iMBlack Steering Committee
iMBlack Members
Photo
Table of Contents
* Indicates new 2024 recipes
Chapter 1………............................Appetizers
Smoked Duck Pastrami
Deviled Eggs
Rotel Queso Dip
Sweet and Savory Baked Brie
Chapter 2………………..…………. Beverages
Church Punch
Cranberry Martini
*Orange-Thyme Old-Fashioned
Soul Food Eggnog
St. Ginnie
Sangria
Chapter 3………....................................Meats
Cotechino and Lentils
Sweet Ham
Honey and Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham
Jamaican Oxtails with Broad Beans
Goshth Ki Biryani (Lamb Briyani)
Coffee Brined Roast
*Genelle’s Stuffed Salmon with Seafood
Wild Rice
*Cajun Fried Turkey Wings
*Jamaican Jerk Roast Turkey
Oven Roasted Turkey
Turkey Gravy
Turkey Tetrazzini
Chapter 4……….…..……………… Breads
Eggnog Cornbread
Hot Water Cornbread
Easy Yeast Rolls
Chapter 5…………….............Side Dishes
Blooming Cauliflower Bake
Slow Cooker Black-eyed Peas
Bread Stuffing
Sausage Sage Stuffing
*Nigerian Jollof Spaghetti
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Pineapple
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Collard Greens
Corn Pudding
Homemade “Like” Cranberry Sauce
Cornbread Dressing
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans and Potatoes
Cheesy Mac and Cheese
Soulful Mac and Cheese
Rice and Peas
Sweet Potato Nut Crumble
Table of Contents
* Indicates new 2024 recipes
Chapter 6……….……….………. Desserts
*Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce
*Caramel Sauce for Apple Cake
*Easy Apple Pie
Buttermilk Pecan Pie
Buttermilk Pound Cake
*Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Cream
Cheese Frosting
*Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting for Chocolate Cake
*Paw Paw’s Chocolate Bundt Cake
*Banana Muffins
Banana Pudding
*Light Banana Pudding
Easy Egg Custard Pie
Peaches and Cream
Philadelphia 3-step Cheesecake
Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
*Shirley’s Pineapple Cake
Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake
Southern Pecan Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
*Fit Friendly Dessert Options
Holiday Favorites from Neil
iMBlack Supporter
Cranberry Bog Cocktail
Ingredients
• Whole cranberries, for garnish
• Mint leaves, for garnish
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 4 ozs champagne
1. Combine champagne and cranberry juice in a champagne flute,
2. Drop a few whole cranberries in the glass and garnish with mint leaves.
Traditional meal includes:
• Turkey and gravy
• Stuffing with a bit of spice
• Southern green bean casserole
• Mashed potatoes
• Cranberry chutney
“You know the family is the solution to the world’s problems today. Now lets’ take a look at the family. In the family the father is like the head, the leader, the director. Not domineering but showing love, guidance..”
The song “Family Reunion” (1975) The O’Jays
Stay Fit Tips for the Holidays
Brenda Ivey
While we enjoy family, friends, and food during the holidays follow these tips for maintaining your fitness.
Do’s and Don’ts for fitness
1. Strength training in the days preceding the holiday as it burns fat during and after the session.
2. Cardio session the day after the holidays to burn off excess calories from your holiday meals.
3. Eat your typical breakfast, morning snack, and lunch the day of the holiday to avoid overeating.
4. Hydrate, before the holiday, on the holiday and after the holiday.
5. Wait 10 minutes before having seconds.
6. Be active after dinner!!!
• Take a family walk
• Throw a football (American) or kick a football outside
• Dance or learn TikTok dances
• Play jump rope games
Cooking Terms
Bread
Light Bread
Canned cream or Sweet milk
Church key can opener
Grease Pot
Handful
Pot liquor or pot likker
Red
Cornbread
Store bought loaf bread
Condensed or evaporated milk
Triangle can opener used to make a hole in a can
Large aluminum can on or near the stove which contains used grease and oil from frying chicken, potatoes, bacon, and other foods, EXCEPT fish. The grease re-used for frying or to season skillets.
