Irene "Mama" Stokes is cooking with the stars on her new Internet cooking show
By Eunice Moseley

Irene Stokes known to most as comedian/actress Mama Stokes, mother of music/film producer Chris Stokes (Immature/IMx, B2K, "You Got Served"), has launch an Internet cooking show, "Irene Cooking with the Stars." Her cooking show has had celebrities such Raven Symone', Jamie Foxx,  and Tisha Campbell-Martin.

"The family unit has broken down...one way of communicating is at the dinner table," Irene Stokes pointed out when asked why she decided to do a cooking show. "The show visits celebrities like Marques Houston. (When I was there) I made my Obama Beans."

Irene also said her show will be airing on cable, channel 5, soon. As we discussed the many styles of cooking I asked her about cooking tips for a person like me with Hypertension.

"One key is the cutting back on salt," Stokes said. "Pork has a lot of salt...we over salt. You can use garlic, certain soy sauces....lemon in collard greens."

Irene said her show is also about affordable family meals. She has a special section in her show - and on her website where the show is aired - devoted to various dishes that use Ramen Noodles. Her recipes on the show are also in an upcoming cook book, "Irene's Kitchen Volume 1," which will include poetry and lots of pictures. The meals are economical, quick, easy and hearty. Stokes will show her audience how to feed a family of four with only $15.00.

"It came from raising kids (she has six children and 20 grandchildren)," Irene said about how she learn all these cooking skills. "My mother Ruth is the greatest cook in the world!"

Irene Stokes relocated from her home town of Cleveland for what she said was "streets paved with gold." She was blessed to meet then high-profile comedian Red Foxx and be able to work for him for a time when he and Bill Crosby had a club together.

"I like comedy and a lot of women didn't do comedy," Irene said about her career as a comedian. "Red took me under his wing...boy it was a hard field."

Irene said comedy is not something you learn. As a comedic actress Irene Stokes appear in "That's My Mama," "Penitentiary" and "You Got Served," which is a film produced and directed by her son Chris Stokes. Irene's daughter Juanita "Smooth" Stokes is a rapper who was signed to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' label Perspective Records, along with Sounds of Blackness and Mint Condition.

"We always laughed in the kitchen...fun times," Mama Stokes said about her kitchen at home raising her children. That same atmosphere viewers will find when they tune into her cooking show. "I am a happy person. It's always better to be happy."

The show is informative, light hearted and fun. I enjoyed watching the episodes and learn a lot of cooking tips. I was also must mention how amazing Irene "MaMa" Stokes looks.

To see the currently running episodes of "Irene Cooking with the Stars" log onto her website at www.IreneCookingwiththeStars.com.  

Stax Records is back with a new CD release, N'dambi's 'Pink Elephant'
Stax Records known for its creation of Southern Soul music, is the home to such legends as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Isaac Hayes. It was purchased by Concord Music in 2004 and is now dedicated to R&B and Soul. Stax's just released a hot new CD from N'dambi titled "Pink Elephant" (CoCo Red/BluKey/Stax Records).

Reminiscent, to me, of India.Arie in sound and storytelling style, N' dambi also gives up a twist of Soul, Funk and Jazz fused together in vocal sound and style. On this project, which is produced by Leon Sylvers (Blackstreet, Gladys Knight), N' dambi shows her true artistic talent and range.

"It was deliberate to tell stories in my writing," she said about her style. Holding a degree in Creative Writing from Southern Methodist University N' dambi said, "I wanted to be a novelist."

The daughter of Baptist ministers in Dallas, Texas N' dambi was only allowed Gospel and Country music in the house. When out of the house N' dambi gravitated towards music made by Earth, Wind and Fire, the Bar-Kays and the Ohio Players, which had a profound influence on her sound.

Her debut release was in 1999 titled "Little Lost Girl Blues." Next, she released "Tunin' Up & Cosignin'," and then "A Weird Kind of Wonderful," which was released only in Japan.

"Stax was looking for a new artist," N' dambi said about her Stax's record deal. "At the same time I was looking for a label."

My favorite songs on the "Pink Elephant" project include "Imitation" a finger snapping number that has a Jazz flavor to it; "Nobody Jones" a heart-felt song about dream chasers; "The One" a funky song, and "The World is a Beat" another funky cut with a drum driven track.

N' dambi is currently promoting her "Pink Elephant" CD release with shows in Chicago, California, Dallas and Oakland. For more information on dates or to hear songs from the album log onto www.NdambiOnline.com.