Recipes
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August 9, 2014 6 Comments

Nette’s Milk Chocolate Maple Pecan Cookies

Fresh Takes is proud to present this delectable delight with plenty of time for you to perfect them before the Holiday season begins.  So without further ado here is Chef Nette’s original recipe for four dozen of her Southern Milk Chocolate Maple Pecan Cookies.       3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 ½ sticks butter, soften 1 cup sugar ¾ cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons maple flavoring 3 eggs 2 cups milk chocolate chips 1 ½ cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stir flower, baking powder and salt then set aside Mix […]

18,183 total views, 11 views today

Rants
th21O0I2OB
August 4, 2014 3 Comments

Surviving The GIRL CODE

He had her at hello: Keisha found herself gazing up at the tall man and smiling like a school girl as he went on about the new exhibit in town.   She suddenly realized she’d been holding her breath, transfixed on his smooth skin and pearly white teeth until he finally asked her if she’d like to accompany him to the History Museum on Saturday.  After she agreed and contact information was exchanged, Matt didn’t just excuse himself to mingle, much to the chagrin of the other ladies in the happy hour crowd.  He actually sat with her, paid for her drinks […]

9,242 total views, 1 views today

Relationships
th31EX0DZJ
July 28, 2014 1 Comment

PUTTING YOUR EGGS IN A BROKE BASKET

Let me address you women who I like to call Investors.  You’re like the best girlfriend ever. You volunteers to help him organize his closet.  You cook his meals ahead of time so he can have a meal every day since you don’t live together.  You are just oh so helpful. You’re easy like Sunday Morning. You are so willing to assist him, accommodate him, help him, you makes life a breeze.   You compliment him all the time and are so appreciative of anything he does for you. What a blessing you are! However, let’s be honest, there’s a method […]

20,904 total views, 4 views today

Sports
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July 14, 2014 2 Comments

THE FALL OF THE LAKERS’ EMPIRE

In the summer of 2013, Dwight Howard did something no Laker had ever done before.  He said no to a maximum salary offer to resign and took his league leading rebounding average to the Houston Rockets, for less money!  Lakers fans chalked it up to Howard’s weak mentality and his inability to handle the bright lights of LA and/or the harsh demands of perfectionist Kobe Bryant but in the summer of 2014, Carmelo Anthony, a close friend of Bryant’s, who has an actress wife who would have benefited greatly by being in Hollywood, also said no thanks to the Purple […]

58,570 total views, 13 views today

Relationships
thSY4C09BP
June 15, 2014 0 Comments

WHY WOMEN SAY NO TO MARRIAGE

So it’s been a year.  You’ve bonded by seeing each other a couple of times a week, talking on the phone at least once a day and sending good morning and other text messages throughout the day.  You’ve met each other’s families and spent a grip on the holiday trinity, Christmas-Valentine’s Day-her birthday.  You’ve listened to her gripe about her boss, left work to help her out when her car broke down and even started watching “Orange is the New Black” so the two of you can have something to talk about on your Friday night restaurant explorations.  The sex, […]

12,963 total views, 3 views today

Family
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June 10, 2014 4 Comments

THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT

I stood outside looking out the window at the traffic on the street. Trying to figure out how we get here. A person who was my confidant had become someone I only communicated with via legal counsel. I stood looking out that window trying to figure out how this new twist in my life story is going to affect the rest of the book. My lawyer turned to me and said, “Ok it looks like since you will be awarded full custody, your child support payment of $3,100 will begin next month.  Just sign here.” I immediately became relieved. Relieved […]

262,681 total views, 38 views today

Rants
thIKFIATCO
June 6, 2014 0 Comments

CONTROL, WHO HAS IT?

“With great power comes great responsibility” –Ben Parker, Spiderman- There was once a time in the not too distant past when women had to act like ladies and be discreet and modest in terms of our sexuality.  Today, women are much more vocal about our sexual dealings.  In this liberated, “non judgmental” land, we women have become increasingly comfortable and free with our sexuality. We have gained the indisputable right to choose motherhood or not regardless of the wishes of our male partners.  No one can tell us what to do with our bodies.  To some this is great, while others disagree and struggle with […]

7,420 total views, 3 views today

Relationships
th (7)
June 1, 2014 0 Comments

ELAINE’S LOVE LAWS

This article is a rebuttal to all the daily negativity seen on social media in conjunction with love, marriage, and relationships.  Love needs an advocate so let’s get straight to it with Elaine’s love laws. LOVE DOESN’T KEEP SCORE: There are no perfect people.  Not me and not you.  People are flawed.  Love isn’t about keeping track of their missteps, it’s about extending constant grace and forgiveness to those who mess up.  Your mates are humans so they’re going to slip up and you need to accept that.  If you think people should get it right on your terms and when […]

16,960 total views, 1 views today

Comedy
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May 28, 2014 2 Comments

AN INTERVIEW WITH GOD.

Last night I was considering candidates for Fresh Takes’ first huge interview when it occurred to me that the biggest interview I could possibly get would be with God.  I mean he hasn’t given one since Moses so I prayed for an interview with him and after a lot of thunder and a really cool light show he appeared!    I was a bit taken aback when he appeared as a really buffed, seventyish Caucasian male with long, flowing white hair and a matching beard and I think he sensed that so he immediately changed himself to look like Oprah.   […]

22,920 total views, 8 views today

Relationships
th3Z89Y57C
May 19, 2014 15 Comments

THE PRACTICE WIFE

Recently I’ve discovered a new category of woman who I call “The Practice Wife.” These women are kind, articulate, smart, supportive and accomplished. Additionally, they are usually attractive and people consider them “catches” so nobody can figure out why they are single. I was intrigued by these women because when you take a closer look they all share something noteworthy. After a breakup, the men they were involved with, quickly find another woman and get married.  Usually there is no apparent upgrade from the practice wife to the actual wife so I really wanted to know what the heck was […]

283,199 total views, 35 views today

Entertainment
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May 10, 2014 0 Comments

RATCHET IS NOT MY REALITY

So between Love and Hip Hop star Mimi making a sex tape and the Porsha vs Kenya cat fight on the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion show, we have been inundated with an abundance of unsavory behavior via reality TV.  Two things I find puzzling are: 1) How this obvious scripted madness can be pegged as “reality TV” when it is clearly anything but.  2) Why our community at large supports these vulgarities while simultaneously shaking their heads.  I for one am not for the blood and gore of train wrecks; no need to watch.  I’m all for a good laugh, […]

25,642 total views, 12 views today

Comedy
th (2)
May 10, 2014 1 Comment

What if OJ had pulled the trigger?

Twenty years ago OJ Simpson took his infamous tour of the Los Angeles Area freeways in a white Bronco driven by his buddy Al Cowlings.  The Juice had a pistol to his temple as a swarm of LAPD cruisers followed in what was categorized as a low speed chase.  The entire spectacle was broadcast worldwide. It was one of those moments where everyone remembers where they were as we held our collective breaths hoping he wouldn’t pull that trigger but what if he had pulled the trigger?  What would have changed?  Well here are just a few things: There would […]

23,126 total views, 8 views today