DID YOU SAY, TUNA ON RYE!

In all my life, I have never known Tuna any other way, but from a can! Until one day, Grannie brought home a fresh cut from The Wharf! And honestly, while I make a reeeally good Can Tuna Sandwich, Grannie style, with ridiculous amounts of diced onions, I never knew what I was missing until....WOW, TUNA STEAKS (I cut into 1” slices from a big hunk of Bluefin), SEASONED, PAN-SEARED & FINISHING SAUCE Of Fresh Chopped Cilantro, Jalapeños, Scallions, Ginger, Garlic, Soy, Lemon, Olive Oil and a dash of Honey!

The finishing sauce a necessity, for me, because it's a thick, dense, fish, it can be a bit dry (if cooked beyond medium rare); so, I prefer it roughly chopped, mixed with sweet onions and an Aioli (mayonnaise with garlic and I add caper berries or olives), a sweet sprinkle of dried cranberries. topped off with a tomato slice & a green leaf (my favorite, Bok Choy) and all on fresh, warmed slices of Rye, Raisin or Olive Loaf bread! Yuuuup, that’s MY TUNA ON RYE! My, My, My! #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

HOSPITALENT MARIBY CORPENING PRESENTS An unforgettable 5-Star, Soul-Filled, Purpose-Filled, Southern Sit-Down Dining Experience! #IfWeMustEat #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom #SlapBiscuits #IDreamABrunch #WorthTheTrip #ToGoContainersPlease

PLAN YOUR OWN Private Dining Experience this coming Holiday Season: https://www.maribycorpening.com/brunch-experience


HospiTalent Mariby Corpening Presents

Tuna On Rye

Seasoned & Seared

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM


NEVER MET A CURRY I DIDN'T LIKE

Logo Image - Mariby Corpening - Crispy Curry Chicken.jpg

I digress! Back in my fat & fresh single days, THE BROTHA COULD, uh, uh, COOK ME SOME CURRY! LOL

Back in my hard & humbled wifely days, funny thing, I didn’t cook, still! But, well, Mom and Wife, prepared, I always could tell you where in the DMV to go for...whatever!

Oh, yes we lived in restaurants (it’s a DMV thing) and takeout was an everyday, well frankly, a necessity, at least for me! Momma worked hard for HER MONEY back then! There just ain’t no way, I could come home after work AND COOK, too! But, Grannie saved us, when she came to live with us!

AND NOW, we’ll, my good-paying job is gone (economy), My baby girl is gone (school), my husband, gone (moved on), my libido, gone! So, it’s been a long while since I’ve had some good, uh, uh, curry! LOL

Oh, but let me tell you what I do have: My own time, my peace of mind, my relative health, my commitment TO SELF, my afternoon naps, oh, you don’t understand, I mean, RESTED & RELAXED, my creativity and, and, and THANK THE LORD, I still have My Grannie! Oh, oh, and did I mention, I COOK...NOW! And one day, I mean to finish My Book! I mean, WOW!

Oh, oh, so, anyway, I just love me some curry over chicken, lamb, vegetables, tofu, you name it! Ain’t never met a curry, I didn’t like! But one fond memory I know my family shares was the way this particular Chinese Restaurant back in the day would prepare for us by special request, Curry Chicken...prepared General Tsao’s style, meaning, deep-fried (in cornstarch), but with curry sauce instead of Tsao’s sauce! IT WAS AND STILL IS OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE! Been a long, long time since!

HospiTalent Mariby Corpening Presents CRISPY CURRY CHICKEN (General Tsao’s style) with scratch-made, otherwise authentic, Caribbean Curry Sauce with fresh herbs and spices, based on a recipe from www.CaribbeanPot.com!

Daggon it, and not until I sat back to look at the images, did I realize, I forgot the chick peas! #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom


HospiTalent Mariby Corpening Presents

Crispy Curry Chicken

General Tsao’s Style

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM


BUT IS IT WORTH MY WILD

Logo Image - Mariby Corpening - Beef Tenderloin.jpg

But, is it WORTH MY WILD!

“WE NEED TO FIND MARIBY A MAN!”

That’s what someone said to me today! The plan, he invited me out to some event, truly that just was not culinarily pleasing to me, at which I declined!

