You’re underpaid.
Overworked.
Double shifts for cash
under the table.
Living with too many people.
But, they’re family.
The space is small.
The landlord only speaks rent.
Appetizing Lifestyle
Food-Related stories, interviews and random thoughts.
Appetizing Thoughts: Rise
Mom’s sugar cookies continues to be an old favorite. It’s a simple recipe because of the hint of spice she adds to the dough. Despite Dad’s elaborate holiday dinners, Mom would make a brief appearance in the kitchen to quickly make her famous cookies. Sometimes she would call my sister and me to help decorate the cookies, and sometimes we came downstairs without Mom asking for help. Now that my sister and I are no longer living in the house, whenever we come home, we demand Mom make her famous sugar cookies. Back then, it was only a television that provided easy distraction. Holidays were less about electronics. Days off weren’t dependent on social media, the number of ‘likes,’ and streaming videos online.
Vanilla isn’t White
Ice cream isn’t going to save the day. Fear of change won. Racism won. Anti-semitism won. Anti-immigration won. Sexism won. Anti-LGBTQ won. All the -isms in the world won. And, I have a right to be scared and will stay mad. When the conservative trend was noticed in Europe and Turkey earlier this year, it was a comforting thought that we in the United States were slowly moving in a positive direction. But, when the majority of people used voting booths — similar to how the Klu Klux Klan wear hoods — to vote for a racist candidate on Tuesday, I’m wondering who among my white friends, are truly my friend.
The Art of Doing Nothing
Earlier this year, I started saying no. No to promoting food-related gadgets, because I live in a New York small apartment with limited storage. No to promoting food samples, because the pay isn’t great and the contests aren’t worth my time. No to writing reviews for below-average cookbooks, because the pay isn’t great. No to freelance design, because I design full-time during the weekday. No to doing more social media, because it’s time consuming. No to special theme Saturday brunches requiring me to discard the one day a week of sleeping in without an alarm clock. And, no to developing an editorial calendar for this food blog. I’m doing nothing with my extra time, and it feels good to be too selfish.
Appetizing Events: The Taharka Brothers Summer Ice Cream, The CookUp, Takes the Take Cake
A few years ago, I wrote about the Taharka Brothers raising money for an ice cream truck in Baltimore, Maryland. Later, NPR.org voted Taharka Brothers as one of Maryland’s best Ice Cream shops to visit. Since then they’ve received numerous local awards. A few years ago, I wrote about the Taharka Brothers raising money for an ice cream truck in Baltimore, Maryland. I continue to follow them online to stay up-to-date with their creative events. Their initial press release and story stood apart from everyone because of the name of their ice cream flavors. The names are inspired by Cornel West, Langston Hughes and August Wilson. And, my design eye love their brand image: an ice cream sundae on top of a fist pump as the arm uses political books as a foundation.