"Happy Kwanzaa!"
"Soul is extra-scientific, that is to say, outside of science; therefore we will allow no scientific disproof of it" _Dr. Maulana Karenga

During the holiday season, millions of African American families choose to celebrate Kwanzaa, which begins the first day after Christmas and lasts until New Year's Day. During each of these (seven) days a new principle based in African - American pride, community and heritage is practiced. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a young visionary on the West coast who was also the founder and chairman of the Black Nationalist Organization.
The word "kwanzaa" is derived from the Swahili word "kwanza" which means first fruits, and as a holiday comes directly out of the tradition of the agricultural people of Africa.


They celebrate and give thanks for harvest at designated times during the year. Each tribe of the community comes together to sing, dance, eat and drink celebrating the harvest of the first fruits and vegetables. Dr. Karenga adopted these celebrations as a symbol of the unity in the souls of black folks.

The holiday's daily ritual begins with the lighting of one of the seven candles placed in the center of a candleholder called a "Kinara" (kee-nah-rah). The first candle is black and is symbolic of "unity" followed by the lighting of red and green candles each day of each principle - three red on the left, and three green on the right.

The principles are:

Umoja (oo-moh-jah) - Unity
Kujichagulia (koo-ji-chah-goo-lee-ah) - Self Determination
Ujima (oo-jee-mah) - Collective Work and Responsibility
Ujamma (oo-jah-mah) - Cooperative Economics
Nia (nee-ah) - Purpose
Kuumba (koo-oom-bah) - Creativity
Imani (ee-mah-nee) - Faith

"The task, as Us percieved it then and contends now, is to forge and embrace a culture that both prepares the people for struggle and sustains them in the process of the struggle for a world of human freedom and human flourishing. This meant then and continues to mean selecting and stressing elements of Black culture that represents the best of African and Human values, values which protect and promote human life, human freedom and maximum human development."
_Dr. Maulana Karenga


"The foods of Kwanzaa are a celebration of the foods of the earth. Do not be absent of taste when trying them, or rush past the experience of ingesting the wonderful bounty the earth has provided. Eat intently and embarrassingly passionately. Taste and enjoy the earth's food, she is the mother that suckles you." - Chef Eric Austin









Chef E's Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

1 Medium to large Butternut Squash
Olive oil
1 cup vegetale stock
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional) *soy milk to finish may be substituted
Salt (Kosher) to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic/ garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup green onion (green part only) finely chopped
1 tomato (small dice)


Step 1: Peel the squash and cut in half lengthwise then using a spoon scrape out the inner seeds. Place the pieces in a casserole dish that will fit both halves. Rub the squash liberally with olive oil, then season with salt, pepper and garlic. Place in a 400 degree F oven until flesh is very tender about 20 minutes.

Step 2: Once the squash has cooled slightly, place the pieces in a food processor and add the vegetable stock and process until the soup is very smooth.

Step 3: Transfer to a soup pot and finish simmering on low heat to warm completely through (do not bring to a boil) add the cream or *soy milk (careful that the soy milk does not break) then the tomatoes, green onions, and vanilla extract.

I like to finish the soup with some of the tomato and green onion as a garnish and a drizzle of olive oil. Then drizzle some of the olive oil on spears of baguette and a tapanade of olives on toasted crostini.

"A luta continua" (the struggle continues)
SAY IT LOUD!

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag..."


