16 Aug 2009: When Sauce won't go to the Party - The party comes to Sauce

Sometimes Sauce Can't Party...

For the last year I've been balancing a lot of stuff and really don't have time to fart around and the only thing I usually did regularly was hit the Blunt or Carly's gig with Wendy --- but we have a LOT poppin and are taking a month off overseas in a bit. But Still...

My girls manage to come to me and make sure I don't get antisocial and online poker is my only activity...

April in the thick of a young marriage and law school will always call and text and even send me the dopest tshirts UPS. Hahahhha. Efficiency Mothuhfuckas!

Gya Popped by last night for a quick visit - I didn't have time to hook up a bomblettes this time as we are giving up this crib on the 20th and are off to Asia for a month then will buy a home in a month. I love Gya - she keeps it easy and she is a part of my foundation that I've built here in AZ. She is a solid reminded that even despite our beauty we keep it poppin...As I write this she is En Route to Milan Italy to do some performing (with my Hello Kitty Key in her pocket. haha)

Katie despite having a hard time and 2 jobs still manages to call and have coffee.

Kae is also holding 2 jobs, raising a daughter, has a new man and takes off to Europe but always stops to call and email...

My sisters and cousins are everpresent in keeping touch and dropping Love...

My 2 Monicas (1 here and 1 overseas) never let me fall off and keep me in orbit...Overseas Monica was an Art Director for one of the top 3 ad agency's and dropped her gig to become an independent food stylist for commercials and ads - we were friends in college and lost touch then got found via Face Book thanks to my little sister (I ain't down with the Face Book)...I will be spending a lot of time with her whilst in Asia. Arizona Monica is a bad chick I met from my brother who is not only fun and energetic...she is also creative and a chronic insomniac. She is also the only chick I know who will text u 911 and when u call thinkin she has flat on the freeway says,"Biotch - emergency --- shoes are 75% off at nordstrom rack, get your ass down here." Hahahha

Then there is Wendy Lee...Sometimes Wendy will do a drive by for 10 minutes and sometimes she will stay awhile...Sometimes people show up indirectly due to Wendy and were it not for Wendy I probably would have seen Konradio and Ali for another 6 months except for the 'stop to say hi' before a Tucson show. haha

It seems like no matter what we got poppin she's makin it fun...




Even if she sends me pics late...I still Lub her. haha
Best Cupcake Model EVER...




We got this new game in the last year
"I got u a SURPRIIIIISE" Hhaha sometimes it's a little something sometimes it's a big something...Even mr. Man started joining and got Wendy a tshirt that says "I put the MAN in roMANce. Hahahhha.

Below is Wendy with some HK key fobs I had to get her...




Wendy has an element of youth and energy that cannot be phazed by stress - economy - mofo's who ''ain't right" - But don't get it twisted it's all fun and games until u make her mad - and to be honest my favourite Wendy is "HELL NO" Wendy. Haha.

About 7 Sundays ago I called her in the morning and said I'm about to make a bomblette - come help me eat this...She said I have Ernz and Mamastrocity over. I said AND - bring everyone, it's just eggs. haha. She said they asleep - I said haha tell me when they wake up...She said I'll come and be back before they wake - but Ernz din't get caught sleepin he came for bomblettes. haha.

Really strange but it occurred to me that Ernz is SERV. I mentioned to Wendy - I REMEMBER SERV...he has that painting I fell in love with when I first met Julian...

SERV with KRS-One
---

A few weeks ago Wendy was en route to the Airport to pick up mr. T returning from South America and said I have to stop by, "I got u a SURPRIIIIISE"..I said just bring it after you get Tariq coz I made family dinner to welcome him home...She said NOOO I'mma bring it.

It's 115 outside and I'm cookin 3 dishes




Wendy Knocks...I open the door and BAM...she hits me with this...

"SURPRISE"




This picture just does it no justice. I included the vent so you could get an idea of how big it is. I was simply baffled that it was still available after over 2.5 yrs. Coz it's fantastic in any light. I was just floored. What a surprise!!! YAY me - YAY my friends.

This is why I keep bags of cookies about - to send lovin from the oven.

Jump to that weekend and we all meet for Sushi...One of the funnest sushi times ever for the price the sushi is very good at Takayamas and the service is always on hit...

