JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!! - OIL AND VINEGAR BRUSCHETTA TOPPINGS!

OIL AND VINEGAR BRUSCHETTA TOPPINGS!!!!!! 

YUMMY!!!!!!

www.oilvinegar.com

I LOVE BRUSCHETTA!!! 

I went to a wine tasting in Virginia in the summer.  One of the booths had delicious bruschetta toppings.  The company was called Oil and Vinegar.  I took the card and knew that I would be ordering soon.

So, I wanted the original, the one with olives, and the one with cheese.  Here are the descriptions from the website:

Bruschetta is our most popular item in the store and with one taste you will know why! Basic ingredients like tomato and garlic never tasted so good and all you need is hot water and olive oil, mix and enjoy! Whether you are planning a meal or arranging a quick, impromptu gathering, you are sure to please everyone with Bruschetta.

They are delicious on eggs, bread, pasta, and whatever else you can think of.  All you have to do is mix 2 parts warm water to 1 part bruschetta mix. After a few minutes, add the 1 part oil to the same amount of bruschetta mix that you already mixed with water.  For example, 4 tablespoons water to 2 tablespoons of bruschetta and 2 tablespoons of oil (olive oil for me). I couldn't believe how fast and easy it was!  As soon as I added the water, it smelled like fresh marinara sauce with an enticing garlic finish.  I can't get enough!

IF THIS SOUNDS AS YUMMY TO YOU AS IT DOES WHEN I'M EATING IT, THEN ..... TRY IT!!!

WHAT I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ........ KEY NECKLACES!!!!!

I LOVE KEY NECKLACES!!!!  Whether they are gold, silver, with diamonds, precious stones, and everything in between, I love them.  They really put a lot of class into a basic outfit.  There's also something so mysterious about them. 

 So often I am asked, "What's that a key to?"  It's of course, a rhetorical question, but it shows the intrigue that the little key can bring.  People believe that it must represent something mystical or sacred to the person wearing it.  Sometimes it does.  Sometimes it doesn't.  You'll never tell!!!

If you want to join the intrigue, then....TRY IT!!!!

JIN RAMEN IS SO DELICIOUS!!!!

JIN RAMEN WILL FEED ALL YOUR SENSES!!!

3183 Broadway

New York, NY 10027

b/t Tiemann Pl & 125th St 

Harlem

OR 

82ND AND BROADWAY

UPPER WEST SIDE

QUICK SHOUT OUT!!!

YOU KNOW I LOVE RAMEN.  I HAVE TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO JIN RAMEN BECAUSE I CAN ALWAYS GO THERE AND HAVE FANTASTIC RAMEN.  NOW, I GO TO THE ONE ON 125TH STREET AND BROADWAY, BUT I HEARD THEY HAVE A NEW ONE ON AMSTERDAM IN THE 80'S.

THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT AT THE 125TH STREET RESTAURANT IS GETTING A TABLE AT NIGHT. THE PLACE ISN'T THAT BIG.  IT HAS A NICE AMOUNT OF TABLES, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO GET IN.  I TRY TO BE THERE AS SOON AS IT OPENS FOR ITS NIGHT SERVICE.  IT ALSO HAS DAYTIME HOURS, TOO.

THERE ARE SO MANY FANTASTIC CHOICES, BUT I USUALLY GET THE SPICY TONKOTSU WHICH IS A LITTLE HOT AND HAS DELICIOUSLY SEASONED PORK.  I ALSO ORDER A SPECIAL GARLIC PASTE THEY HAVE AND AN ORDER OF EXTRA NOODLES BECAUSE I LOVE RAMEN AND DON'T WANT THE FUN TO STOP.  AlSO, TRY THE DEMI-SODA WHICH IS AN ASIAN SODA THAT TASTES LIKE GREEN APPLE.  I ALWAYS DRINK IT WHEN I GO TO ASIA. SO REFRESHING!!!!

IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU COULD HANDLE THEN....TRY IT!!!!

CAN'T WAIT! HIGH-RISE THE MOVIE!!! LUKE EVANS, TOM HIDDLESTON TOGETHER AT LAST!

The movie High Rise has been premiering all over the globe! Places like Zurich and as of two days ago, London! As you know, I am smitten with one of its stars, the delicious Luke Evans.  The movie also stars the gorgeous Tom Hiddleston, the beautiful Sienna Miller,the mysterious Elizabeth Moss, and it is directed by Ben Wheatley.

