What’s crackin’, good people? This is Marwin your flavor DJ, spinning the tastiest tracks from the culinary scene. Today’s headliner? A delicious apple cider braised lamb shank with a funky twist of suya spice and peanut butter. Imagine tender, fall-off-the-bone lamb shanks slow-cooked in a rich apple cider-infused broth with hints of smoky suya spice …
Fall
For most Thanksgiving Dinner is about the turkey, but for me it's about dessert; that last dish that puts you over the edge right into that food induced coma. My dessert of choice is a rich, silky smooth sweet potato pie, not to be confused with the traditional Pumpkin Pie. I take mine on the couch in front of the TV as I fight the Itis off trying to stay awake for the NFL games. I think I'm 0 for my last 5 staying awake. Sweet Potato Pie is kind of a big deal, right there with potato salad at a barbecue. No half step-in aloud. I keep my version pretty traditional but elevate the flavor via use of brown butter and whole nutmeg and cinnamon sticks.
Alright, alright, alright, my fellow flavor fanatics— Mr. flavorphile here, ready to drop some knowledge on you about a dish that’ll have your taste buds dancing like they’re on fire. We're talking holiday maple glazed ham that’s got soul, with a glaze so sweet and smoky you’ll be looking for a mic to drop. Infused …
Imagine the smooth, soulful vibes of a rhythm and blues classic, now served on your plate. This steakhouse-style creamed spinach gets a bold remix with a touch of curry spice, creating a harmony of velvety richness and warm, earthy notes. It’s like a slow jam for your taste buds—familiar yet surprising, comforting yet daring. Whether …
Imagine tender, flavorful lamb necks, slow-cooked to perfection in a rich, savory brown stew using a slow cooker, with the smooth, groovy sounds of jazz-funk fusion setting the rhythm in the background. Any good soul food menu is going to have at least one neck bone option. Generally it will be one of the big …
Tailgating time!!! These slow-smoked ribs are ones to impress your crew of friends. The recipe is super simple, but you'll need some time.
Southern Hoppin’ John gets a remix in this version made with smoked turkey, bringing a fresh twist to a classic soul food dish that hits all the right notes. Just like an old-school hip-hop track, this recipe is all about flavor, rhythm, and soul. Alternatively, you can use spicy sausage to add a different kind …
Texas beef chili with dark mole is a bold and flavorful twist on a classic beef chili, combining the hearty richness of traditional Texas chili with the deep, complex notes of Mexican mole. This fusion of smoky, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors creates the best chili recipe that’s both familiar and exotic, perfect for those …
A cold winter night calls for a big comforting bowl of chili. Even better, make it this tasty bison chili. It is super easy to make, just as flavorful as beef but a bit leaner, with bison meat offering a rich flavor profile compared to beef. This is your classic chili recipe as in no …
There is chili and then there is this brisket chili! Bold and beefy with a complex flavor. This is chili cookoff worthy chili. Smoked brisket chili is the perfect dish for a chilly winter night. The smoked brisket adds a depth of flavor to the chili, and the spice blend warms you up from the …
Turn up the tempo in your kitchen with our crispy, simple weeknight pan-fried jerk chicken, a symphony of bold Caribbean spices that dance on your taste buds. Quick to prepare and bursting with flavor, this dish hits all the right notes for a jazzy, vibrant dinner that grooves with every bite. Get ready to cook …
These Southern candied yams are cooked in a flavorful spiced syrup that will provide you with an amazing mouth experience and make your guests love it. It is just one of those soul food dishes where everything comes together so well, from the warm spices to how sweet potatoes can take on some flavors while …
Simple, versatile, and tangy is how I'd describe this collard greens slaw recipe. It's one that was made up on the spot, but inspired by two true pioneers. At a time when everyone seems to have an opinion about whether Lebron James has surpassed Michael Jordan, I thought I'd cross you up and talk about the unsung, little known pioneers and greats of Hockey. Most don't know of Willie O'ree who integrated the NHL in the 50s or of Grant Fuhr the greatest goalie in the history of the league who is also the first black player to win the Stanley Cup and enter the Hall of Fame. These were pioneers who inspired me to be comfortable going against the grain whenever. My collard greens purist will probably roll their eyes at the idea of adding feta cheese to greens; In the immortal words of Tupac, "I ain't mad atcha!"
