Black Food History

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Black Eyed Peas and New Years Day

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 It's 18 degrees here in New York City.When it's that cold in New York no one goes outside unless they have to. This morning I got up and ran my butt outside to the grocery store to buy a bag of black eyed peas. That may sound crazy but in the back of my mind I knew it was something that had to be done.I bared the cold for tradition.Growing up I can remember eating black eyed peas and collard greens around the holidays but most specifically on New Years Day (not eve). No one ever explained why we did this and I didn't question it because who doesn't love black eyed peas with ham and collard greens?! I thought it was just holiday food.It wasn't until I was older and started cooking for myself did I start to question this tradition.After doing a bit of research I've learned that eating black eyed peas is a Southern tradition. This makes sense in my case being that my mothers side of the family is primarily from the south. My aunt (one of my mother's older sisters) is a powerhouse at cooking traditional southern food. My mouth is watering just thinking about her collards.In the south, it is said that black eyed peas was a symbol of emancipation for African Americans who had been previously enslaved and were freed on New Years Day.If it takes cooking and eating something that I love the taste of to celebrate emancipation I'm all for it. I'll walk in the cold a thousand times if I have to.Black eyed peas is also considered a good luck dish. This tradition (well the superstitious part of it) also stems back from the south. The concept is, if you eat black eyed peas on New Years Day you will be prosperous throughout the year.I'm here for this too. I believe in certain superstitions to some extent so I'm going to rock with this one and eat up these peas!I've already cooked and eaten my black eyed peas (seen above) for the day. I did not go with tradition and cook them with pork , I just added a tiny bit of onions and garlic seasoning. I did however throw a little hot sauce on them once they were cooked which is considered traditional.Now that my belly is full and I had a side of good ole' black eyed peas I can rest easy and manifest all of the good things coming my way.Cheers to much success in the new year!Foodies out there, are there any New Year traditions you follow or keep going? If so, share below. Leave a comment. 

Turmeric Is A Wonder Plant & Why You Should Be Using It

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A few months ago, I walked into one of my favorite grocery shops (Garden of Eden in Chelsea) and noticed a weird looking plant-thing. It looked like ginger but it wasn't white inside it was orange/yellowish. When I looked at the sign I was shocked to learn that this was raw turmeric. I'd never seen it raw and up close. The full image is below.

Reading other food blogs and following fellow foodies I would often notice this word "turmeric" being thrown around and especially in the winter months lots of people post about "golden milk".  Walking in to the store and seeing this plant was a sign for me! A sign that I need to research this plant because it seems to be EVERYWHERE. I also keep seeing it (in powder form) at my other favorite grocery story Trader Joe's and even my chiropractor has even suggested I take it for inflammation after a recent back injury. After consulting my chiropractor on why I should take turmeric tablets daily I finally decided to do additional research on my why this plant is so popular (aside from the benefits). During my research, I kept wondering why no one has ever told me about this said "miracle plant” before.  There are SO MANY benefits from it. I’m so surprised this isn’t in every home. I’m going to share some info on turmeric with you my readers just so you can't blame me for not sharing this magic plant with you :) 

What Is Turmeric exactly?

Turmeric is as plant. It's in the garlic family but when processed (and powdered) it does not have the same taste of garlic (don't worry, if you use it you will not have garlic breath). It is generally sold already boiled and grounded into a powder. It has a distinct yellow/orange color. It it very similar to a curry. You can find it powdered in almost every grocery store (just ask for it by name). 

Where Does Turmeric Come From?It's known that turmeric was (and still is) used in different parts of Asia for thousands of years and has made it's way to the Caribbean and the Americas. The image I posted above is a photo I took at the Garden of Eden market near my job. It's turmeric grown in Jamaica. Here's how I'm used to seeing the plant powdered or in a pill form (like in the photo below).What Are Some Benefits of Ingesting Turmeric? I mentioned earlier I suffered a back injury earlier this year. It was pretty intense as I was out of work for a few days and experienced muscle inflammation. I took other medication to eliminate the inflammation but I was told to add turmeric to my pill routine during this time as it was a natural anti-inflammatory. It can also be used for:

  • Soothing stomach cramping and bloating during menstruation
  • Boost heart health
  • Balance cholesterol levels
  • Help alleviate anxiety, depression, and insomnia
  • Help with kidney issues

How Can You Ingest Turmeric? 

  • Use it in soups
  • Add it to rice
  • Blend it in your smoothies
  • Add it to eggs in the morning
  • Drink it in tea (with milk) .. This is better known as "Golden Milk": a very popular sleep aide.

Are There Any Side Effects To Ingesting Turmeric? As all good things are never perfect. There are however side effects to ingesting turmeric if you have a sensitive stomach or have certain allergies. Side effects of can include diarrhea, nausea, increase menstrual flow, and cause an upset stomach.**Be sure to consult a physician before buying any type of turmeric. That is what I did, I spoke with my primary care physician and my chiropractor as they both know my medical history along with allergies, so I was in the clear for taking turmeric capsules.

Black Food H(er)story : Edna Lewis

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It's Black History Month (my favorite time of the year).I decided to write this post about a black woman who made culinary history. A woman who is still being celebrated to this day for her contributions to the food world.The majestic black woman you see above is Edna Lewis.Edna was born in a farm settlement in Orange County Virginia in 1916. Her grandfather was an emancipated slave. I'm sure she learned a lot about food, race, freedom, and culture from her family in Virginia during those years. It's been reported that in Edna's late teen years (18/19) she moved to New York City and worked various jobs until she was finally able to get in the kitchen and develop her passion. People close to Edna said she was very soft spoken but very passionate about educating others on fresh farm grown foods as well as preserving the authentic taste of Southern food. No wonder she was crowned in 1999 as the "Dame of Southern Cooking."Once Edna made it her goal to preserve the authentic tastes of Southern food, she stood strong and made herself known in the food world even when little to no blacks were represented.During her years on this earth she accomplished so much!Edna's story hit home for me because I grew up eating Southern (along with West Indian) food. I was always in the kitchen with my grandmothers while they cooked and I can appreciate the essence and pride of cooking southern cuisine. It's the food of a certain type of prideful people. Edna is aspiring for all black female chefs or any black female in the food industry period.She broke barriers for all of us!ednalewiscookbookEdna Lewis published (4) cookbooks throughout her life time:

She also received multiple James Beard Awards. If you know anything about the culinary world, you know that's a HUGE achievement. In 1995 she received the James Beard Living Legend Award (the first award of its kind) and in 2003 Edna was inducted into the KitchenAid Cook Hall of Fame which is associated with James Beard as well.Her first cook book was published in 1972 but she's still relevant in 2017. Edna's recipes are even being talked about on popular food shows like Top Chef.Edna Lewis was a culinary legend and that should be known to all! She is not the "black Julia Childs", she is EDNA LEWIS -- "The Dame of Southern Cooking"If you would like to know more on the Dame Edna Lewis here are a few links I've come across: