Sylvia's Family Soul Food Cookbook: From Hemingway, South Carolina, To Harlem

I made this purchase simply because I wanted to support the legendary Mrs Sylvia. Although I do plan to use recipes, I wanted to show support to her and her family. I'm from NY & I've been to her restaurant in Harlem. The food was ok to be honest, but just the visit alone was an amazing experience. Great recipes, and a smart buy. If you're looking for classic soul food recipes, buy this book!

Ms. Sylvia's story reminds me of Mother Ruby, my grandmother (who was borne in 1910), her mother, Big Momma, and her 2 sisters, Aunt Peaches, and Aunt Flora stories about moving from Boley, Oklahoma to California. They had so many trials and tribulations, but they worked together as a team to make a better life for all of the children in our family. It was wonderful to read the history of this family.I learned to soul food from my grandmother, Mother Ruby and Nana Elsie, but I just tried out Sylvia's Steamin Cornbread and it was a hit. I did not have to modify the recipe and plan on making one recipe a week until I have tried all of the wonderful recipes. In case you were wondering which recipes are in this book I have listed them below:Chicken SoupBeef Vegetable SoupCreamy Zucchini SoupYou Can't Eat just One Snackin CrackersRuby Love's Pickled OkraVenice's Sliced Cucumber PicklesBarbecued ChickenRoast ChickenVan's Garlic ChickenThe Absolute Best Southern ChickenModestine's Peachy ChickenBedelia's Special Oven Fried ChickenBedelia's Dijion Grilled ChickenChicken and Rice PerlowHerbal ChickenSouthern Fried Chicken LiversSylvia's Special Roasted TurkeySweet and Sour Sassy Turkey WingsTender Stewed Chicken GizzardsTender Pot RoastFrances' Minute Steak and GravySouthern Style Beef StewChili from the A & JBarbecued Beef Short RibsWednesday Night Special Meat LoafBlack Bean and Oxtail StewChopped Barbecue PorkDaughter in Law's Sylvia's Barbecued Pork ChopsMarinated Pork RoastSmothered Pork ChopsNan's Extra Special Marinated SpareribsSallie Brown's Beautiful Glazed HamModestine's Sausage and Grits PieBaked Ham SupremeWhite Bean and Sausage StewHoliday ChitlinsEvelyn's Pig FeetHog's Head CheeseDolly's Barbecued VenisonFried Rabbit HashDolly's Delicious CoonCrispy Roast Duck with Apple and Raisin SauceBert's Catfish StewFried FishCrawfish CasseroleSweet and Sour Baked FishKenneth's Honey Lemon TilefishKenneth's It's Worth the Struggle Bake TroutRise and Shine Salmon and Bacon with GritsSalmon CakesTuna CroquettesAnnette's Quick Shrimp and RiceSeriously Spicy Shrimp StewCrab and Corn BoilCrab Salad DelightOdessa Dorsey's ColeslawTina's Famous Potato SaladMacaroni SaladBlack-Eyed Pea SaladColorful Corn SaladBedelia's Vidalia Dressed Garden SaladSylvia's Chicken SaladGarlic and Herb Mash PotatoesCreamy Ham and Potato ScallopString Beans with New PotatoesPinto Beans and GravyCandy Yams SouffleGolden Fried Sweet Potatoes and ApplesBedelia's Southern Stuffed MushroomsStewed Tomatoes and OkraCrizette's Garlic Fried OkraCountry Style CabbageSylvia's Collard Greens with Smoked TurkeyFrances' Old Fashion Collard GreensCountry Style Mixed Greens and TurnipsCoute's Eggplant ParmesanHerbert's Hot as You Like It Fried CornHerbert's Honey Grilled Yellow SquashCassandra's Zucchini PieButter Beans and OkraLima Bean CasseroleRuth's Easy Corn CakesOld Fashions Corn DumplingsCrizette's Crispy Corn FrittersHush PuppiesBedelia's Sassy RiceVanessa's Tomato Red RiceBeefy Rice with OnionsBroccoli, Macaroni, and Cheese CasseroleGolden Brown Macaroni and CheeseOld Fashioned T Cake BiscuitsFrances' Lily White BiscuitsDorothea's Rise and Shine FlapjacksBlueberry MuffinsSylvia's Steamin CornbreadCrackling CornbreadCornbread StuffingSweet Potato Pudding BreadPeach CobblerSouthern Bread PuddingCreamy Banana PuddingMama's Sweet Potato PoonCreamy Pear PiePear Preserves PieSpicy Preserved PearsSweet and Lovely Pecan PieSweet Potato PieVanessa's Apple PieSouthern Coconut Custard PieVernell Bishop's Luscious CheesecakeBanana Pound CakeSour Cream Pound CakeRaisin Pound CakeLuscious Lemony Pound CakeMarbled Sour Cream Coffee CakeCoconut Pineapple CakeCoconut Layer CakeRainbow Jelly CakeFudge Frosted Six Layer CakeRed Velvet CakePineapple Nut CakeChocolate Eclair CakeStrawberry Punch Bowl CakeOld-Fashioned Sugar CookiesThomas Cooper's Renowned LemonadeSylvia's Family Soul Food Cookbook is a great cook book, but know these wonderful southern dishes were passed down from our great grandmother's and grandmother's kitchen with a lot of love they worked in the kitchen for 2 days to get everything ready for the holidays and special occasions.All I can say is enjoy.................................

