Wednesday, May 31, 2017
5 Black Owned Beauty Brands For Women Of Color
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| Photo courtesy of The Lip Bar |
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What about the black women who can easily find products with the popular brands that are advertised in commercials and magazines, but would like to be more conscious about where they spend their money. If any of those are you, consider purchasing your makeup from black-owned beauty brands. Listed below are 5 companies you should know.
Black Opal was created by a trio of passionate individuals who found success with solutions for hyperpigmentation, oil-control, shade matching and more. With 16 colors in their collection, the foundation sticks are one of the best selling drugstore beauty products of all time, according to Self Magazine.
Black Up is the first French beauty brand for women of color. This makeup line has professional quality makeup for darker skin tones. Their three new concealer palettes are a best seller according to their website. “Its cream, pigment-enriched texture, offers an optimal level of coverage and an invisible result. Also noted concealers are oil and paraben free.
Black Radiance Beauty offers a variety of sheer to vivid lip and eye color. One of the top rated products on their website is the Liquid Lip Color which is currently only $1.49. It applies like a gloss, but is very moisturizing, rich in color, gluten and cruelty free.
“The IMAN brand philosophy holds that women of color represent many races cultures and ethnicities. “ The brand offers cosmetics, which includes 16 foundation shades, as well as skincare. New to her collections are 5 must-have Luxury Matte Lipsticks that are velvety smooth and enriched with Jojoba and Vitamin E. The lipsticks are long-lasting and non-drying.
The Lip Bar is a vegan, cruelty-free line with an array of super-pigmented, high performing products which includes lipsticks, liquid matte and lip gloss. Founded by Melissa Butler in 2012, the Lip Bar is “challenging the beauty standard through products, inclusive imagery and pricing.”
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Summer Reset: 30 Days, 30 Actions (Plus a 21-Day Staff Challenge AND Giveaway!)
I think June is a good time to revisit that premise—and to host another 21-Day experience for those more inspired in the summer months.
For several weeks now, we’ve all seen the calls for “swimsuit season.” And while that’s not a bad motivation in and of itself to make positive changes, it’s hardly the only reason to feel spurred to a Primal reset.
In January, it’s easy to get caught up in the stir around turning over a new leaf. This year is the year I’m turning my entire life around. And maybe it is. But for some people, that aim ends up feeling too big and distant, and their ambition is short-lived.
This time of year, however, (at least for me) it’s easier to think about a Challenge in more immediate terms. I’ve honestly seen people more inspired by the closer-in question, “What kind of summer do I want to enjoy?” There’s an automatic framework implied here. It’s not about what one should do but what one wants to do. It’s less about living a healthy life than living up the good life…summer’s specialty.
So, what kind of summer do you want for yourself? Take a moment and really ask. What activities do I want to enjoy? What seasonal foods do I want to take advantage of? What do I want to have the energy to take on? Where can I build more leisure into my week? How can I be outside as much as possible? In summer, the means and the end can often feel more potently one in the same.
Likewise, it’s easier to stay in the scope of daily choice if your goal is to relish the season one day at a time. Grill the best meats you can get your hands on? That’s dinner tonight! Use the freshest produce in new ways? There’s your salad to go with said meats. How about a walk after dinner to take in the extra light and balmy evening? Early light makes a few sprints in the morning sound pretty good with time for coffee on the deck afterward. You’re always looking for the next thing to enjoy, which sounds like the perfect way to live a great Primal life to me.
Personally, I like mini-challenges as an overlay to the larger endeavor anyway. There’s an instantaneous kick-back. No long arcs of progress to get vague about. Do the action today and bask in the benefit. Uncomplicated achievement. Immediate gratification…
In that spirit, I’m offering 30 actions for the 30 days of the month. Pick all or as many as you feel inspired to do. Let them prompt other ideas. Use them to get the momentum going. Claim your summer, and don’t let any of it slide by unappreciated.
30 Days, 30 Actions
June 1st: First things first. Commit to the most resonant elements of slow living this summer. Make clear intentions to keep your schedule and pace in check. Because, really, does anyone want a hectic summer?
June 2nd: Write down everything you eat in a day and how you feel afterward. Clarity is a good starting point, no matter what level of change you’re looking to make.
June 3rd: Practice some cold water immersion in a larger lake or river that’s still cool this time of year.
June 4th: Unplug today (or maybe one day every week).
June 5th: Join my staff in taking on a summer Primal Blueprint Challenge. Yup, no need to wait until New Year’s for the support and fanfare of a group endeavor. We won’t be giving away any cows this time of year, but you’ll be in excellent company with tips, recipes, and stories from some of my Worker Bees. (See below for more details!)
June 6th: Assess your true fitness level.
June 10th: Hit your local farmers market (or take a day trip to one nearby). Enjoy the vibe and the collect as many recipes as you can.
June 11th: Take a nap…preferably outside.
June 12th: Experiment with a supplemental food that’s new to you.
June 13th: Spend the whole day barefoot.
June 14th: Do one (or more) of the awesome workouts featured in our guest posts lately:
- Give Some Love to Your Hips
- The Secret to Athletic Longevity Movement Assessment
- How to Build Strength and Muscle with Progressive Calisthenics
- 20 Easy Bodyweight Exercises to Build Functional Arm Strength
June 15th: Get a retreat on the calendar ASAP.
June 16th: Go keto for the remaining two weeks. We’ll have recipes for it all summer long in addition to informative articles (including a definitive guide next week).
June 17th: Hike a new trail or park in your area, or devote the day to an urban hike.
June 18th: Skip the commercial kits for a “summer detox” and try safe and genuine forms of detoxification support.
June 19th: Relish summer the old school way.
June 20th: Bike to work.
June 21st: Invest in collagen for health—with the rich quality bone broth or a high quality supplement.
June 22nd: Upgrade your morning coffee routine.
June 23rd: Give some serious thought to activities and people who drain you. Give yourself permission to take a break from them for 21 days (or as many days as possible) if you can. Just maybe this is a gift you should’ve given yourself a long time ago…?
June 24th: June is National Camping Month. Whether it’s a solo adventure or a full-family endeavor, commit to one night under the stars this month as one of the great Primal joys (with added benefits of course). The National Wildlife Federation every year sponsors the Great American Campout event. They’re taking pledges and even hosting a contest with some fun prizes, so take advantage.
June 25th: While you’re at it, try your hand at some Primal survival skills. Pick at least one, and set out to master it in the wilds.
June 26th: Expand your Primal eating into a new international cuisine.
June 27th: Encourage someone in their health journey (e.g. friends, family, MDA comment board/forum), or submit your success story to MDA to offer the ultimate inspiration to others.
June 28th: Try a sweet meat of some kind—grilled, braised, slow-cooked, sautéed, open-fire roasted…whatever sounds most appealing. This usually isn’t the first thing Primal newcomers do, but it’s a tasty threshold to cross. Order it from a clean eating restaurant if you’re not ready to cook up the innards yourself.
June 29th: Envision something big for your Primal lifestyle and commitment to the good life (whatever that means for you) in July—and make a plan for it.
June 30th: Don’t forget to chase down more awe, pleasure, and euphoria this summer.
The Summer, Staff-Led 21-Day Challenge
Join several members of the Mark’s Daily Apple, Primal Blueprint, and Primal Kitchen staff as they kick off summer with a 21-Day Primal Blueprint Challenge reset.
Follow along on the Vimify app (accessible from your desktop computer or iOS-compatible device – iPhone or iPad) for Challenge prompts and progress, and see more of the staff’s tips, recipes, and stories on the PRIMAL KITCHEN®, Primal Blueprint and Mark’s Daily Apple Instagram pages.
The Staff 21-Day Challenge kicks off on Monday, June 5th, so get set for next week with these preparation ideas. And for more guidance and tools, check out the 21-Day Transformation Challenge Packages—for the ultimate reset support.
The Giveaway…
And now I want to hear from you…. Which challenge are you willing to take this month? Will you be joining the staff on their 21-day reset? Choosing something (or several) from the full list here? A new idea entirely?
