Believe the Doctors

Lentil Soup and Roast Okra

Happy Black History Month 2018. I’m using this opportunity of celebration as an opportunity to promote self care by reminding visitors about the importance of seeking professional medical assistance. Here’s my story:

One sunny summer day, I walked into my dentist office to complain about the pain of my shifting teeth and to make sure there wasn’t an underlying problem. I walked out with an autumnal schedule for a root canal and an appointment with a gum specialist who would later require surgery to be done in two phases. The dentist said I was a few months away from having one tooth swell with excruciating pain. It may sound like horrific news, but if I reframe my experience, I’m relieved to have caught these problems early, and lucky to have pretty good dental insurance to help pay for the work (I’m still broke).

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What’s Not to Like About Okra?

Grilled Okra with Blueberry Spice Rub

Gotta love social media. Out of all the positive responses to the picture of grilled okra posted on My Life Runs On Food’s Facebook page, one person’s response was “yuck… not my cup of tea.” The response was annoying to read, but I wasn’t entirely mad. Okra isn’t my cup of tea, either.

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Fried Cornmeal Okra

Fried Okra

During the month of September, MyLifeRunsOnFood.com is part of New York’s Locavore Challenge. This is the first of a few posts dedicated to using produce supporting local, sustainable farms and food businesses. I know it’s almost mid-month, but it’s not too late to sign up for this educational challenge. For this post, I write about a familiar experience of being reintroduce to unpopular produce by my Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, Bedstuy Farm Share. Visit NOFA-NY.com to learn more about additional events and join their cause.

Okra and I have a score to settle because of its slimy ways. It’s true, first impressions are important, for my first bite of okra wasn’t pleasant. Just like beets, it’s a vegetable some people love. While others, such as myself, dislike it. How does this story of reconciliation start? Read more