The only time we want to hear the phrase “What do you bring to the table,” is if it has to do with a holiday and you’re being asked to bring a dish. But, of course, bringing a dish to a gathering can come with its own stressors. Who are you cooking for? Is the dish you have in mind a “creative spin” on a family recipe or a traditional favorite? Are you just trying to make sure that, as the sole vegan in your crew, you’re not relegated to side dishes only?
If you’re trying to decide what to bring to the function this holiday season and beyond, we’ve got you covered. We’ve pulled together a list of very black cookbooks– ranging from Ms. Patti’s soul food to Pinky Cole’s gentle push towards adding more plant-based foods to your life –to help make sure your contributions are always elite.
LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About
The iconic “Godmother of Soul” has always felt like the cool auntie we always wanted. And since the release of her first cookbook in 2004, Ms. Patti Labelle has cemented that feeling by lovingly sharing some of her favorite recipes. She even brought some of those dishes to retail, to give those of us who need a shortcut to a few soul food staples.
LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About is sure to make you feel an even stronger connection to the R&B legend. In addition to step-by-step guides to help you bring dishes like her Say-My-Name Smothered Chicken, Wicked Peach Cobbler, and Fierce Fried Corn home, the 240-page cookbook also finds Ms. Patti sharing personal stories from all facets of her life– from learning at the feet of her elders in the kitchen to preparing full meals for her band after performances. You know, like a real auntie would.
Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations
While Black Texans and communities across the South have been observing Juneteenth as a celebration of freedom since 1866, for many of us, the holiday is still new. Author Nicole A. Taylor grew up with Freedom Day Celebrations that included all-day cookouts with creative salads, mouthwatering dessert spreads, and glasses of “red drink” to wash it all down. With Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebration, she brings 21st-century flavors to the traditional African-American table, creating 75 recipes that stand as an homage to “all the places we’ve been, all the people we have come from, all the people we have become, and all the culinary ideas we have embraced.”
But Nicole has packed in much more than reimaginings of Southern classics with recipes like Beef Ribs with Fermented Harissa Sauce, Peach Jam and Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs, Southern-ish Potato Salad and Radish and Ginger Pound Cake. The cookbook also includes masterful essays about the history of African-American cuisine and a resource guide to BIPOC-owned hot sauces, jams, spice, and waffle mix companies, and lists of fun gadgets to make your Juneteenth special.
Melba's American Comfort: 100 Recipes From My Heart to Your Kitchen
In addition to introducing Prince Harry to fried chicken, Melba Wilson can be credited with re-christening Soul Food with a name that better speaks to its impact on this country’s culinary traditions: American Comfort. Having cut her culinary teeth at the iconic Sylvia’s, the famed Windows on the World, and the hugely popular Rosa Mexicano, you can imagine just how well Melba’s own recipes– now on display daily at her own landmark Harlem eatery– capture the many influences from which traditional American cuisine draws influences.
Melba’s American Comfort: 100 Recipes From My Heart to Your Kitchen uses full-color photography and breathtaking design to showcase recipes passed down from Melba’s great-grandmother through generations of culinary talent throughout her lineage, and they’re all brought to life with Melba’s loving touch. Plus, just like Ms. Patti, you know you’re gonna get all kinds of anecdotes from her personal life and her years in the business.
Eat Plants, B*tch: 91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind
Let’s be honest: there’s a good chance that you’re not eating as many veggies as your mother and your primary care physician would like you to be. No need to feel ashamed: you’re among friends here. Plus, judging by the name of Pinky Cole’s debut cookbook, you’re far from alone in that department. Even if you’re not plant oblivious, you may be curious about adopting a plant-based lifestyle or simply looking for ways to be more creative in how plants enter your kitchen.
Following the success of her plant-based fast food chain Slutty Vegan, Pinky knows plenty of us are ready to do better. And to support our journey, she’s compiled Eat Plants, B*tch: 91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind. Just like her growing culinary empire, the dishes in this cookbook were inspired by Pinky’s own love of vegan comfort food. With creative takes like Avocado Egg Rolls, Black Pea Cauliflower Po’Boy, and Oyster Mushroom Parm, these recipes serve to show you that not only can plant-based meals be fun, but they can also be accessible.
This editorial is brought to you in partnership with Simon & Schuster