Share your answer on the comment board, and I’ll select one random comment for a PRIMAL KITCHEN® gift package that includes:
A canister of my new PRIMAL KITCHEN® Collagen Fuel (Vanilla Coconut or Chocolate Coconut)
A 6-pack of PRIMAL KITCHEN® Coconut-Cashew Bars
The full collection of PRIMAL KITCHEN® Dressings:
The Deadline: Midnight tonight PDT
Who’s Eligible? Everyone. We’ll ship this prize package anywhere in the world!
Thanks for stopping by today, everyone. I’m excited for this summer. Are you? Offer up your Challenge commitments, and good luck!
The post Summer Reset: 30 Days, 30 Actions (Plus a 21-Day Staff Challenge AND Giveaway!) appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Jordan Peele Does His Own #GetOutChallenge On Jimmy Fallon, Announces Baby
Jordan Peele is out here winning in a myriad of ways! In yet another winning example, Peele appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and this time, he was alone and not with his comedy partner in crime, Keegan-Michael Key. The two, of course, had risen to fame from their Comedy Central sketch series, Key & Peele.
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In one of the most epic tv show entrances ever, Peele reenacted the infamous sprint done by the Get Out character “Walter,” now known as the #GetOutChallenge. He blessed the Tonight Show audience, admitting that it was the very first time that he had done the challenge. Very meta!
Fallon congratulated Peele for his recent marriage to fellow comedian, Chelsea Peretti, to which Jordan followed with, “we’re brewing together a comedy legend… within her.” In the way that Peele only could, he was basically announcing her pregnancy. They’re having a baby!
The two also reminisced on his last appearance on the show with Key in which they referenced Questlove given them a shout-out, which hilariously resulted in Questlove spitting out his drink. The shout-out must’ve taken him aback, but that very moment became a social media meme and gif. Peele described Questlove’s slip as “mother bird feeding his children.” Ha!
The two went on to talk about his upcoming works, including Peele producing a show for Tracy Morgan on TBS that follows Morgan’s character who returns to Brooklyn after a 15-year prison stint only to find it a new and unrecognizable gentrified Brooklyn.
Peele’s hype train is definitely not stopping anytime soon and it’s great because he’s a talented guy! Congrats to Peele on his “brewing” baby news and I look forward to his upcoming projects!
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After 184 Years, Oberlin College Names Its First Black President
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Cedar Crest College President Carmen Twillie Ambar is leaving to become president of Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio.
(MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO) |
After 184 years, Oberlin College announced that its first African American leader would be a woman.
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Carmen Twillie Ambar will become Oberlin's 15th president and the first African American woman to lead the institution. Ambar currently serves as president of Cedar Crest College, a position she has held since 2008, increasing endowment by almost 92%, launching 18 new academic programs, and increasing enrollment--Cedar Crest will welcome its largest freshman class since 2007. Under her leadership, the diversity of Cedar Crest's student body increased from 16% to 38%, with the highest increases in Hispanic and African American students.
President Ambar was selected from 150 applicants, not just for her excellent work ethic, but for her overall efforts. "President Ambar has a record of recognizing and embracing the importance of participatory governance, knowing that the community is integral to an institution's trajectory,” said Jeremy Poe, a member of the Presidential Search Committee. “She understands both the challenges of equitable access to education and the equity disparities students face after matriculating...I'm excited to see and be a part of what Oberlin is able to do under her leadership, and I know other students will be similarly excited."
"She's clear-eyed and tough-minded, honest and smart, and she believes passionately in the transformative power and social impact of what we do," said Jennifer Bryan, am Associate Professor of English. I think she's really inspiring, and I'm confident that she's going to be a powerful voice for Oberlin's mission and values.”
“I look forward to my work with Oberlin’s faculty, staff, students, board, and alumni to think creatively and collaboratively together," the new president said. "I am humbled to be joining this institution and excited about the opportunity to lead it into its next era.”
She'll join Oberlin's campus full time starting in September.
