LB Says Hi

My word this year was “Rely.” After ending my relationship earlier this year — of which I was the one constantly relied on — I felt it was time to let go of some of that responsibility and rely on others for a change. So, that’s exactly what I did. I called upon friends to pull me away from lonely nights. I leaned on family to share my feelings and thoughts. These were all things I had always done by myself, for the most part, and I have to say it was really refreshing. I wasn’t sharing the burden alone anymore, because I had enlisted others to help. There are too many times I think that we try to take on everything by ourselves — because we’ve been taught that that is what being strong looks like. I had to learn the hard way that strength appears in many forms. I've realized that it takes a strong person to admit when they’re not OK. All that time that I was trying to be strong by doing things on my own I was actually at a really weak point in my life. And as ironic as ...

Boiled Sliced Fish in Hot Chili Oil (Spicy Pavilion) My friend Kamele asked me an interesting question recently. She asked what it was about spicy foods that I liked. To be honest, that question kind of stumped me. What was it, really? Maybe it’s the numbing sensation that turns a regular meal into something dynamic. Or, it could be because I’ve never liked anything bland, not my coffee, my wardrobe or my attitude. It would be good to note that I also have a very sensitive stomach. My stomach goes crazy after eating a particularly spicy meal, which is the majority of my meals. I’ve had the stomach flu too many times to count, and there was even a time in my life when my mother thought that I had ulcers, because I’d always worry myself sick. Still, these afflictions haven’t stopped my love for spice. If there’s a bottle of Sriracha at the table, I’m using it. If there’s a set of tacos in front of me, I’m dousing it in hot sauce. Even my twin nephews are aware of my obse...

I recently took a very much-needed day off from work. I woke up and it was as if my body had shut down on me. I was busy that whole weekend — attending events, cleaning my house, meeting obligations, etc. — and I had somehow forgotten to rest, which I know so many of you can relate to. I woke up to my alarm, snoozed it a few times, and still could not build up the strength to get out of bed. I literally felt sick. After deciding to stay home from work, I caught up on some sleep, but once I was up, I couldn't figure out what to do with myself. (Obviously, I'm not used to having so much free time on my hands.) So, naturally, I began to cook. First, I made a soup to help soothe my battered body/mind/soul — thinking of the saying, “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” Then, I thought I’d make some dough for noodles later. I couldn’t give you exact measurements for the dough recipe, I mostly eyeball it — at least that’s how Mom taught me. I add flour and water, until the dough is...