LBJ's Brown Bag is a fun, unique food blog covering everything from recipes, restaurants, products, and short stories covering the adventures in foodland!
Millions of Americans are preparing a time-honored holiday–Independence Day! Alongside parades, fireworks, the Taste of Chicago and the Essence Music Festival, some Americans are planning elaborate, belly-filling, traditional cookouts!
As you know, I’m on the Get Fit Challenge and I will not be able to graze the summer food spreads like I have in the past. I need your help! What do you think I should prepare or eat this weekend? At this moment, I am confirmed for 2 events this weekend, and the list could increase.
What do I do? Should I eat prior to arrival? Do I bring my own food and eat it when I get there? Maybe they’ll be so kind and give me a protein high on a platter of Maryland Blue Crabs?
Yesterday kicked off the official Get Fit Challenge! I’m well on my way to winning the competition too!
I posted the ad that ran in the Washington Post Express, but there was also an article online too!
I just read the comments and someone already started a TEAM LARRY at her job! How cool is that? I truly hope and pray that I will inspire several people through this challenge! (Thanks, “Missy”, for starting TEAM LARRY!)
Can you take a visit to the site, and leave a comment on the page for me? I’d really, really love to hear from you! CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE!
Today officially begins the Washington Post Express/Gold’s Gym Get Fit Challenge!
Do you see me?
It’s not a secret that I’m a big guy, so there’s no shame in my weight at all! Now, you know the official number. I’m amazed that I’ve “carried it so well”…as some people would say.
Since I started my program, I have been regularly exercising and eating healthy small, meals. This is so much fun! Trust me.
Today I start a new feature in my Brown Bag that is targeted towards the non-carnivorous Brown Baggers! Thanks to several emails, comments and tweets, I am proud to present:
MEATLESS MONDAYS
For a few years, I’ve lived the meatless life. My first stint was in the fourth grade. We dissected a baby pig in Science class, and we had to correctly identify all of the organs of the pig. Once we passed our instructors exam, we were free to do whatever we wanted to do to the pig. Well I took that chance and quasi torchered the already deceased pig. After my scientific shenanigans, and completed my homework for the evening, it was time for dinner. My Mom made fish. Sitting at the dinner table, I had flashbacks of my day and I began to weep because I felt sick to my stomach. The mere site of flesh made me ill. From that day on, I swore off meat for a year and a half.
In college, I did the meatless life for about 8 months, then I stopped at a hot dog stand on campus and ended it all. Post college, I lived a meatless life for over a year then returned to my previous ways.
As an adult, I learned that it was important to have something with texture and substance on hand when I wanted to make meatless meals. When all else fails, sometimes you have to go with what you have…and what I kept on hand always proved to satisfy me with every bite!
These crumbles are great stand-ins for your favorite recipes that require ground beef, turkey or chicken! Seriously! You can season, simmer and serve these crumbles in your meals and you won’t be able to tell a difference!
Sometimes you may think that its too good to be true! There are so many nutritional benefits to this product. Furthermore, a 12 ounce package is equivalent to 1 pound of uncooked ground beef! What a health savings, right?
Great news! I’ve got a new assignment that’s been added to my wonderful world of food!
I’m a Contributor for a new online magazine:
Four of my posts have been added to the magazine so far! I’m honored to be on board this great project, and I hope you’ll take time and enjoy the site. There are several tools for you to use in your leisure.
Thanks for the support, and feel free to leave your comments as well.
To vote all you have to do is click the icon on the left of the blog or below and cast your vote!*
Thank you in advance & let’s bring home the awards this year!
*If you select that you don’t want to receive the newsletter from the award Producers, you might get an error message when you try to vote…click BACK and select the box to receive the newsletter and then vote. It will work that way. (You can unsubscribe from the newsletter once it comes.)
This ifs off topic, but I think it’s appropriate to acknowledge the musical genius of the late Michael Jackson. The news of his death is still surreal. As a 20-something in America, this is one of those moments when I’ll reflect 50 years from now and recall where I was when I learned of MJ’s death.
I was a Michael Jackson fan as a little boy. Alongside an audio recording of me singing the first song I learned (”Jesus Loves Me”) was another recording of me singing my favorite childhood song, “Billie Jean”! Of course I didn’t know what I was singing, but it was cool to me since it was a Michael Jackson song.
