I want to share a recipe that is healthy, affordable, easy to make and mad delicious - five bean soup. This delectable dish contains 5 grams of both protein and fiber per cup, omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants per serving. Hit me up a let me know if you like it.
5 Bean Soup Ingredients:
1 c Pinto beans
1 c Navy beans
1 c Black eyed peas
10 c Water
1 c Chicken bouillon (low sodium)
1 c Diced onion
1 ea 16-oz can cut tomatoes/or one fresh diced tomato
3/4 ts Thyme
1/4 ts Pepper
1 c Red beans
1 c Northern beans
2 ea Whole bay leaves
1 1/2 c Smoked turkey (your choice or you can make it totally vegetarian)
1 tb Chili powder
1/4 ts Worcestershire sauce or low sodium soy sauce
1 md Grated carrot
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5 Bean Soup Instructions:
Place beans into 4 quart kettle, cover with 2 inches of water and allow to soak overnight.
Drain water then add smoked turkey, water and bay leaves.
Simmer covered for 2 hours.
Add bouillon, onions, chili and garlic powder, thyme, pepper, tomatoes, carrot and worcestershire sauce or low sodium soy sauce.
Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
Add water as needed.
Serve with hot cornbread and rice.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Now the Work Begins
As our collective euphoria over Obama's victory settles down, the reality of the daunting tasks facing Obama's administration and America has settled in. We have a broken financial system, recession, high level of foreclosing homes, rising unemployment, bankrupting auto industry and engagement in two wars - to name a few of the major issues confronting us.
The conventional wisdom is, hard times makes great leaders; hence, if Barack Obama can successfully resolve the above mentioned issues, he would become one of our greatest presidents.
However, the truth is much more stark. Obama can not solve our problems overnight or by himself. Our politicians can not solve our problems by themselves. Americans across the country need to roll up our sleeves and toil, sacrifice and participate as never before in our lives - other than the Great Depression and WWII generation.
For example, Obama nor the police alone can make our neighborhoods safe. Teachers and politicians alone can not make our students learn better. Government can not nor should not raise a child. Parents, communities and neighbors must collectively organize and work together to address these issues.
Barack Obama often tells the story of how his single parent mother on welfare used to wake him up early to review and study his lesson. I also remember the childhood story of Dr. Benjamin Carson, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital, he recalls how his mother, with only a third grade education, consistently turned of the TV and encouraged he and his brother to frequent the neighborhood library.
To wrap things up, let us continue to celebrate Obama's historical and redemptive victory. But let us also use his success as a call for renewed pursuit of excellence in our communities. Let his victory serve as a template on how racism and poverty can be overcome with education and perseverance.
The conventional wisdom is, hard times makes great leaders; hence, if Barack Obama can successfully resolve the above mentioned issues, he would become one of our greatest presidents.
However, the truth is much more stark. Obama can not solve our problems overnight or by himself. Our politicians can not solve our problems by themselves. Americans across the country need to roll up our sleeves and toil, sacrifice and participate as never before in our lives - other than the Great Depression and WWII generation.
For example, Obama nor the police alone can make our neighborhoods safe. Teachers and politicians alone can not make our students learn better. Government can not nor should not raise a child. Parents, communities and neighbors must collectively organize and work together to address these issues.
Barack Obama often tells the story of how his single parent mother on welfare used to wake him up early to review and study his lesson. I also remember the childhood story of Dr. Benjamin Carson, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital, he recalls how his mother, with only a third grade education, consistently turned of the TV and encouraged he and his brother to frequent the neighborhood library.
To wrap things up, let us continue to celebrate Obama's historical and redemptive victory. But let us also use his success as a call for renewed pursuit of excellence in our communities. Let his victory serve as a template on how racism and poverty can be overcome with education and perseverance.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Agents of Hate
As the mosaic chorus of Americans sang out in celebration of President-Elect Barack Obama's historic and improbable election victory, voices from the Fox right, Sean Hannity, and from the radio right, Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck, continued to spread lies and hate. In fact, Rush used a thinly veiled racial term Chicago Thug (borrowed from Bill Clinton, Rush claims) to describe Obama during his first White House meeting as President-Elect with President Bush.
These men, who claimed to have first dibs on patriotism, bemoan the fact that millions of Americans have put country first by elected the best qualified man for president, who happened to be black.
