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.
Some of the staples that featured in the meals of early slaves were corn, molasses, salt and flour. They would grow their own vegetables on small plots. Collard greens and handmade biscuits with molasses are just some recipes with these humble beginnings, but they are still finding their way onto menus in casual eateries and even fine restaurants. This food represents more than just ingredients and a way of cooking but celebration of a heritage too.
The way these recipes were passed on was not in written form but orally. It was only in later years that cookbooks were produced and only more recently that they have become available to more people. With a focus on the family and celebratory family gatherings, these recipes retain their down to earth goodness.
This cuisine is characterised by the use of spices to create intense flavors. Some people regard the only difference from Southern cuisine as being in this intensity. However, another characteristic that also distinguishes it from Southern cuisine is that protein tends to be less processed. Fish is usually served whole, for example, and less refined meat such as neck bones, pigs ears and feet are often used.
This cooking is also marked by a lack of wastage. This goes back to the days of slavery when every little bit of flavor needed to be squeezed out of what was available, even if it was leftover meat. Stale bread was used to create delicious puddings, pies were made from overripe fruit and remains of a whole fish would be used for croquets or hush puppies.
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.
For many families who eat this type of food, Sunday dinner is a time when they all gather together. Dishes like kale, yams, collard greens, fried chicken, and ribs are made with love and care. The families cement their bonds when eating these dishes and remember their roots together.
If one is searching for such caterers, there are many to be found online. Reading customer reviews is one way to find out what kind of reputation they have and what kind of service can be expected. Finding out how long caterers have been in business is another indication of how reliable and popular they are. The best of them offer the most delicious menus and keep their customers coming back time and time again.
Some of the staples that featured in the meals of early slaves were corn, molasses, salt and flour. They would grow their own vegetables on small plots. Collard greens and handmade biscuits with molasses are just some recipes with these humble beginnings, but they are still finding their way onto menus in casual eateries and even fine restaurants. This food represents more than just ingredients and a way of cooking but celebration of a heritage too.
The way these recipes were passed on was not in written form but orally. It was only in later years that cookbooks were produced and only more recently that they have become available to more people. With a focus on the family and celebratory family gatherings, these recipes retain their down to earth goodness.
This cuisine is characterised by the use of spices to create intense flavors. Some people regard the only difference from Southern cuisine as being in this intensity. However, another characteristic that also distinguishes it from Southern cuisine is that protein tends to be less processed. Fish is usually served whole, for example, and less refined meat such as neck bones, pigs ears and feet are often used.
This cooking is also marked by a lack of wastage. This goes back to the days of slavery when every little bit of flavor needed to be squeezed out of what was available, even if it was leftover meat. Stale bread was used to create delicious puddings, pies were made from overripe fruit and remains of a whole fish would be used for croquets or hush puppies.
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.
For many families who eat this type of food, Sunday dinner is a time when they all gather together. Dishes like kale, yams, collard greens, fried chicken, and ribs are made with love and care. The families cement their bonds when eating these dishes and remember their roots together.
If one is searching for such caterers, there are many to be found online. Reading customer reviews is one way to find out what kind of reputation they have and what kind of service can be expected. Finding out how long caterers have been in business is another indication of how reliable and popular they are. The best of them offer the most delicious menus and keep their customers coming back time and time again.
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