Um thinking BEEF TENDERLOIN, slow roasted to perfection, a good bottle of wine, meaningful conversation, quiet time! Long past large crowds, loud music, “ball park Franks” boiled beyond erection, if you get my drift!

He then said, “Mariby, um try’na hook you up! Now, how we gon find you a man, when you never come out?

Well, now that’s a loaded question! Truly, I, I, I don’t know where to begin with that! Brings up a number of rather, uh, uh, tender considerations!

So, well, I’ll just start at the beginning; CONSIDER THIS:

No. 1: Raised by Grannie (Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues), finding “a man” has never been priority at anytime in my life! Now, don’t get me wrong, ain’t nothing wrong with a girl having a little fun with you boyz, a good romp for a good night’s sleep (seem'n I don't sleep straight through since menopause). LOL So, umma grown azz woman now; my toys ain’t cheap!

No. 2: The term, “a man,” in itself is offensive! Clearly, it won’t be just “any old man!” Necessarily old, indeed!

No. 3: To make it “Worth My Wild,” he would have to be “an exceptional man!” If you know me, I think we all could agree!

No. 4: Been through some shyt mess’n round with you boyz! So, in this day, at my age, at this stage in my life, “Worth My Wild,” means already living his dream, his purpose, wise, so he knows instinctively THAT I AM WELL WORTH IT, to the point he’s just overflowing with joy and deeply kind, giving of his time, succinctly, willingly, happily and quite intentionally bankrolling mine!

No. 5: And no offense fellas, but if you gon call yoself “My Man,” but you can’t or won’t give me what I need, “Boy,” please, then tell me, what do I need you for?

No. 6: “NEED” is perhaps too strong, maybe even just too wrong a word; but well, I need to be able to depend on “My Man!” Sadly, I’ve never had the pleasure, which is partly my fault, in that I had little expectations, since I always had to take care of myself! Just how The Wild Woman raised me and I’m thankful for it!

Well, now, wait a minute; there was that brief sugar daddy moment back in my day! But, even that poses a Hole’s other considerations - Obsession, Jealousy, Control, etc.!

No. 7: Well, and more to the point, I deliver! Oh, and I COOK, too! Oh, oh, right! That’s how this Hole, Beef thang got started; Grannie wanted beef for dinner! My mind, right!

Uh, uh, My BEEF TENDERLOIN, QUICK SEARED (for that color glaze), SLOW ROASTED and dressed with caramelized sweet onions, lots of fresh-chopped garlic, threw in some baby new potatoes with my standard of a balance of fresh herbs, red wine vinegar, poupon, hot peppers, a dash of raw honey...and MAN-O-WHAT-A-MAN he would be...FOR ME!

A CHOICE CUT OF MEAT! And I do mean that literally! Naturally aged, seasoned, tender, juicy when rested, bounces back when tested, impressive, selective, necessarily expensive, relentless, quick, thick, a culinary gift really, witty, wise and always with a cooked book, easy on mine eyes, pretty to look at (from the inside out) and knows all about HOW TO TREAT (not control) MY HEAT!

For I Am MadlyLiving! You hear me!


HospiTalent Mariby Corpening Presents

Beef Tenderloin

Worth My Wild

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM


BRUNCH VIOLATIONS

BRUNCH VIOLATIONS! A Must Read! Too Funny!

Y'all would wanna know that this was to be among The Mother of All Brunches - GRANNIE'S 76th BIRTHDAY! “The Wild Woman Lives” and she wanted her very own Brunch, which says a lot! I mean, of all the places she could have chosen over MY BRUNCH! So, I was determined to DELIVER! So, I put a little some'm, some'm extra into it! Duh, like I always do!

I will say, "Thank The Lord" for Family & Good Friends, because had this special day - and for Grannie, too - not unfolded exactly as it did, My Word, just so many "violations," as one of my guests put it! Oh yes, indeed I, I, panicked!

VIOLATION #1 - PANIC IN THE KITCHEN - I had only two more (of 10) dishes to go AND THE BISCUITS, when all Heat In Hell broke loose In MY KITCHEN!

VIOLATION #2 - The oven shut down and all I could think of was, “My Word, NO BISCUITS!" - In disbelief, I stood quiet, frozen, freaked really, in the middle of the kitchen; called Grannie, called for service, called my best friend (whose response was, "Well, just serve rolls!") WHAT! Store-bought rolls! Is she out of her mind! I'd sooner scratch the menu! I can get away with missing somethings on the menu; but, OH NO, NOT The Biscuits!

VIOLATION #3 - The air-conditioner went out (IT WAS HOT AS HELL up in that house). So, for obvious reasons, I was already sweat'n bullets, when my guests complained "It sure is hot in here!" And, and, truly, I wasn't even try'na feel'm for all I was going through in that moment, try'na keep it together! Nobody knew the panic I was in over, SERIOUSLY, HOW CAN I SERVE BRUNCH WITH “NO BISCUITS!”

VIOLATION #4 - The guests were very late, which is a violation in and of itself; but, well, this one time, I was THANKFUL for my hour-late guests). And yes, we waited and literally all of us applauded, when the biscuits finally arrived, almost 2 hours later! Thank The Good Lord, "Grannie's Signature Mimosas," saved the day! One guest said that it was the best Mimosa she’d ever had!

VIOLATION #5 - I forgot to make the ice cream (for Grannie's favorite Scratch-Made Triple Chocolate Cake with Hot Fudge Topping); Grannie don't do store bought! And, not that it mattered, as that cake was gone in a blink! And, and, I’m sure it made'm think! By the bewildered look on the faces of guests unfamiliar with #ToGoContainersPlease and #DontTouchMyBag standard of my brunches, were truly baffled that all of the cake was gone BEFORE they'd even gotten up from the table! #WhoAteMyCake

VIOLATION #6 - Clearing a guest's plate before she was finished (I mean, the plate was clean; just a biscuit and some crumbs, is all). When I saw the lone biscuit on the plate, I pondered for only a second, “Hmm! Left My Biscuit?” Let me tell y'all, when you leave My Biscuit on your plate, I be seriously contemplating, "Do it look like they bit out of it?" Y'all, be saving it to take home; betta put some obvious bite marks, slob, lipstick or something, wrap That sucka up and hide it somewhere! Because, I ain't about to waste a good biscuit! And, I ain't the only one scouting! Y'all be in my kitchen looking for another biscuit! Do you hear me!

So, anyway, the guest had long gotten up from the table. So, brunch is over now, I’m in clean up mode, strictly focused on MY PROCESS, because, heck, ain’t nobody sitting here and not for awhile now! So, I begin to clear and WAIT, you'da thought I violated the woman! She yelled from across the room, “Don’t touch MY BISCUIT; I’ve been keeping my eye on it! NO, NO, THAT’S MY BISCUIT!”

The idea of me clearing plates, is all, caused such a frenzy, other guests began scrambling for the leftovers (containers, foil, bags & all). One guest heading out the front door to retrieve something from her car, saying, "I'll be back," thought again, turned right back around and grabbed her bag! It was a funny moment! She called it, "A Violation," to walk away from your food/bag!

VIOLATION #7 - I ran out of To-Go Containers! Nuff said!

THOUGH, ALL SAID, mannnn, if I could have recorded it and to my GREAT RELIEF, Grannie's Brunch turned out beauuuuuuutifully. Grannie is clearly all of our SUPER SHERO! Our testimonies spoke volumes of the love and respect for THE WILD WOMAN, WHO NEVER GETS THE BLUES! As one of our guests so perfectly put it, Grannie's life "is like The Movie we all need to see!" WOW!

Oh, yeah and My girlfriend & Godson saved the day, picked up THE BISCUITS, threw them bad boys in her oven and everything else had to be cooked on the stove top, but it was ALL GOOD! REEEEEALLY GOOD! And the next day, the air and oven were back on - air panel just needed a battery and the oven, well, I guess I was over working that baby!

LESSONS LEARNED from a Collective Guest response:

LESSON #1 - DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT SERVING BRUNCH WITHOUT THE BISCUITS!

LESSON #2 - Don’t touch MY BISCUIT!

LESSON #3 - Don't Touch My Plate!

LESSON #4 - Don't Touch My Bag!

