NATIONAL SOUL FOOD MONTH CELEBRATES FOOD
TRADTIONS
By Karen Wilcher
June is National Soul Food Month. Though many foods have been
recognized with celebrations
and festivals, National Soul Food Month recognizes the culinary
and cultural heritage of African Americans. The Culinary contributions
of this group have had an indelible imprint on the American table
and on popular American life and culture.
Now most African Americans eat or have eaten these foods regularly
and our house is no exception. The foods on their own are flavorful,
wholesome and nutrient-rich. However some of the traditional preparations
and methods of cooking that developed when folks needed more calories
have given some of the dishes a bad rap—today most of us
don’t need so many calories. But we can still enjoy these
traditional foods, we just need to cut back on fat, and bulk up
on vegetables. And so many items considered soul food are vegetables—greens,
okra, sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, red beans, corn, butter
beans and more.
Greens are a standard on the menu at our house. Growing up my
favorite mixed greens of choice were usually a blend of tender
mustard and turnip leaves served with earthy turnips. I’ve
updated the family recipe slow cooking fresh greens in a spicy
broth seasoned with smoked turkey.
My favorite food to enjoy with greens is the cornmeal hoecakes
my Dad would make. According to him they’re called hoecakes
because back in the “day,” when so many of us were
working in fields, someone decided that by planting the hoe in
a hot fire, they could enjoy a hot disc of corn bread, thus the
hoecake was born. I just remember how goood Dad’s hoecakes
were. My sisters and I would gobble up the warm rounds of bread
with rivulets of butter running through our fingers. We’d
eat so many; sometimes he would have to make a second batch to
serve with the greens.
We have so many great memories linked to the kitchen, and food
traditions. This June celebrate National Soul Food Month, cooking
up a few heritage recipes to create new traditions in your family.
Recipes:
Mixed
Greens with Peppered Turnips
Daddy's
Hoecakes
