De Su Mama

A while back I began searching for easy rice recipes to make here at home and Jollof rice recipe was the obvious choice. That’s why I’m excited to partner with our friends and sponsors at Mahatma, America’s favorite long grain rice for the last 93 years, to explore rice varieties used in this traditional African dish. And before glossing over that fact, you should know that there’s even a Jollof Rice Day (August 22) where Nigerian and Ghanaian recipes are put to the test to determine who has the best recipe! The traditional Nigerian Jollof rice recipe uses a long grain parboiled rice, which is not native to the area.

Except, as soon as I pull out the sunscreen (especially if my husband is there and I start lathering his dark skin), it’s the same ol’ song and dance: I had put our favorite sunscreen for dark skin all over his shoulders, but I had forgotten to slather some on his face before he wiggled free. Broad spectrum sunscreen will protect skin from both UVA rays, which pass easily through our ozone layer, and UVB rays, which make up less of our sun exposure but are also more intense and affect our immune systems. While sunscreen might prevent tanning for some people, the best sunscreen for African American skin are mineral based products.

Costa Rican Gallo Pinto comes together quickly and is often enjoyed as a rice breakfast recipe with fried eggs on the side. Translated as “spotted rooster”, Gallo Pinto is a vegetarian rice and beans dish served with natilla (Costa Rican sour cream), queso frito, plantains, sliced avocado. It resembles the authentic rice and bean recipe from other Latino regions and especially reminds me of Congri, a Cuban black beans and rice recipe that my mom loves to make. You can perhaps substitute Worcestershire Sauce with added cumin, as seen in some recipes, but it won’t be traditional Costa Rican Gallo Pinto.

I was EXTRA excited when I learned Julie Foudy – two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist – would be leading the conversation. Julie played for the United States women’s national soccer team from 1987–2004 and finished her international career with 271 caps, serving as the team’s captain from 2000–2004 as well as the co-captain from 1991–2000. At our meeting, Julie made a point that players on the Women’s World Cup team demonstrated many types of leadership styles, from Mia Hamm’s quiet leadership styles – one which she characterized as “personal and cerebral” – to her own more outward, loud leadership style. Being a huge fan of women’s soccer (and her women’s team specifically), I was nodding my head as Julie Foudy said inspiring leadership quotes, like this one: