Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle), Jessica Chastain (The Help, Tree of Life) and Martin Short (The Martin Short Show, Saturday Night Live) join the returning cast of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure.

Their journey takes them through Europe, where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent – Madagascar style.

In the first half, the Goats opened up the scoreboard in the twenty-second minute with a shot from Michael Lahoud who started as a forward and was assisted by James Riley. Two minutes later the Red and White would be awarded a PK after referee Mariscal called a hand ball in the box. Juan Pablo Angel would then convert for the 2-0 score. The third goal in the half for the Goats came in the 40^th minute as newcomer; Englishman Ryan Smith would convert his first shot as a member of the Red and White when the Conejos keeper lost the ball after he stopped a shot from Michael Lahoud. The Rojiblancos would end the first half by a score of 3-0.

In the second half Coach Fraser would sub out all but one Alejandro Moreno, with a squad of trialist as well as Chivas USA Youth Academy standouts and a couple of familiar faces for the Goats; Jorge Villafaña as well as Frenchman Laurent Courtois returned to the pitch for the Goats in the second half. Villafaña is returning from his U-23 Men’s National Training in preparation for the Olympic Games Qualifiers and Courtois from a late 2011 season injury.

In the 50^th minute, the Red and White set the score at 4-0 with a shot from forward, Chris Cortez. Towards the end of the match (89^th minute), Tijuana native, Cesar Romero would give Chivas USA a 5-0 finish to this first pre-season match in Carson.

Chivas USA vs FC Hasental

February 3, 2012 – The Home Depot Center – Field 4

Chivas USA 5 – 0 FC Hasental

Scoring Summary:

CHV – Michael Lahoud (James Riley) 22

CHV – Juan Pablo Angel (PK-Handball) 24

CHV – Ryan Smith 40
CHV – Chris Cortez 50

CHV – Cesar Romero 89

Misconduct Summary:

0 Cards

Lineups:

FC Hasental – 1-Michael Abalos, 2-Ruben Rodriguez, 3-Robert Pate, 4-Edger Ramirez, 5-Lucian Leu, 6-Taylor Canel, 7-Reggie Edu, 8-Jordan Palmer, 9-Alberto Anguiano, 10-Milan Radovic, 11-Jonathan Zerah, 12-Armando Gaitan , 13-Michael Barbeito, 14-Omar de la Piedra, 15 Jeremy Hohn, 16-Nicholas Ledesma, 17-Gil Aguirre, 18-Diego Adame

Chivas USA – 60-Tim Melia (GK), 13-Ante Jazic, 3-Heath Pearce, 5-John Valencia, 7-James Riley, 8-Oswaldo Minda, 6-Peter Vagenas, 11-Michael Lahoud, 15-Alejandro Moreno, 22-Ryan Smith, 9-Juan Pablo Angel. Brian Rowe, RJ Allen, Rauwshan Mckenzie, Fabian Kling, 19-Jorge Villafaña, Kennedy Chongo, Marky Delgado, 16-Laurent Courtois, 27-Chris Cortez, 59-Cesar Romero

Referee: Alex Mariscal
Time of Game: 1:46
Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees

About Chivas USA

Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in seven full seasons in Major League Soccer. From 2006-2009, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in four consecutive seasons, to the delight of its passionate supporters. In addition, Chivas USA’s innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the club’s youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region’s best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

Jamaica newly appointed Ambassador to Brazil Alison Stone Roofe

She is career diplomat Alison Stone Roofe, the current director of the Caribbean and Americans Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ambassador designate is also the former deputy director of the Foreign Trade Department and Private Sector Liaison for the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery.

Ms Roofe is a part-time lecturer of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, and brings with her 20 years working experience in the ministry. She serves as a member of the CARICOM Inter-Governmental Task Force on the review of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and a member of the Caricom-appointed Evaluation Committee overseeing the reconstruction of the Caricom Secretariat.

Word of the appointment was made yesterday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, AJ Nicholson, and signals a deepening of relations within the hemisphere.

“The opening up of a mission in the capital Brasilia is part of the strategic vision of the ministry in a bid to encourage trade and investment opportunities and strengthen Jamaica’s advocacy in the global arena,” the ministry said yesterday.