The story takes place in a huge high-rise apartment building during the seventies. As per the synopsis on IMDB: 

Life for the residents of a high-rise building begins to run out of control. The unnerving tale of life in a modern tower block running out of control. Within the concealing walls of an elegant forty-storey tower block, the affluent tenants are hell-bent on an orgy of destruction. Cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on 'enemy' floors and the once-luxurious amenities become an arena for technological mayhem...In this classic visionary tale, human society slips into violent reverse as the inhabitants of the high-rise, driven by primal urges, recreate a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

Luke plays a ne'er do well playboy, sleazy husband of a pregnant Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men). Tom Hiddleston plays one of the more affluent characters.

I can't wait for its full release in the United States which as of this time had not been slated. So, hurry up already!!!!

There are many other dates at film festivals and different countries:

Canada 13 September 2015  (Toronto International Film Festival)
Spain 21 September 2015         (San Sebastian Film Festival)
Switzerland 25 September 2015 (Zurich Film Festival)
USA 26 September 2015      (Fantastic Fest, Austin, TX)
UK         9 October 2015              (London Film Festival)
France 2016

Germany 1 September 2016

So, if this looks exciting to you (and it certainly does to me!) then .......TRY IT!!!!!!!

SOJU COCKTAILS!!!

When I was in South Korea, I loved to sip on soju cocktails.  Soju is a grain alcohol usually made from rice, wheat, or barley from Korea.  I didn't like drinking it by itself.  I would drink it when mixed with various fruit juices.  When we went to a bar called Izakaya, they would serve the drinks inside of beautiful, arty vase-like pitchers.  They were very deceitful drinks because they didn't taste very powerful.  So, pay attention, because before you know it, you may need a taxi home!

Here's a site that has a soju cocktail recipe:

JcuRr_goS4g

If this sounds like your type of cocktail then.........try it!

NEW TREND - SKIRTED LEGGINGS

YOU LOVE LEGGINGS, BUT YOU DON'T WANT CERTAIN BITS HANGING OUT, VULNERABLE.

SO TRY SKIRTED LEGGINGS.  THEY ARE A SKIRT AND LEGGING TOGETHER.  YOU PUT THEM ON ALL AT ONCE AND YOU CAN WEAR THAT FAVORITE SWEATER WITH THE EASE AND FEEL OF LEGGINGS, BUT WITHOUT WONDERING ABOUT YOUR BOTTOM BEING EXPOSED.  THEY COME IN DIFFERENT COLORS AND TEXTURES.  IT'S TWO FOR ONE.

SO IF YOU'RE CURIOUS, TRY IT!!!!!

I WAS RIGHT! JUST SAYING... LUKE EVANS!

LAST YEAR, BEFORE DRACULA UNTOLD WAS RELEASED, I GUSHED OVER ITS STAR....LUKE EVANS!  NO MATTER WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THE MOVIE, YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THE MESMERIZING QUALITY OF ITS STAR. 

HE'S NOT THE TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD TYPE.  HE LOOKS LIKE A FULL ON BLOKE WHO COULD TAKE CARE OF MANLY BUSINESS, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS STAGE TRAINING, COULD ALSO BELT OUT QUITE A TUNE.

IT SEEMS THAT HOLLYWOOD DECIDED TO CAPITALIZE ON ALL OF MR. EVANS' TALENTS.  HE WAS THE DELICIOUS BADDIE IN FAST AND FURIOUS 6.  HE STOLE THE MOVIE FROM ALL OF ITS WELL-MUSCLED (AND OILED STARS).  VIN AND DWAYNE WHO?  THEY LIKED HIM SO MUCH THAT THEY BROUGHT HIM BACK FOR A CAMEO IN FURIOUS 7 AND THEY MIGHT DO ANOTHER FURIOUS MOVIE IN WHICH THE BROTHERS, PLAYED BY LUKE AND JASON STATHAM, TEAM UP!

HE JUST RECENTLY WRAPPED A FILM IN WHICH HE PLAYED THE FAIRYTALE BADDIE, GASTON, IN THE LIVE ACTION VERSION OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

HE HAS MORE MOVIES THAT ARE IN POST PRODUCTION:  HIGH RISE, 3 SECONDS, AND RED NOTICE.

SO, YES READERS, IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED A FILM OF THIS UNBELIEVABLY TALENTED HOTTIE THEN........TRY THEM!!!!!!!!

I LOVE KIMCHI! WHY IS IT SO HEALTHY FOR YOU?

I love kimchi!  I spent a lot of time in South Korea and it's at every meal.  I love spicy food, so it was perfect for me.  Usually, it refers to a spicy, fermented cabbage mixture, but it can be made with other vegetables.  Below is an article from health.com about this wonderful and super healthy dish which it touts as one of the World's Healthiest Foods:


Here's the link: http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410300,00.html 

Koreans eat so much of this super-spicy condiment (40 pounds of it per person each year) that natives say "kimchi" instead of "cheese" when getting their pictures taken. The reddish fermented cabbage (and sometimes radish) dish—made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, chile peppers, and other spices—is served at every meal, either alone or mixed with rice or noodles. And it's part of a high-fiber, low-fat diet that has kept obesity at bay in Korea. Kimchi also is used in everything from soups to pancakes, and as a topping on pizza and burgers.

