One of the World's Great Tragedies

In Pittsburgh, the city where I currently reside, it is far easier to find Jewish food than Mexican food. I will eat a potato in any form you would like. Just you try me. But g.efilte fish? That looks disgusting. I'm usually quite open to foods foreign to my palette but the first time I noticed it in the store was on a trip to Florida last year. I paid attention because south Florida seems to have a rather high Jewish population and my friend's boyfriend is one of them. I decided to pay a little closer attention to his culture. No, he is not the first Jewish person I've ever met. I've been to a bat mitzvah or two, which I loved!! (Tossing candy in church??? WHY DON'T WE DO THIS EVERY SUNDAY, MOM!?) But I grew up in Charlotte, which though it has a sizeable J.ewish population, was not exactly a melting pot in the late 80s and early 90s.

That is neither here nor there. Let's get back to this fish in a jar. I have no problem with canned meats. My mom doesn't like canned foods or frozen prepared foods. She's all about cooking. (Fabulous southern woman.) But she liked spam (I don't know why) and didn't mind canned salmon. My dad loves sardines and passed that affinity on to me in the last year. But the fish in a jar??? Tell me that top picture is not one of the most unappetizing looking things you have ever seen in your life. That second picture is not much better. The preparation doesn't sound too different from salmon patties but the pictures... YIKES!!

The point is, I went to a regular grocery store looking for chipotles. I know, so typical of me. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEM!! The only Mexican food they had in their section was regular salsa and tortillas. I'm sure there was something else but I was just so taken aback by the lack of chipotles I could've died!! I mean what on earth!?! Chipotles! CHIPOTLES!! There's a restaurant named after this popular pepper!! It's used in countless food network recipes!! I'm not asking for yuca! Not that I eat yuca regularly. I'm just saying. We should have a riot that I can buy fish in a jar and not chipotles.

"Mo Better" "Marathon" Til I'm "Empty"

If you're not familiar with Raheem Devaughn's latest, those are the titles of my favorite songs. "Mo Better" really gets me going in it's 7 minute and 39 second fabulosity.

Marathon feels like one "on and on and on."

But in a good way. AND it has Floetry on the track? Loving it and loving it. I know I'm late but I bought the cd on iTunes so it's only on my computer and my ipod. I rarely ever listen to music on the computer and only listen to my ipod at the gym which means fast-paced when in cardio mode. When working on the abs or other isolations I will turn on something other than break neck beats which is how I turned on the Raheem for one of the first times since I bought it the day it came out. Now that cds are so out of vogue, it's difficult for me to listen to R&B.... hence the reason I still don't have New Amerykah. So pitiful, I know but c'est la vie. At least for now. And yes I know I need a car dock. My godmother thought she bought me one for Christmas but it was a charger. That comes in handy at times, too but I would like to be able to listen to the ipod in the car since I have a 30 minute drive in each direction to and from work. Again... c'est la vie. Also feelin' "She's Not You." Ah Raheem. Bring yourself on over to Pittsburgh. Thanks.

I did it!

I made my very own ceviche.

and it was banging off the chain love in your mouth so good make you wanna slap yo momma!

all that.

i did put drew to work to take pics of course.






and now blogger is perking with uploading the pics.

1lb flounder
6 garlic cloves
1/2 large red onion
3 limes
1 bell pepper (preferably orange for color)
bush of cilantro
1 tomato
1 avocado
large glass or stainless steel bowl

Cut the fish filet into bite size pieces and place in large GLASS or STAINLESS STEEL bowl
crush 6 garlic cloves out of the paper. do not mince, CRUSH
slice the red onion thinly, add to bowl
squeeze the juice out of TWO limes and add to bowl
slice 1/2 bell pepper and add to bowl
rip leaves of cilantro off stems and add to bowl.

Mix/toss aforementioned ingredients well, cover with saran wrap and place in fridge for 30 mins.

After 30 mins, remove from fridge, mix/toss again. Drain lime juice. Dice tomato and add to recently drained mixture. Add juice from 3rd lime. Mix, cover, place in fridge for 15 min.

Remove from fridge and serve with slotted spoon. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and avocado wedges