Black-owned personal care brands I love and support

I try my best to be very conscious of what I put in and on my body. With that said, I want to share four of many Black-owned personal care brands I love and use that you can buy & support too.

  1. Honey Pot is a feminine care brand, powered by a Black woman, 100% natural, infused with essential oils & herbs. These products are also biodegradable and cruelty-free. I have very sensitive skin and have seen a difference using the items pictured.
  2. Alaffia, a skin & hair care brand founded by a Black man who uses unrefined shea butter as a base ingredient. This brand also focuses on fair trade and women empowerment in West Africa.
  3. Yadain Cultural Solutions is an all-natural herbal body, skin, and hair care solutions brand with raw ingredients. I use many of their body and hair products.
  4. Tropic Island Living provides the best scented, Jamaican black castor oils that can be used on the body or the scalp.

Remember to support black-owned businesses, research, educate yourself, and others. This is not a moment it’s a movement! Ways to help here.

Jerk Baby Bella Mushrooms with Couscous

I used to love jerk chicken, salmon, and red snapper. I still long for the taste sometimes.

For those who love the spice but don’t want the meat, fish, or want to take a break from it, give this low-calorie, high-fiber dish a shot.

There is one caveat to this recipe, though. You’ll have to let the mushrooms marinate overnight. So prep a day ahead. I promise it’s worth the wait!

Ingredients

  • Trader Joe’s Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms
  • Half of Onion
  • Half of Yellow Pepper
  • 3 tsp Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Hot
  • 3 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 Small Piece of Ginger
  • 3 tsp of Grapeseed Oil or Coconut Oil
  • 3 Lime Wedges
  • 1 Cup of Couscous

4 servings

STEPS

Seasoning

  1. Thoroughly clean 10 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms
  2. Chop onion and yellow pepper
  3. Mince 3 garlic cloves and small piece of ginger
  4. In a large enough Tupperware or large bowl, mix sliced baby bella mushrooms, chopped onion, yellow pepper, mince garlic cloves, ginger, 3 tsp of jerk sauce, 3 tsp of oil, and squeeze 3 lime wedges
  5. Let mixture marinate overnight or for 1-2 hours (overnight gives it the best flavor)

Cooking

  1. On medium heat, add 1 tbsp of oil of choice to saucepan
  2. Add marinated baby bella mushrooms mixture
  3. Cook and stir for 15-20 minutes

Couscous

  1. Boil 1 1/4 of water in a small or medium pot
  2. Dash of salt (optional) or seasoning of choice
  3. Add 1 cup of couscous to boiling water
  4. Remove from heat and cover
  5. Let sit for 5 minutes
  6. Fluff with a fork

Not Your Typical Vegan Lasagna



One lovely day, my family decided to make lasagna with dairy-filled cheese and ground turkey. My heart ached, okay, I’m dramatic, but I too wished I could have enjoyed the lasagna.

A few days later, I decided to try creating my own with vegan ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 8 Barilla Lasagne, Whole Grain Sheets
  • 1 Can of Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauce
  • 1/4 Red Bell Pepper
  • Gardein’s Beefless Ground
  • Trader Joe’s Almond Mozzarella Style Shreds
  • Half of Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Ribbons
  • 1 Onion
  • 1-2 Garlic Cloves
  • 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
  • Basil, Oregano, Sea Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Time: 1 hour / 4-5 servings

Steps

Beefless Meat

  1. Finely chop onion and garlic
  2. In a medium pan, begin to cook half of the Gardein’s Beefless Ground
  3. Once defrosted and broken up, add all of the chopped garlic and half of chopped onion
  4. Season with sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder to your liking
  5. Lower heat, let simmer and stir until full cooked
  6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Barilla Lasagne

  1. Add water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large pot
  2. Bring to a vigorous boil
  3. Add 8 sheets of Barilla Lasagne, Whole Grain
  4. Boil for 8-10 minutes

Tomato Sauce

  1. Chop 1/4 of Red Bell Pepper
  2. On medium heat, add Trader Joe’s Canned Tomato Sauce to a small or medium pot
  3. Add 1/2 cup of water
  4. Season with basil, oregano, sea salt, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes to your liking
  5. Add chopped red bell pepper

Sweet Potato Ribbons

  1. Lightly season half of the sweet potato ribbons with salt & pepper
  2. Pop into oven for 10 minutes

FINALE

  1. Drain cooked lasagne
  2. Grab a clean baking pan
  3. Using a large spoon, distribute a thin layer of tomato sauce
  4. Use two sheets of Barilla Lasagne, Whole Grain
  5. Add another layer of tomato sauce
  6. Top with layer of beefless ground, sweet potato ribbons, and Trader Joe’s Almond Mozzarella Style Shreds
  7. Repeat steps 4-6 until lasagna is filled to the top of baking pan

Homemade Bay Leaves & Rosemary Herbal Tea

Bay leaves are full of Vitamin C, A, iron, potassium, etc. etc. They are good for the body overall. Add that with rosemary –– which is an anti-inflammatory agent –– slippery elm, used as a remedy for sore throats, fevers, and sore throats, and you’ll be kicking your sickness out of your body within days.

I decided to bring the following natural ingredients below to a vigorous boil –– including bay leaves, rosemary, and slippery elm –– while I was under the weather.

