Quick Tapas Dish Fast! Shishito or Padron peppers are my go-to eat while cooking dish or tide me over appetizer or fancy party finger food.
Quick & Easy
Try this West African inspired peanut sauce. It's simple, versatile, and delicious. You'd be surprised at all the different foods you can pair it with; from shrimp and chicken to vegetables like cauliflower, mushrooms, and cabbage.
Nothing like a quick and easy side dish with incredible complex flavor. This blanched spinach salad is simple, unique, and everyday! Put it on your weeknight menu in less than 10 minutes.
Fried bologna sandwiches were a staple of my childhood, and I'm sure for many it still is. I refer to it as a "hood classic" as every kid from the hood has a story and a recipe version for bologna sandwiches. Though a humble sandwich made with basic ingredients, it along with other humble dishes have played a significant role in Black History as a means of survival, show of resourcefulness, and example of innovation. My grandparents told me stories of The Negro Motorist Green Book which was essentially a guide for black road trippers to find safe havens in the form of restaurants, gas stations, and hotels given the hatred and related dangers they faced in Jim Crow South. Shoebox lunches were also the norm, and bologna sandwiches were prominent in these pack lunches which were brought along for those stretches on the road where you were not likely to find a restaurant that served "coloreds." Enjoy the sandwich and learn a lil black history in this post.
February kicks off Black History Month, and I'm excited to be participating in a Virtual Potlock with 27 other food bloggers. My contribution is this Nashville Hot Shrimp Sandwich which is a mashup of Japanese and Southern cultures. Look closely and you'll notice an actual plump shrimp cutlet instead of fried chicken thigh. The fried shrimp is then dipped in a spicy chili oil for additional flavor. And oh yeah, there is a history lesson in this post. Did you know as early as the 1500s Japanese had an African Samurai?
A few years ago my family got invited to the premiere of the movie "The Hundred-Foot Journey," which is a movie produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey about an Indian family seeking asylum in France. The son becomes a famous chef introducing the French to Indian spices and cooking techniques. I remember thinking at the time how similar Indian cooking was to "soul food" in terms of the use of spices and seasonings to take humble ingredients to extraordinary. I was reminded again during our Thanksgiving trip to Dubai when we ate a Masala based fried cabbage dish which was very similar to the southern fried cabbage I grew up. I bought a lot of spices from the local Souk including the garam masala I used in this dish. This dish tastes as great as it smells so be prepared.
Change up your gameday menu and find a way to get some smoked ham hocks in your life via these pork nachos. Don't fret, just start your New Year's resolutions after the bowl season or just reward yourself with a cheat day.
I've probably had plank smoked fish 121 times and in all the years of perfecting my plank game, I never strayed from fish until recently. I guess you can say I was ready for a change. In the process I learned that what works for salmon and trout, also works for portobello mushrooms. Even better you can stuff them with things like couscous and simple, flavorful vegetables for easy, filling meatless Monday night. Or if you aren't ready for that much change, have your meat protein and make the stuffed portobellos as a side accompaniment.
Celery Root is definitely not the prettiest vegetable at the market, but what it lacks in good looks it more than compensates with inner beauty, dynamite taste and ease of prep/cooking. If you're not familiar with celery root or celeriac as it's known, it's beyond worthy of your consideration. This celery root steak recipe is a great introduction. We enjoy it in our house as one of our many meatless nights. It also presents well enough to be on your holiday menu. Don't worry it's tastes nothing like celery, is easier to handle than it looks, and is low calorie and low carb.
Light, vibrant, and full of groove — these sautéed zoodles are your go-to weeknight or brunch side when you want flavor that dances but won’t weigh you down. We're coming at ya with a green groove for the soul — sautéed zoodles that hit light but land heavy in the flavor department. These spiralized zucchini …
Sundays mean meal prep for me, which pretty much always means making 2-3 sauces for the week. As I tend to keep things on the simple end during my always busy week, having reliable, delicious and versatile sauce on hand allow me to elevate any basic dish whether its pasta, grilled chicken, or roasted potatoes. This collard green salsa verde qualifies as one of those do it all type sauces. It definitely skews on the healthier side, but in no way skimps on flavor. Besides the taste and versatility I find it's an easy way to get the nutritional benefits provided by collard greens on a daily basis without the labor of cooking up a big ole pot of collards. JUST keep things simple with the recipe and you'll love it as a condiment/meal enhancer.
Smoky-sweet, velvet smooth, and dripping with soul—this roasted red pepper sauce is the kind of flavor that lingers like a good groove. Whether slathered over pasta, drizzled on grilled meats, or used as a dip, this sauce promises to be a game-changer in your kitchen, infusing every bite with a delectable fusion of savory warmth. …
Belgian Fries - the perfect side, period! Pillow soft, moist and deliciously crispy with a golden brown color and enhanced flavor from duck fat. Full disclosure these fries are highly addictive. Before figuring out a recipe, I've on more than one occasion brainstormed ways of getting to Brussels, hence the song choice - Kari Faux's "Law of Attraction." Enjoy, and after you've tried them, feel free to give me a shout and let me know your thoughts.
A big green salad just in time for Thanksgiving side dish plans. It's a unique salad featuring an unlikely mix of ingredients that work magic together. Collard greens, baby lima beans, smashed cucumbers, and lemongrass-coconut pickled celery make for soul food meets Asian cuisine mash-up. Requires little cooking to free you up to focus on other things. The recipe is powered by a soulful hip hop track "Greeny Green" from Atlanta's finest Goodie Mob featuring Ceelo Green.
Turn your dinner table into a soulful feast with this whole roasted black bass—crispy skin, tender flesh, and a bright salsa that sings.This sea bass recipe is simple yet stunning: a perfectly seasoned fish roasted until the skin crisps up and the flesh stays tender and juicy. High-heat oven roasting locks in moisture and delivers …
This vegan posole verde is a soulful twist on the Mexican classic, built around tender hominy, silky cabbage, and poblano peppers simmered in a vibrant green broth. Sauteing the poblanos deepens their earthy sweetness while cabbage adds a satisfying, almost silky texture that soaks up every herbaceous spoonful. Bright, smoky, and deeply comforting, it's a …
A vibrant, and refreshing main dish option that can be added to your 30 minute meals arsenal. Quinoa is easy to cook and requires little effort to impart flavor. Given this, it's a staple in our house as a busy weeknight go-to. Plus it offers so many other beneficial qualities that I recommend you get …
This comforting skillet cabbage recipe is a great weeknight meal. It's delicious and perfect for all types of customization. I know how much you guys love quick and easy meals, so today I am sharing my grandma's quick and easy beef cabbage stir. Add this to your collection of 30-minute meals. There are only a …
Raw Beet Salad A delicious and easy salad that takes little time to make and is the perfect side dish for the holidays or quick weeknight dinner. This raw beet salad looks and tastes fancy but is SUPER EASY to make. It comes together in minutes since no cooking is required. It's just beets, radishes, …
Fluffy Coconut Ginger Rice with a Creamy Kick and Fiery Fresh Zing Yo!, food lovers and flavor chasers, this one right here is a groove—coconut ginger rice that hits like a warm bassline wrapped in sunshine. We're talkin’ jasmine rice simmered slow and silky in coconut milk, with fresh ginger sliding through like a smooth …
Simple in execution, complex in flavor, this is an easy weeknight skillet corn is a side full of flavor and versatile enough to work with whatever ingredients you have on hand. This is a great summer cookout dish. It's super easy to make and can be eaten cold or at room temperature so it travels …
Velvety Vibes: Learn How to Cook Green Lentils with Soul, Spice & Texture That Sings Well now, welcome to the groove kitchen, baby—where flavor speaks in deep tones and texture hums in harmony. Today we’re slow-simmerin’ a pot of Smokey Green Lentils, the kind that stick to your ribs and slide across your tongue. These …
Grilled Vegetable Salad - select ripe summer vegetables blistered over hot flames and then tossed in simple yet complex tasting citrus herb vinaigrette! This delicious simple vegan salad is ready in minutes. Summertime is the best! You can't beat the wide selection of fruits and vegetables available for your pleasure. I made use of as …
Sheet pan roasted vegetables - a no fuss, no mess way to cook delicious sides while multi-tasking or devoting time to your main dish. The beans and potatoes are well seasoned and roasted directly in a sheet pan. Take out two birds with one stone with this easy dish! MOOD MUSIC What main dish goes …
Heirloom tomato galette made with puff pastry is an easy, savory dessert recipe for non-bakers or just anyone looking for convenience. Charming, effortless and screaming Summer dessert, this galette is a winner! MOOD MUSIC During my last farmer's market visit, the selection of fresh, vibrant heirloom tomatoes got me pretty damn excited. Admittedly, I lose …
Wake up your brunch game with this grapefruit brûlée — a caramelized citrus stunner that turns simple fruit into a show-stopping treat. Perfect for weekend brunch, elegant breakfast spreads, or a light dessert, this caramelized grapefruit brings sweet, smoky, and spicy notes that’ll have your taste buds singing. Well now, my flavor lovers, rise and …
Tender, herbaceous, and perfectly sauced—your new favorite vegan spaghetti squash recipe with soul Silky strands of roasted spaghetti squash catch a lush basil pesto that sings green, bright, and nutty, turning a humble squash into a weeknight showstopper. This dish borrows Mediterranean technique, grounds itself in soulful comfort, and solves the “I want something light …
Bell Pepper Salad - Refreshingly simple salad of fresh, ripe bell peppers minimally seasoned to highlight the bright flavors. This is that quick, salad to compliment any meat dish whether grilled, fried, or roasted. MOOD MUSIC A Bell Pepper Salad is the quintessential James Brown salad. My grandfather was all about the ingredients and making …
Juicy, smoky, and kissed with heat—this watermelon steak flips summer fruit into a savory soul food groove. For those who want to enjoy Summer's best fruit beyond a cold slice or fruity drink, this is a great alternative. With the appearance of Ahi Tuna, the texture and mouthfeel of a medium rare ribeye, this finished …
Are some of your favorite recipes the most minimalist? This whole roasted cauliflower recipe fits the bill and is probably the best simple recipe you'll ever have. The cauliflower is seasoned extremely well both inside and out. In most cauliflower recipes, cauliflower plays a supporting role. For this one, it's actually the star in a …
The perfect summer salad; refreshingly light with grilled calamari, ripe cherry tomatoes, and sweet watermelon that can be pulled off in a few minutes with minimal work. I'm a little late posting this as I had every intention to have this on the blog several days before the 4th of July. But hey, for my …
Delicious 10 minute take on a soul food staple featuring no slime okra and tomatoes prepared with one of the most simple cooking methods to allow the okra's natural flavor to shine augmented with lime and fresh mint. We eat okra in so many different ways in my house. But I understand not everyone is …
I'm not an egg snob, but I do strive for the perfect fried eggs every time I cook them. I emphasize the word "strive" as absolute perfection has been quite elusive for me. Maybe you guys are experts but I'd say I'm more of a work in progress. For me the fun is in the …
Watermelon radish paired with berry cream cheese on toast. This is a flavorful and interesting take on breakfast toasts. It requires little time and cooking so you can get your day started quickly. The combination of fresh peaches, fluffy cream cheese, and peppery crunchy watermelon radishes makes for a wonderful eating experience. MOOD MUSIC I've …
Simple and easy raw shaved fennel salad with basic vinaigrette, radishes, fresh herbs and Parmesan. Do you ever find yourself wanting a simple side or salad to complement your main dish? If so this shaved fennel salad is your dish. You can devote all your time and effort to your main dish while having a …
In this flavor-packed post, we explore the vibrant world of zhoug sauce paired with the energizing beats of Rage Against The Machine's song "Bulls on Parade." Zhoug sauce, with its zesty blend of cilantro, jalapenos, and spices, dances on your taste buds, creating a symphony of bold flavors. The song's fiery intensity mirrors the sauce's …
Fire up the grill and bring that island flavor to your table with these Puerto Rican grilled pork chops—juicy, smoky, and tender. These Puerto Rican pork chops are brined in sour orange juice, garlic, and spices before hitting the grill, giving you tender, juicy pork chops with a crisp char on the outside. The cooking …
This chicken salad sandwich is everything I want between two slices of bread. Tender chicken, crunchy apples, juicy grapes, tangy pickles, and smoky chipotle adobo come together for a sandwich that delivers big flavor and an even bigger texture payoff. It is a Southern lunch counter classic remixed with bold ingredients that keep every bite …
Homemade mango ice cream featuring fresh mangos and roasted red peppers for a tasty sweet and savory dessert combo. Mangos and roasted red peppers in an ice cream recipe? I know, who woulda thunk it? But it actually works. Don't believe me, try it! Its only 5 ingredients and requires very little time and effort …
How many of you are like me and think grilled asparagus is a finger food vs. a side dish? Back in the day, my intention when making grilled asparagus was to get those nice grill marks and then serve it right along with the chicken breasts or steak that I had grilled. My thinking was …