Approximately one cup
Broth from cooking dark greens often used to make soups or consumed as hot beverages; Also used to refer to au jus
The flavor of any red non-carbonated red beverage
Skillet
Pot
Smidge
Tin Foil
Put your foot in it
A frying pan; Typically cast iron
Any pan that isn’t a skillet referred to as ”small pot” or “large pot”
A small amount such as a pinch
Aluminum foil
A compliment to describe a remarkably cooked meal
Meat & Fish
Cajun Fried Turkey Wings
Tamikia Alford
Ingredients:
• 6 Turkey wings
• Creole butter Cajun Injector
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil
• 2 tsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp Morton’s Nature’s Seasons
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 ½ tsp Cajun / Creole seasoning (low salt)
Directions
• ½ c corn starch
• 64 oz vegetable oil
• Cajun butter:
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1. Clean and prepare turkey wings by cutting drumstick from wing and pat dry
2. Inject 1 oz Creole butter using Cajun Injector into each wing and marinate in a storage bag for 24 hours (minimum 4 hours)
3. Remove wings from bag
4. In a large bowl, coat with avocado oil and hot sauce
5. Season well with Nature’s Seasoning, smoked paprika, and Cajun / Creole seasoning
6. Add corn starch and mix well
7. Completely coat each turkey wing
8. Add vegetable oil to a large pot and heat to 325º F
9. Add turkey wings, maintaining temperature and moving wings so they don’t stick to one another
10. Cook for 14-17 minutes depending on size, or until a dark, golden brown
11. While turkey wings cook, prepare Cajun butter by combining ingredients into a small bowl
12. Microwave for 30-45 seconds or until butter is completely melted
13. Mix to combine
14. Remove wings from oil and place on paper towel / brown paper or baking rack to drain excess oil
15. Using a basting brush, brush Cajun butter on the wings
Our Heavenly Father, kind and good
We thank Thee for our daily food
We thank Thee for Thy love and care
Be with us, Lord
And hear our prayer
For this and every other gift
Our grateful hearts
To Thee we lift Amen
Side Dishes
Nigerian Jollof Spaghetti
Temi Agbebi
Ingredients:
• Tomato sauce
• 5 tomatoes
• 2 large bell peppers
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper
• ½ small onion
Directions
• Spaghetti:
• ¼ c oil
• Handful of chopped onion
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 2 c tomato sauce
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp crushed chicken cube
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 box thin spaghetti
• 2 ½ c chicken stock
• 2 c water
1. Cut and blend vegetables for tomato sauce
2. In a large pot, heat oil
3. Sauté chopped onion and tomato paste
4. Pour in blended tomato sauce
5. Let simmer then reduce heat
6. Slowly stir in seasonings, to taste
7. Stir in chicken stock and water, to taste
8. Add spaghetti
9. Cover pot and stir occasionally
10. Cook until pasta softens and cooks into sauce
Meat & Fish
Genelle’s Stuffed Salmon
with Seafood Wild Rice
Brian Jones
Ingredients:
• 2 lbs salmon (bones removed)
• 1 lb shrimp (peeled, deveined, and roughly chopped)
• ½ lb bay scallops
• 1-2 small cans chopped clams
• 1 can crabmeat (optional)
• 1 c black wild rice
• 2 c jasmine rice
• Olive oil, drizzle
• ½ c chopped parsley
• 3 diced celery stalks
• 1 diced medium onion
• 1 c diced red or green bell pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 32 oz chicken or vegetable stock
Seasonings, to taste
• Old Bay
• Goya Sazon
• Cajun or blackening seasoning
• Salt and pepper
Directions
1. Using chicken stock, cook wild rice according to package directions
2. Set cooked rice aside to cool in large mixing bowl
3. Generously season salmon with Old Bay and add a pinch of salt and pepper
4. Drizzle with olive oil and set aside
5. Sauté celery, onion, pepper, and garlic in 1 Tbsp olive oil for 3 minutes until translucent and soft
6. Add seafood to rice
7. Season with Cajun seasoning and 2 Tbsp Old Bay
8. Add one packet of Goya Sazon, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste
9. Mix well and spoon into rectangular baking pan
10. Place a sheet of parchment paper over rice and place salmon, skin side up on top of rice
11. Score the top of salmon with 3 or 4 cuts into the skin
12. Sprinkle lightly with Cajun or blackening seasoning
13. Bake at 450º F for 10 minutes
14. Finish for 2 minutes under broiler, until the skin turns brown and crispy
15. Use juice from the salmon and seafood liquid to moisten the rice just before serving
Cha Cha Slide DJ Casper (2000)
Cupid Shuffle
Electric Slide
Cupid (2007)
