Red Lipstick and Me

Red Lipstick can be worn by women of all shades and colors, because there is a shade and color for every woman!

    There was a time I did not believe that.

  In my youth, wearing red lipstick was a point of debate in some circles of Black culture.  White women could wear red lipstick, but if dark women wore it, there was a negative connotation to this cosmetic choice because of all of the racist images and caricatures that existed back then. However, this controversy resonates in social media to this very day: Models with dark skin are harshly criticized for sporting red lipstick by other black women. 

                     

We avoided wearing red lipstick because of racist depictions in media. Image from museumofuncutfunk.com. 

In addition, red was considered a racy, loose color. If you weren't wearing it as a costume, then it was not considered acceptable.

But then, I saw Dorothy Dandridge. She wore red lipstick. Red, matte lipstick and her brown skin was like mine. This film icon exuded tremendous elegance, beauty and class. So I thought maybe I should give it a try!

     

It took a few try-ons to find the right one, but when I started getting samples from my Birchbox every month, sometimes there has been a red lipstick sample inside. It was one of those samples that really did it for me; the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick was matte, and it lasted all day long. I felt like a glamorous movie star! I immediately ordered the red in the sample and I've been hooked ever since. 

I don't wear it all of the time, but when I do, it's because it is planned; the eyes, lips, hair and outfit all frame the lips.

 

I have learned that there are many shades of red to enjoy, from deep reds that resemble rich wine to bright rubies that scream Hollywood starlet. I now own several to match any mood or occasion. The interesting thing is, wearing the color red has also made me open to experimenting with many other colors that I had once considered risqué or too much for my age and complexion. I have rocked everything from blue to light pink; it all depends on how you wear it and how confident you are to sport any look!

So, I am no longer afraid of wearing this timeless lip paint that creates as much controversy as it does conversation. It is a powerful, sexy shade that, if matched correctly, is attractive on women of all skin colors! What is your favorite shade of red? Leave a comment below!

  

                          

                                          

Bhate Bhaat | Soul Food of Bengali India

Every culture has its own soul food… 

...dishes that are more than just “comfort food”, soul food provides a spiritual centering and helps to identify us as who we are culturally. Each seasoning and spice can turn the universal meat, vegetables and grains into a meal that defines  a region or a people from anywhere in the world. The interesting thing about “soul food” is, no matter the ethnicity, its purpose is to soothe, reassure, remind and return us to our roots. It calls to the soul. 

So when I stumbled upon this Indian recipe on Food 52, I didn’t realize what a treat I was about to be in for! Bhate Bhaat is called a simple dish in the Bengali region, made of mashed vegetables and rice, but I think it has a complexity that makes it far from mundane. From what I learned, Bhate Bhaat is often made from leftovers and combined together with vegetables smashed into mounds next to rice and a soft-boiled egg.  It was commonly eaten by widows or poor women who had very little in the way of extravagant food, and had to make do with limited resources. But isn’t it always like that? The Soul Food of Black People originated from gleaning the scraps the master threw out and vegetables slaves would grow in a garden. The pieces of pork, wild greens, and yams are now an integral part of African American culinary diaspora, enjoyed during special occasions and times of mourning. Using what they have, the common people of a society are the creators of the true food that shapes culture and the human experience. So it is with Bhate-Bhaat. 

Tradtional Bhate Bhaat is served in handmade balls of vegetables
and steamed rice. Photo from fromthekitchenstothetastebuds

Since it customarily is made from leftovers of Indian food, Bhate Bhaat includes lentils and Basmati rice that may have remained in the fridge and rice cooker, respectively, after last nights’ dinner. Butternut squash, potatoes and spinach are added to a mixture of sautéed red onions and peppers. Toward the end of preparation, an egg is boiled for four minutes to produce a soft, bright yellow yolk. All of these ingredients are placed on a plate or in a bowl and mashed together. Some people mash the vegetables before the Bhate Bhat is served, forming them into soft balls and arranged next to a mound of rice. This creation is as unique as the person who makes it, with vegetables varying from potatoes to yams, green beans, kale, papaya, eggplant…every household, every family, every individual puts their own signature on what this bowl of “soul food” can be.  