The song that’s had the biggest impact on me is “Man in the Mirror”. It inspires in so many ways, and I feel it necessary to share with you today. Here is the video and lyrics. Take a listen and internalize the lyrics and I hope that it incites a new level of change in your life.
Ooh ooh ooh aah
Gotta make a change
For once in my life
It’s gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turned up the collar on
A favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs
A summer’s disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man’s soul
They follow each other
On the wind ya’ know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change, yey
Na na na, na na na, na na na na oh ho
I’ve been a victim of
A selfish kinda love
It’s time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really pretending that they’re not alone
A willow deeply scarred
Somebody’s broken heart
And a washed out dream
(Washed out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya’ see
‘Cause they got no place to be
That’s why I’m starting with me
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah)
I’m asking him to change his ways, yeah
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
‘Cause when you close your heart
(You can’t close your, your mind)
Then you close your mind
(That man, that man, that man)
(That man, that man, that man)
(With the man in the mirror, oh yeah)
(That man you know, that man you know)
(That man you know, that man you know)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make that change
(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Ooh
Oh yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Oh no
Oh no, I’m gonna make a change
It’s gonna feel real good
Sure mon
(Change)
Just lift yourself
You know, you got to stop it yourself
(Yeah)
Oh
Make that change
(I gotta make that change today, oh)
(Man in the mirror)
You got to, you got to not let yourself, brother oh
Yeah
You know that
(Make that change)
(I gotta make that make me then make)
You got, you got to move
Sure mon, sure mon
You got to
(Stand up, stand up, stand up)
Make that change
Stand up and lift yourself, now
(Man in the mirror)
Make that change
(Gonna make that change, sure mon)
(Man in the mirror)
You know it, you know it, you know it, you know
(Change)
Make that change
She’s delicate, fragrant, refined, bright and grey! I call her Lady Grey and makes an appearance in my Brown Bag this Thirsty Thursday!
London’s Twinings Tea proudly presents the cousin of Earl Grey with the same bergamot lineage, but Lady Grey has lemons and oranges in her DNA. As soon as she hits the water, her aromatic scent saunters past your nose in an effort for you to stop the steeping process and prematurely enjoy it. Fortunately, the longer she steeps, the happier she becomes.
It is recommended that you take Lady Grey out for a sip during the afternoon, but I like to enjoy her when I need a pick-me-up, especially with a cupcake!
You can serve Lady Grey tea black, with a slice of lemon or with a drop of milk. That’s the perfect cup. I like her a tad sweet too.
Lady Grey Tea can be purchased loose or in bags. You can find her wherever Twinings Teas are sold.
June 30 is just around the corner and you’ll have full access to Washington Post Express/Gold’s Gym GET FIT CHALLENGE! If you haven’t heard by now, I’m one of the six Challengers! See. Look at the ad…
Since Tuesday, June 9, The Washington Post Express has been teasing this entire competition every Tuesday and Thursday. Everytime I open the paper, I’m reminded that I shall win and I must remain committed!
Several people have let me know that they’re on board with supporting me and joining in. Are you one of them? If so, today, I’d like you to commit, and leave your first name, city and state in the comments section. WE CAN GET FIT TOGETHER!
Can we do this…YES WE CAN! (I couldn’t resist that one.)
One of the highlights of Summer has always been a popsicle for me. There’s just something refreshingly nostalgic about enjoying a flavored iced pop, on a stick, in the midst of a warm, scorchy day.
I’ve always been a creative guy looking for fun new ways to do traditional things. I vividly remember making homemade popsicles with my Grandmother! My favorite flavor was a grape and orange blend that we made. I think I liked it because the popsicle molds we used had built in straws that let you sip the juice of the pop as it melted! I still haven’t been able to find those. Anyhow, I’ve got a super cool way to creatively kick off the summer!
These dishwasher safe, plastic molds provide for cool, fun times more than just in the Summer, yet they really shine during this season.
For $9.99 you can have 6 of your custom created pops molded into perfection then in a queue for consumption!
Try fun recipes with your pops. Blend fresh fruit with juice, add sparkling water…just have have a great time. Once you get into a regular routine, you can get groovy and show off your favorite concoctions!
