April 30, 2020 JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

If there's one thing I dislike about as much as grocery shopping --it's deciding WHAT'S FOR DINNER.  Just hearing those THREE WORDS used to make my BLOOD BOIL--before the pandemic. Today cooking dinner has taken on a whole new meaning--YUP-- cooking dinner has become an EVENT in my house. I guess I've REALLY hit ROCK BOTTOM. I've turned into SUZY HOMEMAKER-- I'm cooking away--BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO. I've been trying new recipes--spending hours in the kitchen.  Here's a small sampling of some of the tasty food you can get at my restaurant:
Fish Tacos with Pico De Gallo and avocado slices
Blackened Fish/roasted veggies/arugula and couscous
Chicken Parmesan with house salad and freshly made bread
Grilled pizza--red or white--you choice your toppings
Bean Burgers with arugula, red onion and feta
Hearty Beef Stew with homemade cornbread
Eggplant Parmesan with fresh tomato basil sauce
Pulled Pork with black beans and rice
We also served healthy fruit smoothies with protein powder for breakfast and a variety of sides. Yup--that's what happens when you've been home for 7 WEEKS and you have TOO MUCH TIME.
If you're spending too much time in the kitchen then perhaps you'd like to take a break to read Terry McMillan's new book It's Not All Downhill From Here.
Loretha Curry, the main character in this novel, is a sixty-eight year old woman living in Pasadena who loves her family fiercely. After a sudden loss, her world is turned upside down. Her weight spirals out of control, putting her health in jeopardy, and her business is in limbo. In addition to  her own problems, her daughter Jalecia barely speaks to her,  her mother has recently moved into an assisted living, and her niece Cinnamon is pregnant. She's got a full plate.  Luckily for Loretha, she has a close knit group of friends who band together to help pick up the pieces. Her friend group-Ko, Lucky, Sadie, and Poochie--have been together for fifty years. They are raw, honest to a fault and hysterically funny at times.  Find out how Loretha finds her way through grief-- with humor, hope and a few prayers--when you read this novel  This book is about many things. It's about friendship, strong women, mental illness, addition, faith, and how we must all endure change and challenges in our lives.  This is an easy read--about 350 pages or a 3 mile run that's filled with hope and wisdom.