There is a very special cuisine that has its roots back in a time when slaves had to survive on rations and leftovers. The meals they prepared were a way of maintaining their dignity in the midst of oppression. Adversity bred resourcefulness and dishes were created patiently and with care. A soul food caterer today uses recipes that have often been passed down through generations. Caterers like this are found all over America and East Windsor, NJ is no exception. Menus often feature many classic favorites.
The slaves were usually given staples such as molasses, salt, corn and flour. They also had small plots where they grew vegetables like okra and mustard greens. Protein was scarce and they made use of every part of an animal like a pig, from its ears to its feet. Leftovers were often used to give a vegetable dish some meaty flavor. Recipes with these humble beginnings have been improved through the years and now feature proudly on menus of not only casual eateries but more upmarket ones too.
It was illegal for slaves to read or write so recipes were passed down orally. One of the first cookbooks written about this type of cuisine was published in 1881 and recently many more have been written. The focus is often on family and recipes for family occasions, celebrating the value of sharing.
One of the characteristics of this cuisine is intense flavors. There is often a debate about the difference between this cuisine and Southern cuisine and the answer appears to lie in the amount of spices used. Meats and fish are less processed when making soul food. A whole fish is often served and less desirable meat such as neck bones, pigs feet and chitlins feature.
Another characteristic of this type of cooking is that there is very little wastage. In the days of slavery, the proteins used consisted mainly of leftovers like offal and chitlins. The tradition of using leftovers continues with stale bread being used to make pudding, overripe fruit being made into pies and leftover fish into hush puppies or croquets.
Like most culinary traditions, African-American cooking has its healthy and unhealthy elements. With the popularity of fast foods and the addition of much fat, sugar and salt, some of these classic foods became very unhealthy. This tended to give people the false impression that eating soul foods automatically lead to obesity. In fact, those early recipes contained little protein and plenty of vegetables. Many caterers offering these foods today are health conscious and offer food that is nutritious and full of flavor. They tend to use spices, garlic, onions and herbs to create the intensity of flavor.
Sunday dinners are times when families get together and various family members contribute dishes. Kale, ribs, corn, mustard greens, fried chicken, okra, and yams are all examples of the type of foods that appear on heavily laden tables. Families stay connected in this way and are reminded of their roots.
Caterers offering this type of cuisine are not hard to find today with many of them offering their services on websites. Checking customer reviews and other details on such a site can give a good indication of the reputation and quality of service of such caterers. The best of these create their foods with passion and patience, offering delicious menus that keep customers very happy.
The slaves were usually given staples such as molasses, salt, corn and flour. They also had small plots where they grew vegetables like okra and mustard greens. Protein was scarce and they made use of every part of an animal like a pig, from its ears to its feet. Leftovers were often used to give a vegetable dish some meaty flavor. Recipes with these humble beginnings have been improved through the years and now feature proudly on menus of not only casual eateries but more upmarket ones too.
It was illegal for slaves to read or write so recipes were passed down orally. One of the first cookbooks written about this type of cuisine was published in 1881 and recently many more have been written. The focus is often on family and recipes for family occasions, celebrating the value of sharing.
One of the characteristics of this cuisine is intense flavors. There is often a debate about the difference between this cuisine and Southern cuisine and the answer appears to lie in the amount of spices used. Meats and fish are less processed when making soul food. A whole fish is often served and less desirable meat such as neck bones, pigs feet and chitlins feature.
Another characteristic of this type of cooking is that there is very little wastage. In the days of slavery, the proteins used consisted mainly of leftovers like offal and chitlins. The tradition of using leftovers continues with stale bread being used to make pudding, overripe fruit being made into pies and leftover fish into hush puppies or croquets.
Like most culinary traditions, African-American cooking has its healthy and unhealthy elements. With the popularity of fast foods and the addition of much fat, sugar and salt, some of these classic foods became very unhealthy. This tended to give people the false impression that eating soul foods automatically lead to obesity. In fact, those early recipes contained little protein and plenty of vegetables. Many caterers offering these foods today are health conscious and offer food that is nutritious and full of flavor. They tend to use spices, garlic, onions and herbs to create the intensity of flavor.
Sunday dinners are times when families get together and various family members contribute dishes. Kale, ribs, corn, mustard greens, fried chicken, okra, and yams are all examples of the type of foods that appear on heavily laden tables. Families stay connected in this way and are reminded of their roots.
Caterers offering this type of cuisine are not hard to find today with many of them offering their services on websites. Checking customer reviews and other details on such a site can give a good indication of the reputation and quality of service of such caterers. The best of these create their foods with passion and patience, offering delicious menus that keep customers very happy.
About the Author:
Get a brief summary of the reasons why you should hire a soul food caterer and more info about a reliable catering company at http://www.creativetcatering.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment