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What’s Cooking?

What’s your favorite recipe?

I am not a cook. Professional or home cook. I didn’t even want to learn how. I remember being a young girl telling my mom that I was not going to be a housewife, so I did not need to learn housewife duties 🙄. What a childish statement. The reality is everyone has to eat, and it is best and cheaper to be the one cooking the food. As a home cook, you can season the food just the way you like, add or delete ingredients, and make as little or as much as you want. Even if cooking isn’t your thing, I recommend you learn how to make a few dishes. At this age, I won’t starve, but don’t expect too much from me. I can’t cook for an event or family gathering, but I can bring a dish that I have mastered.

My favorite recipe is white chicken chili. I love this dish because I believe it is one you can eat year-round, and it is delicious. You can make it simple with a can of cannellini beans, cut up chicken breast, and the white chicken chili sauce pack. You can substitute the chicken for turkey burger. Or forgo the meat altogether and just use beans. There are so many different ways to personalize this chili. Add cheese or vegetables. I like to make mine with cannellini and great northern beans, turkey burger, corn,  petite diced tomatoes, and at least two sauce packets. I like it to have a little kick. Then, I eat the chili with tortilla chips. So yummy 😋. I make this chili in every season, but of course, more in the colder months.

I have found another recipe I like, taco cupcakes. I don’t feel like I have perfected it yet, but I will continue to work on it and the different variations I want to try and make. What is your favorite recipe? Is it one you found or one that was passed down through the family? I do have a rule not to cook anything with more than 5 ingredients. Do you have any cooking rules? Let me know what you are cooking up. Stay well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚

P.S. I finished my first 1000 piece puzzle of this year. I’m in a puzzle swap with my friend and her dad 😆. He has the good quality puzzles, not the cheap dollar store ones.

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When I Think About it

I lied to my friend the other day. Not on purpose. I was thinking of a situation using my current environment, not my past environment. I saw a cute dude at the UPS Store, and of course I was looking. I got caught looking. I realized I wouldn’t have gotten caught if he wasn’t looking back. I said to Shayla, “Yeah, he is looking until I get out of this car and he sees I’m handicap.” Not verbatim, but close enough. She says, “If he has an issue then he is shallow, like you.” No protest, I am shallow, she knows me. Then I proceed to say, “I could possibly date a disabled dude. It just depends on the level of disability.  I don’t want to wipe ass.” That was the lie.

First, I don’t mean now. I’m limited. We can’t both need help. Second,  I was thinking along the lines of if I wasn’t disabled. I would like to think I would be a better person at this age if I didn’t have limitations. I hope that alternate universe Ebony would be over her shallowness and is able to see and love a disabled man, a short man, or a man with a great personality. Unfortunately, I would probably still be the shallow asshole that would not date a man with a disability or shorter than 5’10”.  Hell, I am a shallow asshole right now, and I don’t have any room to be.

The reason why I lied was because I look at myself and see all that I am despite my limitations, and I have to believe someone else will see it too. If I say, as a healthy person, I wouldn’t date a person with a disability, where does that leave me?  I cannot expect anyone to do something I would be unwilling to do in their same situation. A disability is just part of who a person is, not the whole person. I don’t want anyone who is out here making a life and a way for themselves to be without love for such a shallow reason, me included. Yet, everyone has preferences and who am I to put my insecurities on them.

When it is all said and done, the lie was unintentional. As I thought more about the topic, I realized that if I had minimal to no growth over the past 10+, I most likely would not date a man with limitations. Multiple sclerosis (MS) has changed me and allowed me to look at the world through a different lens. I have grown in many ways over the years. I guess that is one good thing it did. And just in case I switch bodies with alternate universe Ebony, I will be ready with my MS perspective to make sure that version of me evolves into a better person. Be well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚

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Ebony’s Playlist: What’s on Repeat? Anita Baker

My very first concert at 6 years old was to see Anita Baker. I don’t remember the drive to get there, what theater is was at in Detroit, or if she had an opening act. I do remember sitting on my parents’ lap because they brought my ticket later, and my seat wasn’t with them. I remember I had on a black and white dress, I think my hair was in a bun on top of my head. And I remember how Anita Baker would shake her leg when she was singing the hell out of those songs. I am sitting here listening to music while I put this puzzle together and thought, why not honor Anita Baker today with a playlist.

This playlist includes my top 5 songs in no particular order. These songs will be in the Nostalgic playlist on Spotify for your listening pleasure.

I Just Want to be Your Girl – Chapter 8

Before going solo, Anita Baker was the lead singer of Chapter 8. Per Google, Chapter 8 was a soul group from Detroit in the late 70s and 80s. Yeah, I was a baby so I am not really familiar with the group, but I love this song. I don’t even know how I found it. I just know that this song pops back up on my playlist regularly, and I play it out for a little while.

Angel – Anita Baker

Not much to say here. Timeless classic.

Fairy Tales – Anita Baker

I don’t think I remotely understood what she was saying as a child. As I have aged and listened to this song, I love it more and more. Just a realistic song about love and life when you are with the wrong person sang beautifully by Anita Baker.

You Bring Me Joy – Anita Baker

I don’t know why I picked this one, except that it makes me happy when I hear it. And I love her voice.

Body and Soul – Anita Baker

This was hard. Really hard to pick just 5 songs. I went back and forth on what song to add last and trying to decide if I should delete one to add a different one. Again, as I kept repeating the songs, this just made me happy. Plus, that note she holds towards the end didn’t hurt.

What I think I like most about these songs is they have a bridge. The part we all know and sing at the top of our lungs. Then we end the song singing every little ad-lib. Nowadays, songs are 2 and a half minutes with one versus and the chorus repeated three times. What the hell is that? Nothing beats old school music. Anita Baker found the perfect formula for songs that matched her voice and imprinted them on our hearts. She will always be on my playlist. Do you have a favorite Anita Baker song? Please share. Be well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