DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘collard greens’

5 Lifestyle Changes To Make Before I Turn 55

Next week I will be celebrating my 55th birthday and as always around this time of the year I starting thinking of the changes that I need to make in order to live a healthier lifestyle.

Five of those lifestyle changes include:

drinking more waterNOPE;

drinking less alcoholNO WAY JOSE;

getting more sleepNEVER;

exercising moreNOT GONNA HAPPEN

and last but not least

eat more veggiesYES YES YES!  

I love my veggies especially fresh collards and kale!

eating healthy

 

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, Kale is an awesome Superfood, one that my grandmother cooked almost every Sunday, or at least twice per month.

On the other Sundays or during the week it would be either collards or cresses, which to this day, I have never seen a “cresse” in the grocery stores.

I normally don’t use much seasoning except for maybe a smoked turkey neck or wing, onion and a little bit of sugar, which is why I decided to try this Greens & Kale Seasoning Mix by Concord Foods.  Chicken broth is also good to add to the pot of water for more flavor but it’s not necessary.

seasonings for collard and kale greens

The sodium content is extremely high at 320 mg so I didn’t use the entire pack. When cooking Kale, make sure to thoroughly wash the leaves in the sink or in a deep bowl then tear away the stems from the leaves.

wash greens in a sink or deep bowl

I love fresh sweet onions but chose to use several pearl onions as they were in refrigerator – TIP: peel onions under the stove’s exhaust fan turned on low to keep from crying.  I also forgot to add some minced garlic but a few teaspoons are great to add on top of the kale once the water starts to boil.

use fresh onions when cooking kale

In a large pot, bring 3 cups of water and smoked meat (optional) to a boil.    Add diced onions, garlic and seasoning.  Pour in a few teaspoons of sugar which is also optional and stir.

add kale to boiling water

Cover pot and simmer on low heat, turning occasionally for about 2 hours or until kale is tender, add more water or broth as needed.

add hot sauce to kale

Sprinkle Red Crushed Peppers or Frank’s Red Hot Sauce on top and enjoy.

I need a little spice added to my healthy greens, how about you!

Social Media Sunday with the Delaware Blogger

Don’t forget to tune into Social Media Sunday with the Delaware Blogger on Sunday at 6 – go over to the side bar for the link.  

We will be discussing Social Media Etiquette for Boomers

Be safe and I’ll see ya next week!

 


Black Eye Peas & Collard Greens ~ New Year’s Eve Tradition

Hello Friends and Happy (soggy) Sunday

Sitting here at the kitchen table, cutting out coupons and watching the rain fall I decided to fire up the iPad and read my emails (multi-tasking to the max).  After reading a new comment from Kirsten Womack I decided to repost the Kale and Black Eye Pea Soup recipe as a twist on my traditional New Year’s Eve dinner.  

black eye peas The cooking and eating of Black Eye Peas and Collard Greens is a New Year’s Day tradition deeply rooted in the African American culture.  I have for many years always had a big pot of Black Eye Peas and Collard Greens simmering on the stove top while chicken wings were being deep fried on the side.  It’s tradition to eat a little of each immediately after kneeling in prayer on New Years Eve for good luck and prosperity heading forward. 

This year will be no exception, however, I may use the Crock Pot to cook them both together not only for the added luck but because it will make for an easier clean up.  

We also send one of our sons outside with money in his pocket and then have him be the first to walk through the front door.  This is not an African American tradition it’s just something fun to do!

What are your New Year’s Eve Traditions?

REPOST from 12/13/13

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Kale & Black Eye Pea Soup

Sunday I purchased a container of CutnClean Kale from Safeway to be used in my salads for the week.  However, after hearing the weather forecast for more snow I decided to use it to make a Crock Pot soup with Black Eye Peas.

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In the winter, my grandmother used to make the best homemade vegetable soups using ingredients she already had in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry.  So in keeping with tradition I used some leftover celery stalks, an onion, garlic, carrots and Bouillon cubes to make this soup.

Ingredients:

  • Dry Black Eye Peas – 1/2 bag
  • Kale – 1/2 package
  • Celery – diced
  • Carrots – diced
  • Onion – diced
  • Garlic – diced
  • Bouillon Cubes (2)
  • Water
  • Olive Oil
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Turkey Necks (optional)

Mama Midget (yes that was her name), never used measuring cups or spoons so neither do I especially when using the Crock Pot.  I just throw in what I have or think is enough.

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Rinse and drain 1/2 bag of dry Black Eye peas

Add 2 Bouillon Cubes to 3 cups of hot water

Pour Olive Oil into Crock Pot just enough to cover bottom

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Chop onion, garlic, carrots and celery and add to Crock Pot

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Add Kale and sprinkle with Black Pepper

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Pour in Bouillon Stock, adding more water to cover all ingredients if necessary

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Stir and if desired add Smoked Turkey Legs or Necks

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Cover and cook on low 8 hour, high 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot model.  Don’t forget to make some Skillet Corn Bread!

OOTD 12 11 13 005

 

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Shopping, Searching & Soul Food Saturday

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday

I hope you were treated to a beautiful Spring day with flowers in bloom and birds chirping their early Easter greetings.

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Hubby and I spent the day together which is a rarity because he’s usually visiting his mother in Wilmington. Next week is Spring Break so he’ll have more time to spend with her and today it was just the two of us. Unfortunately it was wasn’t a date or even romantic, we just went shopping at Lowe’s for a new kitchen sink faucet to replace the one that has been leaking for months – wasting both water and money.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMoen Faucets Moen Faucets OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Delta Kitchen Faucet

Next we went to car dealerships in Newark and Wilmington checking out Certified Pre-Owned Hondas. It’s the last sales day of the month as well as the end of the quarter so they were extremely busy.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMartin Pre-Owned Dealership in Newark

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Finding nothing in our price range we ended our day at L&G Soul Food Southern Cuisine for dinner. We ordered platters for us as well as the boys and once home we all enjoyed fried Whiting, collard greens, mac n cheese, string beans, coleslaw and corn bread …needless to say, “itis” kicked in shortly afterwards but it was too late for a nap.

L&G Soul Food OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Fried Whiting Platters from L&G Soul Food Fried Chicken Wings, Corn Bread and Cole Slaw Fried Whiting with Collard Greens, String Beans, Mac n Cheese and Cole Slaw

After dinner I had to change into my comfy-stretchy clothes!

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Threw on the sandals to punch up my sloppy Saturday outfit!

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Have a good night – Smooches!

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Shopping, Searching & Soul Food Saturday

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday

I hope you were treated to a beautiful Spring day with flowers in bloom and birds chirping their early Easter greetings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Hubby and I spent the day together which is a rarity because he’s usually visiting his mother in Wilmington. Next week is Spring Break so he’ll have more time to spend with her and today it was just the two of us. Unfortunately it was wasn’t a date or even romantic, we just went shopping at Lowe’s for a new kitchen sink faucet to replace the one that has been leaking for months – wasting both water and money.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMoen Faucets Moen Faucets OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Delta Kitchen Faucet

Next we went to car dealerships in Newark and Wilmington checking out Certified Pre-Owned Hondas. It’s the last sales day of the month as well as the end of the quarter so they were extremely busy.

Union Park Honda OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMartin Pre-Owned Dealership in Newark

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Finding nothing in our price range we ended our day at L&G Soul Food Southern Cuisine for dinner. We ordered platters for us as well as the boys and once home we all enjoyed fried Whiting, collard greens, mac n cheese, string beans, coleslaw and corn bread …needless to say, “itis” kicked in shortly afterwards but it was too late for a nap.

L&G Soul Food OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Fried Whiting Platters from L&G Soul Food Fried Chicken Wings, Corn Bread and Cole Slaw Fried Whiting with Collard Greens, String Beans, Mac n Cheese and Cole Slaw

After dinner I had to change into my comfy-stretchy clothes!

March 2013 048

Threw on the sandals to punch up my sloppy Saturday outfit!

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Have a good night – Smooches!

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New Year Traditions

Hello Friends and Happy New Year 2013!

My New Year’s Eve Traditions

Cooked traditional dinner – collard greens for prosperity, black eye peas for luck and fried chicken just because it’s good!

Drink a glass of wine
Watching The Twilight Zone marathon on Syfy;

Drink a glass of wine

Washed all the dirty clothes;

Drink a glass of wine

Watched the ball drop in Times Square – RIP Dick Clark;

Drink a glass of wine

Knelt in prayer with hubby and sons;

Drink a glass of wine

Sons left the house then reentered with money in their hands

Drink a glass of wine

Ate traditional dinner

Drink a glass of wine

Drink a glass of wine

Drink a glass of wine

How did you bring in the New Year?

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Happy New Year – I’ll be sleeping in late tomorrow – Smooches!

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OOTD – Cape and Cap

Hello Friends, I hope you are enjoying the last Saturday of 2012

This afternoon it started to snow so it was a perfect day to take down the tree and remove decorations in preparation of having a clean house the first day of 2013.  Along with having a clean house, frying chicken wings, cooking collard greens and black eyed peas has been my New Years’ Eve tradition for many years.  Long gone are the days of hanging out at the clubs and popping Champagne bottles at midnight.  At midnight we are on our knees in prayer, then we eat and continue watching The Twilight Zone Marathon, my favorite episode is “Time Enough At Last” with Burgess Meredith.

Today I am wearing a handmade, fully lined, African mud cloth cape that my husband had made for me over 16 years ago.  I don’t wear it often but it hangs prominently in my coat closet and I’ll keep it forever.  It’s a one of a kind cape made by Nzinga Debrick, a friend of my husbands who owns Nzinga’s Cultural Connection a boutique in Wilmington.  The cape is trimmed in leather including the button hooks and the attached scarf matches the trim around the buttons and pockets.

Custom Made Cape African Mud Cloth Cape December 2012 010

Black Jeans and boots – closet staples


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The animal print cap belonged to my grandmother and I paired it with the cape to keep my head dry

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Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!

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