossible to get to.  Like at the corners of the cup handles below.

Friends, it's time to go to the chem lab.  Did you know that there exists a basic chemical solution which practically makes polishing silver unnecessary? It instantly removes tarnish with just a simple soak.  It sounds too good to be true, but I'm telling you, it works.  Save yourself hours of meticulous, mind-numbing buffing.  Avoid carpal tunnel.  Make this solution.  

There are 4 basic ingredients.  Salt, water softener, water and tin foil.  

 

The best part is you don't have to be a chem major to do this.  The only real issue comes from the fact that this Calgon stuff is impossible to find.  I had to go deep, I mean deep, into traffic-choked suburbia to put my hands on it...to a place I swore I would never go...rhymes with Smallsmart.  I bought all the bottles they had on the shelf so I won't have to go back for a very long time.  If you want to borrow some, just let me know.  I own all the Calgon in the greater Seattle area.  

Miraculous Silver Polish Solution

Line the bottom of your sink with tin foil.  Add 1 quart of hot water, 1 tbsp of Calgon water softener and 5 tbsp of salt.  

Add your silver to the sink so it is touching the tin foil.  All items should come clean in about 20 seconds.  You may want to buff very badly tarnished areas with a clean cloth after soaking.  

Here are my punch cups soaking.  

This is a remarkably good solution for cleaning tarnished silver jewelry.  Especially pieces with impossibly tiny chain links that make you want to absolutely lose your mind.  

 

My hacky photography talents do not do this transformation justice. Believe me, the results are staggering.  

Try this friends.  No need to thank me; you're welcome.