Take Action: Sign to stop the deportation of Ruben Quinteros

Let the government know that you care about real people getting deported.

A very sad story.  A friend of friends is facing deportation.  Read story below and please take 2 minutes to send a letter to the Obama Administration.

Send a letter right now to President Obama, the Department of Homeland Security and members of Congress to stop the unjust deportation of Ruben Quinteros. 


"President Obama recently announced a policy change, stating that ICE would prioritize the deportation of "dangerous criminals" and refrain from focusing on undocumented immigrants who contribute productively to society. Yet, Ruben now sits in a deportation holding cell in one of the most isolated, difficult detention centers in the country, not knowing if or when he and his family will be ripped apart."

Rice Pizzasagna with Daiya Recipe

Tonight's Dinner

HellFoods didn't have a gluten-free pizza crust so I:

Lined a loaf pan in foil

Put in a layer of cooked brown rice from the big pot in my fridge

Some Daiya

Some red onion on top of that

Crushed fresh garlic clove

another layer of brown rice

Daiya

Pasta Sauce

Basil and spinach

1 diced Tomato

more garlic

and another sprinkle of Daiya

A little sea salt and pepper

Baked on 350* for 20 minutes.

Daiya Review: Nacho Usual Nasty Vegan Cheese

Mitch: Beanie, you remember Cheese, Rodney's kid brother? 
Dean Pritchard: Actually, my name's not Cheese anymore. It's Gordon Pritchard. 
Beanie: Oh yeah. Cheeeeeese. Yeah, didn't we lock you in a dumpster one time?
Old Skool (classic)


I don't usually like to eat animal product imposters because they are usually full of junk.  But I started to crave cheese when I first heard of Daiya.  I didn't go the dairy route for several reasons.  Including intolerance.  Some comedian said "Black people can't even walk down the dairy aisle."  A quick way to tell if you are lactose intolerant.  Do you like milk?  Ice-cream doesn't count.  Neither does cheese.  Because I say so.  They are delicious.


And like Daiya, I'm soy free.  And Gluten free.  One word.  Gas.


"So what do you eat?"  Lots of rice, potatoes, corn products, rice products, quinoa, vegetables, fruit.  Sometimes beans.  But they should ideally be soaked for a day before cooking.  Otherwise ,"Mylanta can help!"  Rarely, wheat products like regular pasta and bread.  Eating out:  Easiest are Mexican, Ethiopian, Asian.  Lol.  


So I decided to try Daiya, a relatively new product out on the market.  It is almost organic.  Daiya say, " It is still somewhat difficult to source organic gluten-free flours, it makes sense that not every gluten-free product, especially those that are sold on a large scale, is fully organic."  But soon it will be!

So delicious and relatively healthy.  Where most vegan cheeses are soy based and taste like "Whodoneit?"  Some of which don't even melt!  SMH.  It comes in Cheddar, Mozzarella, and PepperJack.  And you can freeze it!  Joy!  Some specialty pizza shops offer a vegan pizza using Daiya with a gluten-free crust option.  Like Pala in NYC.


Con: Remember that cheese commercial where the whiney kid lamented that Kraft's competitors were "made mostly of oil and waahter?"  Well that's one of the few drawbacks including that it's processed and the price.



Daiya is made entirely from plant-based ingredients and is:

• Cholesterol free
• Trans Fat free
• Dairy free
• Free of all animal products (Vegan)
• Free of common allergens including:
  • Dairy (casein and lactose), soy, gluten, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts (excluding coconut)
• Free of Artificial Ingredients
• Free of Preservatives
• Free of Hormones & Antibiotics
• Kosher

The full list of ingredients are as follows:

Filtered water, tapioca and/or arrowroot flours, non-GMO expeller pressed canola and /or non-GMO expeller pressed safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein, salt, vegan natural flavors, inactive yeast, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, citric acid (for flavor), titanium dioxide (a naturally occurring mineral).

Daiya.  What a cute baby name?

True Life: I'm Afraid to Protest the Government

As if cops weren't scary enough, as a member of the most reviled race with arguably the most distinguishing racial feature on earth, afro-texured hair.  I like a lot of people am scared to protest.  Especially with my short natural (and in my case, deep colored skin.)  I have had enough encounters with the police to know that they don't care for black bourgie women and probably even less for petite ones, who, in a crowd could be mistaken for pubescent little black boys (look mom, no hips :(.  lol!)  But I can't fight like one.

I have a friend who was pulled over late at night because she was mistaken for a man.  She was wearing a baseball cap (cuz her hair wasn't did/clearly a friend of mine.)  My mom (not having been mistaken for a man) was recently pulled over (for what? driving slow?) and she is in her 60's!  My dad used to routinely get pulled over in our white neighborhood because they thought his car was stolen until all his hair turned gray.  Luckily, like mine, it went prematurely.

It's scary when you know that if you went missing, were shot by a cop, or if you were wrongfully convicted of a crime in another country that nobody would care or be spending any government money to come and get your ass.  Aww.  I know you'd care.  Thank you.

Also, as an actor who has come fairly close to making a lot of money off of my face, I especially do not want to get fucked up.  But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  I'm not sure when but pretty soon like Badu, "I'm gonna be here with my make-up on! (and maybe a dress :/)"  Wherever here is.  Because fear is reason enough to act.  This moment should not pass.

They Done Fucked Around and Gave Leftists the Internet

Unfortunately for the right wing, there are a lot of well-spoken, well-versed leftists (at least partially because it's easier to talk when you are telling the truth.)  Unfortunately for the rest of us, the right wing is mad!  Fortunately, the left is getting mad too.  But this guy manages to keep his composure to handle Fox News.

Caught You White People!

Yesterday I went with my love to the Chile Pepper Fiesta (notice the use of "fiesta") in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  It was one of those "Caught you white people in your natural habitat enjoying yourselves!" moments that we like to enjoy as a couple.  There were all the typical white metro-"yippy" treats.  Classic reggae (now completely appropriated.)  Healthy food.  Good moods.  Androgynously dressed children with androgynous names.  Nature.  Armed Police.  And all with one added ingredient, Chile Peppers!  The Horman's Pickles were yummy and hot!

Then we added some balance to the day with the awesome documentary, The Black Power Mixtape about the Black Power movement (and some chinese food.)  Which is awesome and out now in independent theaters.  And I think I  learned that Black Power is a tool.  Knowledge is the power (but unfortunately ignorance is bliss for some.)  Awesome (Oh no, that's three awesomes) day.

Frustration Hydration Connection

If you are frustrated or in a bad mood the first thing to do is drink water.  You might just be dehydrated.  Drinking enough water is something you need to actively pursue.  And make a priority.  We are water beings.  Lol.  Seriously.

Inner-peace can start with making sure you are hydrated and nourished.  For example:  Anxiety is sometimes us wanting so badly to be "good people."  At the base level we need fuel to have the body balance and energy to step out of the mind.  Step back.  And start observing how our mind works.  To see where the anxiety comes from.  That way we can work on this anxiety and try to cut down on how much time we spend (waste) beating ourselves up over stuff like not being socially astute and saying the wrong thing.  If you are open to it, saying something stupid and addressing it can even be an opportunity to grow closer to someone and receive their compassion.

Whatever your personal goals, make sure you are getting enough water.

This might be kind of a stretch.  But it's good to stretch.