the color lab blog

WARNING: This dish is NOT for those with tender taste buds. Stay away if when you think of spicy or hot foods, you think of buffalo wings or chicken curry. This time, the Home Chef Extraordinaire went full on blow-the-roof-off-your-mouth with his version of the Jamaican classic Jerk Chicken Wings. His process is not traditional, meaning these wings were not smoked and slow-cooked over an open fire, but as someone who has had Jerk Chicken prepared in that manor, this rendition is remarkably close.  

I hope you love the products I recommend! While this blog post was not sponsored, it may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

 

To achieve the intense level of flavor for this dish, you might think that the prep time would be extensive but even though there are a lot of ingredients necessary to build the savory heat, this meal is so easy to make, you'll want to call on it again and again when you're in need of something fierce and fiery on the menu. As always the Home Chef Extraordinaire kept the cooking simple and healthy with the use his formidable power blender and air fryer. And the beautiful serving platter he selected makes this dish all the more spicy! (The platter seen here is currently unavailable but I love this one too!) Have no fear and give this delectable dish a try. The recipe is ready for you below:

 

 

Jumpin' Jerk Chicken Wings

 (serves 4)

Ingredients

2 spring onions, roughly chopped
1 sprig of thyme
1 fresh red Scotch bonnet, stems removed and roughly chopped
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground allspice
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tbsp white pepper
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp brown sugar
1-12 oz bottle Red Stripe lager or any amber lager beer
3 lbs chicken wings, cleaned, tips removed, drums and flat separated

Directions

1.  ADD all ingredients except chicken wings into a blender and mix well to create a marinade.

2.  PLACE chicken wings in a large sealable refrigerator bag. Pour marinade into the bag. 

3.  SEAL bag and toss chicken wings so they are well coated.

4.  PLACE bag into refrigerator and marinate chicken wings for 1 hour. (Marinate for 12-24 hours for more intense flavor)

5.  PLACE marinated chicken wings into a pre-heated air fryer. (Alternatively, chicken can be placed on a foil lined baking sheet and baked at 400 degrees, about 45 minutes)

6.  COOK chicken wings in air fryer on the Chicken setting - 25 minutes at 380 degrees.

7. SHAKE the air fryer basket about halfway through cooking.

8. REMOVE the chicken wings and place on a serving platter.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you love the products I recommend! While this blog post was not sponsored, it may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

 

Candles could be the most underrated items in the world of home decor. Not only do they create a certain ambiance when lit (THINK:  romantic, relaxing, refreshing), their scents, if desired, can evoke passion, a sense of calm or high energy. The same with using color in candles.

JulRe Designs Studio, South Orange, NJ

While white candles will always be readily available at all price points and will remain the standard because of their ease of placement within your home and their obvious versatility, there is something to be said about bringing them into full effect with the addition of color.

 

 

 

Magnetic Measuring Spoons from Spring Chef

We surprisingly received quite a few invitation to 4th of July festivities this year. Some of our friends have made the decision to continue with the tradition of outdoor BBQs, cocktail parties and the like. And while we appreciate that they have tried to pull off these events as safely as they possibly can (small gatherings, hand sanitizers and promises to monitor social distancing), we're not quite comfortable with the idea of group socializing yet. So we'll be wishing everyone well via video and thoroughly enjoying the weekend at home watching the hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, now streaming on Disney+, sips of wine on our porch among the hanging plants, herb gardens and citronella incense and delicious meals from the home chef extraordinaire. 

I hope you love the products I recommend! While this blog post was not sponsored, it may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

This weekend, we get to indulge in his Turkey Burgers with Asian Slaw. The flavors are just so yummy. He's added some of his tasty Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries and has done almost the entire meal in his magical Air Fryer. 

While everything in this meal is delectable, the Asian Slaw is a standout. The flavors are so well balanced, you can also serve it as a side for any Summer weeknight lunch or dinner for the entire family. With the Turkey Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries, prep to plate is under 1 hour! You'll find the recipes below:

Turkey Burgers with Asian Slaw

serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Asian Slaw 

2½ cups shredded cabbage

1 small white onion

½ carrot, grated

1 tbsp dried cilantro

2 tbsps rice wine vinegar

2 tbsps low sodium soy sauce

2 tbsps brown sugar

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp low fat mayonnaise

Salt & pepper, to taste

 

Turkey Burger Patties

1 lb ground turkey (85/15)

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ tbsp ground ginger

2 tbsps hoisin sauce

1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 tsp sriracha 

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Sesame seed hamburger buns

 

Sweet Potato Fries

2 large sweet potatoes, cut into shoestring strips

2 tbsp olive oil 

2 tsp salt

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

 

DIRECTIONS

Asian Slaw

1. MIX together the cabbage, onion, carrots and cilantro in a large bowl.

2. WHISK together the vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, mayonnaise, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

3. TOSS the vegetables with the vinegar dressing and let the Asian Slaw marinate for 3 minutes.

Turkey Burger Patties

1. MIX all of the patty ingredients together in a large bowl until combined.

2. FORM the turkey mixture into 4 patties and set in the refrigerator.

3. SELECT PREHEAT on your Air Fryer and press START. Alternatively, you can heat a frying pan to Medium HIgh on your stovetop. NOTE: the stove top method will take up to 10 minutes longer.

4. PLACE the turkey patties in the preheated air fryer or frying pan.

5. COOK for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove, cover and set aside.

Sweet Potato Fries

1. SELECT PREHEAT on your Air Fryer and press START. Alternatively, you can heat a frying pan to Medium HIgh on your stovetop.

