Tag Archives: Marcia Williams Cromer

Feb20

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check- Rufus

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Happy Thursday! #MusicfriendsofTenaciousM

Rufus was an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including “Tell Me Something Good”, “Sweet Thing”, and “Ain’t Nobody”.

In 1967, The American Breed (Gary Loizzo, Al Ciner, Charles (Chuck) Colbert and Lee Graziano) had a top ten hit with the classic rock single, “Bend Me, Shape Me”. After much success, Ciner, Colbert and Graziano (without Loizzo who pursued a successful production career) created a new group, adding Kevin Murphy on keyboards and Vern Pilder from the bar band “Circus”. They re-emerged in 1969 under the name “Smoke”. In 1970 vocalists Paulette McWilliams and James Stella were added and the group’s name changed again to “Ask Rufus”; after which, Willie Weeks replaced Vern Pilder.

In 1971, the band signed a contract with Epic Records recording an album that wasn’t released after which Epic dropped their contract in early 1972. Willie Weeks was in turn replaced by Dennis Belfield, James Stella was replaced by keyboardist and vocalist Ron Stockert, Lee Graziano was replaced by Andre Fischer (former drummer with Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler), Paulette McWilliams and Chaka Khan had met and became the best of friends through their spouses Howard Towles and Hassan Khan. Chaka would come to most of Ask Rufus gigs when they were performing in Chicago. When Paulette decided she was leaving Ask Rufus, she went to the band and told them she had the perfect singer to replace her; she had also asked Chaka if she was interested. After the band members hesitantly submitted, Paulette remained with Ask Rufus for a few more weeks to teach Chaka all of their material. Paulette also got Chaka a gig with the group formed by Chicago’s Cash McCall called Life. Chaka had been performing at the Pumpkin Room on the south side of Chicago, with a local Chicago group called Lock and Chain, led by drummer Scotty Harris. With that change, and Paulette McWilliams leaving to pursue her solo career, the group recorded the first two albums as Ask Rufus and later dropped the “Ask” and simply became known as Rufus. Wikipedia

Feb19

J Crew Fall 2014 RTW Collection

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In an interview, head of women’s designs, Tom Mora said the collection was “inspired by the cabarets of the Weimar era in Berlin in the ’20s and ’30s.”

J Crew continues to amaze us with feminine contemporary pieces that are comfortable, flattering and easily mix and matched. #fashionfriendsofTenaciousM Enjoy!

J. Crew 2014 RTW

Credit: Style Pantry

Feb19

Baileys Chocolate Pudding Parfaits with Oatmeal-Walnut Crunch

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The oatmeal and nut mixture in this dessert is usually baked on fruit. Here, it is cooked on its own, then layered with currants and a pudding made with Baileys Original Irish Cream topped off with chocolate shavings. Delicious!

Baileys Pudding Parfaits with Oatmeal-Walnut Crunch

Serves 6

Ingredients

For crunch
1 cup old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
3/4 cup dark chocolate shavings

For pudding
1 1/4 cups chilled whipping cream
12 tablespoons Baileys Original Irish Cream
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
6 large egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 tablespoons dried currants

Preparation

Make crunch:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture forms moist clumps. Mix in walnuts. Sprinkle mixture onto rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crisp, occasionally stirring gently and leaving mixture in clumps, about 35 minutes. Cool completely. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight.)

Make pudding:
Combine 3/4 cup cream, 6 tablespoons Baileys liqueur, sugar, yolks and nutmeg in large metal bowl. Place over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Using electric mixer, beat until custard thickens and thermometer registers 160°F, about 8 minutes. Remove from over water and beat until cool, about 8 minutes. Mix in remaining 6 tablespoons liqueur. Beat remaining 1/2 cup cream in medium bowl to medium peaks. Fold into custard. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight.

Layer 1/4 cup pudding, 1 tablespoon currants and 3 tablespoons crunch in each of six 12-ounce goblets; repeat layering 1 more time. Top with chocolate shavings. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.

Feb19

Black History Month Salute – Tina Turner

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Black History Tina Turner

Tina Turner has long been one of my role models. Born in Nutbush, Tennessee in 1939, international superstar Tina Turner (née Anna Mae Bullock) moved to St. Louis in her teen years and from there she left for California. Although Tina lived in the Los Angeles area for about 25 years, in 1986 she moved to Europe and has lived there since. Living first in London, she later moved with her then boyfriend (current husband) to Cologne, Germany.

Tina formally filed paperwork with the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland on October 24, 2013 to relinquish her United States citizenship, declaring that she “has no plans to reside in the United States in the future.” But before she lived in Switzerland full time, Tina divided her time between Zurich and Nice, France at the French Côte d’Azur. Just like countries everywhere in the world, France adores Tina.

Photo 1: Tina Turner, Paris, 1984: “Tina’s fantastic. She’s one of the best, original entertainers [and] performers in rock ‘n’ roll, in the world. I actually just happened to be in Paris, found out Tina was there shooting a video and went and met her there. It’s kind of great, because Tina’s such a classy lady. To have a picture of her in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower is just kind of a natural, because she is such a world-class celebrity. Paris is the city of romance, and it’s a great place for her to be.” ~Bob Gruen, Rock N Roll Photographer

In 1996, Tina was awarded with France’s highest honor, the Legion D’Honneur Award. “France is very special to me. I received my first encore here in Paris.” > http://youtu.be/ot_JfudQv3c.

In Photo 2 at Paris’ Élysée Palace on July 3, 2008 at France’s Prestigious Legion D’Honneur Award celebrating Giorgio Armani.

Photo 3: Tina Turner receiving the honorary citizenship of Villefranche sûr Mer, her [former] home in France, August 7, 1995.

Photo 4: Those famous legs on the back cover of her 1984 Private Dancer album, Tina’s fifth solo album. It has been alleged that Tina’s trademark legs were insured for upwards of $3 million.

Photo 5: Singer Tina Turner performs in concert at Bercy in Paris on April 29, 2009.

Photo 6: Tina Turner on the front cover of Architectural Digest. Her house in France was built especially for her and she decorated it herself > http://ow.ly/tHOtf. Video of her former home in France via Oprah: http://youtu.be/GfpwyzSz_mY.

Feb18

Tsholo Dikobe “Khoi-ness Style”

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I am in LOVE!! Botswana has got style. Read more about the woman behind Khoi-fro free issue http://www.nawmagazine.com

I vow to fall in love countless times, everyday. With colour, with ‘Africanism’, with my past, with my future.

Tsholo Dikobe 1

Feb18

Grilled Dark Chocolate, Pomegranate & Almond Butter Sandwiches

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If you could just give me a moment…alone with this sandwich, I’d appreciate it. I am a loyal fan of grilled sandwiches, especially of the cheese variety. But, this sandwich is great especially for my readers who have to watch their dairy intake. You can’t keep a girl from her bread though. #chocolatefriendsofTenaciousM I give you the grilled dark chocolate, pomegranate and almond butter sandwich. Your taste buds will thank me!

Grilled-Pomegranate-Almond-Butter-and-Dark-Chocolate-Sandwich-minimalistbaker.com_

Yield: 2 Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
4 slices whole grain crusty bread
2 Tbsp dairy-free butter (Earth Balance) or olive oil
4 Tbsp roasted salted almond butter
4 squares dark chocolate (dairy-free for vegan; don’t exceed 70% cacao)
2-3 Tbsp pomegranate perils

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Butter the outsides of four slices of bread, then slather the inside of two slices with almond butter. Next add two large squares of chocolate on top of the almond butter and top with pomegranate arils. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side up and place the sandwich in the skillet.

Push down with a heavy spatula to compress. Gently flip when the bottom is browned and crusty – about 2-3 minutes. (be careful not to burn) Cook for another 2-3 minutes on the other side. Serve immediately.

Feb17

Chocolate Shoofly Pie

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Chocolate Shoofly Pie

Chocolate Shoofly Pie is a moist, delicious pie with a gooey bittersweet chocolate bottom to it. This is the most authentic in flavor that I’ve ever tasted. Serve this pie with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and a hot cup of coffee or tea, snuggled up by the fireplace with someone you love.

Ingredients

1 (9 inch) pie shell
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter flavored shortening
1 egg, beaten
1 cup unsulfured molasses
3/4 cup cold water
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a small bowl, mix together flour and brown sugar. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for topping the pie.
3. In a large bowl, combine egg, molasses, cold water, and remaining crumb mixture. Mix thoroughly. Dissolve baking soda in boiling water and add to molasses mixture. Mix well.
4. Spread chocolate chips across bottom of pastry-lined pie pan. Pour filling over chocolate chips. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until filling is set.

Feb16

Naeem Khan Fall 2014 RTW Collection

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Naeem Khan presented us with another elegant collection of red carpet ready dresses. The gowns and cocktail dresses were adorned with embellishments and consistent with the color palette of black, white, gold and silver.

It was difficult to edit down the looks from the 44 piece collection. Enjoy some of my favorites!

Naeem Khan Fall 2014 RTW Collection

Credit: Style Pantry

Feb16

Chocolate Napoleons Recipe

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Chocolate Napoleons Recipe

Ready for flaky layers of pastry overstuffed with a decadent chocolate filling? Good, because these Chocolate Napoleons are so delicious that you just might need to make more than one per person!

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min.
Bake: 10 min.
MAKES: 12 servings

Ingredients
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 cups cold milk
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
2 packages (3.9 ounces each) instant chocolate pudding mix
TOPPING:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Directions
On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry into a 12-in. square. Cut into twelve 4-in. x 3-in. rectangles. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 9-12 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a small bowl, whisk milk and sour cream until smooth. Add pudding mix; whisk for 2 minutes or until blended. Refrigerate for 5 minutes. To assemble, split each pastry in half. Spoon pudding mixture over bottom halves and replace tops. Combine confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth; drizzle over top. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Serve immediately.

Feb16

Sunday Reflections

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Here’s hoping that you all have a happy and inspiring week. La vie, le rire, et aimer
(live, laugh, and love)!

Luke 6:37-38
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Forgive Others_Sunday Reflections