Well, this little miracle had a mission and that was to prove them all wrong.  God has other plans for Miss Amani!  She’s walking, running, laughing, talking…pretty much getting into EVERYTHING!!!  We all couldn’t be prouder than she makes us EVERYDAY.  Now she’s learning to COOK just like every kid that comes over our house…there’s no exception!

Mini Chef in training!

The rolling pin has been passed on to the newest member of the Raising Chefs’ clan…

We’re expecting big things from this little person…GOD is GOOD…ALL THE TIME!!!  AMANI POWELL IS LIVING PROOF!

I had the privilege to interview one of the celebrity judges from the show Chef Brain Hill.  What an awesome conversation.   Chef Brian is a very laid back guy with lots to say when it comes to food.  He’s coined himself as the Kanye West of the culinary industry which if you ask me serves him very well.  The man can throw down!  He shared with me how he grow up in the bad parts of DC and unlike some of us where our Mother’s taught us how to cook, he said his Mother wasn’t the one who taught him to throw down it was his Grandfather.  At age 14 he was cooking Thanksgiving for his family all by himself  how amazing is that…and brave!

Chef Brian was asked to judge this awesome competition where Moms compete for a cash prize and the bragging rights of “My Momma Throws Down!” I asked him what his strategy was for judging the Moms and he said simply, “creativity”.  As a family food blogger I can appreciate that because you eat with your eyes first and that would be my strategy if I were asked to judge a cooking competition.  So if you’re Momma can throw down in the kitchen maybe yall can get together and share not only her good cooking but some time watching this amazing new show premiering tonight on TVOne.  Happy Mother’s Day!

In light of the recent Oscars Raising Chefs will be giving away a copy of the movie”The Help” to one winner randomly selected using Random.org.  To participate in this giveaway please comment below or on our new blogtalkradio show page, Hip Hop Government Radio Show, sharing with us your favorite clips from the movie.  Make sure you stop by our Twitter and Facebook to follow and like us.  Tell a friend and spread the word.  Don’t forget to add your email address in your comment so you can be notified via email if you’re the lucky winner.  Good luck and thanks for entering.

Raising Chefs Oscar Party Menu:

Fried Chicken

Potato Salad

Greens

Deviled Eggs

Minny’s Chocolate Pie

Recipe was found here.

1. 1 packaged pie dough crust, such as Pillsbury
2. 1 1/2 cups sugar
3. 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
5. 2 large eggs, beaten
6. 3/4 cup evaporated milk
7. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8. 1/4 teaspoon salt
9. Whipped cream, for serving

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Ease the pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges decoratively. Prick the crust lightly with a fork. Line the crust with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. Remove the foil and weights and bake for about 5 minutes longer, just until the crust is dry but not browned.
2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the sugar with the cocoa powder, butter, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla and salt until smooth.
3. Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake for about 45 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but a little jiggly in the center. Cover the crust with strips of foil halfway through baking. Transfer the pie to a rack and let cool completely before cutting into wedges. Serve with whipped cream.

Join The Conversation will have a food related angle of some sorts.  However, it won’t always involve a food shoot, food post and or recipe.  I may see an article on another website or hear something in the news that I want to get your opinion on that’ll be shared and hopefully spark some interest with each of you and we can talk to about it together.

For the first post under the category “Join The Conversation” I came across an article on CafeMom.com that sparked my interest and I wanted to get your opinion.  “A Ban on Buying Junk Food With Food Stamps?” is the title for this article and in the article the author shares with us that our government is considering banning buying junk food with government issued food stamps.  I’ve used food stamps in the past and although I do buy healthier items I have on occasion purchase chips, ice cream (if I hadn’t made some myself), cookies and others things we consider “junk food.”

However, I feel food stamps is a financial resource for families who need help purchasing food.  I understand regulating what you can and can’t buy with WIC (Women, Infant and Children Programs) because its a health program for pregnant mothers, breastfeeding mothers and children.  If you buy those things when you don’t need food stamps and the government isn’t there assisting you in those purchases they shouldn’t when you’re using food stamps.  What do you think?  Do you agree the government should be able to restrict what you purchase if you’re using food stamps or should they mind their business?  What about us as taxpayers.  Would you want to know you’re money is helping families with healthier food options or do you even care what they buy?  Join the conversation!

