Anyone who knows me well chuckles about the Ethiopians I encounter who often come up to me speaking in their language, assuming that I am pure Ethiopian.
Some of them have even vehemently insisted that I am denying my heritage and trying to pass as being American! Forget the fact that I was born and raised
in the U.S.
I do have some Ethiopian lineage, but I am far from being 100% Ethio. I appreciate Ethiopian culture, and love so much about it. Hey, I’m proud that Ethiopian blood runs through my veins! I think it’s cool that I have a familial connection with them.
If you’re an adventurous sort and would like to try your hand at preparing this delicious cuisine at home…
Click this pic to order an authentic Ethiopian cookbook securely from Amazon:
And let’s not forget that gorgeous Supermodel Liya Kebede hails from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Show ‘em what you got, sister!
That’s right, girl… REPRESENT!
As for luxury boarding when you’re visiting my homeland… I’m usually not a fan of chains, but I would certainly stay at the Sheraton Addis in Ethiopia.
A peek at their wine cellar may have swayed my opinion in favor of this luxury hotel:
More on the Sheraton Addis…
Positioned in the mountainous countryside, 2,400 meters above seaside, Sheraton Addis represents African elegance. Our hotel stands opposite the National Palace and is only seven kilometers from Bole International Airport. Renowned for impeccable service and luxurious surroundings, we are the first African hotel to join The Luxury Collection.
With over 1,500 square meters of meeting space, our hotel provides the largest and most prestigious banquet and conference facilities in Ethiopia. Our attentive personal service and ageless beauty is extended at The Aqva Club, an atmosphere of relaxation. Discover ageless beauty and relaxation at The Aqva Club with its attentive service and outdoor swimming pool featuring underwater music and sauna.
And when you get hungry during your stay…
The hotel offers an extensive array of dining specialties, including distinct restaurants serving International, Italian, and French cuisine. Guests can enjoy the chic nightclub or any of the other six bars and lounges. A vast open-air cocktail and reception area offers breathtaking views, with the Entoto Mountains in the background.
Ethiopia’s African elegance extends beyond the hotel lobby and into our well-appointed guest rooms. Fine linens, deluxe bath amenities, and 24-hour room service complement all of our 293 deluxe guest rooms & suites . Travelers experience timeless African elegance with mahogany-colored furnishings and attention to details at the Sheraton Addis.
Delicious, rich, and intoxicating are what these Dark Jamaican Rum Raisin Brownies are about.
The baker uses over a cup of top shelf Jamaican Rum in each batch to insure not only the aroma, but the true flavor of the islands. Yah, mon!
Click on the picture above to order your stash.
Disclaimer: Most alcohol will have been evaporated, but please take caution in any case when dealing with alcohol-based products.
Enjoy responsibly, but do enjoy!
Note: Concerned about sugar and carbs, or are you or someone you know diabetic? You’ve got to try Insulow. Click here to read my review of this awesome carb and sugar-reducing product that WORKS. Insulow is how I can eat all of these delicious sweets without guilt. I have taken Insulow for years and love it!
After a recent disappointment with crab cakes that I ordered at a popular L.A. restaurant, I now have a serious craving - borderline full-blown Jonesing - for them.
Perhaps I’ll have better luck with ordering tried-and-true crab cakes and warming them up at home instead of playing crab cake Roulette at some hyped-up eatery.
I haven’t yet tried these, but Oprah raves about them, so Chesapeake Bay certainly has my attention. Here’s what they have to say:
“To make our Perfect Crab Cakes, we start with premium, handpicked jumbo lump crabmeat. Once the crabmeat is added to our signature binding, it’s hand shaped into individual cakes. Each is then flash frozen to preserve the fresh taste and homemade flavor.
Enjoy our four-ounce Perfect Crab Cakes on their own, in a sandwich or alongside your favorite vegetable dish. Our Perfect Crab Cakes were featured in O Magazine’s “O List” where Oprah touted them as, “the most spectacularly crab-filled crab cakes I’ve ever tasted.”
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, then you know that baking is not in my past, present, or future. I’m always on the lookout for desserts and sweets that are a close second to homemade.
My nana used to bake the most unreal Peppermint Cake every Valentine’s Day. It was a yellow batter cake, iced with velvety white icing and laced with crushed peppermint candy. I so looked forward to eating that cake every V-Day!
Since nana is unfortunately no longer with us, let’s give this scrumptious
Peppermint Torte a nibble…
Enjoy a sweet, refreshing treat! This Peppermint Torte is made of layers of moist white cake and smooth, peppermint buttercreme filling. Red and green flakes are blended throughout for a festive look. It’s then wrapped in a rich, creamy white icing and adorned with red and green swirls on top.
This is the perfect dessert to have on hand for virtually any occasion…a coffee break, brunch, or even as the finishing touch on a late supper.
Click on the cake picture to reserve yours!
Note: Concerned about sugar and carbs, or are you or someone you know diabetic? You’ve got to try Insulow. Read my review of this awesome carb and sugar-reducing product that WORKS. Insulow is how I can eat all of these delicious sweets without guilt. I have taken Insulow for years and love it!
The other day, I had lunch with a friend at Ummba Grill, a uniquely delicious Brazilian churrascaria.
I asked for a bottle of still water, and was expecting the usual brands. When the server brought two neatly-designed bottles of Llanllyr SOURCE water to our table, my curiosity was certainly piqued.
One sip and I was jumping for joy. FINALLY, bottled water that tastes clean. Most bottled water has some sort of aftertaste to me…whether from inorganic minerals, chemicals, or plain old invisible gunk floating around in it.
Llanllyr SOURCE is now my absolute favorite water, though it’s a bit hard to find. The world isn’t yet hip to its glory, but give it time.
So what makes this water so special? Here, I’ll let the Llanllyr site speak for itself:
“Llanllyr SOURCE is one of the world’s premium quality bottled waters. It comes from our sources beneath certified organic fields in West Wales in the United Kingdom.
We bottled our first water only a few years ago in 1999, but behind our highly contemporary product there’s a truly fascinating story that begins literally centuries ago!
We know the same sources have been providing drinking water for over 800 years because a Cistercian nunnery was established on the site in 1180 and it survived for over 400 years, The history of the site goes back much further than that though.
It may have been the stunning design of the original SOURCE bottle that first caught the market’s eye, but it soon became clear that it was the distinctively appealing and ‘clean’ taste of the water that was persuading sector leading restaurants, hotels and venues around the world to make it their water of choice. And it’s not just our opinion - SOURCE consistently leads blind taste tests and is endorsed by chefs in many top U.K. and overseas restaurants.”
Llanllyr SOURCE is a good water for non-water drinkers. If you hate drinking water, try Llanllyr’s pure water first before you make that claim. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
As for how in the world one should pronounce the name, the general consensus seems to go with, “Thlawnthleer.”
Call it what you want, but just don’t call me late for dinner!
I have already established what a Cat Lady I am. Even yesterday, there was a street Calico that came directly up to me and literally ran after me for half a block so I could come pet him some more.
I know there are folks who would be FREAKED OUT if a cat was chasing them, but I love when strange cats approach me. I’m totally biased in that almost anything a cat does, I think it’s cute - even when they’re vicious.
So it’s no surprise that I get a royal kick out of this video of two domestic cats going round for round in a kitchen boxing tournament. It’s total amusement. What a riot!
What has me laughing the hardest is listening to the stupid things the
“boxing announcer” has to say during the boxing match.
Turn your speakers up for this one. It is HILARIOUS!
I’ll bet you would have never guessed that I like Sizzler. I most certainly do.
Luxury, to me, has nothing to do with cost. Good is good. And the Colossal Shrimp at Sizzler is just that.
So is their Strawberry Lemonade, which is perfectly tart and topped with sugared FRESH strawberries. And you know how I feel about strawberries. Yep, this drink is right up my alley!
What can I say - I’m the type of chick who can unearth gems almost anywhere.
I had to be all incognito snapping pics of my food with my camera phone at the restaurant. That explains the picture quality. I was all hunched over trying to work fast and covertly.
Now, back to that fabulous shrimp… They’re huge! I’ll even venture to say they’re the poor man’s lobster. Sizzler’s Colossal Shrimp are plump, succulent, and satisfying. My kind of delicacy!
Keep in mind, though, that this is not health food. I’m not insinuating that Sizzler is the place to go for an organic, free-range meal.
Who knows if the “drawn butter” that is served on the side is even real butter, but I really don’t even care. It’s a pretty tasty meal regardless. And it’s not like I have any business eating butter anyway…let alone a heaping side of sour cream and chives for my baked potato!
I had no idea I was doing Sizzler that night…it was just kind of the convenient thing to do. See, I don’t think anyone actually gets cravings for Sizzler. It’s one of those places that you just kinda happen upon.
I mean, has anyone actually planned to go to Sizzler? No offense, but I’m sure you know what I mean.
I got into a debate with a friend the other night about Sizzler in general. I happen to like it in spite of the fact that it is an inexpensive chain restaurant. He loathes it.
OK, time out…
We’ve got to compare apples to apples here! Sizzler is NOT Morton’s of Chicago,
Ruth’s Chris, or an even more elite establishment. When you compare Sizzler to a restaurant that is infinitely more upscale, you’re not being fair.
