Miss Moon's Musings About: Rock the Red Pump Day 2013

" It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance."

~ Elizabeth Taylor

In recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), and Rock the Red Pump Day, I wanted to share a very special Sunday post. Why? It's very simple:

In the United States -

*Women account for one in four new HIV diagnoses and deaths caused by AIDS.
*The proportion of AIDS diagnoses reported among women has more than tripled since 1985.
*The vast majority of women diagnosed with HIV contracted the virus through heterosexual sex.
*African Americans constituted 64 percent of women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2009.
*African Americans and Hispanics represent 26 percent of all women in the U.S. but they account for 82 percent of AIDS cases among women.
*African-American women have an HIV prevalence rate nearly 15 times that of white women.

 Around the Globe -

*Worldwide, women constitute more than half of all people living with HIV/AIDS.
*For women in their reproductive years (15–49), HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death.
*Women are at least twice as likely to acquire HIV from men during sexual intercourse than vice versa.
*A study in South Africa recently suggested that nearly one in seven cases of young women acquiring HIV could have been prevented if the women had not been subjected to intimate partner violence.
*In 2011, 57 percent of pregnant women living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries received effective drug regimens to prevent new HIV infections among children.
*In sub-Saharan Africa, women constitute 58 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS. Among young people aged 15-24, the HIV prevalence rate for young women is twice that of young men.
 (Statistics courtesy of AMFAR.org)

So what can we do? We can educate our friends, our sisters, our daughters on prevention. We can show love, compassion and support to the women living with HIV and AIDS. And we can contribute to the following charities that helps those living with AIDS across the world:

The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation
Women Alive
International AIDS Women Caucus
United Nations AIDS Organization

Yummm! Rave for Red Smoothies!!!

So of course I wanted to put together some recipes inspired by Rock the Red Pump™ day, and my first idea was to focus on the lusciousness that is red velvet, prominently featuring an intriguing recipe for Red Velvet Fried Chicken.... because seriously the thought of that makes my SPIRIT soar! LOL

Common sense got the better of me, and I knew that the recipe was hardly appropriate since I'm all about Getting Healthy, so begrudgingly, I sought out some more healthy options for this post. And to be honest, all of these recipes are certainly drool-inspiring, and will just as good for you as they are delicious!

Strawberry Smoothie

Recipe Courtesy of Food.com

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups soy milk
1 cup strawberry
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup crushed ice

Directions:

Put all ingredients into blender container. Process until smooth.

Banana Raspberry Yogurt Smoothie

Recipe courtesy of SmoothieWeb

Ingredients:

1 container (6 oz) 99% Fat Free French vanilla yogurt
1 1/2 cups soymilk or almond milk
1 cup unsweetened frozen or fresh raspberries
1 medium banana
add a few ice cubes if you don’t use frozen raspberries

Directions:

Place ingredients in blender or food processor. Cover; blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth.

Ruby Red Grapefruit Smoothie

Recipe courtesy of SmoothieWeb

Ingredients:

1 large pink or ruby red grapefruit
1/2 cup cold water (preferably refrigerated)
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
3-4 ice cubes
Fresh mint, chopped for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Peel grapefruit and remove as much pith as possible. Divide the sections and remove any seeds.
Add grapefruit sections and water to a blender and blend until smooth. Add the yogurt, honey and ice then process until smooth or to desired consistency. Pour into tall glasses and serve garnished with mint.

Fresh Cherry Smoothie

Recipe courtesy of MyRecipes

Ingredients:

2 cups pitted sweet cherries
1 1/2 cups ice
1 1/2 cups plain fat-free yogurt $
1/4 cup honey

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Serve immediately.

:::drools::: Rumer Willis-style for Plus Size Fashionistas

It's that time of year again!!! In honor of Rock the Red Pump™ day, many of my posts for the remainder of the week will be all red-inspired, starting with a plus size fashionistas post, featuring a killer red pump.

When I spotted this photo Rumer Willis (daughter of Demi Moore & Bruce Willis) rocking red pumps on the red carpet, I knew immediately that this was the outfit I wanted to recreate!! It's a simple outfit that I think really says a lot! Here's what I came up with:

Dress: Women's Plus Tie-Neck Dress ($24.99, Old Navy)
Belt: Black Braided Wide Stretch Belt ($9.50, Torrid)
Pumps: Steve Madden 'Allyy' Pump ($89.95, Nordstrom)

DOPE: "Last Night" by Saul Williams

Many things, even poems, aren't always what they seem. Take this poem by Saul Williams, as seen on the (HORRIBLY missed by me!) television program, "Girlfriends". What may sound like a romantic and seductive poem on the surface is actually a poem about the rampant spread of HIV and AIDs in the continent of Africa.



In honor of National Women and Girls’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and of course, Rock the Red Pump™ Day, this week's poem with strong imagery and a very powerful message. I dedicate this to the Women and Children affected by HIV and AIDs in Africa, the U.S. and the entire world. Remember that Awareness is the key, so get tested. Click here to find local HIV/STD Testing sites in your area.



Last Night

Last night I laid within your continent
Sought salvation from frustration
with in your loving nation
found the true meaning of homeland
when you let me inland
Swahili tongue knew I hadn’t been there before
kissed for me to stay awhile
I did you one better and stayed forever, in your country
Then you let me tap your virgin drum
releasing echoes of me being free
Free to run through your countryside
touching jasmine, dropping weed
Free to nibble on your Nigeria
Blow on your Botswana
Eat your Opia til there is no more Opia left
Won’t be any leftovers when I’m done
Won’t be anything when I’m done
Just remembrance of that night when I laid within your continent
seeking salvation from frustration within your loving nation
and that’s all we’ll have
That, and a few thousand orphans to read this poem

Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail : "The Woman in Red"

In honor of Rock the Red Pump™ day (coming up in two short days!), I decided to put together a very very special Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail post. When thinking of what movie to use, it didn't take me very long to go to the 80s comedy, "The Woman in Red": Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, Kelly LeBrock, GREAT soundtrack by Stevie Wonder.... hilarious movie!!! While it's admittedly not a movie synonymous with HIV/AIDs prevention,(It's about a married man trying like hell to cheat on his wife! lol) we can still enjoy the movie AND be aware!



The Ultimate Barbecued Chicken

Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence, Food Network

Ingredients

Brine:
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, smashed with the side of a large knife
4 sprigs fresh thyme
6 chicken legs and thighs, still connected, bone in, skin on, about 10 ounces each

The Ultimate Barbecue Sauce:
1 slice bacon
1 bunch fresh thyme
Extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika if available
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the brine, in a mixing bowl combine the water, salt, sugar, garlic, and thyme. Transfer the brine to a 2-gallon sized re-sealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, close the bag and refrigerate 2 hours (if you've only got 15 minutes, that's fine) to allow the salt and seasonings to penetrate the chicken.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Wrap the bacon around the bunch of thyme and tie with kitchen twine so you have a nice bundle. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme and cook slowly 3 to 4 minutes to render the bacon fat and give the sauce a nice smoky taste. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly without coloring for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, give the sauce a stir, and turn the heat down to low. Cook slowly for 20 minutes to meld the flavors. Once the sauce is done cooking, remove about 1 1/2 cups of the sauce and reserve for serving along side the chicken at the table. The rest of the barbecue sauce will be used for basing the legs.

Preheat oven 375 degrees F.

Preheat a grill pan or an outdoor gas or charcoal barbecue to a medium heat. Take a few paper towels and fold them several times to make a thick square. Blot a small amount of oil on the paper towel and carefully and quickly wipe the hot grates of the grill to make a nonstick surface. Take the chicken out of the brine, pat it dry on paper towels. Arrange the chicken pieces on the preheated grill and cook, turn once mid-way, and cook for a total of 10 minutes. Transfer the grill marked chicken to a cookie sheet and then place in the oven. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and then brush liberally, coating every inch of the legs with the barbecue sauce and then return to the oven for 25 to 30 more minutes, basting the chicken for a second time half way through remaining cooking time. Serve with extra sauce.

Roasted Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of Life's Ambrosia

Ingredients

1 lb red potatoes, cleaned, scrubbed and cut into quarters
1 bulb roasted garlic (recipe follows), skin removed
1/4 cup half and half
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In large pot of water, boil the potatoes until a fork can be inserted and removed easily from the potatoes. About 10 minutes. Strain.
Return the potatoes to the pot add roasted garlic, half and half, butter and salt and pepper. Mash until potatoes are your desired consistency.

Roasted Garlic

You will need:

1 bulb garlic
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
kosher salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut 1/4 inch off the top of the bulb of garlic to expose the cloves beneath, but do not peel the garlic, you want to roast it in the skin. Place clove on a piece of aluminum foil, place butter on top, pour lemon juice over the garlic and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bring up all sides of aluminum foil and twist together to close. Cook for 60 minutes or until garlic cloves are soft and golden in color.

Roasted Red Pepper and Parmesan Biscuits

Recipe courtesy of Epicurious.com

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
a pinch of cayenne
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
1/3 cup finely chopped drained bottled roasted red peppers, patted dry
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons milk

Directions

In a bowl whisk together the flour, the baking powder, the salt, the cayenne, and a pinch of black pepper, add the butter, and blend the mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Add the roasted peppers, the Parmesan, and the milk and stir the mixture until it just forms a dough. Drop the dough in 6 mounds about 2 inches apart onto a buttered baking sheet and bake the biscuits in the middle of a preheated 425°F. oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until they are golden and cooked through.

Red Rooster Cocktail

Recipe courtesy of I love Chicken Wings

Ingredients

1 1/4 ounces 151-proof rum
1/2 ounce crème de noyaux
6 ounces guava juice

Preparation

Splash of grenadine
Build in a collins glass with ice.