Given the concept of individuality this fare allows, I used my own leftovers; many of them were already from Indian recipes from our dinner; dal—lentils prepared with onions, garam masala, and oil—steamed rice, carrots, zucchini and yellow squash. Instead of potatoes, I added yams and butternut squash. For the greens, I added spinach. 

I sautéed the vegetables in a base of olive oil, garlic, red onions and red chili pods, I added a sliced jalapeño pepper for extra spice. With all of that going on, I didn’t need to add salt at all.  

 Once the onions and spices were cooked down, I added my butternut squash. The yams roasted in the oven while I pulled out the spinach. I chopped up a few extra zucchinis to stretch out the food so five big eaters could enjoy more than one helping. 

As I puttered around the kitchen, the smells wafted throughout the house, beckoning everyone to come and see what I was preparing. As I reviewed the recipe, I was reminded to include the piece de resistance: The eggs that were to be only boiled for a few quick minutes and served with the yolk softened to perfection. I think that is the most challenging part of all to making Bhate Bhaat. If you wait too long, you just have this hard-boiled egg that is not as colorful or as sensational as its four-minute counterpart. Nonetheless, food should never be wasted, so my daughter resorts to a sprinkle of sriracha sauce atop to adorn the pale, yellow yolk. Actually, she just puts sriracha on everything anyway!  

Once all of the ingredients are ready, we dispense with the orb-making and spoon everything on top of a bed of steamed basmati or jasmine rice from the cooker, along with a generous dollop of quality ghee (clarified butter). I peel the eggs and place them in the bowls, and we sit down to the table and commence to mashing! What comes next is sheer bliss, satisfaction and most of all quiet and peace. I make enough for everyone to have more, but Bhate Bhaat is so filling that we are all fine after our first go 'round!

Even though we are not Indian, I still prepare a variety of Indian meals because they are healthy and substantial, providing elements that not only feed the stomach, but also nourish the spirit.  So, this is my version of this wonderful Bengali delight, done with a bit of Black Girl Magic!

BLACK GIRL BHATE-BHAAT  

Ingredients

Olive oil, or mustard oil 

Ghee 

Lemon or lime juice (Optional...I have never squeezed it into mine. I will try this next time.) 

2 large cloves of garlic 

1 red onion, sliced thinly and chopped 

2 dry red chili pods 

1 jalapeño pepper, cut up into pieces (Watch it! The seeds are hot, and be sure to rinse your hands when you are done with this step...) 

Steamed rice (Jasmine or Basmati) 

Daal (Cooked lentils; get the recipe here. You can prepare daal the day before and store in the fridge to cut down on steps) 

Yams, peeled and chopped into cubes. 

2 zucchinis, sliced  

2 yellow squash, sliced 

Butternut squash, chopped into large chunks 

2 cups of fresh spinach or kale 

People use whatever vegetables they like, actually. Potatoes, green bananas, green beans, pumpkin... 

Directions 

It is best to have mise en place for this dish because there are a few steps. Be prepared and have everything out before you start!  

1. If you are using daal, begin to cook it now, or have it ready to reheat if you have already prepared it.  
2. If you are using a rice cooker, steam your rice.  
3. In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic and chili pod and sauté until tender.  
4. Add the jalapeño. Stir it in with the onions and garlic and chili pod.  
5. Next, add the yams; make sure they are chopped in chunks but not too big because you want them to cook at a decent pace. Or, place the chunks on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil and place in the oven to bake at 350 degrees.  
6. Add the butternut squash. 
7. Once the ingredients in the pan are medium soft, add the zucchini and yellow squash. Cover and let simmer. 
8. In a separate pot, begin to boil your eggs...but watch them carefully! You'll want to boil them for about 4 minutes in order for them to be soft.  
9. Add spinach/kale to the squash mixture, cover and lower heat.  
10. Everything should be done! 

