22 Dec
I’ve written a few posts about my grandmothers and some of the wonderful dishes they would make. From weekday dinners to holiday meals with all the fixins’ they were talented cooks. As far as we were concerned my maternal grandmother Gonga, was the maven of candied sweets. This was one of the dishes she made […]
24 Nov
The countdown to Thanksgiving is swift and can lead to menu mayhem or turkey trauma. No worries, take a deep breath and use the following tips to help avoid holiday cooking drama. 1. Turkey Still Frozen? “Yes, they do take longer than we think to thaw.” As a turkey expert on the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, […]
17 Nov
Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie is trending and there are food companies nationwide afflicted with pie envy. Back in the day we would have heard it through the grapevine, but in this era of social media with do-it-yourself video, Facebook and the Twitterverse, sales of Patti’s pie are on fire. Now there are plenty of […]
31 Aug
Are your one-time toddlers, headed out the door, leaving the swaddling of the home cocoon? If this is your current situation, both you and your young adult may be facing the “freshmen 15.” Though the pounds may sneak up on both of you, generally speaking they’ll weigh you down for different reasons. The Parent Trap […]
23 Aug
It is almost the end of peach season and wherever you are, bite into one more of those juicy sweet, sunset-colored rounds. For peach enthusiasts—like me, the season does not last long enough. Most of my peaches this summer were from Michigan. But I did score several of my favorites from, Chilton County, Alabama. This […]
2 Jun
June is National Soul food Month, celebrating the heritage and history of the foods and foodways of African Americans and peoples from the African diaspora. The culinary contributions of this group had an indelible impact on the American menu. When Big Mama whipped up a family favorite back in the day, she stirred in plenty […]
9 May
Today’s post is dedicated to my mother and grandmothers—Big Mama and Gonga. These women shaped my taste memories and taught me about really good cooking. My Mom will celebrate 90 years young in a couple of months and she is one good cook. She has always said she liked cooking but she didn’t like the […]
16 Feb
Each February I’m reminded of how many stories of unsung heroes there are to share about Black History. During this centennial year for the recognition of black history month the theme is “A Century of Black History, Life and Culture.” Food is intrinsic to culture, and it is central to everyday life. African American innovation […]
26 Jan
I love chili and have stirred more than a few gallons of it. The family recipe was typically ground beef served Cincinnati-style over spaghetti with Delta tamales. Then there was white bean chili with chicken created by my friend at Southern Living magazine. These days the Drapers’ chili of choice starts with a beef chuck […]
30 Dec
We’ve been tempted to overindulge at just about every gathering during the holiday season. Lighten up with this salad of tri-color tomatoes, arugula and fresh mozzarella cheese. It adds a splash of color to any menu and delivers on flavor from good-for-you ingredients. It’s easy to make, is gluten-free and is a great addition for […]
