Tag Archives: Marcia Williams Cromer

Aug29

Gooey Butter Brownies

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Happy Friday and Labor Day weekend. Here is a really fun recipe for my #chocolatefriendsofTenaciousM to try!! Have a safe and amazing holiday weekend!

Gooey butter brownies. It’s okay if you just died right then. The sweet, gooey burst of buttery chocolate will revive you. It’s genius. I hope you’ll make these, because they are so, so good!

gooey-butter-brownies

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the brownies:
1 box brownie mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted

For the topping:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
16 ounces powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. To make the brownie base, mix together the dry mix, egg, and melted butter. Spread into a greased 9×13 baking dish.

3. To make the topping, beat together the cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, butter, and powdered sugar until well combined. Spread over the brownies.

4. Bake for 40 minutes or until the center is still slightly jiggly and gooey. Cool before serving.

Aug28

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check – The Staple Singers

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Happy Thursday and over the hump day!

The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul and R&B singing group. Roebuck “Pops” Staples (1914–2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (1934–2013), Pervis (b. 1935), Yvonne (b. 1936), and Mavis (b. 1939). They are best known for their 1970s hits “Respect Yourself”, “I’ll Take You There”, “If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me)”, and “Let’s Do It Again”, all of which (except “I’ll Take You There”) peaked on the Hot 100 less than a week away from Christmas Day.

While the family surname is “Staples”, the group used the singular form for its name, “The Staple Singers”.

Credit: Wikipedia

Aug27

Mini Chocolate-Hazelnut Cheesecakes

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Break up whole, cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor with hazelnuts and butter to create a super-crunchy crust for these delectable little cheesecakes. The cream filling in the cookies both sweetens the crust and prevents it from becoming too crumbly.

Mini Chocolate-Hazelnut Cheesecakes

Active Time: 10 Min
Total Time: 40 Min
Servings: Makes 12 Tartlets

Ingredients

15 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
2 tablespoons raw or roasted hazelnuts, skinned
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup hazelnut-chocolate spread, preferably Nutella
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Spray the liners with vegetable oil spray.

2. In a food processor, combine the cookies, hazelnuts and butter and process to very fine crumbs. Divide the crumbs among the cups and, using a flat-bottomed glass, press on the crumbs to compact them. Bake for 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, wipe out the food processor bowl. Add the cream cheese, Nutella, sour cream, eggs and sugar and puree until smooth. Spoon the filling into the cups until it nearly reaches the top; there may be a few tablespoons of leftover batter. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and bake for about 20 minutes, until the cheesecakes have risen and the surfaces are lightly cracked. Let the cheesecakes cool slightly, then transfer the muffin tin to a rack and freeze for 10 minutes, until the cheesecakes are slightly cooled. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

MAKE AHEAD The mini cheesecakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Aug18

Elie Saab Couture Fall 2014 Collection

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Elie Saab presented a jaw dropping, red carpet worthy couture collection for fall 2014. Enjoy!

elie-saab15 1elie-saab11 2elie-saab26 6elie-saab12 5elie-saab25 3elie-saab21 4elie-saab46 9elie-saab36 10elie-saab32 7

Credit: Style Pantry

Aug17

Chocolate Crunch Bark and Spiced Cashew Brittle

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Crunchy chocolate bark alongside cayenne-spiked cashew brittle is delicious. Awesome!

spiced-cashew-brittle-chocolate-crunch-bark-recipe-fw0512-th2

Yields: about 2 pounds
Total Time: 1 hr 15 min

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup(s) whole raw cashews
1 cup(s) sugar
1/2 cup(s) light corn syrup
1 stick(s) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
1/4 cup(s) water
1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1/4 teaspoon(s) cayenne pepper
8 ounce(s) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup(s) Rice Krispies or feuilletine

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spread the cashews on a small baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes, stirring once. Keep the cashews warm.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with buttered parchment paper. In a saucepan, bring the sugar, corn syrup, butter, and water to a boil. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until a deep amber toffee forms, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Whisk in the baking soda and cayenne; it will bubble up. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the warm cashews.

3. Pour the hot candy onto the baking sheet and spread it as thinly as possible. Let cool completely, then break into large shards.

4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, melt two-thirds of the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate reaches 130 degrees F. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the remaining chocolate until melted and the temperature drops to 85 degrees F. Return the bowl to the saucepan and warm the chocolate to 90 degrees F, stirring. Remove from the heat. Fold in the Rice Krispies. Spread the mixture on the parchment in a 1/4-inch-thick layer. Let harden completely, then break into large shards.

