It’s been a colorful ten years since Kelis released her debut album Kaleidoscope. In that time, the singer scored big stateside with sassy anthems like “Milkshake” and “Bossy”, landed even more hits overseas (”Trick Me,” “Lil Star”), married rapper Nas and became one of pop and R&B’s most edgy, offbeat artists.

But with Kelis’ edginess came a dislocation from standard genre definitions, which made it tough for the music biz to market her through its usual channels. She was eventually released from her label in 2007. Then, earlier this year, the singer filed from divorce from Nas while seven months pregnant with their son, Knight.

“I took some time off,” Kelis says. “I really just shut down, even to the point where I was like, I don’t want to sing anymore. I went to culinary school and just regrouped and got my heart back for it.”

After being signed to will.i.am Music Group/Interscope, Kelis premiered a new David Guetta-produced song, “Acapella,” on her official site last month. She also became a certified saucier after taking culinary classes at the famed Le Cordon Bleu.

“I love the lifestyle of a great meal,” she tells Idolator. “I think food and fashion and music all go together when it’s done right.”

Read on to see how Kelis got her groove back, and what we can expect from her musically in 2010. More »