LESSON #5 - Don't let me leave home without my to-go container! As one guest said, "You shoulda told me; I'd've brought my own container!

But, I mean, how could I know, it ain’t like y’all be taking only one container! LOL

#ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom #SLAPBiscuits #BlackEyeBiscuits


HospiTalent Mariby Corpening Presents

Brunch Violations

A MUST READ! FUNNY!

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM


GENERAL TSAO's CHICKEN - A Return To The Scene of The Crime

I COOK! SO, I RETURNED TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME! It’s not even about guilt or innocence of what we (choose) to eat; but well, the question is, “CAN YOU PAY BAIL?”

Um telling you! GENERAL TSAO’s CHICKEN, twice in a week! See, now, that’s how you get caught...up! Yup, when it’s that good! Oh, I feel you! Truly, not even try’na (be the) judge nor jury! Obsession can be a dangerous..thang! I know this; I still got the tang of THAT SAUCE on my tongue! You hear me, I AM DONE! I know I’m going down...for this one! #IfWeMustEat

And, this time, oh, I put my foot in it! Left a big azz blue print, the stain of cooking juices all over my clothes, the scent of fresh herbs linger on my fingers! I just couldn’t get it out of My Mind! Truth be told, and don’t you go blab’n, but, I Doubled My Crime...EXTRA chicken (boneless thighs), freshly-graded garlic & ginger, fresh-squeezed oranges, fresh-chopped scallions & herbs, molasses, rice wine vinegar, sesame & peanut oils, soy, red hot peppers, in addition to Grannie’s Hot Pepper-Ginger purée, OMG, sent my taste buds through the roof! And I mean, I landed harrrd! You hear me, bent! And, and, I only spent $20 between the chicken & herbs. Duh, I hide my weapons in The Pantry! So, no, you can’t see ALL I DO - FOR YOU!

Guilty of doing too much! When will I learn? GRANNIE was concerned, this time, I’d gone too far! For, I bare the paring knife scars! And now, look at me, in a proverbial straight jacket, keep'n my cool (try'n hard to resist the ready-made, processed food package), act’n the culinary fool! Nobody’s but me and my DNA screaming out the injustices of anything but SOME REAL, FRESH, HOMEMADE, I mean, GOOD FOOD! #TheGoodFoodLady

SO, BEFORE I SHARE MY RECIPE WITH YOU, I’ll have to read you your humane rights! ..., You have the right to remain in good health! Anything you eat can and will be used against you if witnessed binging in another fake azz food court! You have the right to a home-cooked meal! If you cannot afford A Wife, A Private Chef, A 5-Star Restauranteur or #TheColoredWomensEatingClub, one, though likely of lesser skill (your child, your roommate or your girl/boyfriend, aka a pubic defender) can be very willingly appointed, if you treat’m right, aka, cough up a little bit of cash (weekly allowance, timely rent, really good nookie for dinner & a movie) and, and, it won’t hurt to offer to clean up some dang time!

So, you see, either way, you pay; so, YOU BEST BE GOOD TO YOUR WIFE and she just might cook you a real, honest in goodness meal sometime. Besides, well, we women so busy making the money these days, just hire a private chef; heck, at least spring for a personal chef, costs a lot less than takeout on a regular, and then let the fresh-cut, oven-baked chips fall where they may!

And before your grown azz go doing something stupid, like complaining to your momma to cook for you (when your wife can’t or won’t), essentially jump’n, uh, uh, bail, a reminder that the grass is only greener because...HE PAYS! Aeration costs! You gotta pay to be The Boss!

Having said, my hope is that all what I do will somehow delight and inspire you, while allowing me to sustain my way of MadlyGiving, too! So, well, but, you gotta pay! —HospiTalent Mariby Corpening

DONATE TODAY to The MadlyGiving Campaign - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/MaribyCorpening

UPCOMING EVENT - The Colored Women’s Eating Club - https://www.maribycorpening.com/thecoloredwomenseatingclub - THE SCENE OF YET ANOTHER OF MY CULINARY HIGH CRIMES!


HospiTalent Mariby Corpening Presents

General Tsao’s Chicken

A RETURN TO THE SCENE OF THE CULINARY CRIME

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM