So STOKED to be blessed to make another appearance on KTLA Morning News. I had a chance to share some recipes that coincided with Black History Month & Valentine’s from a chic & easy single serving perspective. The BEST part is I had a chance to be interviewed by the lovely Michaela Pereira who on that day was celebrating 8 years with the KTLA Morning News family. THANK you so very much Janet Hill for the opportuniy. I hope there are more appearances to come. Lastly THANK you to my dear online friend, Wannabe TV Chef’s Stuart Reb Donald for getting me this video to upload on my YouTube. I’m just cute nooooooooot too tech savvy HA! Below are the recipes from the segment also. ENJOY!

Shrimp & Grilled Polenta Photo by: Ulka Simone Mohanty

The Spread Photo by: Ulka Simone Mohanty

Shrimp & Grilled Polenta
Single Serving 10 min prep 10 min cook time

* 1/4 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 3 slices bacon, chopped
* Juice of half a lemon
* 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
* 2 thinly sliced scallion stalks
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1/8th teaspoon of Creole Seasoning
* Tube of Prepared Polenta
* Olive Oil Spray
* Flake Salt

Directions

Rinse shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned; drain well. In bacon grease, add shrimp seasoned with Creole Seasoning. Cook until shrimp turn pink. Add lemon juice, chopped bacon, cilantro, scallions and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Slice polenta about 1/2 inch thick. Spray cast iron grill & heat on medium high. Grill on each side to desired grill marks. Place aside & finish with flake salt. Serve on plate or to jazz up a cocktail party serve in martini glasses

Baked Pork Chops
Serves 2

* 3/4 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French bread
* 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
* 1/2 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
* 1/4 teaspoon Creole Seasoning
* 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
* 1 large eggs
* 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
* 2 bone-in center-cut pork loin chops (each about 1 inch thick)
* 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* One Bunch of Rosemary
* 1/4 Cup Honey
* Lemon wedges
* 1 lime

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Cut lime & clean Chops under running water with the lime squeezing the lime juice into it. Place aside on a dish & allow to dry. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese & sage on a dish. Whisk egg in a bowl. Place flour on plate; season with creole seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat pork chops on both sides with flour; shake off excess. Dip chops into eggs, then coat on both sides with breadcrumb mixture.

Melt butter with oil in heavy cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork chops to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer skillet with pork to oven. Bake until pork chops are crisp on the outside and meat thermometer inserted into pork registers 150°F, about 20 minutes.

Transfer pork chops to plates. Using the Rosemary as a brush, dip it into the honey & drizzle the chops. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Pumpkin Waffle Recipe

serves 2 (20 mins)

Preheat Oven to 375

*1 cup & 3 tablespoons of Waffle mix
*3/4 cup milk
*2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
*2 tablespoons vegetable oil
*1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
*1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
*1 egg

Directions

Heat waffle iron; grease with cooking spray or vegetable oil In large bowl, beat all waffle ingredients. Pour batter onto center of hot waffle iron. Close lid of waffle iron.

Bake about 5 minutes or until steaming stops and waffle is golden brown. Carefully remove waffle. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you’d like. Serve with syrup.

Grilled Apple

* 1 Apple, cored and sliced about 1/2 inch thick
* 1/4 cup Apple Cider
* 1 tablespoon honey
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
* Juice of one Lemon
* Cooking spray

Directions

Combine ingredients in a medium sized bowl bowl. Add apple slices; seal and marinate in refrigerator 1 to 2 hours, turning bag occasionally.

Prepare grill.
Remove apple from bowl, reserving marinade. Place apple slices on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side, turning and basting frequently with reserved marinade. Arrange apple slices on a platter; drizzle with any remaining marinade.

Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream

· 8 to 10 servings

· Prep Time: 30 min

· Inactive Prep Time: 9 hr 0 min

· Cook Time: 30 min

* 1 large sweet potato
* 1/2 cup splenda brown sugar
* 1/4 cup agave nectar
* 2 cups oat milk
* 1/2 cup splenda
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
* Special equipment: 1 1/2-quart ice cream/sorbet maker (recommended: Cuisinart)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Peel and slice the sweet potato into 1/2-inch pieces or thinner and add them to a baking dish. Mix the brown sugar and agave nectar together in a small bowl and pour it over the sweet potatoes. Bake for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Cool the potatoes in the refrigerator overnight, which will help soften the potatoes. Blitz the potatoes in a food processor. Make certain all of the syrup is being mixed in with the potatoes and not falling to the bottom of the processor. Add 2 cups of oat milk and blend. Add the 1/2 cup of splenda, vanilla extract and pie spice and continue to mix until the milk has turned a light orange color. Pour into an ice cream machine and churn according to your machine’s instructions. Transfer the ice cream to a covered container and keep in the freezer until ready to enjoy.

Well looks like 2012 is starting out to be the year of talking sh*t… (one of my FAVOURITE things to do) thought I’d throw in my hat & share some of the sh*t I’ve heard over the years as a HAPPILY single chick, by choice! Screw it, I’m down for a sh*t kick & besides I needed a plug for my new About Me page (http://www.about.me/singleserving).

Thanks Kyle & Graydon for your brilliant Sh*t Girls Say meme, well hell thanks to Sh*t My Dad Says for this also. Hope you enjoy, we had a blast making it & it’s all tongue in cheek & PLEASE share with your friends!

Check out Mike Kallio’s YouTube Channel: http:///www.youtube.com/darkallio

Music by the incomparable: Ken Christianson, song titled “No, No Body” http://www.kenchristianson.com

Written, Created & Co-Edited by: Manouschka Guerrier
Directed by: Nicole Billingsley
Shot, Cut, Produced, Edited by: Michael Kallio
Music by: Ken Christianson

Special Thanks to:
Natalie Bartley, Nicole Billingsley, Angela Canalese, Rebecca Chang, Aly Cleary, Nava Cooper, Christa Hamilton, Beth Hurrle, Donna Hurrle, Alicia Imbergamo, Jessica Kallio, Edrickcan Loox, Jeff Loox, Jenina Peraza, James Robinson, Marlu Soria, Sharee TheEngineer, LaKeisha Tomlinson & Diana Zollicoffer

FINALLY figured out a way to post the full article from the Summer Issue of Amour Creole Magazine which featured MOI on the cover & a super cool story, yeah I know… I’m cute I don’t have to know how to do EVERYTHING *snort* I’m kidding.

I haven’t been blogging as much, too busy hustling, had a crazy surgery & I’ve fallen in love with Facebook. I’ve realized this isn’t good since this is where my whole culinary journey started for me. It’s not my steeze to invent New Year’s resolutions, but I very much would like to make more of an effort to contribute stories to this blog like I did before.

I started off as an Actor & a Writer, writing like cooking has always been my therapy. Thank you all for sticking it out with me.

Click this link below to read the FULL article!

Amour Creole Summer 2011-1

My girl Nadia G of Bitchin’ Kitchen in a shiny red unitard is just the gift that keeps on giving… I FORKIN’ LOVE HER! Check out her “A Bitchin Christmas” video & download the song on iTunes! Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels. This video has hysterical appearances by Guy Fieri, Andrew Zimmern. Duff Goldman, Epic Meal Time dudes, Vegan Black Metal Chef & the adorable Alie & Georgia from Drinks with Alie ‘N’ Georgia ♥

WOO HOOOO!!! I have a feature currently on newsstands in the November/December Holiday issue of Clean Eating Magazine. It’s such a blessing, not only to have been interviewed but to be introduced into the world of Clean Eating & most importantly Clean COOKING!!!

The contributors have really inspired me to take my recipes & recipe writing to another level. The details they require to breaking down a recipe that can easily be understood & followed guaranteeing their reader a foolproof cooking experience is second to none, which I can only attribute to as an immense amount of respect for their readers.

They were full of questions & challenged me to use cleaner ingredients to make one of my favourite recipes, Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream. My eyes, heart & palate have been opened to a wonderful way of cooking thanks to this opportunity they graciously offered me & for that I will forever be grateful.

Click on the links below to be escorted directly to Zinio’s reader. I definitely recommend subscribing to this magazine. The recipes, advice & techniques are STELLAR! I’ve been able to make a good friend with CE’s residential Chef Jo Lusted. She’s absolutely FAB & has great, detailed & super easy recipes for you to follow.

Last week’s Life & Style Magazine mentioned my menu from Mel B’s baby shower in their latest issue, so I just HAD to share!!! YAY!

Catch me tonight on Style Network’s Giuliana & Bill it’s such a cute episode. The super cute & hysterical couple attend one of my Plate Dates couples cooking classes at Epicurean in order to meet & gain some couple friends & some tips to open their own restaurant either here in Giuliana’s LA or Bill’s beloved Chicago. It’s on tonight at 7 pm & repeats Thurs at 6 pm, Fri at 2 am, 2 pm & 10, Sun at 8 am & Mon at 3 & 7 pm ♥

OH but you can catch a glimpse from this clip. I had a BLAST teaching them they’re so FUNNY & Bill does AMAZING work for Haiti, what an honor.

Check out my very FIRST cover! What a blessing that my first cover shoot is for a Haitian magazine. Go to Amour Creole’s website (http://www.amourcreole.com/home/in-this-issue/) to download a digital subscription of the Summer issue that they were kind enough to feature a story about me & granted me the honor to grace the cover x

What a BLAST!

Here’s a behind the scenes video of the shoot:

I had the pleasure to cater Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) & her husband Stephen Belafonte’s baby shower. The stunning floral arrangements were provided by the incomparable Justin Howard of Flaming Flower Productions. The orchids were a neutral theme since Mel & her husband are awaiting the baby’s arrival to find out the sex. The music was spun by DJ Lindsay Luv. Pink’s served hot dogs for the kids by the bounce house, a movie theatre playing Rango  & there must have been 40 Nannies from Westside Nannies to take care of the youngins while their parents noshed on my Potato Canapes with Caviar, Seared Ahi Tuna & Wasabi Caviar, Chinese Chicken Salad in Wonton Cups, Grilled Peach Crostinis, Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, Chicken Remoulade, Prosciutto Crostinis with Browned Sage Butter & Watermelon, Basil & Tomato Skewers.

The most radiant Mom to be I have ever seen

Guests included the original Haitian sensation Garcelle Beauvais, Robin Antin, Hank Baskett, Tracy Edmonds, Denise Richards, Gloria Allred, Jillian Barberie Reynolds, my best friend Kenny’s Captain America costar Neal McDonough & Kim Kardashian. My Sous Chef Stacy & I danced the entire time & Keith & his crew were spectacular at helping get ALL of those apps out.

Mel is a SPECTACULAR hostess. She had a gift suite decked out with stunning scarves & clothes for her guests & these delicious candles by Milena’s Boutique, they are so pure & made of soy that you can also use it as a moisturizer… FAB! So grateful that she was kind enough to give me one. The showstopper was a cake made by Laura Mura from I Believe It’s Cake that looked exactly like Mel’s Gucci diaper bag! Sorry about the low quality of the pics… but I had to serve 90 guests was focused on food only… HA!!

LOVE that my menu got a shoutout in Life & Style Magazine

Haitian girls RULE!!!! Garcelle didn't have a stitch of makeup on... goodness she's so BEAUTIFUL!

Robin Antin is so FIERCE!

The heart breaker baby Hank & those nummy lashes with a nanny from Westside nannies GUSHING over him

Chinese Chicken Salad in Wonton Cups I stayed up until 5 am to make

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Grilled Peach Crostini

Stacy & Keith handling IT!

People always LOVE to hang & party in the kitchen!

Amazing cake!!! http://www.ibicakeblog.com/

Thee most delicious candle on the planet!

To Gain > to Lose, right? Today we reached the 3 month mark since I started my friend & former PCO90210 costar Jesse Brune’s TRANSFORMATIONAL workout program, J-Tribe. When Jesse told me about it I was stoked… then he was like it’s a 3 month commitment… I rolled my eyes but was like cool… I can do this, my commitment phobic ass can use a commitment or two. He emailed me the 411, I glanced over quickly figuring we just had a convo about it. Hung up the phone then a couple days later he called me to remind me of my commitment & my start time for our first run… 6 frickin’ 20 AM!!! By this point there was no backing out, I already gave my word… CRAP, I NEVER read the important parts, DOH!