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6 Primal-Minded Reasons to Hit the Farmers Market This Weekend
Farmers markets aren’t just about local, seasonal produce. Sure, that’s a great reason to show up every week, but I’d argue also for some of the less noted (in some cases even less tangible) benefits of hitting these markets.
Socialize with Others Who Care about Health
I hear from a lot of folks who No, it won’t be a exclusive gathering of Primal Blueprinters, but it will likely be a pleasant collection of folks who have health-related visions and values. They want to support local farmers and economies. They care about agricultural methods and sourcing. They enjoy knowing their food providers and feeling a connection with the farms it came from. You’ll find many who prefer organic fare. There are those who are more adventurous eaters, willing to experiment with new veggies, meat cuts, and international flavors. Maybe some just enjoy the more social vibe of a farmers market.
When was the last time you had a friendly conversation with a perfect stranger in the aisle of a grocery store? At farmers markets, impromptu conversations happen all the time between shoppers, and between shoppers and farmers. The mood is convivial and leisurely. There might be a band playing, or tables set up for communal eating. People often go to farmers markets to hang out, not just to get groceries. It’s an outing, even an event in the weekend—not just a chore. Something tells me the sun is more welcoming than the florescent lighting, too….
All of this is good for mental health. Socializing increases secretion of oxytocin, and oxytocin is an antidote to feeling depressed and isolated. Think of it this way: the healthy food you buy at a farmers market feeds your body, and simply being at a farmers market feeds your soul. The slow food movement gets it, and I like that. Appreciation of food is a full cycle experience if you’re open to that.
Learn New Cooking Tips and Recipes
When you’re having one of those impromptu conversations with a farmer, ask what their favorite recipe is for purple cauliflower, or kale, or whatever’s in season at their stand. The farmers often know simple recipes that bring out the best flavor in their produce. (You may even find handouts at their tables.) Many of the farmers also talk to chefs who shop at the market, and can share their cooking tips.
If you see a fruit or vegetable you’ve never cooked before, don’t be shy. Ask what it is, and what to do with it. Chances are, if things aren’t too bustling, you’ll get more info and suggestions than you expect.
Make Good on Your Goal toward Experimentation
Sure, the bigger the market, the easier and more relevant this is. Hit a larger city’s farmers market, and you just may be able to stay all day without seeing everything. It still amazes me to think about the immensity of these pop-up food villages.
Make a point of taking in all the options you’ve never considered in your eating. Check out the unfamiliar produce items, yes, but look for those stands that offer more in the way of international flavor. You may find greens, teas, spices, and other ingredients that open up new possibilities.
And then there are the kids… Most kids I know hate the grocery store. Farmers markets are a different story. Not a bad family outing for a weekend. Let your kids bring their own bag and choose a new fruit or vegetable to try each week. Put them in charge of cooking their purchase, too.
Get More (of Everything) for Your Investment
Sometimes farmers markets have lower prices than supermarkets; other times certain prices are higher. If you end up paying more, you can feel good about the fact that you’re also getting more. Perhaps not in quantity, but definitely in nutrient density, variety, and flavor.
Freshly harvested, local produce that’s grown using organic methods and picked and sold at peak ripeness can have increased micronutrient density and taste a lot better. There are studies that tell us this, and intuitively it just makes sense. Which do you think is going to taste better—a hard, pale tomato shipped across the country in a refrigerated truck, or a ripe, juicy tomato that’s picked at a local farm a few hours before it’s sold?
Grab the Uglies and Heirlooms
Most grocery stores now offer organic produce. Some even sell local produce. Still, that produce is decidedly more perfect and uniform than the misshapen fruits and vegetables you see at farmers markets. Grocery stores often have cosmetic standards; looks matter more than flavor. At farmers markets, vendors sell “ugly” tomatoes and tiny, wild-looking strawberries with pride, as they should. Those uglies taste pretty awesome. Many are heirloom varieties, which naturally grow in a less predictable fashion.
It’s easier to find heirloom fruits and vegetables at farmers markets than it is at grocery stores. Heirloom fruits and vegetables are grown from the seeds of plant varieties that have been around for at least 50 years (before plant breeders introduced hybrid seeds). Heirlooms are also open-pollinated, meaning that insects or wind do the work, without human intervention. That’s all background information though. What you really need to remember is that more often than not, heirlooms taste really, really good.