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Rosemary Stems
  • 10 Bay Leaves
  • 2 Large Pieces of Ginger Root
  • 1 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon of Slippery Elm Powder
  • Water (can vary based on the size of the pot)

Sometimes I drink it cold with ice because it’s a refreshing, herbal taste, but having it warm is just as good. Sip, sip!

Spicy Kale Gnocchi with Roasted Tomatoes

Traditional gnocchi can be heavy and quite filling. I mean, it is potato!

A few bites, you’re stuffed and left with a full plate, you won’t be able to finish. That’s usually the case for me. Which is why I’m stunned I picked up Trader Joe’s Kale Gnocchi. I was so hesitant when I saw it there in the frozen section, but thought, why not? And to my surprise, TJ’s kale gnocchi is not heavy at all and will leave eaters satisfied. 

KALE, POTATO STARCH, CHICKPEA FLOUR, SEA SALT, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL.
CONTAINS TRACES OF SOY.

There are many ways gnocchi can be prepared, but since this is kale and super green, I wanted to add more color to it to and make it flavorful. Note, you can roast your tomatoes or purchase Trader Joe’s Organic Tomatoes – Diced & Fire Roasted.

Here’s how I put it all together.  

Ingredients

  • 1 bag of Trader Joe’s Kale Gnocchi
  • 1 can of Trader Joe’s Organic Tomatoes – Diced & Fire Roasted
  • 1-2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
  • Sea Salt, Pepper, Oregano, Basil, Parsley, Garlic Powder, Chopped Onions, and Crushed Red Chili Pepper Flakes

2.5 Servings

Steps

  1. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in sauté pan or pot on medium heat
  2. Add entire bag of Trader Joe’s Kale Gnocchi
  3. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes
  4. Sauté around to ensure all cooks
  5. Add half or full can of Trader Joe’s Organic Tomatoes – Diced & Fire Roasted
  6. Season to your liking with sea salt, pepper, oregano, basil, parsley, garlic powder, chopped onions, and crushed red chili pepper flakes
  7. Sauté ingredients on high heat for 30 seconds
  8. Cover pot or pan, put heat on low, and let simmer for 5-10 minutes

Dr. Praeger’s Black Bean Quinoa Veggie Burger

Dr. Praeger’s veggie burgers are the hands down the best vegetarian burgers I’ve ever had before learning how to make my own. Their ingredients are real, rich, and flavorful. I don’t think there are any veggie burger options I don’t like from that brand.

If you’re ever in a rush, you can pop a burger or two in a conventional or toaster oven for under 20 minutes.

Sometimes, if I want to lessen my carb intake, I’ll chop the burgers up and add them to a salad. This time around, I wanted a juicy burger!

Ingredients: Cooked Black Beans (Black Beans, Water), Cooked Tri-Color Quinoa (Quinoa, Water), Water, Red Peppers, Roasted Corn, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Potato Flakes, Soy Flour, Onions, Arrowroot Powder, Masa Flour (Corn Flour, Lime), Sea Salt, Jalapeño Peppers, Cilantro, Roasted Garlic, Chili Powder (Chili Pepper, Salt, Garlic, Cumin, Spices), Lime Powder, Tomato Paste, Chipotle Chile Pepper Powder

Ingredients

  • 2 Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
  • 2 Slices of Whole Wheat Bread
  • Mixed Greens or Lettuce
  • 2 Slices of Tomato
  • Good Planet Smoked Plant-Based Mozzarella Cheese
  • Ketchup

The Daily Dose

How many pill bottles does it take to cure or ease the pain of a disease? How many trials and errors are necessary to find the right drug? Why are the risks and warnings of taking medication over time so high?

These are the questions I ask myself every day.

To be clear, I’m not against Western Medicine. Of course, I’ve been vaccinated. I see my primary physician and OBGYN once a year, but I mainly turn to medicinal plants and herbs. I don’t want my body to surrender to any drug it can’t function without. I’ve witnessed it happen too many times to loved ones.

That’s why my health and what I put into my body is a top priority.

I start my days taking ashwagandha, oil of oregano, and occasionally black seed oil (sometimes I take a teaspoon of it before bed).

Ashwagandha Pills

Ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera), has helped manage how my body reacts to stress and anxiety. I’ve seen a vast difference over the past year and my energy levels have increased.

Oil of Oregano & Red Clover Extract

Oil of oregano has several healing benefits. It’s a natural antibiotic and supports a healthy intestinal balance. The taste is super potent and may feel as if it’s burning your throat. I recommend adding 2-3 drops of the liquid concentrate into a small amount of water and gargle with it before swallowing or buy the liquid capsules. They are just as powerful.

Organic Black Seed Oil

Black seed oil (organic black cumin) is another great immune booster, providing plant-based essential omega fatty acids and can treat asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.

These three supplements have been life-changing since I started incorporating them into my routine. My immune system sucked. I used to get sick often to the point where it would last for weeks, and that has lessened drastically.

The last herb extract I consume, not daily though, is red clover (pictured above).

Red clover is a floral herb that can be ingested in tea, oil, and capsule form. It is said to be a blood cleanser, prevent cancer, and relieve premenstrual and menopausal symptoms. The taste is more on the herbal tea side. I enjoy adding it to my water for flavor.

All I’m saying is, what if we could get ahead of the curve and prevent what may be genetic or terminal because of our habits, environment, etc.?