Love

To be completely honest, I haven't read all of Mrs. Woods' narratives, but I did live very near Hemingway, S.C. for nearly two decades. I left at the end of 2016. I've read criticisms in some reviews regarding Mrs. Woods' including her personal life and I would like to say something. Please understand you are privileged to be given a glimpse into the life of someone who overcame tremendous odds. As a white woman, I lived a few miles from Hemingway at the beginning of this century and watched a white man put money on the counter in a store and tell the black cashier, a lovely young woman, to put his change in the counter, because he didn't want to touch her hand. I was dumbfounded and stunned into silence. I've regretted not ripping into him, but what good would it have done? Sadly, this stupidity isn't limited to the South. I moved to Minnesota in 1989. Looking for a place to live, I called numbers in the local paper with places for rent, but they said they had been rented. The same places appeared week after week. Finally someone at work told me I needed a real estate agent, because my Southern accent made me sound black and no one would rent to me until they saw my white face. What Mrs. Woods' narratives reveals to us may actually be more valuable than the recipes. She overcame so much more than most of us will ever be able to comprehend. If you don't find value in her stories, I'm sorry. Her's aren't as preachy as mine.As for her recipes, some have criticized a few of them for their simplicity, but they are true to the region and are good eating. Poor people, me included, have eaten venison, squirrel, rabbit, etc and were happy to have it. As for the things I can now thankfully afford, the food sounds really good. Others have recommended Sweetie Pie's Cookbook, but I think Dora Charles' cookbook is better. She managed Paula's Deen's restaurant in Savannah for 20 years. I have cookbooks from all three - Sweetie Pie, Dora Charles and Paula Deen. Ms Charles is the ONLY one I don't tweak and she cooks circles around Paula Deen.

I will use this for cooking my meals.What I didn't like is it did not come with a paper cover.

I have been searching for a tasty Red Velvet Cake recipe for a while now. I got the recipe from the Food Network website, and choose this one because I did not want to replicate Cakeman Raven's cake. I am happy with my choice (i used it to make cupcakes). The cake was soft and moist on the inside with a slighty chewy outside. I followed the advice of one of the other posters and used 2 tablespoons of the cocoa powder. When I tasted the raw batter, it had a pleasant chocolate taste, but when I tasted the final cake, it was a little more subtle. Another adjustment that I made was to increase the amount of sugar in the recipe; I added an additional 1/2 c of sugar which bought out the chocolate flavor. I did not make the frosting because I already had a recipe that my friends and family liked.Once I tasted the cake I came on Amazon and purchased the book.

Excited to get the book but it has a bad smell. How do one remove the odor from the book? Arrived as said, perfectly packed for travel. But again with a very sensitive sense of smell, I can’t review the contents.

Good book

バービーが着ていたような服を着たSylviaの 写真から始まって、彼女のファミリーの歴史が本の前半を占めています。単に料理だけでなく、彼女が生きてきたアメリカをも覗くことができます。レシピは、これぞソールフードって感じですが、とても楽しめます。できれば、料理の写真がもっとあればよかったです。