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Its late I’m beat! back and eye are killing me,  430pm or about the next day! Later I hope to post  what the Ghost of Ernest Hemingway shared with ME! Now let me proof read this from last Night! Couple weeks ago, I took a yoga class guided by Monika, she moves me, her voice, her style, her way of sensing what the class, and more importantly what each yogi she guides may need. Sound and Silence, music The melody and lyrics, food the taste or smell can take me back decades, A conversation and now days that conversation can be in person, over the phone, email, via text, FaceTime ,Skype or any of the social media platforms, right Diana The FaceBook- conversations wow. Tonight’s, post came from my day yesterday after Walmart and two weeks ago the motivation that is a conversation with a friend of mine that I hadn’t Read More…

WalMart Don’t laugh you shop there too! Right? Hell, they are everywhere, so I swing in to grab a loaf of bread, It never ceases to amaze me how many selections we have to choose from. However, before making my Pick, I check myself to be sure I don’t end up in someone’s video about WalMart shoppers! Yes, we’ve all seen them, some made us Cry, because we were laughing so hard! I start the inspection, by pulling out the iPhone, selfie mode, nothing hanging from my nose, nothing green in my teeth, the phone goes away! Zipper up, shirt tucked, shoes tied, don’t want to trip over my leases!  OK I’m feeling pretty confident if I’m in someone’s picture, nothing to laugh at. Back to Bread, I swear there are 60 different loaves of bread I settle for the Original Alfraro’s  Artesano, that’ all I came for, so, go Read More…

Tonight, I’m sharing three recipes I created while working in Palm Springs, F&B Manager, also Executive Chef for a hotel and Spa a vegetable, a salad and a chicken recipe they are easy, fun plus taste great and you can have the kids work with you in the kitchen! For those of you looking to add more recipes to your collection, take a look at the key ingredient in each, then think of substitutes, by changing let’s say small pork chops for the chicken you have a new recipe. Broccoli and Asparagus This is a simple way to prepare any vegetable! Ingredients 1 pound broccoli (cut florets long) 1 / 2 pound asparagus bottoms trimmed (just below the bend in the asparagus) 3 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon salt 2 teaspoon black pepper 1 / 2 cup water   Method To large sauté pan arrange broccoli with steamed ends towards Read More…

What inspired you today? Tell me here or on FaceBook @ Curtis G Aikens Sr. I love poetry. mine (Thank you Margaret Golden for Courage Retreats, and Madalinne for making them possible for me) Poetry I love his, hers, mine and yours. If you feel like sharing, send them to Chef@curtisikens.net the following 3 are from me. One I thought was inspired by a former person I cared for. Now I realize many of the poems I wrote are to me. Namaste Ask for help  You can ask me for help anytime if I can, I’ll be more then happy to! Word! Nothing I have is mine, including what little knowledge I may have. It’s just with me the short time I’m here! Well first: I Think it! In other words, come up with your idea what I want to do, me I pray about my ideas and try very Read More…

This Column was written maybe  10 or more years ago! Finnegan’s is still open, & see the not at the end A couple of weeks ago a female friend invited me for dinner and drinks at Finnegan’s  877 Grant Avenue, the bar has been open a few months right, this was my first time in, I am sorry to tell you. We had so much fun! The food the service, the atmosphere all was fantastic. Finnegan’s brings memories of my days living in New York City and the cozy neighborhood hangouts, goods and good times. My friend had the Grilled Flat Iron Stack; I went with 2 appetizers for dinner, the Steamed Clams (one of that night’s special, but I didn’t hear that part) and Crispy Fried Calamari. The Clams were outstanding so much so, that I brought my sons Curtis Jr and Cole to Finnegan’s the very next night. Read More…

Tonight, is A Pickle, 2 recipes! Last night I said I would share the BASE Pickle Recipe from the Pickle party on the 3rd of July, coming up! Plus the Fresh Pick Melon Recipe I served, Julie and Chef Paul> Enjoy The Recipe for refrigerator Pickles for Vickie Ross Basic recipe as follows, you can multiply it as needed. Recipe as it is, is good for 2.5 to 3 quarts of pickles depending on how tightly you pack the jars. Ingredients Canning pickles, sliced Garlic cloves barely crushed Peppercorns, whole Onion, sliced Bell pepper sliced Method Put garlic, peppers in bottom of quart jars, fill with sliced pickles, pack as tightly as you can , the will shrink. Fill jars with brine, seal and refrigerate 24 hours! Brine 2 cups sugar 1 /8 to 1/ 4 cup Kosher salt 2 cups white vinegar Method Mix well You will get a Read More…

The 3rd & 4th Of July. OK , Now I am an empty Nester wow! This thang Called life is strange. We go from being children depend on our parents to young adults that want nothing to do with Mom and Dad, you feel me? We become these grownups that love and respect everything about Dear Mother and Sweet Father, because we have become Parents. My kids are off doing their things, good on them! I hope I’m getting back to doing I am trying new adventures as well. Yoga rediscovering the joy of cooking, connecting with friends that are near and far also making new friends which have done the last two days. On the 3rd & 4th of July, love is all around us we just have to be open to it happy birthday America

July 3 2018 it a about 10:00pm yoga, Facebook live with Chef Carl,  dinner with Friends and I was in a Pickle, Tasting I will try and tell y’all about it tomorrow ! enjoy Mama’s Chicken hugs Curtis This weeks Recipes For Life, I hope will bring smiles and thank yours to the table, but will also make 2 good friends,) really happy Roger Leffler and George Carrasco! Now, Roger is one of those that cannot not get enough CHICKEN recipes, he likes his bird bakes, broiled, BBQed and after today he can prepare it like I love it best, my Mama Fried! Well, not sure if he his Wife Joan will trust him with meal prep? O, Roger this time save your copy of the paper so I won’t have to rerun the recipe next year! George is a BBQ lover, and I promised him Mom’s BBQ sauce recipe, he Read More…

    The 3M’s that made for a Marvelous Magical Magnificent Monday! Monika I’m not even sure how to describe this Yogi, I said to her today if I had a yoga spirit it would be her. This teacher this woman this human being changed made me understand help me realize how incredible yoga is. I’m not knocking any of my other yoga teachers because they bring Magic as well. Monika has a way of seeing things and helping me understand it on the inside deep inside today during class we were sweating and working hard, and her music is off the chain, Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man! Damm, us Southern Men love some Skynard. I am that Simple man. Thank you Monika, for opening your heart, sharing your gifts. For helping us work our bodies and then slowing down so we can relax and work our minds and for reminding Read More…

I love cooking, even more, I love sharing what I prepare. Since I cannot have you all over for dinner or a picnic, the best I can do is publish my recipes. I hope you and those you cook for enjoy them as much as I love sharing! Drunken chicken Ingredients 3 pounds chicken (cut into pieces) 2 ounces fresh ginger peeled and sliced 1 large onion chopped 3 green onions chopped 1 tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoon dry sage 4 cups water 1 cup sherry 1 / 4 vodka Method In large stock pot place chicken, add ginger, both chopped onions and green onions, next add salt, pepper and sage, now add water. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer (covered) until done. 60 to 90 minutes. Remove cooked chicken, and cool or cover and place in refrigerator. Reserve one and a half cups of Read More…