2. ADD the cut sweet potatoes to a large bowl and toss with the oil until the sweet potatoes are evenly coated.

3. SPRINKLE in the salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix well.

4. PLACE fries in preheated air fryer baskets and cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Make sure to shake the baskets halfway through cooking. Or pan fry the sweet potatoes until tender.

To plate, place a turkey burger patty on top of an open sesame seed hamburger bun. Top the burger with a serving of the Asian Slaw. Add a serving of the the Sweet Potato Fries and ENJOY!

 

Until next time, may your life be filled with joy and color!

  

 

 

So the super home chef/man in my life has another hit meal to share! As is his cooking modus operandi, this dish is colorful, easy to make, healthy and delectable. If you're in need of a delicious lunch or dinner idea and love fish, consider his appetizing recipe below. The secret sauce? Prep time is minimal and the Air Fryer gives the fish a perfect crispness without a batter. 

 

I hope you love the products I recommend! This blog post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

 

 

Salmon and Fettuccine Fiesta

serves 2

Ingredients

1 lb salmon filet

1 pack of refrigerated fettuccine pasta (we like this brand)

3-4 garlic cloves, sliced

¼ cup diced onions

¼ cup diced black olives

1 medium green pepper, diced

2 tbsp olive oil

½ cup sundried tomatoes in olive oil, sliced

¼ cup black olives, diced

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

½ tsp dried thyme

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

1 cup diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

Freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt to taste

1 cup fresh chopped spinach (frozen spinach in a bag can be used)

1 tbsp butter or buttery spread

 

 

 

Directions

1. Saute garlic, onions and peppers in olive oil.

2. Add sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, basil, oregano and pepper flakes. Stir and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes.

3. Stir in fresh tomatoes and bay leaves. Cover pan with lid and simmer for about 20-30 minutes to create a sauce. 

4. Slice salmon into serving sizes and season with salt and pepper. Take 1 tbsp of the sauce and drizzle over salmon.

5. Place salmon in air fryer at 350 degrees for 8 minutes (for medium doneness). Alternatively, you can pan fry the salmon in a little olive oil.

6. Cook fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain.

7. Steam spinach until tender. Once done, season to taste and toss with butter.

8. Serve by layering each serving with fettuccine first, spinach, salmon, then top with the rest of the sauce. Enjoy!

 

Until next time, may your life be filled with joy and color!

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not the silent type. But I also am not the type that needs shout out about everything that I do. I've always known I had a voice thanks to incredible parents who encouraged me as a child to speak my mind, even when it went against their principles. They always listened to my young, naive perspective. Sometimes they would agree with my vision. Most times they would counter with whatever parental directive they thought was appropriate and we would move on. Even if I didn't get my way, it never stopped me from saying how I felt because I knew, at least I would be heard. As a Black woman, I don't always get that same level of respect. But I move forward in my power and speak my mind, even when others may not be listening. The senseless murders of my people that have been spotlighted in recent days and weeks are not new. History is sadly still repeating itself. What’s new is that modern technology has made it possible for ALL to see the atrocities that have been happening to people of color for many lifetimes. The sudden bursts of causal energy that I’ve been seeing are always necessary and welcome but what’s needed more than anything is a lasting passion and a committed fervor for blasting out hate, injustice and inequality. That requires talking to people to gain knowledge, listening to those whose opinions may differ from yours and doing the important work that is parallel with your life vision. And while I may not be a shouter, I am definitely a do-er. ⁠⁠

If you are searching for ways to make your voice heard, here are a few suggestions:⁠

⁠
VOTE⁠
Make sure you can be heard by electing local, state and federal government officials who are aligned with your beliefs. If you need to register to vote or want to check your voter registration status, you can get started at Vote.org or RockTheVote.org.⁠
⁠
SUPPORT⁠
Identify organizations that are doing the hard work of fighting social injustice and racial inequality. Volunteer to help or donate. As an example, through our Giving Is Easy program, my company is donating 100% of the proceeds from sales of jewelry from a specially curated collection to several organizations we believe are standing for what’s right and just. ⁠I am personally matching every dollar spent. We salute Color of Change, Innocence Project and When We All Vote. 
⁠
TALK AND LISTEN⁠
Conversations with family, friends or co-workers on social issues can be very difficult, but they are some of the most powerful ways to create change. My life partner, a Black man, recently had one of these tough conversations with a co-worker. She, a White woman, asked him how he was doing in our current climate. She admitted that he was the only Black person that she really knew well. That, in itself, saddens me but if we don't travel in the same circles, for whatever reason, this is reality. In an effort to compliment him on being such a great co-worker, she quipped "You are the whitest Black man I've ever known!". My partner says he was immediately taken aback and deeply offended but he felt this was an opportunity to help create change and understanding. He explained to her that Black men don't aspire to be White men. We value who we are and love the skin we're in. He went on to say that all Black people want is to be respected for who we are and afforded the same rights as all human beings should be. It was a stressful interaction, I'm told. But when they ended the dialogue, they both felt a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the other. That's a step. When you decide to really open your eyes, ears and heart to speak truth, you become the change, and in turn, a real giver and do-er. ⁠
⁠
May we learn to live in love, compassion and harmony. Through our collective ongoing actions and efforts, we can help erase the scourge of hate.

Peace & love,

⁠