Stock Your Protein and Pantry Needs
In addition to reusable bags, bring a cooler to your local farmers market. It can be a great place to stock up on meat, seafood, eggs, and even pastured (or in some places raw) dairy.
Most of us can’t raise our own animals to butcher, so buying directly from a local farmer is the next best thing. You know exactly where the meat came from, and how the animal was raised. Some farmers markets also sell locally caught seafood, and most sell fresh eggs from happy chickens.
Pantry items such as olive oil, fermented foods, nuts, and local honey (those with allergies, take note) can also be found, making it possible to put together entire meals made solely from your market foraging.
Thanks for reading today. Do you hit the farmers market in your area? Make a day trip of it ever? What have you found there that’s changed or enhanced your Primal eating? Share your thoughts, and enjoy the week, everyone.
The post 6 Primal-Minded Reasons to Hit the Farmers Market This Weekend appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.
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Try These Post-Coloring DIY Treatments
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| Photo Credit: Pinterest |
Coloring your hair is a fun way to change things up. It is also a quick way to damage your hair and undo your hair care routine’s hard work. Many curlies who color would benefit from doing a simple post-color DIY treatment. After you color your hair, it can become a little drier than usual, especially if you color a lot. Try one of these post-color DIY treatment recipes to restore the health of your hair!
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from Natural Hair Care | Curly Nikki http://ift.tt/2r7TJXG
Monday, May 29, 2017
Dear Mark: High T, More Wives? Plus Testosterone for Women and the Best Primal Roux
Let’s go:
What if the multiple wives was a consequence not a cause of the high testosterone?
Good point. It’s totally possible. That’s always the rub on observational studies: The causation is difficult, if not impossible, to uncover.
Let’s speculate a bit. As always, I pride myself on informed speculation. I’m not just throwing random nonsense out there to see what sticks.
Why might high T cause multiple wives?
Women might prefer men with higher testosterone, and they may be able to detect it. There’s some indication that women can “smell” high testosterone. In one study, researchers had a group of men take testosterone tests and then wear T-shirts for two days. Women smelled the worn shirts sans-men and rated the attractiveness and sex appeal of each shirt’s odor. Overall, women at the “fertile” phase of their menstrual cycle were more attracted to the smell of t-shirts worn by men with high testosterone. Women may also use indirect indicators as proxies for men’s testosterone levels. For example, one study found that women were most attracted to men with contiguous facial hair and body hair on the chest and sternum, perhaps as indications of active testosterone levels, and less attracted to completely clean-shaven men with patchy facial hair. Another found that women use facial cues to determine men’s testosterone level and attractiveness.
Men with higher T levels tend to choose riskier—and more lucrative—careers. If that holds true in Kenya, and the Swahili men with high T were able to procure more resources, they’d have a better chance at getting extra wives. Swahili marriage traditions require the groom and his family make several payments or donations to the bride’s. First, the groom makes many small payments and gives a steady stream of gifts to the bride and her family throughout the courting period. Then there’s mahari, or “bride wealth”—a payment from groom’s family to the bride’s. There’s also kitu—a much larger payment from the groom to the bride’s father.
Testosterone increases dominance and assertiveness. In a culture with extremely traditional gender roles, men without classically masculine dominance traits likely won’t have the advantage. Doubly so if there are multiple wives.
Interesting that the studies on testosterone are conducted on men, if I understand correctly, it’s an important hormone for women as well. My doc said my testosterone levels were way to low and said an increase would result in – yes, more ‘drive’ – not just sex drive, but motivation, enthursiasm. So, if I change the gender of that sentence, for fun: “Above all else, women with a healthy testosterone level enjoy increased self-confidence and drive. This can manifest as “aggression” in the sense that they stand up for themselves and pursue their goals. In other words, it’s workable and even productive.” Better a woman who is happy pursuing her goals than an irritable one, I’d say. Lol.
Definitely agree on all accounts. Testosterone acts mostly the same in women, except women are far more sensitive to it than men and thus require far less raw material to get the desired effects.
All in all, it’s incredibly vital for women’s health in the right amounts.
It maintains bone health.
It increases libido.
It promotes emotional stability and assertiveness, reducing unfounded aggression, irritability, and anxiety.
Anyone know which of these will make the best roux?
A traditional roux—flour cooked in fat until browned, then added to a sauce for thickening— is difficult to reproduce with Primal flours.
Masa harina, the lime-treated corn flour used to make tortillas, is gluten-free, does brown in the presence of fat and heat, and makes a pretty good roux. However, it lends a distinctive sweet corniness to the finished dish. Be aware and adjust accordingly. It may not mesh with your dish.
A potato starch slurry is really my go-to way to thicken sauce. It doesn’t provide the distinct flavor of a roux, as the flour isn’t browned in fat, but it provides excellent texture and thickening power.
Another benefit of using potato starch slurries is that they can be added right at the end. With a roux, you commit from the start. If you used too much flour, or too little, it’s harder to adjust the end product. Potato starch slurries increase the saucier’s agility.
Understand that potato starch slurries are entirely flavorless. If you add it right at the end without doing anything else, the slurry can dull the sauce. Whatever you do, taste your sauce after incorporating the slurry. You may need a touch more salt or a splash of lemon juice to regain the flavor.
That’s it for this week, folks. Happy Memorial Day to all who are honoring the occasion. Thanks for reading, and be sure to chime in with your input down below.
What’s your take on the testosterone/spousal count issue—cause or effect? Did you know testosterone matters for women, too, and what would you like to add to the discussion? Finally, how do you do your Primal roux?
The post Dear Mark: High T, More Wives? Plus Testosterone for Women and the Best Primal Roux appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.
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Sunday, May 28, 2017
Weekend Link Love – Edition 454
RESEARCH OF THE WEEK
Statins don’t help older adults, and they may even lead to higher mortality.
A 3-egg-a-day, low-carb diet helps older adults lose visceral fat, improve metabolic health, lower triglycerides, and raise HDL.
Fennel is great for post-menopausal women (PDF).
Physical strength predicts political leaning in men.
Eating more salt causes you to preserve water and drink less.
There’s no substitute for sunlight.
Add black pepper to the list of spices that reduce high-heat carcinogen formation in meat.
Gut bacteria imbalance linked to systemic sclerosis.
Psilocybin mushrooms deemed the world’s safest recreational drug.
NEW PRIMAL BLUEPRINT PODCASTS
Episode 170: Sarah Ballantyne, PhD: I chat with Sarah Ballantyne, New York Times bestselling author of The Paleo Approach, The Paleo Approach Cookbook and The Healing Kitchen, and creator of the online program Go To Bed.
Each week, select Mark’s Daily Apple blog posts are prepared as Primal Blueprint Podcasts. Need to catch up on reading, but don’t have the time? Prefer to listen to articles while on the go? Check out the new blog post podcasts below, and subscribe to the Primal Blueprint Podcast here so you never miss an episode.
INTERESTING BLOG POSTS
Are nature documentaries fake?
Why “Homo prospectus” might be more accurate.
Steven Hamley introduces his new paper on saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and heart disease.
Why the war on red meat is misleading.
MEDIA, SCHMEDIA
A Tarahumara woman won a 50km race wearing sandals.
What you can learn from animals.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Walking and creativity go hand in hand.
Well, they are called sea lions.
New photo technology captures the moment of conception.
THINGS I’M UP TO AND INTERESTED IN
Announcement I’m proud to make: PRIMAL KITCHEN® wins the Best Paleo Company (food) award in Paleo Magazine.
Development I’m happy to see: Lab-grown blood stem cells.
Concept I’m pondering: Spiderwebs as extensions of the spider’s mind.
Animation I dug: The 50 million-year evolution of the whale.
Terrible (and I really like avocado): This latte.
RECIPE CORNER
- Instant Pot ground beef chili, another winner from NomNomPaleo.
- For those high-carb refeeds, potato pancakes.