It is also obvious that Limbaugh/Hannity/Beck are working feverishly to disparage media coverage of black, white, brown and yellow people coming together to make history. Quite frankly, these men work overtime to keep these various groups apart. They use fear, racism and pseudo patriotism as their weapons.
To understand their agenda, I say follow the money. Rush/Limbaugh/Hannity are very well paid (Rush recently inked a 400 million dollar contract with a 100 million dollar contract bonus) to spread radio/TV venom by right-wing billionaires such as Rupert Murdoch. Their collective goal is to keep Americans divided so that corrupt businessmen can continue to rob and loot our economy - the old trick of divide and conquer.
Obama's amazing victory, supported by legions of Americans from diverse backgrounds, has just turned down the volume a few decibels of the disturbingly noisy right. Let us stay the course.
These men, who claimed to have first dibs on patriotism, bemoan the fact that millions of Americans have put country first by elected the best qualified man for president, who happened to be black.
It is also obvious that Limbaugh/Hannity/Beck are working feverishly to disparage media coverage of black, white, brown and yellow people coming together to make history. Quite frankly, these men work overtime to keep these various groups apart. They use fear, racism and pseudo patriotism as their weapons.
To understand their agenda, I say follow the money. Rush/Limbaugh/Hannity are very well paid (Rush recently inked a 400 million dollar contract with a 100 million dollar contract bonus) to spread radio/TV venom by right-wing billionaires such as Rupert Murdoch. Their collective goal is to keep Americans divided so that corrupt businessmen can continue to rob and loot our economy - the old trick of divide and conquer.
Obama's amazing victory, supported by legions of Americans from diverse backgrounds, has just turned down the volume a few decibels of the disturbingly noisy right. Let us stay the course.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Dawn of A New Era
When I reflect on Barack Obama's electoral victory, I am just speechless. I can not find the words to adequately describe the emotions I am feeling. As a student of history/political science, I am overwhelmed with the realistic and symbolic significance of this election for our country. And, I am not the least bit ashamed to say I cried, no I wept.
The saga of African-American history in this country is embedded in our country's DNA. The original American sin - slavery - that attempted to remove the humanity from our ancestors' beings has come full circle.
From Sojourner Truth to Nat Turner to Harriet Tubman to Frederick Douglas; from Booker T Washington to Maggie Walker; from the Elijah Muhammad/Malcolm X to Martin Luther King/Dorothy Heights and to the millions and millions of invisible heroes and she-roes - black, white, yellow, brown; from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus - the hopes and prayers of our ancestors have been redeemed and renewed.
From so many dreams deferred and dried up like raisins in the sun, as sister Lorraine Hansberry described, to stars finding their natural place among the firmaments in the heavens; this election represented the continued restoration of balance among the human family.
It's as if the United States of America has taken a quantum leap forward in our self-identification by electing the best qualified candidate for president; one who happened to be African-American.
President Elect Barack Obama may be the man of the hour; but, I say very respectfully (as he often states), this election is much much bigger than Obama. This election is about us reclaiming our cities, suburbs, economy, and country from the those that place their narrow minded self-interest, fears and greed above the good of the people.
In summary, Obama can not do it alone. We must continue to roll up our sleeves and toil in the field until the crops begin to harvest. Godspeed.
The saga of African-American history in this country is embedded in our country's DNA. The original American sin - slavery - that attempted to remove the humanity from our ancestors' beings has come full circle.
From Sojourner Truth to Nat Turner to Harriet Tubman to Frederick Douglas; from Booker T Washington to Maggie Walker; from the Elijah Muhammad/Malcolm X to Martin Luther King/Dorothy Heights and to the millions and millions of invisible heroes and she-roes - black, white, yellow, brown; from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus - the hopes and prayers of our ancestors have been redeemed and renewed.
From so many dreams deferred and dried up like raisins in the sun, as sister Lorraine Hansberry described, to stars finding their natural place among the firmaments in the heavens; this election represented the continued restoration of balance among the human family.
It's as if the United States of America has taken a quantum leap forward in our self-identification by electing the best qualified candidate for president; one who happened to be African-American.
President Elect Barack Obama may be the man of the hour; but, I say very respectfully (as he often states), this election is much much bigger than Obama. This election is about us reclaiming our cities, suburbs, economy, and country from the those that place their narrow minded self-interest, fears and greed above the good of the people.
In summary, Obama can not do it alone. We must continue to roll up our sleeves and toil in the field until the crops begin to harvest. Godspeed.
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