Then last week she hit me with a text askin if we were gonna go see Redman/Methodman and Ghostface...I said NO - we're packin up the house gotta be outta here in 12 days. She said well...can we come by after I laughed...She said SERV has a surprise for YOU. I said OY - I owe him brownies too. Come by and call before you come - I'll start baking now and figure out something to make before u get here at midnight (beef and ham fried rice with egg is all we had in the fridge haha)

Then SERV hits me with this...




Tough right. I love it.

After the show - Wendy, Serv, Drew and Ysa ended up coming by and catching up over brownies, fried rice and beer while playin crazy rounds of Wheel of Fortune on the PS3 and bullshittin around past 4am - Mr. Man slept through the whole thing and entire conversations were happening in front of the bedroom door haha.

I just be in the house with mountains of boxes packed and ready to go and no matter what the house looks like - or what's in it or what I look like everyone always has good energy that comes into this joint...All of these people in my life are MAKERS of something - contributors to this life.

SERV and I were at the table talkin about our upbringing in family owned businesses and I said it's only natural that we became people who MAKE things regardless of the object...Wendy was killing the Wheel of Fortune in the living room and yelled out,"I don't make anythin."

I looked at her and said,"You make it HAPPEN"

SERV pointed at her and nodded.

'nuff sed.

23 Dec 2008: sometimes...That Wendy makes me Have Fun...

Sometimes...Wendy Lee encourages me to go have fun...

Like @ Jules Demetrius' One Man Show

Just excuse me - this is my 4th digi cam in 4 years and I still don't know the dang settings...so someone help me out...All I wanted was a food button

This one is my fave - mad pretty faces

Okay this is a little better

then we made a quick stop to Konrads dope downtown condo...what - i need that spot - he told me the one to the west is on sale...Wuuut

Why does he have the biggest malcolm ex spray paint portrait ever and the dopest sofa ever! Thpppthhhh I'm hating...It's okay - he gave me the gate code and door code and I can do cookie drive by's anytime coz he's only blocks from my job...Bwaa hahhaa - doorcode = LOVE.

Hey Worm! I love your beard to be feared and all yo' kids.

What about Pickster bringing Sexy Back! We caught up with him and Kree/Miguel and erryone @ Homme Bar

OMG Kree'z dimples hurt me

Okay finally learned the focus setting on the camera

Yeah we were disgusted, coz how you doubt our stuntin' and why do some of you people smell like used pampers and you are grown ass women. nu UH.

Bathe. You Heffas

Yeah we made it out to the Hidden House

Wendy and King...and below - Wendy and a "fan" Thanks for covering the door playboy and offering us a drink!

Dang I love Sika and Crash and even the ever Urbane mr J.

28 Nov 2008: Where Our Food 'come' From: the Turkey Day Blog

Thanksgiving used to be a 2 day process. But this year I took Weds thru Sunday off so I could chill and take my time. In the end it ended up being more exhausting than a 1 day process but it was worth it.

2 nights before I told Julian we're gonna keep it simple so I made Chicken and Korean Beef Fried Rice...Tasty deliscious and using some of the stuff we had barbecued with our friends JR and Bree a few days prior

Garlic...it's the base of a lot of what I cook. I don't buy it cut or chopped or minced or even peeled. I think it just has a better scent and flavor when you chop it from bulbs...

At the core of thanksgiving always seems to be bellpeppers, carrots, onions and celery plus a variety of dried herbs. But this year the vegetables seemed exceptionally festive and bright.

Here is a Gratuitous Fridge Shot for GYA. I've decided since G-Fly took a video of my fridge and freezer I'mma take pics of peoples fridges to add to her collection. Here's mine before thanksgiving after choppin' up bellpepper stuff.

Asparagus. Deliscious and amazingly a lot of our people love it. Lucky for everyone I found 4 stalks that I felt were decent. They were a bit dry for my taste. When it's dry like that you put a small grab of sugar in a waterbowl and stand the stalks up to drink up the water. They freshen up right off the bat.

Side 1: Asparagus with lemon butter and toasted Pecans

Sweet Rolls from Ranch Market. But no one even touched them. The only rolls anyone was grabbing were mine as they hugged me.

I kept some instant Miso and Pomelo's around to keep the hunger at bay.

