Collard greens have a long history in the African-American community. No self-respecting soul food restaurant would dare omit them from the menu! They were always on our dinner table on holidays when I was a kid, and even now that my siblings and I have children and grandchildren of our own, we still look forward to them every… Continue reading Collard Greens
Category: Simple (5 Ingredients or Less)
Iced Tea
Bottled iced teas for me are very hit or miss – usually either too sweet or not sweet enough. So, when I want iced tea at home, I tend to make it myself. My first few attempts at a lightly sweetened homebrew always came out with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I didn’t want to add… Continue reading Iced Tea
Pan Fried Codfish
One of my favorite childhood memories is getting up at dawn and going to the renowned Fulton Fish Market with my mother to buy fish, fresh off the boats. We lived nearby so we would walk down the quiet, empty cobblestone streets near the market until we reached the bustle of fishmongers and shoppers. Mom… Continue reading Pan Fried Codfish
Hot Chocolate
I’m not sure why packets of hot chocolate mix contain so many ingredients, when a rich and creamy hot chocolate can be easily made at home with just three. Leave that Alpine lady up in the slopes and warm up against winter’s chill using my no-measure method. [Don’t worry, I’ve included precise measurements as well,… Continue reading Hot Chocolate
Tuna Salad Sandwiches
This is the unsung hero of my cookbook. Since the recipe consists entirely of pantry staples, it’s one I never really have to shop for and therefore often overlook. But I’m always delighted when I come across a long-forgotten can of tuna in the back of my cupboard because I know immediately that I can… Continue reading Tuna Salad Sandwiches
Baked Apples
Please resist the urge to use an apple corer to prepare this dish. Too much of the apple is discarded that way, and trust me, you’ll want to keep as much as you can. Warm, sweet, and spiced – this comfort food is the epitome of a fall treat. On chilly autumn days, I enjoy… Continue reading Baked Apples
Pork Sausage Patties
Breakfast for me is usually cold and fast – a bowl of cereal, a breakfast pastry, a piece of fruit. But sometimes on the weekends, I go all out and make a full hot breakfast. When I’m all out of bacon, I get my pork fix by making sausage patties. My mom (and co-author of… Continue reading Pork Sausage Patties
Slow Cooker Spare Ribs
I’ve probably eaten my weight in spareribs over the years but wasn’t sure I could ever make them successfully at home — until I made them in my slow cooker. You’ll need to finish them in the oven but only for about 15 minutes. The hot oven helps the sauce caramelize and cling to the… Continue reading Slow Cooker Spare Ribs
Strawberry Sauce
I came up with this one a couple years ago, when I wanted to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but was all out of jam. I had recently learned how to make simple syrup (boil a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar until sugar dissolves) and figured, cooking down some fruit into the… Continue reading Strawberry Sauce
Limeade
Though typically regarded as a summertime drink, limeade has become a year-round staple in my house. For the past six years, not a week has gone by when we haven’t had a full pitcher of the stuff in our refrigerator. It’s a nostalgia thing. For me, it brings back childhood memories of rolling lemons for… Continue reading Limeade