Why to try it: Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its "healthy bacteria" called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study. And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.

What to do with it: There's no need to make your own; just pick it up in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or an Asian market for around $4 per 32-ounce jar (Sunja's is one popular brand). You can wake up your morning by scrambling eggs with kimchi, diced tomatoes, and mushrooms. Use it as a wrap filling or to top a baked potato. Or try Spicy Beef and Kimchi Stew, which won our test kitchen's top rating.

• Spicy Beef and Kimchi Stew

Recipe by Mark Bittman

This recipe is high in sodium (due to the soy sauce and the kimchi), so if high blood pressure is a concern for you, omit the soy sauce, which will bring the sodium down about 200 milligrams.

MY NEW MUSIC LINKS - NEW TRACKS FOR YOUR PLEASURE!!!!!!

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR YEARS.  I HAD A HIT ALBUM WITH DR, RESURRECT AS MY ALTER EGO, ALEXIS TIME!, WITH THE MOST DOWNLOADED ALBUM FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR IN WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE BIGGEST DOWNLOADABLE MARKET AT THE TIME, CALLED BOUNCE HARD DANCE.

I DID WRITING WITH PLATINUM SELLING SONGWRITER NICHOLAS DEMBLING.  I'VE WORKED WITH MANY DANCE GURUS AND OTHER KNOWN INDUSTRY PEOPLE. I'VE TOPPED VARIOUS INTERNET CHARTS.  I RECEIVED A REVIEW WHERE SOMEONE COMPARED MY VOICE TO THAT OF LEGENDARY DANCE DIVA MARTHA WASH!!!!!

I DO A VARIETY OF MUSICAL STYLES..........

I NOW HAVE NEW MUSIC THAT YOU CAN BUY AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:

http://loriacalbertalexistime.bandcamp.com


YOU WILL FIND THE TRACKS;

1) BIG TIME PEOPLE DUBWAY 2015 DANCE MIX

2) MISS ME (JAZZ INFLUENCED TUNE)

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!!  TRY IT!!!!!

DO YOU LIKE THE SHOW BLACKISH? WELL YOU'LL LOVE LIFE OF BOUGIE!

LIFE OF BOUGIE IS THE PUBLISHED BOOK SERIES I STARTED YEARS AGO AND IS AVAILABLE AT: 

1)  BOUGIE IN NEW YORK (BOOK 1) AT
CREATESPACE LINK: 
https://www.createspace.com/4592827

 2)        BOUGIE IN KOREA (BOOK 2) AT 
CREATESPACE LINK:
 https://www.createspace.com/4683204

.  YOU CAN READ EXCERPTS ON MY BLOG AT http://lorisaccessiblegourmetandrecipes.blogspot.com/2014/08/surprise-chapter-to-read-from-my-new.html.
THERE WAS INTEREST IN IT FROM A MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT  COMPANY.  I ALSO SPOKE TO A CONTACT IN CALIFORNIA, WRITER/PRODUCER JANINE SHERMAN ABOUT PRODUCING IT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO.

THEN INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, A SHOW CALLED BLACKISH CAME ONTO THE SCENE.  IT HAD A SIMILAR THEME, A COMEDY ABOUT BOUGIE BLACK PEOPLE REFLECTING ON THEIR TAKE OF THE CULTURE AROUND THEM AS IT APPLIES TO THEIR SENSE OF "BLACKNESS".  IT'S ENTERTAINING, BUT MY BOOKS BRING A LITTLE MORE TO THE TABLE.

THEIR SHOW CENTERS AROUND A BLACK FAMILY.  THE PARENTS, OR AT LEAST THE DAD, HAD A KIND OF ROUGH UPBRINGING AND BECAME SUCCESSFUL, SO HIS KIDS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TOUGH LIFE, THEY JUST KNOW PRIVILEGE.

IN MY BOOKS, THE MAIN CHARACTER TINA WEST, A GOSSIP COLUMNIST,  REFLECTS UPON HER PARENTS GROWING UP IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND DEALING WITH JIM CROW AND WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AS SHE THINKS ABOUT NOT ONLY RACE, BUT SEXISM AND CLASSISM.  SHE'S ALSO IS A SINGLE WOMAN NAVIGATING THE ROAD OF LOVE AND WORK IN A COMPLEX URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND THE JUDGMENT ABOUT HER CHOICES.  SHE'S A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN AND SHE'S SHARING HER TRIUMPHS AND TRIBULATIONS WITH US.

THERE ARE TWO BOOKS AND A THIRD IS COMING: BOUGIE IN NEW YORK AND BOUGIE IN KOREA.  IF YOU WANT TO READ A SOMETHING A LITTLE DEEPER, NOT JUST COMEDY, BUT A DRAMEDY,  THAT DEALS WITH HAPPINESS AND HEARTBREAK THEN.........TRY IT!!!!!!

TYRANT IS BACK!!!!!!

TOMORROW, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 IS THE RETURN OF TYRANT.  I REVIEWED THE SHOW LAST SUMMER AND I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT'S BACK!

WILL THE REAL BARRY PLEASE STAND UP AND TAKE BACK CONTROL FROM YOUR BROTHER?!

BARRY IS IN PRISON AND HIS POWER MAD AND PARANOID BROTHER IS IN POWER. WILL BARRY BE EXECUTED?  PROBABLY NOT SINCE HE'S THE LEAD IN THE SHOW WHO IS REALLY SUPPOSED TO BECOME THE TYRANT, HENCE THE REAL MEANING OF THE TITLE.

WELL, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE LOTS OF DRAMA AND DEVIOUSNESS BETWEEN THE BROTHERS, THEIR WIVES, AND THE OTHERS IN THEIR DECEITFUL ENTOURAGES TO ENTHRALL VIEWERS.

TYRANT IS ON FX ON TUESDAY NIGHT.  CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS.

BROADWAY BITES FOOD FESTIVAL IS BACK!!!!!!!

THE BROADWAY BITES FOOD FESTIVAL IS BACK FROM JUNE 1 TO JULY 26!  TONS OF DELICIOUS FOOD FROM MULTIPLE VENDORS: MEXICAN TO THAI TO ITALIAN, SUPER CHEAP TO MORE EXPENSIVE, AND ALL FANTASTIC! THERE'S SOMETIME FOR EVERYONE.  MIX AND MATCH UNTIL YOU'RE FULL!

ARE YOU HUNGRY? THEN........TRY IT!!!!

MY FAVES - EVIL EYE AND HAMSA JEWELRY!!!

I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW JEWELRY THAT HAS A SPIRITUAL SIDE.  THAT'S WHY I WEAR JEWELRY WITH GEMSTONES.  THEY ALL HAVE SOME SORT OF INNER SIGNIFICANCE,

HAMSA

1. The hamsa hand (Arabic) or hamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular apotropaic amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. The words hamsa and hamesh mean "five" and refer to the digits on the hand.  The talisman against the evil eye is in the center of the hand,

TALISMAN AGAINST THE EVIL EYE

A talisman is an object which is believed to contain certain magical or sacramental properties which would provide good luck for the possessor or possibly offer protection from evil or harm.  The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. The talisman against the evil eye is usually a blue circle or eye shape oval that surrounds what looks like a blue eye with a black pupil.  The evil will bounce off the eye talisman.

WELL, NOW, I'M LOOKING AT EVIL EYE AND HAMSA JEWELRY. THEY SEEM TO DRAW PEOPLE TO THEM. PEOPLE KNOW THAT THESE SYMBOLS ARE REACHING OUT TO THE DIVINE, HIGHER POWER.


I LOVE WEARING SOMETHING THAT HAS A DEEPER MEANING AND IS BEAUTIFUL!

IF YOU ARE INTRIGUED, THEN............TRY IT!

BAG OBSESSION - PATRICIA NASH HANDBAGS AND TOTES

As my regular readers know, I have a handbag obsession, like most women.  Handbags can give a certain narrative about who you are. When I look for handbags, I look for creativity and classic silhouettes. I want something that is functional, but evokes a certain unique vibe. That's why I love Patricia Nash!

She has a way of taking a familiar look and giving it a unique voice using beautiful leather and patterns (see above).  She has so many wonderful, strong, long-lasting bags.  Her bags are so beguiling, it's hard to make a choice.  I love her map leather bags.  They actually have a map on the leather.  It's rustic and inventive:

In my opinion (I have multiple bags), Patricia's bags are tough and gorgeous.  You don't have to babysit them. They are rugged and feminine.  

Fans like me know a Patricia Nash Bag when we see them.  My sister's co-worker (they're lawyers), had a new bag that she was bragging about and I asked to see it.  As soon as she turned the corner, I knew it was a Patricia Nash.  She was so surprised I identified it so quickly!

So if you want a real bag that brings compliments, then ......

TRY IT!!!!!!