Side 2: Cornbread Stuffing

The day before I start baking a 7 times batch of cornbread. Dang Right. But it smells so good

I also picked up a dozen tamales...half beef and half chicken. Like I said before Thanksgiving Dinner I try to keep everyones meals simple. But my brother, boyfriend, godbrother, sister were more than happy with Fried Rice and tamales. I must say this lady almost didn't offer me any until i asked,"de que clase" or what kind...She laughed and told me in Spanish, pork in green chile, beef and chicken...lol. I tried one and bought a dozen. I'm glad I did. Why did the lady seem so tickled and surprised to find me in the Ranch Market parking lot. This is not to be confused with 99 Ranch Market. Ranch Market is a Mexican grocery store that is humongous and the produce is off the hook and a ton of the butchers are ladies.

Cornbreads done...house is smelling right

Saute and Warm those flavors all together...

Add the chicken stock and let it simmer then add the second batch of veggies and cornbread...rack it in a pan and set aside.

Time to make the crusts for the Pumpkin Tarts and the Lemon Tarts...All it is, is real butter, all purpose flour, powdered sugar and a pinch of salt! Pulse it together and press it into pans. Prebake then yank out and while it's still hot put the pumpkin/and lemon mixes respectively.

I love these jokers. I love pumpkin tarts...better than pumpkin pies coz no matter how good someone makes it, it is either soggy or dry. The whole tart is more like a bit of pumpkin flavor on a shortbread cookie. Deliscious.

This is my favourite tartlet pan...I picked it up in the warehouse district in the Philippines. I only wish I would have got 4 of them!

My sister Keyla has to have her own special tartlets. And don't get in her secret hiding place in the fridge and eat them. Although this year I did forget to give Wendy her 33% cut of the hidden goods. LOL. I'll bring them back to Tempe with me, and just call her in.

This is the glorious lemon tart that everyone wants to fight over. Bwaa hahha. I love you all and how you fight for the things that come from my hands out the oven! PS) I'm makin' chocolate chip cookies tonight for anyone who wants to drive by and grab a dozen.

The regular fridge was too full. So we had to bust out the "backup" fridge and set it to 39 degrees. Erm...who has a backup fridge just for produce? Hahhahah I guess we do.

Side 3: Parmesan Pasta

Some people make mac and cheese. We make herb orrechiete with red bellpepper and 2 kinds of parmesan

Side 4: Cheesy Tatoes

Boil up 10 pounds of potatoes...and let the magic begin.

Add some butter, pepper, salt, milk and a bit of cream cheese. Voila!

Side 5: Glazed Yams

Yam Yam Yummy. All I know is that I bought like 3 bags of these jokers coz they seemed so fresh. Plus the fact that this year they were only 5lbs for 99 cents. Hahahha. I dunno why people say stuff is unaffordable...maybe they just go to places they can't afford?

Peel them, wash them, chop them.

Season them and drizzle with olive oil and throw them so they don't toughen.

Then deep fry them in a fryer and deglaze before serving. Oh yeah. These got eaten all day before they even hit the table or got glazed. hahahhah.

THE ribs. Julian had been opening the freezer since Sunday and doin' this dance. Like Ribs - oh ribs - my ribs..and he'd do this little hip swagger. I would just laugh and laugh and laugh.

I tell you what my butcher hooked it up @ $1.49 a lb and only the choicest cut. Plus the chicken was only $1.45 a lb (boneless skinless breastussest) and the turkey came up 39 cents a lb. Bwaa hahhaha.

When I went to pick up my cuts...the day before I had gone in with Julian to pick up pancit noodles and panda cookies for the kids, that day the butcher came up and said preciosa!!! como estas! I said oh, i'm fine long day at work...He went to grab my cuts and leaned in to whisper - Oh I am very jealous of your lucky husband! Bwaa hahahhahha!

Defrost these jokers and leave them at room for about 2 hours .

Drain. rinse and season. Cover and Rest for another 30 minutes

Slow roast for over 4 hours. Sauce them then warm for 1 hour.

Defrost in the fridge for 2 hours...

Soak in a Brine with Wild Thyme, Red Chili Flakes, a splash of soy and lemon.

Bake at 360 until it pops. Brined ones take about 3 hours for 18 lbs.

Even Rommel said, "This is Good...and I don't even like Turkey"

I didn't think we could kill an 18 pound turkey but we managed.

