The Queen Loves Good Music! Catch a preview of Beyonces New album here!

Pre Order your ebook here! How to use blogging to increase your companies bottom line

As you all know, Im the owner of three companies, Queen Natural Beauty hair and skin care products, The Beauty Bar Health and Wellness Studio and In the Kitchen with Queen. I started the first company with no money, using the blog to help me make over $5000 my first month in business from the comfort of my home. My ebook- How to use blogging to increase your bottom line, will show you how I did it and give you step by step directions on how you can to! And I have made it affordable for all! At only $5.00, there is no reason you can't blog for dollars as well! Purchase book using button below!
Distribution set for July 1, 2011

Every wanted to start a home based bakery of specialty food company?

If you have ever had an interest in running a specialty food business from home, this may be of interest to you. Denay Davis of Home Based Baking teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know to get started. Thus far, Denay has been on a one woman mission to get every state to pass laws to make this possible. To date, shes gotten over 20 states to pass the law! With hundred of happy students who have gone on to start very successful companies, I think its worth taking a moment to check out her out. Click on the banner above to access the site

Mornings Make me Happy

For breakfast my family enjoyed vegetable hash, from my farm fresh box! I dont think their was a better way to use up the last bit of vegetables. Potatoes, onions, purple, orange and yellow carrots, a couple minced garlic and some basil fresh from the garden! Yumm







The final result

A Big Box of Veggies

Today I received a box of goodies from Moore Farms and Friends and I think Im gonna do something creative for tonight's dinner to integrate into the show. Looks like we have cabbage, purple, orange and yellow carrots, vidalia onions, potatoes, purple radishes, peaches (which I forgot to put in the picture) and a big purple beet!

Anyway, Im thinking of doing Chicken wings, a veggie bake with the onions carrots and potatoes, fried cabbage and either peach cobbler for dessert or make peach preserves for biscuits in the morning. I think I'll use the radish's on a salad for tomorrows lunch or do a veggie omelet with the biscuit in the morning. As far as the beet goes, Im stumped! Suggestions please!

Do you have any other ideas of what I can make with the veggies in this weeks box? I'll post pictures of the final result the day that the episode airs.

Queen's Cherry Cheese Pie

Cheese Pie has been a favorite in the Americas for centeries! Here is my twist on the classic dessert. With only 6 ingredients, its super easy to make and delicious! And best of all, the pie is no bake!!!!! Sounds like a no brainer to me! ; )

1. 16 oz cream cheese softened
2. 8oz Mascarpone cheese
3. juice of 2 limes
4 Cherry extract
5. 1 cup sugar
6. Pre-made pie crust
7. pkg of cool whip 8oz
Cherry to garnish

Bake your pre-made pie crust until slightly browned according to package directions.
Meanwhile, Mix the first 5 increadients until well blended.

Once crust is done and cooled, spread cheese mixture evenly into crust. Top with cool whip and garnish with a cherry. Enjoy

Queens Live Cooking Shows

Queen now offers live cooking shows! Totally fun and completely interactive, ditch the dinner and a movie, now its a live cooking show. Watch Queen cook your favorite meals during her live cooking classes. Finish the evening off enjoying the cooked meal and your favorite wine. Click Live Cooking Show Below for more information

Tour starts in Birmingham! 7-21-2011



LIVE COOKING SHOW

Pan seared snapper with a caper cream sauce

I don't have a picture as this is the recipe for the Pan seared snapper cooked at the Louisiana Seafood Festival. This is a super quick and easy recipe that can be made to impress dinner guests or as a quick dinner when you get home from work

Recipe serves 2

2 Red Snapper Fillets
3 tbs butter
1 tbs fresh squeezed lemon juice with 1 clove of garlic minced
1 tbs capers
1/4 cup roasted red peppers sliced
2-3 tbs of heavy whipping cream

Place butter and lemon juice mixture with the garlic in a saute skillet over med-high heat.
Once hot and sizzling, place fish into pan. Cook 2-3 minutes until brown. Flip over.
Add Capers.
Once both sides are brown, remove snapper, leaving the capers.
Add in the roasted red peppers and saute until heated through.
Add whipping cream and cook 5-8 minutes until cream has turned a light pink color and sauce has thickened slightly.
Pour over fish

Serve over rice or pasta or with a nice green vegetable.

That soda in your hand is killing you

As you all know, I eat healthy. I prepare foods with preservative free products, churn my own butter, grow my own veggies, etc... Anything I can do to ensure that my family is as healthy and chemical free as possible, I do it! One problem though is the sodas! Mountain Dew specifically. For years, I have been hooked on the caffeine in Mountain Dew and even though my mind says "don't", my body aches for it! Literally! I began to have headaches, become super light headed and sometimes shake! Its almost like someone coming off of a drug. At that point, I give in and go grab a Dew. Many people ask me how does it taste and honestly, I cant say its "Oh so good" because Im not drinking for taste, I drink it because of the way it makes me feel. Its my drug of choice and I set out on a mission to see why its so dangerous to us and why our bodies react as they do to them.

Soft drinks cause more harm and no good to our bodies! Why? Here are a few ingredients in soft drinks and the effects of the ingredients

Phosphoric Acid: May interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients.

Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects. Most sodas include over 100 percent of the RDA of sugar.

Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. Further, when aspartame is stored for long periods of time or kept in warm areas it changes to methanol, an alcohol that converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, which are known carcinogens.

Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks can cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer.

Looking at the above ingredients and the harm caused by the ingredients, its not surprising the affect soda's have on our bodies and why we are so addicted.

This is a serious problem, not just for you but for me as well. We can't concentrate on living a healthy, chemical free life in other areas and continue to fill our bodies with the garbage contained in soda's. Let's make a change

The Louisiana Seafood Festival

This weekend, I spent two hot days in New Orleans at the Louisiana Seafood Festival. I was one of about 24 chefs who came from across the country to demonstrate tasty recipes using Louisiana seafood. It was super hot but I had a blast and met some great people as well! Here are a few pictures from my demonstration.. I cant wait to do more shows!

Queen's Clothing Picks

If you are going to be a Queen, you have got to look like one! Here are a few of my picks for this week



This Black Halo Stretch Gabardine Sheath has the right touch of class to take you anywhere! $345.oo



I simply love this little black number. This Carmen Mac Valvo Dotted Cotton Pique Dress is too darling.. A must in a Queen's Collection. $340.00





OMG! This Carolina Herrera.. I must must must have it! This is my last "dress" pick for this week and I am completely in love with it. I think it would look great on my curves! Priced at $1890.00 its the priciest of the group but it screams "Class"

A Queen's shoe game has always got be at its best! My picks this week?


Brian Atwood $825.00

Nothing like a simple black peep toe


Christian Louboutin Mini-Peep Toe $795.00

This Alexander McQueen Bag is super cute!


$695.00

My past pick of the day is a beautifully crafted leather bag by Salvatore Ferragamo $850.oo

My top 10 reasons why you should cook with cast iron

I love cooking with cast iron! As a matter of fact, if you'd notice, I cook with cast iron on the In The Kitchen With Queen cooking show! I remember being a young girl and watching my grandmother cook cornbread on this black dirty looking thing but knowing that the cornbread came out tasting greater than the time before! No one's corn bread could beat her's. Well, today as an adult, I have come to love all things cast iron, and here are my top reasons why

5. It doubles as a weapon! lol! No seriously, it is the heaviest thing Ive ever felt and if, just if, someone went to attack you, put your cast iron on them!

4. It is one of the "greenest" choices when cooking.

3.It has a health benefit! Cast iron releases a small amount of iron when you cook with it which means that you get an added benefit which is very important for women! Especially in their child bearing years!

2.Its naturally non-stick! One thing I hate is a skillet that sticks! Say goodbye to the rice with black speckles in it that you think my be pepper but then you realize, you didn't put any pepper in it and that it is your non-stick coating peeling! When properly seasoned, nothing, I mean nothing will stick to it!

1. It last forever! No, I'm not exaggerating! It literally lasts forever! Looks a little rusty? Clean it off and re-season it! It literally will last for centuries. Say goodbye to the years of re-buying kitchen sets every few years! This is all you will ever need!

How to properly season your cast iron.

First, wash your cast iron cookware. This is the only time you will need soap to clean it, but you want to be sure you remove any dust or dirt. If you have a brand new cast iron piece, you will need to do this to remove the wax coating that is on it to keep it from rusting until it’s seasoned.

Coat your piece in some type of oil. Cast iron has a porous surface. The seasoning process will fill and smooth the surface to make it non-stick. Some type of oil is used to facilitate this process. I use Crisco vegetable shortening. Traditionalists would use lard. You can use plain old cooking oil, too, but you will get better results with Crisco. You want to coat the entire cooking surface with the shortening. Don’t glob it on, but every nook and cranny should have a nice, medium layer of shortening. Use about as much as you would use to coat a cake pan for baking.

Bake it in the oven. Next, you just pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and put your cast iron pan in for an hour or so. After heating, turn off the oven and let it cool completely while still in the oven. Then it’s ready to go!

Heating the cookware creates the oxidation that prevents rust and makes the surface non-stick. Some cast iron users advocate heating the pan slightly before applying the Crisco to ensure that the pan is completely dry and to open the pores of the pan before seasoning. Not a bad idea, but remember cast iron gets HOT. Use oven mitts.

Newly seasoned cast iron will take on a dark brown coating. After long use, it will become glossy black. The non-stick properties of the pan will increase with time and use, so use your cast iron often. Remember, seasoning is a process. Even though cast iron can be used immediately after the first seasoning, your cookware will get better and better over time.

How do I re-season a used cast iron piece? If you buy a cast iron piece second hand, the process is still basically the same to re-season it, with one exception. First wash it in hot soapy water, as above. Then I put it in my oven on the highest setting (or on the self-cleaning setting if you have one) and let it bake for a few hours without any oil or shortening. This will remove any rust and the old seasoning. Let it cool, then follow the steps above to re-season.

How to properly clean your cast iron

After each use, clean your piece with very hot water and scrub with a stiff brush to remove any particles left behind. Don’t use soap, it will remove the seasoning. After you scrub the pan, give it a light coating with some Crisco or vegetable oil and store it in the oven. Why? Because the oven will have less moisture, this will help keep your cast iron from ever rusting. Plus, each time you use your oven is an opportunity to further season your pan. Even if you take your cast iron pan out while using your oven, give it a light coating of shortening before putting it back in the warm oven. Especially if it’s a new piece, this will help develop the seasoning further.

Questions on where to purchase good quality cast iron? I use Lodge Cast Iron! Here is the link http://www.lodgemfg.com/

A Must Have for any QUeens Bedroom

I spent today browsing through my favorite furniture stores and online galleries and found one thing in common with every one. Colored chaise lounges seem to adorn all elegant master bedrooms these days. Used only as a conversation piece for many, these elegant beauties are quite comfortable and simply a must have when designing the bedroom of your dreams. Here is one that I love in particular and that I think would look great with the redone 1915 bed that I have in my dreams!
This is definitely on my must have list.

Show airs this Wed!

In the Kitchen with Queen airs this Wednesday 7pm CST on www.InTheKitchenWithQueen.com In the first episode we prepare something quick and tasty that the entire family will love! Island Tacos! Thats right, we took chicken tacos and gave them an island twist! Check it out, this Wednesday!

In The Kitchen with Queen

Many of you know that I have been in the cooking arena for many years. Ive authored two cook books, working on a third and hold private cooking classes across the US. Yes, Im the weightloss girl but this shrinking chick is a foodie at heart but now my goal is to allow you to be a foodie and still lose weight.

If you havent been under a rock, you have heard of the May Challenge that we have been on of positive thinking and thinking things into existence. Within two weeks of the challenge, I had offers for sponsors for a cooking show that wasnt even in existence yet! Again, this thing works!

In the Kitchen with Queen is growing to the point that now we are setting up a facebook fan page, updating the site and have started the In the Kitchen with Queen youtube page. I thank you all so much in advance for all of your support for the QUeen Natural Beauty ventures including The Beauty Bar Health and Wellness Studio for weight loss and now In the Kitchen with Queen online cooking instruction and demonstrations.

CHeck out the youtube page and subscribe at www.youtube.com/NTheKitchenwithQueen

Once the website and facebook pages are updated, I will be sure to let you all know

I love my job!

Today I had the pleasure of cooking in the kitchen with Micheal Bertolone of Lucia's Italian! Let me tell you, the food was absolutely delicious! We cooked a classic Italian dish, Chicken Picata. It will air on In The Kitchen with Queen in a couple of weeks, but until then, here are a couple of pics of me with the owners and of a delicious dessert that they serve at the restaurant!

Its not really a secret

Faith, positive thinking, the secret. Whatever you call it, its not really a secret. Successful people have been using this for many of years to enrich their lives and to attract the things that they want in life to them. On May 1, 2011 we begin a challenge of putting the secret to work in our lives for the entire month of May. It has been said that if you can do something religiously for 30 days, it will become a habit and we want to make meditation, intentional thinking and positivity a habit. Here, Oprah discusses The Secret and how it has worked in her life

Review: MIO Water Enhancer

Kraft foods have come out with a new water enhancer. Here is my review on it

5 steps and 20 minutes to Italian inspired low fat, low calorie pizza

If you know anything about Queen, you know that I love love love Italian food! All to often that means fattening sauces, gravies, pasta, meat etc...
This dish goes to show you that you can have great food and stay within your eating plan! Feel free to leave comments below!

Ingredients:

Thin Crust Pizza Dough (in the refrigerated section)
1 medium Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (cage free and vegetarian fed)
1/4 cup Tomato trinity (tomato, onion and bell pepper)
Spinach and/or Arugula to taste
1/4 cup Bottled Pizza Sauce (should be no more than 40 cal per serving)
1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
1/4 cup of Broccoli Florets
1/4 cup Mushrooms

Use as much or as little of the veggies as you desire! They are low calories and super filling!

(No canned or frozen veggies!)





1. Cut chicken into small pieces. Saute until brown, but do not over cook. Set aside.



2. Unroll pizza dough onto greased pan. Bake on 400 degrees for exactly 5 minutes. Remove from oven.
3. Spread 1/4 cup sauce over the crust and add your cooked chicken.



4. Began building your pizza as desired with veggies and cheese.
Personally I build as follows: sauce, chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, tomato trinity, cheese, and top with spinach and arugula.



5. Bake for 10 minutes or until crust is brown on edges and cheese is bubbly!





Caution: Pizza is very very hot!

Be careful, you may fall in love with this healthy dish! 2 small squares the size of a deck of cards is a serving. 320 cal per serving

Juice/Smoothie Feast

You all may know that Monday kicked off the 2 month Biggest Loser Competition. You could choose whichever diet plan you wish. For me, Im going to spend the next 7 days on a juice/smoothie feast. Smoothies are healthy and keep hunger at bay. And feasting, you will lose weight...fast and feel healthier while doing it. If you would like to feast with me, I will put my favorite smoothie recipe below. You have lots of options though, from green smoothies made with fresh vegetables and fruit to fruit only smoothies. I will periodically post smoothie recipes during the week that you can choose from and alter to your personal taste!

I use only fresh or flash frozen fruit

1 handful of pineapples, diced
1 handful of strawberries
1 cup of ice (only if fruit is fresh, if frozen, omit)
4 oz of Mango puree (I prefer fresh, but I also use Belgium Imported Looza juice, made from Mango puree)

Blend all the ingredients and enjoy

You can alter any ingredients you choose but be sure to not add any additional sugars to the recipe. During this process, we are attempting to detox additional sugars out of the body.

Do you have any smoothie recipes to share? If so, place them in the comment section below or email them to customerservice@queennaturalbeauty.com

We are expanding

The Beauty Bar Health and Wellness Studio is expanding! Yes! I know it all seems to be happening really fast. My business neighbor is moving and I will be leasing her space as well. The current space that I am in will be for check in for spa services, the medical weight loss and a retail space for all Queen Natural Beauty hair and skin care products, etc..
The space next door will be used to actually perform spa services in a more relaxed atmosphere and to hold the yoga classes! That's right! We are finally kicking off the yoga classes. We will have 5 days per week. 3 evening classes and 2 early morning classes.

We are also expanding the items that we currently carry. In addition to the chemical free hair and skin care products, we will now carry branded Beauty Bar apparel as well as luxury purses and jewelry.





If you have any questions about the new happenings at the Beauty Bar Health & Wellness Studio, feel free to email us at customerservice@queennaturalbeauty.com or give us a call! 205-663-8880

Earn Extra income while educating others about the importance of using natural products

The goal: to live a longer, healthier life

50 years ago, it wasn't strange to live to be 90 and 100 years old. Today, we are dying off younger and younger from issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. You hear more cases of ecoli and salmonella poisoning. Whats the difference? 50 years ago, we were more self sufficient. It wasn't odd to go into the back yard and pick your fresh herbs and vegetable to cook the evenings dinner with. Now, we have turned into a "hurry, hurry, hurry" society, to busy to cook dinner more less actually plant food. If you ask someone in their early 20's to snap a pea, they would have no idea what you were speaking of.
Advancing in technology is greatly needed, but holding on to somethings is not such a bad idea either! In 2009, I watched a documentary titled FOOD INC. That movie changed my life! It changed how I looked at, even thought about food. It changed the way I looked at the grocery store produce department and made my eyes light up when I saw rich fertile ground. I began to have an appreciation for the simpler things in life, for the way things were done, 50, 60, even 70 years ago, when the diseases that are apart of our everyday existence were a rarity.




Something seriously has to be done about the direction that our kids are going in. Someone has to show them the importance of self sufficiency and living a healthier life. And, I plan to do just that! I want to see my grand children, and their children and possibly their children. I want to be able to breath clean air, walk a mile without a thought and eat dinner without thoughts of sickness.
I'm putting together a plan currently, to open a center for sustainable life, or center for self sufficient living, or something along those lines, in 2012. I use to be the person to wait until others are ready to get on board, now I'm saying I'll do it alone and others can jump on the band wagon later but this has to be done. For our children and their children's children.
I can envision now, acres of a community garden, open to anyone who is willing to get dirty hands one weekend a month, or to volunteer to teach classes or even work the centers gift shop. I can envision classes teaching alternative ways of building homes and living off of the land.
But hey, that's just my idea of living. Who the heck am I?!?