Being of African descent I’ve always been curious about the Kwanzaa holiday. What it means. How it’s celebrated. In researching there are seven principals that represents Kwanzaa. The very last principal in the Kwanzaa celebration is “Imani” in Swahili, which means “Faith” something we should all believe in on a daily basis…READ MORE HERE.

Rosemary Brown-Butter Drummettes

Spicy Cranberry Barbecue Drummettes

Sweet Pecan Pie Drummettes

To read more please visit Kwanzaa Culinarian.  Be sure to check out all three of our “Holiday Drummettes” recipes.  Makes for a great celebrational food table…I’m just saying!

Last year…which just ended oh..about 12 hours ago was a very sweet year.  Well for the past few months at least.  (holiday treats!)  We’ve come up with our favorite sweet’s list to share with you for a new start to an even sweeter new year!!!

Remember the strawberry cake for Father’s Day I do believe?  Well…say hello to the cupcake version…still awesome in mini form!

And lets not forget those “Brown Butter & Vanilla Yogurt Banana Muffins.”

New addition…we had this just the other day at Jazmyne’s birthday party.  Its candy popcorn.  Where have I been, I haven’t heard about this.  Melted white chocolate, poured over popped pop corn and sprinkled with your choice of sprinkles.  Party time, YUM!!

Sugar cookies…who doesn’t love these little beauties?  They’re fun and the kids no matter how old they get love ‘em…sweeping those little sprinkles off the floor…not so much!

Now these little nuggets are our Caramel Biscotti Cookie bites…dunk these into some hot coco or coffee…happy times!!!

Just kidding…if I do say so myself 2011 brought alot of baking challenges for me.  Cakes lean, they sink…they even stick to the dang pan when you’ve prayed to the baking GOD in heaven…please let this cake come up outta here!!!  As mentioned before cookies and the occasional peach cobble and or apple pie was it…now I find myself baking birthday cakes, cakes for my church…cakes for no reason attall…but guess what?  I’m getting better and better.

Yeah! I know…looks great!

Believe it or not these photos were taken with my Samsung Galaxy S II…very cool phone!

Happy Birthday Jaz!!!

This was the bomb.com…oh my!!!  Creamy Southwestern Taco Soup…great to keep you warm…because if it hasn’t already happened where you live…the wrath winter is coming!!!

Creamy Southwestern Taco Soup

2 lbs lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1/2 cup each green, red, orange and yellow bell peppers (diced)
3 tbsp minced garlic
2 cartons beef broth
2 cans sweet corn (drained)
2 cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
4 cans cream of chicken soup
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp onion powder
3 tbsp chilli powder
2 tbsp paprika
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot brown ground beef or ground turkey until cooked through.  Remove from pot, drain grease if any and set aside. Return pot back to the stove and saute the onions, bell peppers, and garlic on medium heat for 5-7 minutes.  Return meat to pot and add in the broth, corn, black beans, garlic powder, onion powder, chilli powder, paprika, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.  Add in the 4 cans of cream of  chicken soup and cook for an addition 20 minutes…serve with tortilla chips, sour cream and your choice of shredded cheese.  (We used pepper jack…delish!)

From all of us here at Raising Chefs we would like to send you a special wish for this Christmas season.   Many blessings to you and yours.  May this season of Christmas cheer bring you peace and strength to continue on this journey called life.  May God keep you, may God bless you!  Merry Christmas!

For this to be my first ever attempt in making toffee…this was truly a delicious success.  We haven’t been able to stop eating them though.  Yes, I know, Raising Chefs is all about the healthy foods…fresh ingredients and then we go and make toffee…go figure…but hey it’s all good…its homemade, won’t that count? lol

Who would have thunk it…2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of butter…boil and stir until the heat level reaches 300 degrees and the mixture takes on a dark amber color.  Pour onto and buttered sheet pan…sprinkle almonds or your favorite nut onto…covering that with a layer of melted chocolate, topped with more nuts…and enjoy!  I tell you though, you will not be able to eat just one…and why on earth would you want to!