Condiment Creativity Turns Good Meals into Great Ones
Condiments and spices mixtures personify creativity of people of the African Diaspora in the kitchen because they enhanced and heightened the food of cooks and allowed them to signify their style with special “spice, seasoning, sauce, preserve, or pickle… relish, chow chow, piccalill, and chutney.”
Faith in Transition and a Dominican Mangú Recipe
January 1. We made it to see this day. It’s that pivotal date when all things new are embraced and our efforts at finding that balance which optimizes our lives … Continue reading
Cooking Up a Heritage Connection: Me, Grandma and a Pot of Beans
By Shannon Mustipher Kuumba is one of my favorite Kwanzaa principles, because all of us have creative potential at our disposal to positively affect our situation and that of those … Continue reading
Nia: A Reflection on the Purpose Driven Life
As we prepare to enter 2013, Kwanzaa principles ask us to reflect on the past, honoring our ancestors and thanking them for their wisdom, strength, and courage. 2012 — the … Continue reading
Putting Africa on the Culinary Map
By Steven “Konata” Allwood There was a moment in episode 12 of Top Chef Season 8 (Top Chef: All Stars) that I’m sure went unnoticed by the vast majority of … Continue reading
Pearl’s Fried Corn
I grew up eating good old Southern food. Fried foods, decadent desserts, fattening casseroles–you know the foods that just make you lose control. When I revamped my diet many years … Continue reading
HERITAGE LINK BRANDS: Wines That Unify
Selena Cuffe, President and CEO of Heritage Link Brands, is a woman of purpose. Passionate about advancing positive images of Africa and determined to provide a legacy for her family, … Continue reading
Black-eye Pea and Wild Brown Rice Risotto
Twas the eve of Kwanzaa, and all through our house, we will rest in peace after unwrapping Christmas gifts with glee. This year, my household of two starts a new … Continue reading
Meatless Monday’s… Say What?
Coming from someone who co-owns a catering business, Meat-me-at-the-Grill with her husband, the term “Meatless Monday” in the food blog world sounds sacrilegious. I love meat. All kinds of Meat, … Continue reading
Uhma’s Sweet Potato Pie
Modern grandmas are kinda funny to me. Many of them spend endless hours trying to come up with a clever name for the new grandchild to call them. They ask their … Continue reading
Kuumba-Inspired Roasted Sweet Potato Cake
As I begin to explore the principles of Kwanzaa as an inspiration for a recipe, I was most inspired by the principle of Kuumba. There are a few different translations, … Continue reading
Kuumba: Breakfast Candied Sweet Potatoes in Jars
The Kwanzaa Principle Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) means Creativity. Celebration on December 31st seems quite fitting, because New Year’s Eve is when we think about what we did the past 365 days. … Continue reading
Ms. Ginny is My Grandmother
My maternal grandmother, Mrs. Earcie Bodiford Ginwright, a life-long Alabamian, taught me more about African values than my African study and Swahili language classes taught me. I moved from Alabama … Continue reading
Coco Cooks Reflects on Kujichagulia… Self Determination
As a caterer, I never set out to be known, defined, or limited as a female black owned business. The other day the wife of a European dignitary who hired … Continue reading
West African Chicken by BlackHealthMatters.com
African Americans have poor health outcomes on nearly every disease index; we’re either at higher risk for developing an illness or we die from it in greater numbers. While access … Continue reading
Celebrating Nia: Past, Present, Future
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Nia. Purpose. I have, for a … Continue reading
Kujichagulia or Self-Determination: To Define Ourselves, Name Ourselves, Create for Ourselves and Speak for Ourselves
To create for ourselves is one of the most important concepts that I take away from Kwanzaa. I strongly believe that we as a people should be growing, producing and … Continue reading
Pineapple Upside Down Hummingbird Cake
From an early age, I was deeply immersed in the culture and celebration of Kwanzaa. I used to perform in a children’s dance company called New Life, which was rooted … Continue reading
Sweet Potato, Caramelized Shallots, Smoked Mozzarella Pizza with Wilted Arugula
It was the Senegambians who were brought in to grow cotton, tobacco, rice and other grains and corn. They were also expert fishermen, blacksmiths, woodworkers and hunters. Having a legendary … Continue reading
Creamy Cheesy Yellow Grits with Roast Brussel Sprouts and Sausage
Thank the Native American tribes located in Southern United States for introducing early American settlers to grits, a common breakfast made from corn. Eventually, descendants of African slaves would turn … Continue reading
Kwanzaa Culinarians 