My family was their most affectionate around the dinner table. It was the most consistently positive emotional exchange that I remember, which might be the source of my passion for cooking for others. How could you not want to shower love on one another while eating soulful dishes like crispy fried chicken smothered in hot sauce, or slow-smoked beef brisket with burnt ends, the meat so juicy you have to sop it up with a piece of white bread? And don’t get me started on nights when we ate great-grandma Vera Mae’s recipe for hearty chicken and dumplings or great-grandma Anita’s homemade buttermilk biscuits with plum jam. I grew up loving stories about the culinary skills of my great-grandmothers; those stories made me feel closer to my heritage.
Food became the bloodline to my roots, and the more I learned the in the kitchen, the more I wanted to discover my family’s culinary history; the more I learned about my family’s culinary history, the more I wanted to explore and share the vast contributions of the African diaspora in America. So I intentionally sought out Black food bloggers, food writers, and chefs just to explore this corner of the culinary landscape. What I discovered is that we are often hard to find a sea of media where our voices aren’t projected as often.
This is an opportunity to support one another, to be intentional about our own cultural analysis and amplification.
I knew we needed some kind of platform that highlighted our contributions, so my partner Aaron Hutcherson, of the blog A Hungry Hutch, and I reached out to Black bloggers to initiate the first Black History Month Virtual Potluck: a collection of recipes from Black food bloggers that reflect historical, traditional, modern, and diet-based (ie. vegetarian, gluten-free) recipes similar to what you would find at a family picnic.
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Rather than to simply bring awareness to our individual recipes, we see this project as an opportunity to unite and openly support one another, to be intentional about our own cultural analysis and amplification. Our movement is still in infancy, but in the future, we hope to include other Black professionals within the culinary arts to enrich our message and make it feel like a good old family reunion.
This year, we have a blend of repeat and new participants and a plethora of amazing new recipes for readers to try. Our collection of dishes take you on a cultural journey with classic favorites and interesting new renditions. Take, for instance, the Candied Bourbon Peach cobbler, influenced by the classic Southern dessert; brown sugar and bourbon sauce bubble over the top and adds just enough kick. Or even the vegetarian-friendly Pilau and Kachumbari, a Tanzanian dish with a host of toasted spices and a pico-like tomato blend. And the list goes on with cherished family recipes like Smothered Turkey Wings, Fried Sweet Potato Hand Pies, Orange Bundt Cake, and Creole Seafood Courtbouillon. You can check out all the amazing recipes from the collaboration below, and be sure to try one out in honor of Black History Month and tag it #BHMPotluck.
A completely new take on collard greens, these wraps combine sauteed bell peppers, rice, fresh herbs, and red chile peppers (among other yummy things).
Fresh corn, cream, butter, eggs, and a few other ingredients transform ordinary crisp, sweet kernels into a delectable savory southern pudding that’s perfect for family gatherings and potlucks.
Jiffy Cornbread was a staple in many households. Learn how to create this familiar, sweet cornbread from scratch using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
I'm not sure it gets better than this. This dish is rich in flavor, extra cheesy, and true to its classic southern roots with those crispy brown edges.
Chef Kenneth Temple's grandmother finally shared his great-grandfather’s recipe for fried sweet potato hand pies. This recipe had never been written down, but his grandmother’s approval on the sweet yet creamy filling and the perfectly golden, fried crust means this recipe is a winner.
This East African spiced rice dish is flavored with pilau masala (toasted and ground cinnamon, cumin seeds, cardamom, black pepper, and cloves) and paired with a zesty fresh salsa to brighten it up.
This warm pudding combines cinnamon and raisin-studded bread with a richly flavored custard, baked off and finished with a drizzle of maple glaze; aka, the ultimate sweet indulgence.
Jollof rice is an extremely popular West African dish with a bit of controversy surrounding which country creates the best version. (This one will put all disputes to rest!)
Warm spiced peaches with a flaky, golden crust already make this old-fashioned classic an instant crowd pleaser. Add candied brown sugar and bourbon syrup and your tastebuds will be in heaven. Call it family potluck perfection.
Red lentil soup is made special with homemade broth and served with roast okra on the side. Finish the soup with a juicy squeeze from a lemon wedge and maybe a dollop of Greek yogurt.
This is a light and healthy dish that you are sure to fall in love with because of its bright colors and flavor from the slight hint of heat (mostly from the ginger and sprinkles of red pepper flakes).
This skillet chicken is a simple recipe that incorporates the inflammation-fighting capabilities of turmeric in everyday cooking. The addition of honey provides a sweetness that mellows out the pungent spice, and it also helps create a beautiful caramelized crust on the chicken’s skin.
Mofongo, a Puerto Rican staple of fried and mashed plantains, gets stuffed with shrimp, garlic, herbs, and spices, then topped with a flavorful roasted red pepper sauce ("mojo picon"), in this iteration.
In this classic soul food dish, meaty turkey wings are slow cooked in the oven and smothered in a rich, garlicky gravy with hints of lemon and paprika.
Excited to give these recipes a spin? Don't forget to tag #BHMPotluck!
Join The Sandwich Universe co-hosts (and longtime BFFs) Molly Baz and Declan Bond as they dive deep into beloved, iconic sandwiches.
Meiko is corporate America retiree turned full-time foodie and host. Besides her obvious love of cooking she obsessed with designing foodie apparel, celebrity gossip sites and hosting elaborate dining experiences. She shares her recipes, kitchen hacks and entertaining tips on the blog meikoandthedish.com. Check it out!
Anyone else getting the below alert from chrome for the Meiko and the dish website? "Attackers might be trying to steal your information from www.meikoandthedish.com (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards)." I really want to see that bourbon peach cobbler, but can't access the site.
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