TIME CAPSULE
One year ago (May 28– June 3)
- The Health Paradox Paradox – The paradoxes that aren’t.
- 17 Activities for Primal Family Bonding – Have fun, deepen connections, make memories.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
“Next step – asking health insurance to cover massage so I can get a serotonin boost regularly ?”
– I hear ya, Nicole. There are lots of things health insurance should cover but doesn’t.
The post Weekend Link Love – Edition 454 appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.
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Saturday, May 27, 2017
Instant Pot Lamb and Sweet Potato Stew
The sweetness of the potatoes is perfect with the slightly gamey flavor of lamb. After a short time in the Instant Pot, both the meat and sweet potatoes melt in your mouth like butter. Cinnamon, coriander, cumin, garlic and ginger all punch up the flavor but don’t overwhelm the dish.
This lamb and sweet potato stew doesn’t need anything more to be a full meal. However, roasted cauliflower and sautéed greens are nice sides.
Time in the Kitchen: 1 hour
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (15 ml)
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 g) lamb shoulder, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt (7. 5 ml)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (2.5 ml)
- 1 teaspoon cumin (5 ml)
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander (10 ml)
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- 2 inches (5 cm) ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (15 ml)
- 1 cup bone broth (240 ml)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled (1.2 ml)
- Cilantro or parsley for garnish
Instructions
In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, cumin and coriander. Rub spice mixture all over the lamb. Let the seasoned lamb sit out while you chop and prep the other ingredients.
Press the “sauté” button on the Instant Pot. Add coconut oil. When oil is hot, add lamb in two separate batches and brown on all sides, then remove from the Instant Pot and set aside.
Lower the sauté heat and add onion (add more coconut oil if the pot seems dry). Sauté 3 to 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add garlic, ginger and tomato paste. Sauté about 1 minute, mixing constantly.
Add bone broth and cinnamon stick. Add meat back to the pot. Seal and cook at high pressure for 25 minutes.
Let the pressure release/vent naturally. Open the lid and add the sweet potatoes (and saffron, if using).
Cook under high pressure for 10 minutes. This time, activate the quick release the valve.
Garnish with cilantro or parsley.
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Friday, May 26, 2017
Black Scientists Create Hair Care Line Specifically For Black Hair
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| Photo Credit: Asiyami Gold |
To believe the hype, or not to believe the hype. That is the question.
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Recently Pantene has been pushing their new Pantene Gold Series Line harder than Shonda Rhimes at an Interracial dating convention. Their ads have been popping up all over unsuspecting Facebook and Instagram feeds, and most recently, a high fashion television spot has been making the rounds as well.
Their pitch is that this is a line specifically created for Black women, by Black Scientists (a group composed primarily of black women.) Gold Series labels promote moisture retention, creamy, paraben free lathers, and easy detangling.
But do the new culture conscious products live up to their gilded hype?
Luckily, YouTube is a sister needs these days to make an educated purchase. The verdict is in, and the reviews, while mixed, mostly offer the hair care line plenty of praise.
All in all, most reviewers, both new and old, popular and unknown, like the series. Their most popular product by far is the shampoo, which seems to have the collective community shook. It’s paraben free, but still contains sulfates (hence the rich lather) but amazingly, doesn’t strip the hair shaft, the way many mainstream products do. I think half the surprise is that Pantene did this shampoo right (because girl, you weren’t the only one buying AsIAm in the same batch… just in case!).
Many are complimentary of the shampoos, but at least one reviewer, whose opinion is likely less biased (viewer count is not as high as others, this ain’t no sponsor situation) honestly admitted that there are probably better conditioners out there. Also, considering the density, and moisture requirements that black hair requires, she also pointed out that, while the shampoo is efficient enough to last a while, the conditioner will likely be used up after a few wash days, making the price point a big consideration.
Kudos to Pantene for giving visibility and credence to the black consumer base, which makes up an incredible part of the beauty and hair care industry. Their efforts should be commended, whether you use the Gold Series or not.
from Natural Hair Care | Curly Nikki http://ift.tt/2qs8Wzf