My goal weight: trying to recapture my bikini bod 30 lbs ago... YEAH RIGHT! Photo Courtesy of: Stuff Magazine

The first week was INSANE I lost almost 9 lbs, by the third week I was down almost 14 lbs I was like for SURE I’m losing 30 lbs by July!!! Also in the third week we took a hike up Runyon Canyon, I lived 1/2 a block away at the time & was stoked that I could literally roll out of bed… work out & roll my tired behind back to bed. In our hike sessions we would use resistance bands & pull one another up the hill. This workout, next to spin class was my favourite… Bootcamp days made me want to chuck myself out the window & yoga’s just not really my thing, so in my mind this workout was going to be thee BEST day ever. As we turned to the left of the canyon he points up to K2… I almost had a panic attack & immediately water started to well up in my eyes. There are several ways to go up Runyon & K2 is thee TOUGHEST! 12 years ago I had a pill popping, anorexic, exercise bulimic Actress girlfriend of mine invite me to hike Runyon, I had never been. She showed up with 2 sweaters on, two scarves, knee socks, a big ass trucker hat & a sh*t kicking grin…. it was 3 pm & the sun was BLAZ-ING… I should’ve known this would not end well for me!

My first time hiking ev-ER she takes me up K2… first thing I see is a yellow caution sign that read “Caution Rattlesnakes”…. she keeps walking up as if the sign said pot of gold at the top. See THIS is why Black people never get attacked by animals! I asked her “WTH?!?!” she just kept saying “c’mon Manousch…. let’s go Manousch”. 1/4 of the way the sun is getting hotter & the hike is getting deeper. I’m panting & on all fours & she’s just marching up the hill waving her arms up & down chanting again “c’mon Manousch…. let’s go Manousch” she kept saying this over & over. I wanted to KILL her, figured I was already in hell because it was so flippin’ hot & she looked like Beelzebub himself! When I finally got off that frickin’ hill I SWORE I would NEVER… EVER go up K2 EVER again. It took me 6 years before I would even step foot on Runyon Canyon! Looking at that side of the hill I would shiver… 12 years later I’ve got Jesse asking me to go back up… FML!

He tells me fine I can go the easy way & points to the other side where I can start from the stairs…. do you know how frickin’ steep those stairs are?!?!? Apparently there’s no way I’m getting around this. I’m looking at the rest of my group they have no problem marching up passed the rattlesnake signs… again the only Black girl (I’m not counting Shameeka… she’s super light skinned & yoked… she can drop ANYBODY) I KNOW I can’t climb up the steps I figured maybe it isn’t so bad anymore let me just stick with my group…. he-YELL to the naw that puppy was still a sonuvabitch to climb! I complained thee ENTIRE time… there where holes EVERYWHERE… I figured there were rattlesnakes burrowed in them hiding ready to bite a piece of chocolate & the trail was super steep & my dumb behind spends my cash on shoes instead of health insurance & I’m like I’m going to break my neck. I thought I was dying. Halfway up Rudy who had lost over 80 lbs let’s me wrap my resistance band around him & he pulls me up all the way to the top. The whole group went NUTS! When he started he couldn’t even run a few months later he’s dragging some loud Black Diva up a hill. It was AMAZING! I don’t think I would’ve gotten through it without him.

Then the fourth week came, I’m super stoked I lasted this long I step on the scale & I gained 4 flippin’ lbs!!!! I called Jesse in a panic. I was eating 5 times a day, cut sugar & booze & I was working out 5 days a week… even would workout twice a day somedays by hiking up Runyon Canyon…. slow your roll, the easy way, HA! Jesse didn’t ask what I was doing wrong or say things just to make me feel better. He just asked me to bring my scale on Saturday during our personal training session. I was just thinking he was going to check if it was working properly. SO I show up 9 am on a Sat hand him over my scale & he just puts it in his bag & he says “your clothes fit differently?” I said yes. He said are people noticing you are much smaller?” I answered yes… again. He asked if I felt better… with my head down I answered yes. He said don’t pay attention to the scale & encouraged me to keep going. If he weren’t so damn sexy I would’ve slapped the snot outta him but no I just melted & said ok.

By the second month I twisted my ankle, fearing that this was going to annihilate my weight loss goal I prayed, chanted & kept my perspective positive by not even acknowledging the injury until I felt better. That was another thing I liked about working out with Jesse’s program. We had inspirational workouts. Whether it was a Zen Spin & he would light candles & Rev Jennifer Hadley would speak between levels, or the music he picked, the powerful Kundalini Yoga sessions or just Jesse being this motivational, spirtual trainer at each session. Keeping my mind & spirit healthy was just as important as keeping my body healthy, if not more. Sure enough a week after my fall I was back in the gym. It was also the same month I moved to my new house. My roomie had a scale in the bathroom & I cheated & got on… I had only lost 2 lbs since the last time I stepped on the scale. I called Jesse in a panic again this time it was tough love Jesse that spoke to me & that’s the day I decided to STOP focusing on how much I’ve lost but what I have gained.

Seems like everything in life is better when you gain except for weight, funny huh? Going into my third month I recognized & showed gratitude to gaining all these wonderful new friends. Being a single girl who’s running her own business I spend A LOT of time in front of a computer. I can go days without seeing another face or hearing a voice. In this capacity I gained 14 beautiful souls to start my day with every single day. I gained a new found respect for being up at the crack of dawn & got to accomplish so much more by 9 am. I used to sleep til 10 & sleeping in could knock me out til noon… now sleeping in is up by 8 including weekends.

I gained support from & for people that inspired me on a daily basis & every time I would check in on Facebook that I was at the gym, I would get HEAPS of mail & comments from friends who would say if I could do it, they could do it too… I gained the ability to inspire others with my commitment to my health. Also, I gained a better way to communicate & a better perspective on all aspects of life. I also gained when things came up that would’ve literally months before keep me on the couch wallowing & force me to quit to just be with that feeling, acknowledge that is all that is, it’s just a feeling… be with it & let it pass because I had work to do. I gained a better respect for what I was putting into my body. See I hate to admit this but I have to because it no longer has a hold on me & the truth shall set you free, right?

I would get so busy working on all my Single Serving stuff & 4 years ago when I lost my job I didn’t have much time nor money to eat properly & depended largely on the dollar menu at  Mc Dooks. Once I started working again & things picked up I didn’t stop hitting the drive thru, I was now addicted to it… terrible! Food is my life & my passion & here I was addicted to fast food, now I smell it & I want to hurl…. just losing that alone was worth never losing another pound & it’s something I rationalized & never attributed it to my weight gain I just would tell myself & others I gained 30 lbs when I quit smoking.

I gained ALL of my jeans back… now literally I put on a pair of Earl jeans 3 weeks ago & they just slid on… EARL JEANS, do you know how LONG it’s been since I wore them?!?! The skinny jean wearing hipster snots are reading this going “what are Earl jeans?!?!?” SHUT UP I’m OLD! HA! I gained a great reason to wake up every morning & gained responsibility for my life & my health & lost my propensity to make an excuse for everything! I gained respect for commitment (crazy,huh?!!?!?) AND don’t get it twisted I am in no way looking for a man, I’m saving myself for James Franco & Ryan Gosling… HA! I gained respect for change, respect for Jesse who has worked tirelessly to be the change he wants to see in the world & 14 people that I LOVED to see first thing in the morning transform their lives & bodies right before my eyes EVERYDAY!

Yeah I may have lost only half the weight short of my weight loss goal but what I gained was immeasurable & for that I am eternally grateful! I feel like thee biggest WINNER, I no longer carry the weight of the world. Thank you Jesse for changing my body, my mind & my life! Lastly, thank you Rudy, Mike, Laura, Paul, Sierra, Justine, Meeka, Bethany, Larry, Fernanda, Jason, Eric & Jamie for inspiring me, for making me laugh first thing EVERY morning, for encouraging me & for being some sweet ass eye candy x

If you are in the Los Angeles area & you got this far & are inspired to live an extraordinary & healthy life that you LOVE . Come join Jesse this Monday & take advantage of this two week special. Starting MONDAY, Aug 1: J-Tribe 2 week INTENSIVE!!! 630-730AM M-F – 6 BootCamps, 2 Cycle Classes, 1 Active Hike, 1 Personal Training Session, and 1 Nutrition Call-In – ALL YOURS FOR $100.00. Call 818 538 9844 TODAY!!! Check out www.jessebrune.com for more 411.