Side 6: Green Beans Dressed to the 9's

Al Dente. Crunchy Crispy beautiful greens. Don't overcook them that's gross, and if you are gonna feed people make it worth the experience. Don't play it like you overcooked it on accident. However I dressed mine to the 9's this year.

Some of my friends don't like swine, that's cool...but thankfully most people who come to dinner don't mind. Actually I cooked extra of the chopped up stuff is because everyone picks it all day while I'm cooking.

My Bebe is funny. Here is a conversation:

Him: I don't really like pork (eyeing the pork chops in the fridge)

Me: Oh really

Him: Really I don't.

Me: Uh Huh.

foward to 2 days later:

Him: Yuummm (chewing noises picking at the bacon pieces)

Me: You don't like pork huh.

Him: No

Me: But Bacon and Salami are good right?

Him: Yup (walks to the ps3 without a clue) still chewing.

Bwaa hahahhahha.

So Yummy yummy and oh so funny funny

Side 7: Greens, not the kind you smoke

I dont' even need to talk about how hard it is to cook this many. But worth it.

Again, the produce was fantastic.

It was a whole sinkful. Bonkers.

I had to shrink it down in the industrial pan coz of the volume and then move it to the oval and slow cook it.

Side 8: Broccoli Casserole: it gets ATE!

The holiday favourite! Crunchy and melty, salty and broccolli sweet.

Notice a half pck of soba, peach gummies and 2 kinds of hot sauce lurking behind the 8 bunches of Broccoli I had to cut.

I don't even measure anymore...

I just throw it together...eyeball it and do it up.

Top it and bake it.

Kibby plays poker stars while the cooking finalizes.

We even made a video for City Momma.

Rommel sliced those ribs up like yeah.

I'm so exhausted and shiny and ready to sit and eat. But I'm happy to be sittin' with the family.

Kibby didn't even wanna pose with his he just wanted to eat.

Benjo loves the BBQ Ribs...

Rommel & Keyla...ready to throw down!

I told Wendy...with yo' plate with yo' plate...

But...she couldn't keep her eyes off the plate

And then there is the Grimey One...Lookin' like a lean, mean muay thai - grindin' machine....But just like I always know...he will always put a good plate down plus dessert! The story of the gold sushi is my favourite! I forgot to get a pic of Lee and Steven...but I'm sure they'll be to dinner again.

Yeah my friends pack to go packs...and...

And write as you thought dinner was over...Because we were having coffee and wine and tarts...My sister gets up and starts making pecan spice cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes - bwaahahhahha

Wendy,"NOOOOO LADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDY" Keyla just laughed and laughed and then started bakin' and makin our favourite Cream Cheese Frosting - Yuuuuum.

Wendy just couldn't stand it and gave me bear hugs!

Then Keyla said,"try it Wendy..." ooooooooh

Cool it down...like an 80's song...Cool it down...

Kzo and Kibby...still digestin' dinner

Kzo-Wlee-Kibby...together again. Kzo had asked,"How many get togethers did I miss?" Wendy and I laughed and told him We got together and ate gelato during a power outtage while Kibby slept before we left for NYC and Gya left for the BK. Then Gya came back shortly and we had girl bomblettes. And he missed the Easter get together when City Momma met Country Momma and GodMomma. That's all.

"We may need your services next year..." I said what - a wedding! Fantastic. I love my Kzo...and I'm glad he met a great year that keeps him lookin' right and takin' care of himself and lookin' to the future! I told her great job girl -- just being yourself and makin' our homie happier! She smiled modestly and just said Thank You! I dig her because she is comfortable being herself...I said,"Hey are you two shacked up!" They laughed and I said,"us too...coz my brother evicted us ALL" Bwaa hahahhah. Kibby said,"Oh thanks for letting me know Bebe."

Bwaa hahhahha

Kibby went back to Tempe shortly after everyone else because he had to be at work at 6am today. I didn't let him leave without first makin him a turkey sandwhich with tomato and spinach and a bit of cheese plus a side of broccolli casserole. Packed lunch is crucial. I was ready to knock out and knew I'd see him the next day coz we had some work to put in on Grand Theft Auto IV.

Nighty night.

Another hit, another year, another bunch of full bellies...great dinner conversation and our own family kickin' it together and everyone cheering us on to have Kibblets! LOL. Maybe next year we'll have a booster seat at the table.