My fellow flavor-philes join me as I embark on a culinary journey that fuses the rich flavors of Hungarian tradition with the vibrant essence of Caribbean cuisine in this unique and delectable dish. Our Hungarian Goulash, renowned for its hearty and robust taste, takes a delightful twist as it is expertly seasoned with the bold …
In the pulsating realm of culinary beats, where flavors sync with rhythm, let the ethereal vibrations of techno guide us to a dish that transcends the ordinary—the hypnotic world of Creamed Cabbage. Picture the dancefloor of your palate illuminated with the neon glow of velvety cabbage swaying to the relentless pulse of creaminess. As the …
I've been working on a Baked Mac and Cheese recipe. I landed on one that is decadent, comforting, and creamy mac and cheese recipe perfect as one of your Thanksgiving side dishes or a regular Sunday dinner menu item. I'm partial to classic i.e. cheesy, creamy, and a great crust. To get into that comfort food frame of mind I went deep into the vaults for a classic song "Under the Moon and Over the Sky" by Angela Bofil who IMO is one of the most underrated, underappreciated and unsung musical talent.
Do you ever feel like your dinner recipes are stuck in a rut? Seafood pasta is the perfect solution, and when it's as easy to make as this simple seafood pasta dish, why not add it to your weeknight dinner rotation? This simple seafood pasta recipe features one of my favorite fish for seafood flavors …
Yo, what's up world my fellow flavor-philes! I'm about to take you on a flavorful journey to the heart of New Orleans with a recipe that's as soulful as an old school hip hop beat – Gumbo Z'herbes. We're talking about a blended beat of greens, herbs, and spices coming together in a pot, creating …
Christmas always brings in new toys, and I'm happy to have this Instapot to break in and make you the beneficiary. So let's just say this will be the gift that keeps on giving. Seeing I'm late to the Instapot craze, I'm in catch-up mode and hope to be as prolific as Quincy Jones once I get the hang of it. For my first foray into things, I decided to convert an older traditional stove-top recipe for white bean stew. Plus, I had leftover ham hocks I was trying to get rid of from the pork nachos recipe for tonight's bowl games. Feel free to use this recipe to make black-eyed peas for New Year's as the peas are easily substitutable for white beans in this recipe.
Winter is officially here which means colder weather, holiday cheer, and of course lots of delicious soup! This soul food packed beef oxtail soup recipe is perfect for those chilled winter days. It's hearty, warming, and loaded with flavor. Plus, it's really easy to make so you can have a delicious home-made meal without spending …
Crispy roasted okra is one of my new favorite veggies. Its a no-fuss, delicious side that is ready in less than 30 minutes. Down here in Texas we're lucky to still be able to get fresh okra locally. If you're fortunate enough as well this is a great side you can add that will free you up to focus on other dishes. Many people fear okra because of the slime. Don't fear the slime, as a matter of fact, follow the great Nelson Mandela's words and don't fear anything - "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." I recently discovered the musician Mimi. She is an incredibly inspiring and brave artist. Check out her song "Afraid" as an example of her talent and testimony.
Grilling season for me is all year round. I'm not much for rain, but the elements generally do not stop me from that grill life, especially during football playoffs season. Big games are scheduled this winter weekend so I'll be pretending I'm vacationing in the islands with an ice cold Red Stripe Lager and these slow-smoked jerk ribs. Make this for your gameday experience or wait til the summer if you're not inclined to deal with the weather. Enjoy
Beefy braised oxtail cooked low and slow in a Mexican chili-based sauce for a comforting and rich Sunday dinner. The sauce is deeply flavorful and complex with a mild heat and earthy character similar to a mole. Beef oxtail is big in Southern households as well as Asian and Caribbean cultures. A slow braise in …
When I cook greens I don't even think about adding the greens to the pot until my stock has simmered all day and then sat another day in the fridge. Killer stock makes for extra nice potlikker and will take your collards from ashy to classy. Enjoy the greens, but don't forget to save the potlikker and use for just about everything. I drink a shot first for quality control.
Coffee rubbed steak recipe - Flavorful hanger cut steak seasoned with a smoky coffee rub and grilled to perfection. Hanger steak has more flavor than your more expensive steak cuts, but at a much lower price point. The ground coffee based rub adds a bold, sweet-heat flavor and a nice crust to the steak. MOOD …
This easy blackened chicken recipe is perfect for one of those busy weeknights. Elevate bland chicken breasts to big, spicy, and tender chicken in under 15 minutes and with a few staple ingredients you’re highly likely to have on hand. “Blackened chicken” is usually the answer when I’m struggling to decide on what’s for dinner. …
This Cuban ropa vieja recipe will be on my tailgate recipe list until 3005. Not only is it great for tailgating, but also for entertaining or weekend family meals. Juicy beef is cooked to luxurious tenderness in a well-seasoned stewed vegetables mix. The beauty of ropa vieja is its versatility. It can be eaten as …
This creamy, delicious seafood stew boasts everything. It's got flavor, aroma, good looks, and is completely satisfying! Full disclosure - this stew is absurdly insatiable so you'll want to make more than what you think is enough. The coconut sauce brings the next level of creaminess, while the Trinidadian-based flavor base provides character and complexity. …
As part of this year’s Black History Month celebration, I’ve collaborated with several other amazing black food bloggers for our 2021 Black History Month Virtual Potluck Takeover. Not only do we celebrate and honor the culinary traditions of people across the African diaspora, but we also share some historical context behind many of the dishes. My contribution this …
Good mornin', good afternoon, and good evenin' to ya! This is Marwin, your flavor DJ, spinning the smoothest, tastiest tracks straight from the Caribbean. Today's hit? Callaloo Soup a vibrant bowl of island soul made with tender greens, creamy coconut milk, and a medley of bold, tropical spices. It's a dish that's as rich in …
A braised beef neck bones recipe featuring a most humble cut of meat turned into the ultimate over the top tender beef sandwich. Neck bones are a thing if you didn't know. Whether we're talking about turkey necks, pork necks, or beef neck bones in this case, it's all good! This is usually the second …
This vegetarian quesadilla recipe made with Brussels Sprouts prove that good salty cheese pretty much works with anything. It's also easily convertible to a meat-based quesadilla with an add-in like smoked brisket. For a recent meatless Monday, we made these delicious and nourishing quesadillas that blend savory ingredients like asparagus and Brussels sprouts with sweet …
As I continue to delve deep into okra this month, I thought I'd introduce my first okra soup. The soup borrows its flavor from smoked chicken, which I bought from one of my favorite local bbq spot. I'm all about saving time when I can and left-over smoked chicken works well. This recipe calls for a pressure cooker/Instant Pot, but easily converts to regular stovetop prepared soup.
Stewed okra is an amazing concept in my opinion. It's proof that you only need a few ingredients to make a delicious dish. I've lost count, but this is another recipe installment for Food Fidelity's celebration of a non-existant Okra Month. You're likely to have all the ingredients you need on hand should you decide to make it.
Easy gourmet side featuring just two ingredients. The best part is the citrus caramelizes making the dish like a 2 for 1 - side + dessert.
A flourless but extra crispy fried chicken recipe that will make you rethink whether you need to add flour. Chicken is double-cooked and tossed in a delicious vinegar based sauce. Prepare to embark on a culinary adventure that redefines the art of fried chicken. In a world where tradition meets innovation, flourless fried chicken takes …
An easy falafel recipe featuring blackeyed peas; Middle Eastern soul food, why not! They're so good they made our list of best blackeyed pea recipes. What is a falafel? Falafel is a traditional Arab food I'd describe as a vegetable fritter made from a legume. Choice of legume varies by region/country but chickpeas are most …
Have you ever had a stew so good you feel like thanking everybody? That’s what this dutch oven beef stew recipe will do to you. Slide into the kitchen groove with this Southern beef stew, y'all. We're talkin' tender beef, slow-cooked with earthy okra and sweet potatoes that bring that natural, soul-stirring sweetness. This ain't …
Indulge in the ultimate Southern treat with our peach cobbler, boasting a flavorful rising crust and a whiskey cinnamon-scented filling. Succulent, ripe peaches are bathed in a warm, spiced mixture of whiskey and cinnamon, creating an irresistible, aromatic filling. Topped with a golden, buttery crust that rises to perfection, this dessert is a symphony of …
Next level cinnamon oatmeal cooked in an instant pot for quick, convenient, and consistent great tasting daily breakfast. The ingredients are simple, but the execution delivers big bang results in the form of flavor, aroma, and texture. Oats and whole spices are toasted first before cooking intensifying the flavor all around. MOOD MUSIC cinnamon oatmeal …