Mexican street corn dip is a tribute to my hometown Pacoima, CA.  I grew up listening for the street cart with Mexican Street Corn.  As an adult, I make Mexican Street Corn dip and serve it with duck tacos, refried pinto beans, and yellow rice. MEXICAN STREET CORN DIP 1 (4 oz.) package cream cheese,…

LIMA BEAN SALAD 4-5 slices of thin bacon, fried and crumpled, 1 cup of baby frozen lima beans, 1/2 cup frozen edamame beans, 2 hard boiled eggs, 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and grated, 1/2 cup celery, chopped, 1/2 cup white onions, chopped, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice and zest. Get a large,…

SHRIMP CREOLE 1 T. olive oil, 1 T. salted butter, 1/2 cup celery chopped, 1/2 cup white onions, chopped, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped, 2 celery stalks, chopped, 1 bay leaf, 2 lbs, shrimp, peeled and deveined, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 (14.5 oz.) can stewing tomatoes, 1 1/2 T….

JUST HOW COUNTRY ARE YOU?  Are you country enough to love fried yellow cornmeal mush?  I am, so I am sharing. Get out a bowl add 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon raw sugar, 1 (2 oz.) jar baby food strained peaches, mix well set…

Beets are sweet-tasting vegetables.  Beets are good for you and they are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.  According to Foodlife.com, there are Eight Healthy Reasons to Eat Beets.  The eight reasons are:  1.  weight loss; 2.  brain and energy boost; 3.  nature’s Viagra; 4.  super antioxidant; 5.  anti-inflammatory benefits; 6.  cancer prevention; 7.  cell detoxification and cleansing…

Chocolate is frequently called the “love drug.”  Eating chocolate increases your pulse rate, resulting in a feeling of being in love.  Chocolate also makes you feel relaxed and happy. CHOCOLATE BROWNIES  1/2 cup cake flour, sifted, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder,3 T. butter flavored shortening, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 T. corn syrup, 1…

I will be watching football, the Broncos vs. the Chiefs.  ,I am picking the Chiefs to win this game.  As previously stated, I expect the Chiefs to be at the Super Bowl.  I am cooking dinner early so I can watch the game.  Airfryer chicken wings, red potato salad, cabbage mixed with boc chow, cornbread…

FLOUNDER TACOS 2 lbs. skinless flounder fillets, 1/2 cup seasoned fish fry, 1/4 cup self rising yellow cornmeal, 1/4 cup corn starch, 1/4 cup red onions, chopped, 1/4 tsp. chicken bullion, 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped,  2  jalapeno peppers, chopped, 1/2 cup green cabbage, shredded, 1/2 cup romaine…

RED BEANS Today is Monday, which translates to red beans and rice.   In my head and stomach, Mondays were synonymous with red beans simmering on the stove while we washed clothes.  The kidney bean is a southern Louisiana staple and also found in many other cultures and cuisines.  For example, kidney beans are also…

My paternal roots are from the savannahs and jungles of West Africa.  We came to America on wooden ships and chains.  There was no Ellis Island welcoming committee; a slave auction greeted us.  Hodges’s DNA in America can be traced back to George Hodges, a Virginia farmer and slave owner.  My great-grandfather, Edward (nicknamed Ned), was…

MUSSELS AND CLAMS 2 lbs. frozen mussels, 1 lb. frozen clams, 5 T. salted butter, 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, 3 green onions, sliced, 1/2 cup white onions, sliced, 3 garlic cloves, sliced, 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped, 1 large lemon juiced and zest, 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped, 1/2 cup dark beer. Add all the vegetables,…

TURKEY MEATLOAF 2 eggs,1 (6 oz.) package of stuffing mix, turkey flavor, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 lbs ground turkey, 1 1/2 T, salted butter, 1/4 cup white onions, finely chopped, 1 celery stalk, finely chopped, 1 T. green bell pepper, finely chopped, 2 tsp. seasoning salt, 1 tsp. ranch dry seasoning, 1 tsp. granulated…