African-American Heritage Cookbook - by Carolyn Q Tillery (Hardcover)

About the Book

From the renowned Tuskegee Institute of Alabama, founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, this one-of-a-kind narrative cookbook traces the history and heritage of Tuskegee through reminiscences, vintage photographs, poetry, journal entries and more than 200 recipes that celebrate the diverse and mothering flavors of Southern African American cuisine.

Book Synopsis

Updated new edition includes 19 previously unpublished profiles and an author note!

This celebrated classic collection of heritage recipes and anecdotes features more than two hundred mouthwatering African American dishes with pictorial accounts, personal vignettes, and poetry tracing the abundant history of the renowned Tuskegee Institute of Alabama.

For over 100 years, the small Southern town of Tuskegee, Alabama, has been a mecca for African Americans. The Tuskegee Institute, founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, grew from a fledgling school to a major center of American progress and education. This unique narrative cookbook traces the history and heritage of Tuskegee through reminiscences, vintage photographs, poetry, journal entries, and more than 200 recipes for delicious appetizers, entrees, side dishes, breads, beverages, and desserts that reflect the diverse and mouthwatering flavors of Southern African American cuisine.

For over a quarter century, The African American Heritage Cookbook has celebrated the pride and courage of the thousands of Tuskegee alumni who have gone forth to change America and the world. Many Tuskegee graduates have contributed memories, vignettes, and classic Southern recipes--including Crab Bisque, Island Soup, Mom's Devilish Catfish Stew, Smothered "Yard Bird," Louisiana Gumbo, Creole Rice, Sweet Potato Casserole, Spoon Bread, Peach Pandowdy, and Dr. Carver's Peanut Cake with Molasses.

More than a collection of wonderful recipes, The African American Heritage Cookbook is a tribute to the abundantly rich history and civil rights legacy that have made the Tuskegee Institute a landmark and an inspiration.

A delicious treasury of classic African American recipes featuring over 200 mouthwatering dishes, including:

Crab Bisque
Island Soup
Mom's Devilish Catfish Stew
Smothered "Yard Bird"
Louisiana Gumbo
Creole Rice
Sweet Potato Casserole
Spoon Bread
Peach Pandowdy
Dr. Carver's Peanut Cake with Molasses

Review Quotes

"With Southern recipes like Dr. Carver's peanut cake with molasses, you'll find yourself transported to a time when Black intellectuals started to flourish. Reviewers say that this book contains delicious, historic recipes, as well as vintage photos and poems that provide further context and insight." - USA Today, 12 Essential Cookbooks by Black Chefs and Authors, on The African American Heritage Cookbook

"The historical information and accompanying photos are engaging in and of themselves, with detailed information about prominent alumni such as Spike Lee and Julian Bond, as well as less well-known graduates. But the recipes are what really set the book apart...A sterling collection of Southern staples with a twist... Even those who consider themselves well-versed in southern cooking will learn a thing or two from Tillery's book, which deserves space on the shelf of any cook who's serious about American cooking." - Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review for Southern Homecoming Traditions

"This cookbook comes from the kitchens of the famed Tuskegee Institute, which taught its students pragmatic life-skills that would allow them to support themselves upon graduation. Shots of Tuskegee through the years are scattered throughout, as well a some of its founder's favorites, including the ginger cakes that made Tuskegee president Booker T Washington vow to become free when he was a child--just so he could taste one." - NPR on The African American Heritage Cookbook

"My cooking is created through a variety of different cuisines, but I believe some of the best recipes come from African American heritage, and that's why I find Carolyn Quick Tillery's recipes so inspirational." - Chef Marcus Samelson for PARADE Magazine

About the Author

Carolyn Quick Tillery is a Tuskegee Institute alumna, former Air Force officer and prosecuting attorney who has spent her life savoring Southern flavor in wonderful recipes handed down through family and friends. She is the author of The African-American Heritage Cookbook, A Taste of Freedom, Celebrating our Equality, and the NAACP Image Award finalist, Southern Homecoming Traditions. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area.