"Soul Food" ~ ~  This term originated from the cuisine developed by the African slaves mainly from the American South.  A dark and despicable period in the history of the United States resulted in a cuisine fashioned from the meager ingredients available to the slave and sharecropper black families.  The meat used was the least desirable cuts and the vegetables, some bordering on weeds, were all that was available for the black slaves to prepare nutritious meals for their families.  From these meager ingredients evolved a cuisine that is simple yet hearty and delicious.

In my mind's eye, Soul Food is comfort food. The kind of meals that bring back memories of your grandmother's and great-grandmother's warming foods placed on the table, and it seems no matter what you do, it never tastes quite the same!