Be Blessed: And Be a GOOD Friend (To Yourself!)

" If you must love your neighbor as yourself, it is at least as fair to love yourself as your neighbor." ~ Nicholas de Chamfort

" If you had a friend who talked to you like you sometimes talk to yourself, would you continue to hang around with that person? " ~ Rob Bremer

" It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is your first and foremost responsibility." ~ Alan Cohen



If you are anything like me, you are a lot more forgiving to others than you are to yourself. I know that it is a process I continually work on, and I've grown a lot over the years.

A part of my progress came from seeing myself as a friend and treating myself as such. When sad or discouraged, I would internally say the comforting words I would say to any friend in the same position. And I felt comforted!

For most of my life, it was the exact opposite. I had an inner "Mean Girl" that couldn't wait to tell me how much I sucked. If there were any imperfections about my day, the spotlight would prominently display them in my mind.

That Mean Girl is still here, I'm sure. But like any toxic frenemy, I'm not checking for her anymore. I don't need that kind of drama in my life!!



Today, I will begin to treat myself with the same fierce sister-love I'd give to my best friends in the world!!

Miss Moon's Musing About: Gratitude

Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.
- Kahlil Gibran

To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.
- Albert Schweitzer

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
- Henry Ward Beecher

Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating all of the things in our lives we're grateful for: health, success, family, friends, love, wisdom... all of the lessons and blessings we may encounter this year, the years behind us and the years ahead.

I am been tremendously blessed this year: I have a job that requires makes me think and utilizes my creativity on a daily basis, I have a sister-circle of phenomenal women in my life, I am in love with a terrific, passionate man that loves me ferociously, I have a family that fills my life with love and laughter.

I may not be exactly where I want to be right now, but I am alive and able: able to get there step-by-step, day-by-day. As Cree Summer sings, "It's a good journey... I'm in no hurry". Thank you all for walking with me, I am grateful for your company.

Happy Thanksgiving From Miss Moon's Musings!!!! Peace, Love and Gratitude from Brooklyn!!!!

Yummm! Shredded Sesame Chicken

Monday evening, Chris and I went out to dinner with my soul sister/ace/bff Natasha and her sweetie pie, Robert. We initially had plans to go to BBQs, but apparently so did everyone in Brooklyn. LOL

We ended up taking a stroll over to Montague Street over to Lichee Nut, where I had the best Sesame Chicken I've had in AGES!!!!

I don't know if this is a general way to make Sesame Chicken, but most Chinese Restaurants in New York serve the chicken in chunks. Lichee gave us the option of having it shredded or in chunks, and we chose shredded. I enjoyed the food, the Plum Wine, the great conversation and company, so this recipe goes out to Tasha and Robert! We must go out on a double date again soon!

Flawless Sesame Chicken (Restaurant Style)

Recipe Courtesy of RecipeZaar.com

SERVES 3 -4 (change servings and units)

Ingredients

* 3 whole boneless chicken breasts

Marinade

* 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon cooking wine or dry sherry
* 3 drops sesame oil
* 2 tablespoons flour
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 2 tablespoons water
* 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Sauce

* 1/2 cup water
* 1 cup chicken broth
* 1/8-1/4 cup white vinegar or rice wine vinegar (depending on how sweet you want the sauce)
* 1/4 cup cornstarch
* 1 cup sugar (we use 1/2 cup sugar but the orginal recipe called for 1 cup)
* 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons sesame oil
* 1 teaspoon chili paste (or more)
* 1 garlic clove (minced)

Frying

* peanut oil (3 1/2-4 cups)

Serving

* 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Directions


1. Cut the chicken into slices. Mix the marinade ingredients (the first 9 ingredients listed) and marinate the chicken for 20 minutes.
2. To prepare the sauce: Mix together all of the sauce ingredients. Pour them into a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Turn the heat down to low and keep warm while you are deep-frying the chicken.
3. To deep-fry the chicken: Add the marinated chicken pieces a few at a time, and deep-fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and then place chicken in warm oven (130 degrees) while you continue frying. Repeat with the remainder of the chicken. Just before you are finished deep-frying, bring the sauce back up to a boil.
4. Place the chicken on a large platter and pour the sauce over. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve the Sesame Chicken with rice.

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

When I was much younger (We're talking late teens to early 20s)... I thought that the sign of someone being a good person was the number of friends you had. So I people pleased myself a group of folks, some who were genuine, some sadly, were not.

Around the time I turned 30, I recognized that I didn't want to enter the next decade of my existence with people who weren't go to me, and most importantly, good for me. And I actually gave many of the shady folks an opportunity to do right. They didn't (seeing as they were shady and all), so I let them go and my life has been better for it.

So this week's Music Therapy with Miss Moon is dedicated to the Spirit of Friendship, Jody Watley, "Friends". Because it sometimes takes a crappy friend to teach you who your true, ride-or-die friends are.... and I thank am thankful for learning that lesson!!!