Marcia Griffiths (1976)
Just Fine Mary J. Blige (2007)
Step in the Name of Love
R. Kelly (2003)
Wobble Vic (2008)
Meat & Fish
Cajun Fried Turkey Wings
Tamikia Alford
Ingredients:
• 6 Turkey wings
• Creole butter Cajun Injector
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil
• 2 tsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp Morton’s Nature’s Seasons
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 ½ tsp Cajun / Creole seasoning (low salt)
Directions
• ½ c corn starch
• 64 oz vegetable oil
• Cajun butter:
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1. Clean and prepare turkey wings by cutting drumstick from wing and pat dry
2. Inject 1 oz Creole butter using Cajun Injector into each wing and marinate in a storage bag for 24 hours (minimum 4 hours)
3. Remove wings from bag
4. In a large bowl, coat with avocado oil and hot sauce
5. Season well with Nature’s Seasoning, smoked paprika, and Cajun / Creole seasoning
6. Add corn starch and mix well
7. Completely coat each turkey wing
8. Add vegetable oil to a large pot and heat to 325º F
9. Add turkey wings, maintaining temperature and moving wings so they don’t stick to one another
10. Cook for 14-17 minutes depending on size, or until a dark, golden brown
11. While turkey wings cook, prepare Cajun butter by combining ingredients into a small bowl
12. Microwave for 30-45 seconds or until butter is completely melted
13. Mix to combine
14. Remove wings from oil and place on paper towel / brown paper or baking rack to drain excess oil
15. Using a basting brush, brush Cajun butter on the wings
Beverages
Orange-Thyme Old-Fashioned
Trey Robertson
Ingredients:
• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 Tbsp Orange-Thyme Simple Syrup
• 4 strips orange zest
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 1 c sugar
• 1 c water
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Ice Directions
1. Mix ingredients for Orange-Thyme Simple Syrup and set aside
2. Combine ingredients in a shaker
3. Pour over ice
Songs
A Family Affair Mary J. Blige (2001)
A Song for Mama Boyz to Men (1997)
Bad Boys Having a Party Luther Vandross (1982)
Before I Let Go Franky Beverly and Maze (1981)
Dance with My Father Luther Vandross (2003)
Dear Mama 2Pac (1995)
I’ll be Missing You
Family Reunion
Faith Evans & Puff Daddy (1997)
The O’Jays (1975)
I Wish Stevie Wonder (1976)
Sadie The Spinners (1974)
September Earth, Wind and Fire (1978)
Sir Duke Stevie Wonder
Soul Holidays Sounds of Blackness (1992)
We are Family Sister Sledge (1979)
Desserts
Light Banana Pudding
Kofi Amponsah
Ingredients:
• 2 c plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1 c low calorie whipped cream
• 1 container of Nilla wafers (~800 grams)
• 2-3 ripe bananas
• 2.5 oz vanilla pudding mix
Directions
1. Add nonfat plain Greek yogurt and whipped cream in a mixing bowl
2. Mix together until you have a consistent texture
3. Add the vanilla pudding mix
4. Continue mixing until there are no lumps
5. Slice bananas and add to the mixture, mix lightly
6. Line plating sheet with Nilla wafers
7. Pour the yogurt mixture evenly over Nilla wafers
8. Add remaining Nilla wafers on top of yogurt mixture
9. Refrigerate 2-3 hours and serve
Desserts
Easy Apple Pie
Charlene Johnson
Ingredients:
• 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
• ¾ c brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1/8 c water
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 package deep-dish pie crust
• 8 large granny smith applies, cored and sliced
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp butter nut flavor
• 1 tsp corn starch mixed with 1 Tbsp water
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375º F
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat
3. Stir in brown sugar, lemon juice, water, cinnamon, and salt
4. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar
5. Add apples to saucepan and return to boil
6. Pour in the cornstarch mixture and return to boil
7. Stir until sauce thickens then turn off heat to allow to cool
8. Pour apple mixture into the deep-dish pie crust
9. Place second pie crust on top
10. Using a fork, crimp the edges of the pie crusts together
11. Uke a knife to cut 4 slits into the top pie crust
12. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes until pie crust is golden brown
13. Remove from oven and cool
14. Optionally, sprinkle top of pie with brown sugar the last 5 minutes of baking time
Games
500 Rummy
Bid Whist
A variation of Rummy played with 2-4 players where players try to acquire the most points by by putting down “spreads” and “hitting” other player’s ”spreads”.