Now into its 21st year, this year’s festival will encompass 14 days of performances by 50 artistes drawn from St Lucia, the regional and international circles. It will kick off with opening acts from Trinidadian power couple Fay Ann Lyons & Bunji Garland. The opening will also feature dancehall wonder Busy Signal and Saint Lucian singing sensation Teddyson John.

In addition, this year’s performing acts will include multiple Grammy winner, Lionel Richie, 5 time Grammy winning artiste Ziggy Marley, African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, pop and hip-hop Melanie Fiona and gospel king Kirk Franklin.

St Lucia tourism director Louis Lewis said the longevity of St Lucia Jazz was testament to innovation and determination which was needed to ensure it remained fresh and exciting to maintain public interest.

The upcoming event was also endorsed by tourism minister Lorne Theophilus who was happy to see the return of the popular Opening of Jazz. “There has been clarinet calls for the return of this component of the festival. For many patrons this simple, yet symbolic opening had significant meaning by aligning St Lucia Jazz with the average St Lucian, featuring St Lucia’s best musical talents within a festival that has become renowned for attracting the world’s best,” he said.

The St Lucia Jazz Festival has maintained its ranking as one of the world’s top five festival

Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival

The fans, which turned out early, had much to cheer about as they were treated to a combination of Ska and Mento courtesy of acts such as the Dubtonic Crew, the Show Mento Band, Byron Lee’s Dragonaires and the legendary king of Ska, Derrick Morgan.

The Dubtonic Crew was silky smooth as members showed complete mastery over their instruments, setting the place alight with their cover of Black Uhuru’s “Shine Eye Gyal.”

The undisputed star among the early acts was Morgan, who reeled off his legendary Ska hits with consummate ease as he performed songs like “Reggae Train,” “Independence,” “Rude Boy” and “Fat Mother.”

Among the other acts expected to sparkle in a night dedicated to 50 years of Jamaican music are Kymani Marley, Luciano, Maxi Priest, Etana, Mykal Rose and Shaggy.

But it was the “HELLO, Jamaica!” shouted from Celine Dion to the huge crowd that turned out for her performance at Jamaica Jazz and Blues, at the Greenfied Stadium in Trelawny on Friday night.
After her opening number “I Drove All Night” at minutes after midnight, the Canadian singer expressed appreciation for the love and support she got from her Jamaican fans.
Every sentence was greeted with claps and loud cheers as she continued to shower praises about the island.
“I’m so excited to be here. We have been enjoying the beautiful weather, the friendliest people, the food,” she said.
“I have some making up to do for all that lost time. I can’t believe we’re really here in your beautiful country; the home of the great Bob Marley, the best place on earth to get an amazing plate of jerked chicken!”
“Happy birthday Jamaica on 50 fabulous years of independence,” she said, before getting back to the real business at hand – thrilling fans.

For many, the Dion experience began at the main road leading up to the stadium. From as early as 8:15, the main car park at the stadium was full to capacity due to the overwhelming turnout. Patrons had to make the long trek up to the venue having parked some distance away.
Dion delivered “Where Does My Heart Beat Now,” then “Because You Loved Me,” which from its first musical strains were greeted with loud screams, many singing along with their hands outstretched. A few couples used the opportunity to slow dance.

It was more musical thrills when Dion sang “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now,” “Power of Love” and one she did in honour of Ella Fitzgerald who died in June 1996, “Mr Paganini.”
The musical journey continued with “Beauty and the Beast” and “Gold Finger.”
The singer had four quick costume changes during her hour-long set and was accompanied by her band, which was on queue throughout her performance. The superb lighting served to enhance her performance.

Local artiste Diana King shared stage with the star performing the song she penned “Treat Her like a Lady,” then it was back to more solos. “I’m Alive,” “All By Myself,” “River Deep,” “Mountain High” and “My Heart Will Go On” brought the curtains down on a performance that was interlaced with screams, shouts, dancing and lots of love from the fans present.

Earlier in the evening, there were some enjoyable performances from Bryan Art, Jully Black, Tami Chynn, Tessanne Chin, Richie Stephens, Gentleman and a powerful set from Nicole Henry.
It also saw two more awards being presented to local artistes for their contribution to the Islands’ music. This time, it was to Richie Stephens and Shaggy for promoting Jamaican music across the globe.

The 3 days long festival’s last night climaxed with performances from Temptations Review, Damian Marley, Cee Lo Green and Heads of State.
Temptations Review, soca queen Destra and Junior Gong were the highlights on the final night of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival held on Saturday.
Dapperly attired in black sequined shirts and white pants, the quintet Temptations Review commanded immediate attention with “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”
In between some fancy footwork, they worked their magic with “My Lady Soul,” “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and “Don’t Look Back.”

It was a completely different vibes when Destra took centerstage in the early morning. She pumped new life back into then weary crowd as she jumped and pranced on stage getting them in the soca groove with “Worky Worky,” “Max It Up” and “Carnival Time.”
She diverted to give the audience a taste of her rich vocals when she performed some of her declared idol Whitney Houston’s songs.
“Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “Saving All My Love,” “I Have Nothing” and “I Will Always Love” were some of the Houston treats she delivered before “turning up the tempo” once more with her soca favorites.

Destra, who said she flew in the island straight from a previous performance, and declaring she was leaving right after for another two engagements — showed no signs of slowing down as she had the crowd waving rags, jumping and keeping pace with her high-energy delivery.
“I love you so bad Jamaica. I had to be here! When you want di place to mash up den call mi!” she shouted, as she went on to get the crowd super excited. The audience went wild as they danced and seemed really charged up. It was definitely carnival time at jazz fest.
Following an extraordinarily long band change, Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley brought the curtains down on the 2012 staging of the event.

Unlike the previous night’s headliner Celine Dion, which saw everyone waiting for her to cap the night’s performance, many exited the venue leaving the die-hard reggae fans to witness what was a sterling performance from the young Marley.
Jr Gong hit the stage at 1:30 am, and worked his professional set for the next 1 1/4 hour. Among the songs he performed were “More Justice,” “Still Searching” and capping his performance with “Welcome To Jamrock,” the title track from his Grammy Award winning album.

Earlier in the evening the gathering saw performances from Tara Harrison, Earl Klugh and Heads of State.

There was also a final award presentation which was given to Maxi Priest for making a difference to Jamaica’s music. The singer in accepting his award said: “We’ve come a long way, but still have a long way to go.”

“Awake” is a  drama about Detective Michael Britten (Isaacs) who finds he’s living two parallel lives. He’s involved in a car accident that seems to have killed both his son (Dylan Minnette, “Saving Grace”) and wife (Laura Allen, “Terriers”), yet his mind creates an ingenious coping mechanism in which he now lives two separate lives – one where his wife survived and the other where his son did.

Trying to regain some normalcy, Michael returns to solving crimes in both worlds with the help of two different partners, Detective Isaiah “Bird” Freeman (Steve Harris, “The Practice”) and Detective Efrem Vega (Wilmer Valderrama, “That ’70s Show”). Michael is assigned a different case in each reality and quickly discovers that his dual existence is actually a powerful tool. He begins to solve impossible cases by using his two realities to gain unique perspectives and link clues that cross over from world to world.

Helping Michael to navigate his two realities are his bureau-assigned therapists Dr. Evans (Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones, “24″) and Dr. Lee (BD Wong, NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”).

Pictured: (l-r) Dylan Minnette as Rex Britten, Jason Isaacs as Michael Britten, Laura Allen as Hannah Britten — Photo by: Jim Fiscus/NBC

Additionally, Sunday night’s episode of Bravo’s interactive late night talk show “Watch What Happens Live” with guests Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann delivered 1.6 million total viewers, marking a season high among all key demos.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta — Season:4 — Pictured: (l-r) Kim Zolciak, NeNe Leakes, Phaedra Parks, Sheree Whitfield, Cynthia Bailey, Kandi Burruss — Photo by Quantrell Colbert/Bravo

Actor/recording artist Jack Black, Fergie and current nominee Ahmir ”?uestlove” Thompson (The Roots), and Ringo Starr will appear as presenters.

The Grammy awards will be hosted by two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J and takes place live on Sunday, Feb. 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles  

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall); Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay and Rihanna; Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, Minaj, and Shelton will perform on the Grammy telecast for the first time.

Previously announced presenters are Dierks Bentley, Drake, Miranda Lambert, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Hersheys' Illustration

The “Raise the Bar, Hershey Coalition” (http://www.raisethebarhershey.org), a group of responsible cocoa advocates led by Global Exchange, Green America, and International Labor Rights Forum, started the campaign after identifying Hershey as behind its competitors on addressing child labor, forced labor, and other abuses in the cocoa industry.

