Braids

 

Braids can be a lovely style of adornment to the head of hair.

I used to like when my hair was put into French braids in my youth- the look is very becoming in adults too.

I learned to bread around nine years of age through observing others then practicing on my doll heads.

Later in life I began to braid hair for others- some even paid me to do their hair.

Someone had recommended I do braiding on the side during my twenties to make extra money but that really was not my thing I would only braid hair for certain people when they asked as a special favor to them while they were nice enough to compensate me for my time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Bean Me Up!”

 

Rice is a grain I have loved and never tired from.

Of course, there are times when I take a break from eating rice though I am one who can constantly eat this grain on a routine schedule.

I am a lover of beans too and incorporate these plant-based gems into my diet quite frequently.

I like to mix things up a bit.

For a long time now, I have purchased Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup mixture of fresh dried beans.

I buy the 13 bean Jack Rabbit brand of beans regularly also.

There are rich, hearty servings of navy beans, black beans, red beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, baby lima beans, large lima beans; black-eyed peas, yellow split peas, green split peas; and brown and red lentil beans.

Altogether they are extremely high sources of fiber and protein in a daily, or weekly meal.

I crave my rice and beans and they satisfy my hunger pains.

 

 

 

Black-Eyed Peas

 

If one is from the south, black-eyed peas may be a favorite staple.

I am a born and raised New Yorker, but my mother’s side of the family came from Virginia (My father’s side of the family who I did not grow up around are from South Carolina. My great-grandmother on my mother’s father’s side came from North Carolina).

I had plenty of that delicious variety of hearty southern rooted grub during childhood on up in my household.

I still love and eat black-eyed peas till this day.

These legumes are so quick to prepare compared to other beans and peas and they are very tasty.

Black-eyed peas naturally come with health benefits that impart adequate nutrition toward one’s lifestyle.

One of the downsides of eating peas and beans regularly is that it can cause a build-up of intestinal gas.

Nevertheless, over time some of our bodies learn to adapt and we experience less bloating and other discomfort.

I remember back in the day my mother’s family used to cook neck-bones with black eyed peas, oxtail with black-eyed peas and stew beef with black-eyed peas or potatoes.

I currently love and eat my black-eyed peas seasoned with pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a little basil over rice.

I never cook with salt.

To me, the flavor of prepared dry black-eyed peas is good enough to go without any herbs or spices added to them.