Presents had been placed around the tree, stockings had been stuffed and the morning was set to be filled with Christmas cheer from my three year old daughter at discovering that she'd recieved the latest rave - TMX Elmo. I was up as early as I could to make some last minute preparations for the day, so I turned on the television to keep me company. "Oh man!" I thought in sorrow to hear what the anchor woman was saying in the report "The Godfather of Soul, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Brown has died today. He was brought into an Atlanta hospital early this morning and passed away shortly after from complications due to pneumonia."
Anyone who has ever visited Big E's Soul Food knows that it was built around James Brown's mantra "Say it Loud!" To me, those lyrics define soul - soul food, soul attitude and soul people. "...we're people, we like the birds and the bees, but we'd rather die on our feet than be living on our knees. Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud!" Big E's Soulfood will continue to reflect this attitude for as long as I am cooking. And no matter where there's a restaurant with my name on it, the logo will always read: "Say it loud!"
I want people to remember me in this business as they remembered you James - "Soul brother #1, Mr. Dynamite, The Godfather of Soul and The hardest working man in show business..." You go James! You got it!...
If you'd like to share any thoughts, please post your comments. If you'd just like to quietly reflect, go put on or (download) "I feel good!" and I dare you not to feel good.

"Look at me, you know what you see? Look at me, you know what you see?
You see a bad mutha. I got something that makes me want to shout! I got something that tells you what it's all about! I got soul, and I'm superbad!" __James Brown 1933 - 2006

I wish...

"Looking back on when I was a little nappy headed boy. Then my only worry, was for Christmas what would be my toy. Even though we sometimes would not get a thing, we were happy with the joy the day would bring. I wish those days would come back once more. Why did those days ever have to go - 'cause I love em' so." _Stevie Wonder

Hey all, it's been awhile since my last blog but I'm back just in time for the holidays. I bring you seasons of great tidings and joy and a few small treats for you to try during this most festive occasion.

Sweet potato Corn Muffins

For the filling:
2 large yams (sweet potatoes) peeled - medium diced
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons (unsalted) butter - melted
1 pinch (Kosher) salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 medium eggs (beaten)

Step 1: In a large pot boil the diced sweet potatoes until done - fork tender. Let cool and place in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add all other ingredients and mix well with electric beaters or mixer. Set aside until ready for use.

For the muffins, follow the box directions of your favorite corn muffin recipe (I use Jiffy without shame) which requires 1 egg and 1/3 cup of milk (whole) for every box. For this recipe you will need three boxes (3 for $.99) Yeah, you know what I'm talking about;)
After the muffin batter is made, combine with the sweet potato filling. Bake in muffin tins, yeilds about 18 muffins.

P.S. If you want to be more festive, add some whole cranberries to the batter.
Make some Honey Butter by adding 2 parts softened butter to 1 part honey and whip well with an electric beater until light and sweet.

If you really want to get old fashioned try this Scripture Cake Christian or Atheist, this is good eating:)


3 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (1 Kings 4:22
2 teaspoons baking powder (Amos 4:5)
pinch of salt (Leviticus 2:13)
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon(1 Kings 10:2)
1 teaspoon ground allspice (1 Kings 10:2)
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (1 Kings 10:2)
1/2 teaspoons ground cloves (1 Kings 10:2)
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (Judges 5:25)
2 cups granulated sugar (Jeremiah 6:20)
6 tablespoons honey (Exodus 16:31)
6 eggs, room temperature (Isaiah 10:14)
1 cup milk (Judges 4:19)
2 cups seedless raisins (Samuel 30:12)
2 cups dried Figs coarsely chopped (Nahum 3:12)
2 cups sliced almonds (Numbers 17:8)
Confectioners sugar and cocoa powder for dusting

Step 1: Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9-by-13 inch pan with vegetable cooking spray and dust with flour.

Step 2: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves.

Step 3: In another bowl combine the butter, granulated sugar and honey. Using an electric beater, whip together until well blended (about 1 minute on medium high speed) Add the eggs one at a time beating well with each addition before adding the next, While still beating, gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk until well mixed.

Step 4: Using a rubber spatula fold in the figs, almonds and raisins.

Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake on the middle baking rack until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean - about 45-50 minutes. Cool comepletely and dust with cocoa powder and confectioners sugar














"Let the church say amen! This cake is good ALL THE TIME! And all the time THIS CAKE IS GOOD!"

Let me know what you think...

From Chef E, that other jolly big man!!!