Simply Tasheena: April 2020

I received a free copy of The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a parent, this book helped me really look at myself within and focus on my own body positivity more. Through this journey, I’m looking forward to sharing this book with, daughter, nieces, and friends who have daughters because I know this book will really help them in life, and will provide them with the tools they need to embrace one's self. The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color Book has inspired me to write a letter to my younger self.

Dear Younger Tasheena,

As things go by in the current time, things may seem difficult but they're not. You look in the mirror and compare yourself to others. You know that you do not look like some of the other girls. You're not shaped like them. You don’t get the attention that they get. Just know, later in life that the tables will turn, and you will learn about positive and negative attention in life.

You will also learn later in life that you don't want that type of attention. You will love yourself, and learn to love yourself deeply. You are perfect just the way you are.

Stop overthinking things, no situation will be perfect. Pay attention, in school, and in any learning environment. Though the information may not feel important at that time. It will be a part of your journey.

You will love to learn the quote “Those that matter don’t mind.” as you navigate through life, and friendships, you will also learn that some people are meant to be in your life for a season, and reason.

Just as you build up your confidence in self-love. You will be bullied. You won't understand this but, this test in life will be your testimony and will give you an additional source to relate to young adults later throughout your journey in life.

You will become a young mom, I know. You weren’t expecting it, you had all of these big plans and dreams about going off to college, and attending and graduating from an HBC. You will have low self-esteem in life, and you will learn to not look at yourself as a failure. No, your body doesn't look like your peers around your age. However, your tiger stripes will be a constant reminder of a person that depending on your in life, and who you can't let down.

Your heart will be broken more than once, and they will try to take your self-esteem along with the relationship. You’re resilient!

Later in life, you will start a girl's mentoring program, and you will learn first hand how important Body Positivity is. Though, you will never have your own biological daughter. You will pour in all of the love you have within to share with these young ladies how important it is to love oneself, even on our darkest days.

Never compromise yourself for anything. Always know your worth and never settle, no matter what. People will come in your life and try to break you and make you feel worthless. Again, each life lesson will be a part of your testimony.

You can purchase your very own copy of The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color HERE!

How do you plan on encouraging self-love to the woman in your life?

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As I'm writing this post, I'm stuffed from eating way too much pizza. Last night I was on the hunt for the perfect pizza dough recipe using whole wheat flour. I just knew I had yeast on hand. I woke up this morning and was ready to get a head start. To my surprise, I didn't have any yeast on hand. I just knew I had at least one packet. Due to the current circumstances, I knew I wasn't running to the store or doing a grocery order. Back to the drawing board, I went. I honestly wasn't sure what to do. I decided to do an experiment, and I'm so happy that I did. This pizza dough came out so yummy. I pilled on all of my favorite toppings that I had on hand. I also opted to not use my pizza stone or pizza pan. Though I would like to invest in a commercial one. However, this pizza still turned out yummy. I also opted to add some garlic powder to the dough, which was a first for me. I'm so pleased with how this recipe turned out, and to think, about a year ago I purchased a four-pound bag of whole wheat flour from Marshalls for $4, and I wanted to give it away. I just knew I wouldn't need that much flour. Fast forward to now. I'm so thankful that I did purchase it. I've been able to make so many yummy recipes with it.

Are you a fan of pizza?

Recipe

INGREDIENTS

2 cups wholewheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with a Silpat mat or parchment paper
In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients, your wet ingredients. 
Proceed to add the baking powder and salt.
Add your flour a half a cup at a time, and mix until it starts to forms a dough ball. 
Sprinkle flour onto a rolling pin and your hands, remove the ball of dough from the bowl and pat down with flour to help form into a solid ball. Dough may be slightly sticky.
Roll the dough into a ball and set onto the prepared baking sheet. Using the rolling pin coated with flour roll out the dough to desired thickness.
Place the dough in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
Once out of the oven still hot (be careful) spread pizza sauce, and top with desired toppings and bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven, allow time to cool and enjoy!




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Happy Wednesday! In honor of National Pecan day which was yesterday. I'm sharing a yummy pecan recipe on the blog today. If you follow me on Instagram, I shared these bars a couple of weeks ago, and I honestly forgot to share the recipe on the blog. I'm only human right?! To be honest, these bars were inspired by my original pecan bar recipe. I opened a can of pumpkin puree, and I was looking for recipes to use it with, and I'm so happy that I decided to give this recipe a try. It was such a pleasant twist to a regular pecan bar. I also opted to have larger pecans with this recipe. Because let's face it. Pecans are super yummy. This recipe is super simple to make, and it perfects if you have pecans, and pumpkin puree on hand.

How did you celebrate National Pecan Day?

Vegan Pecan Pumpkin Bars

INGREDIENTS

Crust

•  1 1/2 cup almond flour

•  1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree

•  2 tablespoons maple syrup

Filling

• Flax Egg ( 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds + 4 tablespoons water mixed together)

•  2 tablespoons coconut oil

•  3/4 cup coconut sugar

•  1/2 cup maple syrup

•  1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt

•  1 tablespoon tapioca starch

•  2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

•  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•  2 cups pecans roughly chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F
Line an 8x8inch baking pan and set aside.
In a mixing bowl add the crust ingredients (almond flour, apple pumpkin puree, and maple syrup) and combine.
Spoon in the dough on the lined baking pan and create a thin layer. Use a fork and poke a few holes across the crust and bake for 30 minutes until the edges are golden. Remove from the oven and set aside while you prepare the filling.
Reduce the heat to 325°F

Filling

Add the coconut oil, coconut sugar, maple and salt to a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk together and melt over medium-low heat and simmer. Bring up to a boil for about 30 seconds and then remove from the heat.
In a small bowl whisk together the almond milk, starch, vanilla extract, and flax egg until no lumps remain. Pour that mixture into the sugar mixture and whisk to fully combine.
Scatter 1 cup of the chopped pecans over the prepared pie crust. Stir the remaining pecans into the filling. Pour the filling over the crust.
Place in the middle of the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for two hours before cutting in to. Enjoy!