The Black Family Reunion Cookbook: Black Family Reunion Cookbook

by National Council of Negro Women

Overview

The Black Family Reunion Celebrations, organized by The National Council of Negro Women and held in seven cities across America every summer, celebrate and preserve the values, traditions, and strengths of the African-American family. Inspired by these festivals, The Black Family Reunion Cookbook contains more than 250 recipes from home kitchens across America, seasoned with warm memories and “homemade love.”

Including personal reminiscences from celebrities such as Natalie Cole, Wilma Rudolph, Patti LaBelle, and Spelman College President Johnnetta Cole, this unique collection reflects the local, national, and international heritage of the Black community. It offers dishes for every occasion and every taste, from African-inspired Mustard Greens with Peanut Sauce to down-home Family Famous Chicken and Dumplings, from a traditional gumbo to sophisticated Sweet Potato Smoked Turkey Bisque, and, in honor of the council's founder, Mary McLeod Bethune, her own recipe for her celebrated Sweet Potato Pie.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781668051931
Publisher:	Atria Books
Publication date:	07/18/2023
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	154,359
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

The National Council of Negro Women, located in Washington, DC, was founded in 1935 and operates in forty-two states, with vital programs addressing women’s special concerns. This book was developed by Libby Clark, Food Editor of The Los Angeles Sentinel; Janet Cheatham Bell, President and owner of Sabayt Publications in Chicago, Illinois; and Jessica B. Harris, a professor at Queens College, New York, and the author of several cookbooks.

Read an Excerpt

BREAD SPECIALTIES

The Legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune

SOMETIMES I ASK MYSELF IF I HAVE ANY OTHER LEGACY TO LEAVE. Truly, my worldly possessions are few. Yet, my experiences have been rich. From them I have distilled principles and policies in which I believe firmly, for they represent the meaning of my life's work. They are the products of much sweat and sorrow. Perhaps, in them there is something of value. So, as my life draws to a close, I will pass them on to Negroes everywhere in the hope that an old woman's philosophy may give them inspiration. Here, then, is my legacy.

I LEAVE YOU LOVE. Love builds, It is positive and hopeful. It is more beneficial than hate....Personally and racially, our enemies must be forgiven...."Love thy neighbor" is a precept which could transform the world if it were universally practiced. Loving your neighbor means being interracial, interreligious, and international.

I LEAVE YOU HOPE....Yesterday, our ancestors endured the degradation of slavery, yet they retained their dignity. Today, we direct our economic and political strength toward winning a more abundant and secure life. Tomorrow, a new Negro, unhindered by race taboos and shackles, will benefit from more than 330 years of ceaseless striving and struggle. Theirs will be a better world. This I believe with all my heart.

About this fabric

Wax Hollandais (black and gold with print) [WAX-OH-LAHN-DAY]

One of the most valuable of the printed fabrics found in West Africa, wax fabrics, ironically, come from Europe. Originally they were produced by using batik techniques. This design shows the fly whisk which is a symbol of power for some Africanpeoples.

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION BREAKFAST CAKE

1/3 cup Butter Flavor Crisco
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen 1/4 cup honey
Grated peel of one orange
Grated peel of one lemon

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 9-inch pie plate.
2. Combine Butter Flavor Crisco and sugar in large bowl. Beat ar medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Beat in egg.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add alternately with milk to creamed mixture. Fold in blueberries.
4. Pat dough out to 1/2-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut into nine 3-inch rounds. Place one in center of pie plate. Arrange eight, tilted and overlapping, around center dough circle. Spread with honey. Sprinkle with orange and lemon peel.
5. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 24 minutes or until dough in center is thoroughly baked. Serve warm or at room temperature.

8 servings

BENNE SEED WAFERS

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine (1/2 stick)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Heat oven to 325°F. Grease baking sheet.
2. Combine brown sugar and butter in medium bowl. Beat until creamy. Stir in egg, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in sesame seeds, lemon juice and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet, 2 inches apart.
3. Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes, or until wafers are brown around edges. Allow wafers to cool one minute before removing to cooling rack.

Note: Benne is a West African word for sesame which is still in common daily usage in South Carolina. Legend has it that eating sesame seeds brings good luck.

50 wafers

ANGEL BISCUITS

1 package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons warm water
5 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Crisco Shortening
1 cups buttermilk

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Cut in Crisco using pastry blender (or 2 knives) until all flour is blended in to form pea-size chunks. Stir in yeast mixture and buttermilk. Place in large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
3. Heat oven to 400°F.
4. Roll or pat dough to 1/2-inch thickness on well floured surface. Cut with floured 1 3/4 to 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet.
5. Bake at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

4 dozen biscuits

NICE AND EASY ROLLS

2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1/4 cup regular mayonnaise

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Grease twelve (about 2 1/2-inch) muffin cups.
2. Combine flour, milk and mayonnaise in medium bowl. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Divide dough equally between muffin cups.
3. Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

12 rolls

COCONUT BISCUITS

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup flake coconut, toasted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup Crisco Shortening
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Grease baking sheet.
2. Combine flour, coconut, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening using pastry blender (or two knives) to form coarse crumbs.
3. Combine milk and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients. Mix with fork until particles are moistened and cling together. Drop tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet.
4. Bake at 425°F for 12 to 14 minutes.

12 to 16 biscuits

SWEET POTATO BISCUITS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed sweet potato
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Butter Flavor Crisco, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl.
2. Combine sweet potato, brown sugar and Butter Flavor Crisco. Beat at low speed of electric mixer until well blended and fluffy.
3. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. Stir buttermilk and sweet potato mixture alternately into dry ingredients.
4. Roll dough 1/2-inch thick. Cut with floured 2-inch round cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet.
5. Bake at 425°F for 15 to 20 minutes.

12 to 16 biscuits

MONKEY BREAD

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup Crisco Shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk, scalded
1 cake compressed yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

1. Add sugar, Crisco Shortening and salt to hot milk. Stir until shortening melts and sugar dissolves, Cool to lukewarm.
2. Crumble yeast into warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Combine milk and yeast mixtures.
3. Add eggs and half the flour. Beat well. Add remaining flour. Turn dough onto lightly floured board. Knead until smooth. Place dough in well greased bowl. Cover. Let rise 1 1/2 hours or until double in bulk.
4. Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into pieces size of small walnut. Roll into balls. Roll each ball in melted butter.
5. Place in 10-inch tube pan. Cover. Let rise until double in bulk. Heat oven to 350°F and bake for 20 minutes. Turn out onto serving plate. Serve hot Do not cut. Pull apart.

10-12 servings

JUANITA'S SWEET POTATO MUFFINS

3/4 cup skim or lowfat milk
1/2 cup cold mashed sweet potatoes or yams
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons Crisco Oil
1 tablespoon molasses
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease twelve medium (about 2 1/2-inch) muffin cups or use paper or foil liners.
2. Combine

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

DEDICATION

BLACK FAMILY PLEDGE

BREAD SPECIALTIES

SOUPS & SALADS

VEGETABLES & SIDE DISHES

MAIN MEAL DISHES

FAMILY DESSERTS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE

INDEX

Editorial Reviews

Dionne Warwick Strong families and good cooking often go hand-in-hand. This book is a celebration of both.

Jonell Nash Food Editor Essence This book answers many questions, from the simple — what to cook for dinner tonight — to the profound — why our food legacy is to be treasured.

The Houston Post Not only do you get terrific recipes, you partake in history, culture, and tradition.

Bill Cosby The NCNW...speaks to the wealth and diversity of African-American cooking...After reading this book, you'll see why it's so hard to leave home.

From the Publisher