| Soul food cookbook back in style? Yes! Because of | | | | to take another look at how they did it," says Martha |
| the economic downturn of late, more people are eating | | | | Hastings, former Howard University, Black History |
| more meals at home and saving money in the | | | | Professor. |
| process. That means more people from the fast food | | | | Soul food cookbooks continue to experience a surge |
| generation of the past are learning how to cook, many | | | | in interest as evidence of this growing trend. With |
| for the first time. This has caused a renewed interest | | | | today's health conscious consumer, more cookbooks |
| in cooking in general and recipes in particular. Because | | | | are changing to meet that challenge. Many of today's |
| of the ease of preparation and the comfort food | | | | southern recipe books have eliminated the unhealthy |
| feeling it gives, the interest in southern food is growing | | | | ingredients associated with soul food of the past. For |
| fast. The south has risen again, at least when it comes | | | | example, many have excluded high-fat pork products, |
| to recipes and cooking. | | | | which also contains large amounts of sodium. |
| Soul food cooking has emerged as a skill of renewed | | | | You'll find more recipes containing more natural |
| interest to many African American families who | | | | seasonings and spices to satisfy the increasing |
| continue to look for ways to stretch their food | | | | numbers of people watching their health and their diets. |
| budgets. "When times were the toughest for our | | | | These changes is quickly changing the cooking |
| ancestors, they knew they could always turn to their | | | | landscape when it comes to southern food. No doubt |
| traditional food for comfort and economic stability. Our | | | | more soul food cookbook publishers are watching the |
| great grandmothers and grandmothers always new | | | | sales figures closely to see if the upward trend |
| how to stretch a meal, now the recession is forcing us | | | | continues. Stay tuned! |