Aug17

Sunday Reflections

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Happy Sunday all!!

IMG_96227894412659

Aug15

Rocky Road Bars

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I figure if the ice cream works for me, I should try the cookies as well. Who wouldn’t like to find one of these rich treats in a lunchbox or party favor bag? Just wrap each bar in a piece of waxed paper for mess-free transport. Place walnuts in a resealable plastic bag, and use a rolling pin or meat mallet to crush them to desired size.

Rocky Road Bars 1

PREP: 10 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 2 HOURS 45 MINS
SERVINGS:12

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

STEP 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 8-inch square pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter the paper. Set aside.

STEP 2
In a medium saucepan, place butter and cocoa; heat over low, stirring constantly, until butter has melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in sugar, egg, flour, milk, and vanilla until combined.

Rocky Road Bars

STEP 3
Spread mixture evenly in prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove pan from oven; sprinkle top evenly with marshmallows, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Return to oven, and bake until marshmallows puff, about 3 minutes. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Then refrigerate until topping hardens, about 1 hour. Use paper overhang to lift from pan; cut into 12 bars.

Aug15

Take Them To The Big Screen: 10 Black Women Who Deserve A Biopic

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Repost from madamenoire.com

black-women-who-deserve-a-biopic-feat

I’m going to be straight up and ask an honest question here: Where are all the good biography films pictures on black women? I’m not trying to start nothing – actually I’m okay and cool with starting stuff – but I have to say I’m not really impressed with the selection of biopics lately. The TLC, while full of gossipy tidbits, was ultimately a huge dud. So was the Winnie Mandela biopic entitled Winnie (which is available on Netflix but I would skip it). And excuse me for being presumptuous but I don’t have high hopes for either of the proposed Aaliyah projects. And I certainly won’t be supporting the Zoe Saldana/Nina Simone travesty, if ever that sees the light of day.

Perhaps it is the subject or the productions themselves, but Hollywood (inclusive of Black Hollywood too) really doesn’t attempt to immortalize Black women as it does Black men. This is particularly true of the big screen productions. In fact, it seems the majority of biopics on Black women are actually made for television, and by default, have all the cheese and camp of a film made for television.

As such, I have created a list of ten women, who would make awesome subjects for a well-produced and funded film production. Also so Hollywood doesn’t go casting Madonna as Rosa Parks, I’ll also include a list of women, who I believe would good fits for the roles.

DIANA ROSS

Diana Ross Live in Central Park

Seriously, why shouldn’t there be a film on this Supreme (get it?) being? She has been noted as an influence among entertainment heavyweights like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige. Besides her musical talent, she is also known for a few scandals in her personal life, including a secret child (to be revealed on an episode of Oprah) with Motown CEO Berry Gordy and a very public arrest for Driving Under the Influence.

But in spite of all of her achievements, including a Tony, a People’s Choice and a handful of American Music Awards, Ross has never won a Grammy. Refuting that shade alone is reason enough for me to want to see her on the big screen.

Credit: Madame Noire

Aug14

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check – James Brown

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I got a chance to catch the James Brown Biopic, “Get On Up” last weekend, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. I never actually got the appeal of James Brown, in fact, I ran a poll with friends for years trying to understand what I was missing. I get it now, and I really appreciate his story, his determination and innovative approach to marketing himself. And the dancing, what an entertainer!! So, here’s a sample for my Thursday music break.

Aug14

Innovation Distinguishes Between a Leader and a Follower

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Happy to share this information on leadership and innovation.

Lee N. Katz, The Turnaround Authority's avatarThe Turnaround Authority

That’s a quote from the most famous innovator in recent history — Steve Jobs. To be successful, a company has to continually innovate. Here are just a few examples of companies that did and are thriving.

Will Housh was a member of the third generation of a family-owned HVAC business. While it was successful, he saw that e-commerce was coming to the HVAC industry while others in the business were unwilling to embrace the new technology. “Even though our family business was generating sales of more than $12 million in a good year, just how sustainable are mom-and-pop businesses in the age of the Internet?” he wrote in the article “How to Make an Unpopular Decision.”

He saw the industry changing. Customers were starting to use the Internet to connect with contractors and get lower prices. So he started an online and retail business, eventually selling his grandfather’s…

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