Black Family Dinner Quilt Cookbook: A Review

Now that we have shelled the peas, how about a new recipe. Check out the Black Family Dinner Quilt Cookbook published by the National Council of Negro Women. The title of the book comes from the fact that many African American families covered the dinner table with quilts for Sunday dinner. (I’ve seen that decorating suggestion in Country Living magazine. Who knew a trend was set 50 years ago).

The book contains recipes, quilts and a bit of history. The recipes are excellent soul food recipes and have been updated for modern times – modified to have less sugar and fat. Even better, for those of us who are not history buffs, the book gives you small doses of fascinating history. There are many stories about Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida and the National Council of Negro Women. Stories recalled by people who knew her, make you feel like you are getting to know an old friend rather than an icon of African American history.

The quilts and the stories behind them, spice up the recipes. Renowned quilter Faith Ringold’s Tar Beach 2 is on the cover. Carolyn Mazloomi, founder of the Women of Color Quilters' Network, helped to develop the book. Most of the quilts in the book are picture quilts.

The book is available on http://www.amazon.com/. No well stocked kitchen should be without this book. You will enjoy returning to it again and again.