“We are heartened to see Hershey’s taking this first step towards accountability in their supply chain and we will continue to dialogue with them about how to ensure they no longer depend on forced child labor,” said Judy Gearhart, executive director of the International Labor Rights Forum. “The threat of a Super Bowl ad forced the announcement, but Hershey’s new moves are really the result of thousands of consumers, students, church congregations and community groups writing to them over the past two years.”

The Raise the Bar, Hershey Coalition has been increasing pressure on Hershey, including launching a petition on Change.org (http://www.change.org/petitions/hershey-raise-the-bar), creating “brand-jamming” photos and videos of Hershey products, blanketing the company’s Facebook wall in messages, organizing rallies at Hershey flagship stores, and delivering more than 100,000 letters from concerned consumers to Hershey’s corporate headquarters on Halloween.

“The Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition is excited to see Hershey listening to consumer demand for ethically sourced cocoa,” said Elizabeth O’Connell, fair trade campaigns director for Green America, “but we also recognize there is much more work to be done to fight child labor and other abuses in the cocoa industry, and we will continue to encourage Hershey to develop ethical sourcing practices.”

“The growth and ultimate success of Raise the Bar, Hershey’s petition on Change.org is incredible,” said Change.org Director of Organizing Amanda Kloer. “Hershey responded to consumer pressure with a significant improvement in cocoa sourcing transparency. It has been empowering to watch this group of concerned organizations and individuals use Change.org’s tools to fight for changes at the Hershey Company.”

In response to Hershey’s announcement, eighth grader Jasper Perry-Anderson has created a follow-up campaign on Change.org (http://www.change.org/petitions/hersheys-trust-stop-exploiting-children-to-grow-cocoa-beans) asking the Hershey Trust to ensure the Hershey Company expands its commitment to certified cocoa to all its products in the future.

Live signature totals from Raise the Bar, Hershey’s campaign:

http://www.change.org/petitions/hershey-raise-the-bar

CaribPress: How did the idea to start Travelwire Global, Inc, a worldwide online travel and tour company, come about?

Oliver Huie: Having worked in the travel industry, I felt the personal touch was missing.  A desire to bring back the personal touch to travel, while providing quality services to travelers, led me to launch this online travel business.

CPress: Tell our readers about the experiences that you bring to Travelwire Global.

OH: Travel savvy – A passion to travel, coupled with a wealth of knowledge about the Caribbean infrastructure and the back-end of travel Information Technology (IT).  The experiences that I bring to the company includes over fifteen (15) years experiences working as an IT Engineer, as well as a few years as a travel agent.

CPress: Travelers are looking for deals.  There are other online travel companies providing deals as well.  What types of deals do Travelwire Global offer that sets the company apart in the industry?

OH: We are focusing on the Caribbean market, we are from there.  This is advantageous because we know the demographics of that market better than our competitors. We are bringing back the customer support and service aspects to the travel industry.  Our staff at Travelwire ensures that your travel experience is smooth by providing comprehensive customer service from the time the trip is booked.

CPress: In today’s tight economy, travelers are looking to cut costs and save money.  Savvy travelers are looking for a luxury vacation on a low budget.  Tell us about how a family can benefit from the “Make Your Own Deal” program?

OH: Travelers can get a lot for their money with the Make your Own deal program.  Our business resources on the ground are able to provide great deals for hotel rates.  We are from the Caribbean and we know the suppliers.

CPress: In light of the cruise ship wreck in Italy, your thoughts on how this devastating accident could impact the travel industry?

OH: According to some of the reviews, they are expecting an impact to first time cruise travelers.  At the same time, we have to market the safety of cruise.

The advice to travelers is that when you are going on a cruise, the first thing you should do when you board the ship is to attend the safety drill within the first day of the cruise. It is important that every cruise passenger attends this safety drill;

CPress: What travel spots are on your bucket list for the 2012 travel season?

OH: Cancun – Spring Break; Negril; Jamaica – Spring Break; Jamaica, Virgin Island – Carnival – April; Jamaica – Reggae Sumfest – July; Barbados – Crop Over festival – July; Jamaica 50 – August; Trinidad 50 – August;

CPress: What is Travelwire Global ‘Fab Five’ travel destinations and why?

OH: ‘FAB FIVE’ Destinations are the following:

1. Jamaica — have the beach in the Caribbean, in Negril you have 12 miles of white sand beach. The food, culture, people and the best adventure experience.

2. Dominican Republic — This Island is a hidden treasure, is lost somewhere under the blanket of green felt that coats its densely forested hills. It has some of the best rates in Hotels and attractions.

3. St. Lucia — St. Lucia is quickly gaining steam as the best destination in the Caribbean – and rightfully so. The island has the perfect mix of what one desires in a Caribbean getaway; a vibrant port city surrounded by tall, sweeping, rainforest covered mountains.

4. Barbados — Barbados clinches the number two spot for being a country that has truly established its own identity since breaking away from the British rule in 1966.

5. Mexico – Mexico is the most visited destination and receives over 3 million visitors each year. Its modern hotels, gorgeous Caribbean coastline and proximity to US makes it a destination anyone can enjoy.

CPress: As Jamaica move towards 50 years of nationhood, what are the most significant milestones thus far for the black, green and gold?

OH: Jamaica becoming an independent nation, our national heroes and the influence of reggae music globally are significant milestones.

CPress: In terms of the Jamaican diaspora, what plans are in the pipeline for Jamaica 50?

OH: I am excited to say that there are many special events planned within the diaspora in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Jamaica.  The events kick off in January.

Visit the Consul General of Jamaica web site for more details at: www.congenjamaica-ny.org

CPress: With the age of smartphones, tablets, other portable devices and social networking, what role will this play in the travel industry?

OH: Technology is changing how travelers book their flights.  Social media has played a major role in internet booking.  Everything is geared to twitter, facebook LinkedIn or a website.

CPress: Elaborate on the future for Travelwire Global.

OH: We foresee Travelwire to be a leader in the travel industry, while positioning our self as one of the top leaders in the travel industry by offering good prices, good packages and good customer support.  And build our customer base on word of mouth referrals by family and friends.

Buddle spent the past year in Germany playing for FC Ingolstadt where he scored ten (10) goals.

Buddle and the rest of the LA Galaxy will play their first official game of 2012 on Wednesday, March 7 when they face Toronto FC in the first leg of their 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal, which will be played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Galaxy open the 2012 MLS season three days later on Saturday, March 10 when they host Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center in MLS First Kick 2012, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and tickets are on sale now as part of season ticket packages as well as three and six-game plans.

For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please visit the club’s official website at www.lagalaxy.com.

Many of its foods had little in common with those of the South I grew up in. Nearly everything was new and exciting and exotic. Some things, like the sherry-rich turtle soup and the spillway crayfish, I loved. Others, like the alligator sausage, I could never quite get used to.

But the thing I loved best was the Mardi Gras king cake. The original puff pastry version of “la galette des rois” was made by the occasional “French” bakery and was a simple, yet sophisticated affair with a beautiful flaky dough powdered with sugar. And, of course, a ceramic “baby” baked into it.

But the modern day king cake is a sweet Louisiana extravaganza and comes in more than 60 different “coffee-cake” like flavors, including king Creole pecan, apple, strawberry cream cheese, Bavarian cream and pina colada.

It is shaped like a great big baked donut and has a plastic baby stuck into the cake before it is decorated in purple (representing justice), green (representing faith) and gold (representing power) icing or sugar. The king cake party tradition dictates that the person who gets the baby in his or her slice must host the next king cake party during Mardi Gras season.

During Mardi Gras, I would have a king cake party almost every day, and over the course of a few years I tried almost every flavor made.

My favorite bakery boasted a “queen cake” made with Louisiana sweet potatoes. It was my favorite. And every year since moving away, I crave it.

It didn’t take long for me to figure out that I could take all the rich flavors of my favorite “queen cake” and make a sweet potato bread pudding (also very popular in New Orleans). I use stale raisin bread to achieve the cinnamon coffee-cake like flavor and texture of king cake, and baked garnet sweet potato puree to make the bread pudding custard rich and moist.

I also honor the revelry of Mardi Gras by topping it with whiskey hard sauce while it is still warm.

Whiskey hard sauce is one of my favorite secrets to dressing up almost any warm cake, pie or pudding. Contrary to what it sounds like, it’s not actually a sauce. It’s more like a spread, until you put it on a hot dessert and the butter and sugar and whiskey melt and become a heady “sauce” that is truly the icing on the cake.

Hide a “baby” in the bread pudding once it comes out of the oven and before you ice it with the hard sauce, then carry on the Mardi Gras tradition.

___

SWEET POTATO BREAD PUDDING WITH WHISKEY HARD SAUCE

Want to prep ahead? The bread pudding can be made the day before it is baked and stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.

Start to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes (20 minutes active)

Servings: 10

For the sauce:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon best-quality bourbon or rye

Pinch of salt

For the bread pudding:

8 cups torn or cubed stale raisin bread (about 1 large loaf)

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon mace

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 cups half-and-half

1 cup heavy cream

4 large eggs

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup mashed baked garnet sweet potatoes

To make the sauce, in a large bowl use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, liquor and salt. Continue mixing until smooth and creamy. Cover and set aside. Also can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a month.

For the bread pudding, heat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 2-quart baking dish or individual ramekins with cooking spray.

In a large bowl toss together the raisin bread with the pecans, then set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and salt. Toss the sugar mixture over the bread and pecans, then stir well. Drizzle everything with the melted butter, then toss to evenly distribute.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, cream, eggs and brown sugar. Add the vanilla and sweet potatoes, then mix well. Pour the sweet potato-cream mixture over the bread mixture and stir until well blended. Let stand for about 5 minutes, then spoon into the prepared baking dish or ramekins.

Bake for 45 to 55 minutes (bake ramekins for just 15 to 20 minutes), or until set.

As soon as the bread pudding comes out of the oven, top with hard sauce so that it melts into the crevices. Serve warm.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 620 calories;360 calories from fat (56 percent of total calories); 40 g fat (19 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 175 mg cholesterol; 62 g carbohydrate; 8 g protein; 3 g fiber; 220 mg sodium.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Elizabeth Karmel is a grilling and Southern foods expert and executive chef at Hill Country Barbecue Market restaurants in New York and Washington, as well as Hill Country Chicken in New York. She is the author of three cookbooks, including “Soaked, Slathered and Seasoned.”

Williams has been fighting Sjogren’s Syndrome and hasn’t played a sanctioned match since the U.S. Open in August. She withdrew after the first round and was not ready to return last month for the Australian Open.

Williams practiced with the U.S. team Wednesday morning and said she’s thrilled to be so close to competing again.

“I think just being on a team and just having some adrenaline just gives me even more energy, to be honest,” she said at a news conference. “I need to be on a team every week and not at home.”

Williams has had to learn the difference between recovering from an injury and an illness. That has meant pacing herself more in practice and minding doctors’ orders not to push it while she tries to regain her form. A former No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam singles winner, Williams isn’t used to taking it easy.

“The difference is acceptance _ trying to accept how you feel and limitations. Listening to your body and taking care of yourself,” she said. “Instead of trying to run through a wall, just really kind of take a step back and be smart. I think that’s kind of what I’ve learned.

“There are some things you can’t keep going through,” she added. “I still have to be reminded to slow down, but hopefully there will be a day when I don’t have to be reminded of that.”

Williams played younger sister, Serena, in an exhibition in Colombia in November.

The recovery has been frustratingly slow at times, but she feels ready for this weekend when the U.S. begins its quest to return to the top tier in the Fed Cup. The Americans were bounced to Group II in a 5-0 loss to Germany last year, when Venus was with the team but couldn’t play because of a hip injury.

“I was just kind of standing on the sidelines, which was tough because I wasn’t able to help the team at all,” she said. “This year, it’s great to be in a position to help the team.”

It’s also great for U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez, who said the lineup for the matches Saturday and Sunday will depend on how well Venus plays in practice over the next few days.

Wednesday’s results looked promising, Fernandez said.

“Just to have her around is such a big motivator for the rest of the team. There’s a lot of excitement. I think Venus was thrilled and she was itching to get out there and hit that first ball,” Fernandez said. “I think that goes such a long way. The ripple effect of everybody seeing it _ just seeing the desire, the determination, the intensity _ it rubs off. It was great to see Venus out there this morning hitting well and working hard.”

Belarus features new world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who just won the Australian Open title on Saturday.

Fernandez said she has to submit her lineup on Friday, when the weekend draw will be determined. There are two singles matches Saturday and another two rounds of singles Sunday before the competition wraps up with doubles. The U.S. team also includes Liezel Huber, the world’s No. 1 doubles player, Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens.

Serena Williams has been recovering from a left ankle injury, but could still be the American opponent to face Azarenka, who routed Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in the Australian Open final.

“The good news is we can always change it up the second day, so I have good options,” Fernandez said.

No matter how she plays this weekend, just getting on the court for a real match will be somewhat of a triumph for Venus Williams, who will be 32 in June.

Injuries have limited her to playing in only 11 matches since she reached the semifinals at the 2010 U.S. Open. The last few months of recovery have been more trying than what she has endured in the past because it has been so different.

“It’s definitely difficult not being on the court, especially when there’s not much to be done about it when it’s completely out of my control,” she said. “I think that’s probably the hardest part.”

New Prison Cook Book Illustration

Decades, in fact. And that, combined with a few (admittedly peculiar) ingredients and a desire to cook despite the odds has resulted in a rather unusual cookbook _ “From The Big House to Your House,” a collection of 200 recipes by six Texas prison inmates.

The women all are serving at least 50 years at the Mountain View Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, all but one of them for murder. And a hankering for foods they enjoyed on the outside prompted them to get creative on the inside.

For example, they’ve found that an empty potato chip bag works for cooking in an electric warming pot, their only source of heat for cooking. A plastic ID card _ similar to a credit card _ makes an acceptable cutting or chopping implement. And tuna and mackerel can be made into great-tasting nachos.

“I know it sounds disgusting,” said Celeste Johnson, 49, one of the authors. “But I love tuna nachos. And I’ve got so many people here converted to it.”

The book was produced with the help of Johnson’s mother, who typed the recipes and submitted the manuscript on the women’s behalf to The Justice Institute, a Seattle group that works with convicts who maintain their innocence. The group published the book and now sells it online.

The book puts into print a long tradition of the joy of cooking behind bars, where generations of Martha Stewart wannabes have concocted legal and illegal brews and stews with a variety of success and failure.

And inmate cooking is not confined to women’s prisons. Former Texas corrections officer Jim Willett remembers his days working in a men’s unit, walking through a cell block and getting whiffs of simmering foods.

“You knew when there were certain foods cooking, just like being in your house,” says Willett, now director of the Texas Prison Museum. “It would make you want to stop and join them, but that’s not legal.

“Something like a Frito pie they’re certainly not going to get in the chow hall.”

The reality of prison cooking is a bit different from “GoodFellas,” the 1990 movie that shows mobsters delicately slicing garlic with a razor blade as they prepare a gourmet Italian dinner for themselves while serving time. And it isn’t always pretty.

Inmates tend to be creative in the “kitchen.” In the past, some have been known to fashion metal plates into skillets that get heated in toilets filled with burning toilet paper. Or to transform tooth paste tubes into spoons and turn fruit into prison “wine.”

In 2009, a Washington state prison inmate’s attempt to warm sausages in his cell’s stainless steel commode didn’t work as hoped. Smoke from the prisoner’s makeshift oven went through a sewer pipe vent and officials evacuated the lockup for what they feared was a fire. The inmate became known as the “toilet chef.”

More typical was the experience of Martha Stewart, the homemaking pro who was said to have dabbled in microwave cooking while locked up a few years ago in a federal prison in West Virginia while serving time for obstruction of justice and lying to the government.

At least she had a microwave, which Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke said is available to many federal inmates, though they are prohibited from cooking in their cells.

The Texas women _ who, in compliance with regulations prohibiting them from profiting from a business while behind bars, are donating proceeds from the book to their publisher _ only have their “hot pot,” a coffee pot-like instrument that warms water, but can’t boil it (boiled liquid could become a weapon).

Ingredients also are limited mostly to what can be purchased from the prison commissary. They can forget about real milk _ they get powder _ or real butter, as well as most individual seasonings. Garlic? They squeeze that from garlic vitamin tablets.

“It looks kind of gross,” Johnson says. “But it works. You’d be surprised.”

Looking for alternatives to meals served in the chow hall, the Texas women began pooling their commissary food purchases and wrote down their discoveries, such as rehydrating potato chips in their warming pot. The resulting mush became a “baked potato.”

“I don’t know if we’ve been away too long, but it does taste like a real baked potato,” says Johnson, who’s been in prison for nine years and won’t become eligible for parole from her life sentence until 2042.

Prison historian Mitch Roth said cooking is a way for inmates to “access their former lives to a certain extent,” and to humanize the often dehumanizing prison experience.

Not every recipe the Texas women tried was a winner. Ceyma Bina, one of the co-authors who has served six years of a 50-year sentence for a slaying in Houston, winced as she described making ravioli from ramen noodles and salsa. And Johnson said rehydrated onion-flavored potato chips “turned like rubber.”

Bina and the others who worked on “From The Big House to Your House,” say in the book’s preface they were confident readers on the other side of the bars would “enjoy the liberty found in creating a home-felt comfort during unfortunate times.”

“It shows people how we survive in here,” said Bina.

Standing in a vacant Southern California store set to be refurbished and reopened this summer, Obama lauded efforts to bring large grocery retailers to inner-city areas that traditional supermarket chains spurn.

“That’s how we solve this problem _ one community, one household at a time,” Obama said, speaking in front of a display depicting an old-fashioned grocery store with crates stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables. “We’re not just making this generation healthy. We’re making the next, and the next and the next.”

Obama, who is on the second day of her two-day visit to the Los Angeles area, made the stop in the blue-collar, largely Hispanic neighborhood as part of her “Let’s Move!” campaign to boost healthy food and fitness.

Part of the campaign includes promoting initiatives such as the $264 million California FreshWorks Fund, which finances grocery businesses willing to open in urban areas.

One of the fund’s first projects was a $20 million loan to Anaheim-based Northgate Gonzalez Markets, which operates 34 supermarkets around Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, to build the Inglewood store and two others.

The FreshWorks Fund is one of a mushrooming number of initiatives to tackle so-called “food deserts,” which are mostly urban areas where conventional supermarket chains are reluctant to operate because of the low-income customer base and safety concerns.

Nutrition experts point to food deserts as a key reason why obesity and weight-related ailments beleaguer inner-city residents, since they must buy much of their food at overpriced corner stores that sell a lot of highly processed packaged foods and snacks but little fresh produce, meat and dairy items.

The FreshWorks Fund, which is a partnership of The California Endowment, banks and health organizations, was launched last July at the White House.

Besides Northgate, other projects include financing a farmer’s market near a housing project and a food delivery service for outlying rural communities, said Tina Castro, director of impact investing for The California Endowment, a Los Angeles-based foundation that focuses on health issues.

“Health really happens in neighborhoods,” she said. “We’re looking for those small to medium-sized, independent grocers to give them access to capital and real estate.”

Northgate opened the first of the three new markets last fall in the City Heights area of San Diego. The next will be a renovation of the Inglewood building. The third will be the construction of a store in South Los Angeles, slated for completion next year. Each store creates about 120 jobs.

The locations match the company’s three-decade-long focus of providing quality, affordable foods in low income neighborhoods, which primarily comprise Hispanic immigrants but also include black and Asian residents, said Carl Middleton, president of Northgate Gonzalez Real Estate Co.

“We provide that homeland experience for immigrants,” Middleton said.

The stores typically offer tortilla and taco counters, as well as products from Mexico and Central America, including Coca-Cola made in Mexico, as well as fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy and bakeries. It also caters to its immigrant customers by providing payroll check cashing and wire transfers.

Part of the company’s mission has been to promote nutrition by providing lean cuts of meat, preservative-free baked products and good quality fruits and vegetables, Middleton said.

The chain has launched a “Viva la Salud” (Long Live Health) campaign, which puts a special tag to denote healthy foods, such as olive oil rather than lard, and holds cooking classes in stores.

The company was founded by Mexican immigrant Miguel Gonzalez in 1980, who came to the United States after his shoe store burned down in Jalisco.

After working for several years in various jobs, he had saved enough to buy an old liquor store in Anaheim and convert it to a grocery store that became a community gathering spot, recalled his youngest son Oscar Gonzalez, who heads the company.

Seeing a niche in catering to fellow immigrants, he expanded the business with the help of his 13 children. It now employs 5,000 people.

Obama said she was impressed by the family’s commitment to the communities they serve. “Their story is so inspiring on so many different levels,” she said.

After the Inglewood event, Obama was scheduled to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and to deliver a luncheon speech at the Democratic National Committee.