A 4-player card game played by partners, where the players determine the “trump” suit by bidding.
Black Card Revoked Black trivia game with questions based on black culture, history, and life. Dominos “Bones” Played by 4 players who connect ”bones” from their hands so that the sum equals tiles divisible by five or three.
Pinochle
Pitty Pat
A card game with teams of 2 who try to be the first to score 150 points or more by winning “books” or “tricks”.
A matching game using cards. The first person to make three pairs wins Spades
A 4-player card game played by partners, where partners bid on the number of “books” or “tricks” they will make each hand. Depending where you’re from wildcards such as deuces may be ”trump” cards.
Tonk or Tunk
Trap Spelling Bee
Uno
A card game with 2-4 players where players try to have the fewest points at the end of the round by putting down “spreads” and “hitting” other player’s ”spreads”.
A game highlighting humor and culture of the urban community through Ebonics and slang words.
It’s the same card game, however, depending where you’re from rules may differ from what’s stated on the box.
Urban Trivia Black trivia card game covering TV shows, movies, music, sports, and general growing up Black topics
Desserts
Banana Muffins
Lauren Stanciel
Ingredients:
• Baking spray
• 2 c all-purpose flour
• 1 c sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp ground Cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 c mashed ripe banana
• ½ c vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2 Tbsp milk
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400º F
2. Spray muffin pan with baking spray
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, Cinnamon and salt
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together banana, vegetable oil, eggs, and milk
5. Add banana mixture to the flour mixture and stir until combined
6. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown
8. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes
9. Remove muffins from pan and place on wire cooling rack until completely cooled
Fit Friendly Dessert Options
Brenda Ivey
The purpose of using healthy substitutions is to decrease sugar, fat, and calories while increasing protein, fiber and other nutrients. The result is a guiltless dessert option that satisfies your sweet tooth!
Healthy Substitutions
• When protein instead of 1/3 flour in the recipe
• Wheat flour, nut flour, or coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour
• 1 c protein granola instead of 1/3 granulated sugar in the recipe
• Liquid protein, coconut milk, or almond milk instead of milk
• Pure maple sugar instead of brown sugar
• Honey, ripe bananas, or other fruit instead of Granulated sugar
• Flaxseed meal or chia seeds instead of eggs
• Applesauce, bananas, or nut butters instead of butter or oil
• Plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
• Meringue, marshmallow fluff, or ganache instead of frosting
• Graham cracker crust instead of pastry crust
• Evaporated skim milk instead of heavy cream
• Dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate
You have 8-16 hours to burn excess calories before end up on your waistline!!!
Meat & Fish
Cajun Fried Turkey Wings
Tamikia Alford
Ingredients:
• 6 Turkey wings
• Creole butter Cajun Injector
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil
• 2 tsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp Morton’s Nature’s Seasons
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 ½ tsp Cajun / Creole seasoning (low salt)
Directions
• ½ c corn starch
• 64 oz vegetable oil
• Cajun butter:
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1. Clean and prepare turkey wings by cutting drumstick from wing and pat dry
2. Inject 1 oz Creole butter using Cajun Injector into each wing and marinate in a storage bag for 24 hours (minimum 4 hours)
3. Remove wings from bag
4. In a large bowl, coat with avocado oil and hot sauce
5. Season well with Nature’s Seasoning, smoked paprika, and Cajun / Creole seasoning
6. Add corn starch and mix well
7. Completely coat each turkey wing
8. Add vegetable oil to a large pot and heat to 325º F
9. Add turkey wings, maintaining temperature and moving wings so they don’t stick to one another
10. Cook for 14-17 minutes depending on size, or until a dark, golden brown
11. While turkey wings cook, prepare Cajun butter by combining ingredients into a small bowl
12. Microwave for 30-45 seconds or until butter is completely melted
13. Mix to combine
14. Remove wings from oil and place on paper towel / brown paper or baking rack to drain excess oil
15. Using a basting brush, brush Cajun butter on the wings
A special thanks to our iMBlack Supporters
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