Place the rice in a bowl and add a dollop of ghee. The hot rice will melt the ghee. It smells amazing! Next add your vegetables and daal (lentils).  

Put the egg in the bowl.  

Mash the ingredients together... and you have SOUL FOOD! 

How would YOU make Bhate-Bhaat? Share your ideas with me, or tell me how your experience with this recipe went in the comments below!

Make Your Own Tea Station

Bring the love of tea and coffee into your master bedroom by creating a tea station that reflects your decor and personal style! 

My passion for tea is so intense, that I decided to create a tea station in my master bedroom. Creating a hotel-esque space also inspires building areas in a room where one can conveniently access their favorite snacks and beverages, and a coffee/tea station is an elegant addition to any room that is far from the kitchen.

An old changing table was given new life when I moved it into the former nook that once housed a television and stereo set. With the new flat screen now mounted above the fireplace, and a Bluetooth surround-sound bar placed on the mantle, the space was left empty for laundry and sports equipment to collect. Incorporating a few knicknacks from around the house and my favorite yellow tea set, the spot became a bright, happy focal point of our bedroom. After the addition of a gallery wall, this new attraction has become a conversation piece among family members and visiting houseguests!

I can grab a cup of tea before bed, or when I wake up in the morning; a cup of tea is never far away from my reading nook or bathtub's edge. Walking all the way downstairs for a cup of tea can sometimes result in spilled, cold tea by the time you make it back upstairs. Now I can have my steamy cup of Earl Grey or Chai at the ready to curl up with a good book or to sip with Queen Elizabeth while watching "The Crown".

The thing that makes a bedroom tea table possible is a handy electric tea kettle. This one is my favorite: This ceramic tea kettle by Bella heats 1.2 L of water and comes in beautiful designs. I got mine from Target, but they are always available on Amazon. In addition, cups and teapots for additional servings are a great idea.

An infuser mug is an essential for steeping loose leaf teas. Use them like a mini teapot to brew small amounts of your favorite blend, and then pour the tea into another tea cup to enjoy.

A tea table needs a few snacks! I love jars, because they are simple and can be prettied up by a few elegant cookies. I also love to stack a few chocolate bars or bits of fudge nearby in beautiful Birchboxes that I have emptied of monthly samples. These beautiful bars are from the Café et Thé Chocolate Collection from Trader Joes, with tea-infused flavors of Earl Grey, Lemon Black Tea and Chamomile in Dark, Milk and White Chocolate. 

Accessories like a teabag caddy keep your sachets and teabags from dripping onto the nightstand or bathroom counters. Find really cute ones at Cost Plus. 

Tea and chocolate are great together, and these bars are infused with favorites such as Earl Grey, Chamomile and Rooibos!

A variety of tea helps to keep sipping adventurous and provides you with different opportunities to try new blends. My tea drawer keeps all of my teas organized; loose leaf teas from David's Tea and Teavana, sachets in gorgeous tea tins from Harney and Sons, bags and special teas like Tea Drops tea, and blooming teas are beautifully displayed and can be accessed quickly. If someone has a craving for a jolt of java, keep instant coffee packets available to mix with water in a coffee mug, along with a gallon of purified water to brew.  There is always enough to share! 

A plethora of teas from Harney and Sons, Tea Drops, Teavana and David's Tea

Style your tea station to express your personality by gathering beautiful artwork, photos, cups and trinkets to make it an attractive focal point. A gallery wall shows off all of your handiwork and makes a statement about your love of tea and other things you value. 

Make your gallery display meaningful by posting your own work; I used my own photographs and paintings to frame. My boxes from Birchbox serve as shadow boxes to display my Holstee manifesto and other printwork I receive monthly from my subscription. 

Tea cups, both elegant and contemporary, complement each other in an eclectic mix of style. 

Add fresh flowers and string lights for finishing touches and you have a spot in a room that makes the atmosphere welcoming and cozy!

This tea station is a welcome feature to my surroundings and makes my room a cheery place!

What kind of place do you have to store your tea or coffee? Share your ideas below!