But if you were to compare Sizzler to Red Lobster, Sizzler is going home with the Oscar! They get bonus points for their nice salad bar. The veggies are always fresh and crisp at my local Sizzler, and they have a pretty decent selection of salad fixin’s.
So if you’re famished and in the mood for ginormous, behemoth shrimp, I say give Sizzler’s Colossal Shrimp a go. I give it the green light!
I’m back again, with more treats for your sweet tooth!
Some of you have told me that my blog is your guilty pleasure. I say, PARTAKE! Enjoy. Savor. Indulge. I’m here to help you be naughty once in a while. Your wish is my command, friends.
I mean, what’s life without the occasional splurge? Why even go through all the woes and sorrows of life if you have no enjoyment at all while you’re here?
Were you born to eat protein, be restrictive, and die? Or how about eat twigs and berries your whole life and die like a goat?
No.
Life was created so we could all experience eating good chocolate. So listen up!
I recently came across the Bridgewater Chocolate catalog in the mail, which caused me to begin salivating upon first glance.
Look at their Coconut, Marzipan, and Peanut Butter chocolates!
…and their chocolate-covered Australian Apricots. Like Oprah says - hmm…this is very in-ter-estin’!
For those who have a thing for chocolate-covered cherries, Chocolate Amarena Cherries:
Or Chocolate-covered Macadamia Nuts:
Now see, I was starting to lean toward curbing my sugar cravings, and then Bridgewater Chocolate goes and does this to me.
They’re sinister, I tell you. Absolutely devious.
Note: Concerned about sugar and carbs, or are you or someone you know diabetic? You’ve got to try Insulow. Click here to read my review of this awesome carb and sugar-reducing product that WORKS. Insulow is how I can eat all of these delicious sweets without guilt. I have taken Insulow for years and love it!
Although I have never smoked weed in my entire life, I swear I get high off of the incense I’ve become addicted to over the past year.
I promise to delve into deluxe aromatherapy candles another time in another post…but for now, incense is the star of this show!
Auric Blends makes the most GLORIOUS, alluring incense. I totally, totally have a thing for this stuff.
I know the Jamaicans and Muslims make terrific homemade incense, but I have to say that Auric Blends can’t be beat. I recently got a huge sack of incense from my local Jamaican supplier and almost went into a coma from that batch - that’s how curiously potent it was!
Auric Blends incense wafts a supremely balanced aroma. The fragrance is never too wimpy, nor too pungent.
Our local Whole Foods sells this brand of incense, and boy do I load up on it!
I have about 12 favorite Auric Blends incense varieties that I always reach for when I’m in the store…
Here are my favorite Auric Blends scents:
Ginger Lily
Black Coconut
Caribbean Nights
Ocean Song
Opium
Orange Spice
Rain
Transition
Spring Rain
Tropical Rain
White Gardenia
Wild Sunflower
That’s almost all of them, folks!
I have Ocean Song fired up right now, and my mood is definitely elevated as I type.
I would be interested to know what precisely this incense consists of, because I’m feeling mighty giddy right about now.
I know I’m not speaking for all womankind by posting this entry on exotic flowers, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that most women are not enthused with receiving roses.
Roses are boring…a big yawn.
My mother sends me white roses or yellow roses when I need a pick-me-up, but those are about the only roses I can stand…and this is my mother we’re talking about!
Receiving a dozen mixed roses of various colors is much prettier than plain red roses…
yet still not special or exciting.
Wildflowers and exotic bouquets are infinitely better!
Then again, I realize there are women reading my blog today who would be grateful to even receive A DANDELION from their men, that being sent a bunch of roses would be like hitting the love lottery. Shame on you, guys!
ProFlowers is perhaps my favorite florist. They eliminate the middleman, so your flowers arrive to you fresh from the garden, and they last up to one week longer than standard flowers!
Although I love receiving treats from my beau, I’ve always had the habit of buying my own self flowers. I refuse to do without! There is no sense in waiting around for what you can easily buy yourself, ladies.
And let’s not forget that there are a PLETHORA of flowers in existence besides
(though I love them) wild orchids and sunflowers as your alternative to roses.
Show Plumerias and Peonies some love, too!
My favorite flower is the Calla Lily. Pacific Callas is an awesome supplier of fresh Callas.
Indeed, Calla Lilies absolutely ROCK!
Black Calla Lilies are even better!
Yes, a Calla Lily is SO much better than a rose.
Birds of Paradise are always a vibrant change of pace…
Mark’s Garden is one of L.A.’s top florists. Although Mark is big on roses, I won’t hold it against him since his other floral selections are so outstanding!
So guys, when you’re stewing over which variety of flowers to send your lady love,
JUST SAY NO to roses. Use your imagination, think creatively, mix it up!
