(Click title to buy this book on-line now)
by Antoinette Broussard
Format: Hardcover, 224pp.
ISBN: 155972532X
Publisher: Carol Publishing Group
Pub. Date: January 2001
Description from the publisher
Celebrated in this book are women who have distinguished themselves as
actresses, writers, politicians, entertainers, and artists. Women such
as restaurant owner Myrna Williams, former president of Links, Inc.,
Patricia Russell McCloud, and psychologist Gwendolyn Goldsby-Grant share
their perspectives on the holiday season. Mrs. Denzel Washington
provides her favorite recipes. Kwanzaa stamp designer Synthia Saint
James relates her favorite holiday memories, as do Irma Hall, Joyce
Dinkins, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Tisha Campbell, and Myrlie
Evers-Williams, among others.
Review by Thumper
When I first received this book, I did a little whoop dance. I
thought it was a cookbook. I love cookbooks. I love African-American
cookbooks even more. There are not too many instances where our past and
present meet. Since I love to eat, love to cook, hey, I'm a freaking
pushover. Imagine my surprise when I realized African-American Holiday
Traditions: Celebrating with Passion, Style, and Grace by Antoinette
Broussard wasn't a cookbook. I was pissed. After I said a few cursed
words, attitude firmly in place, I proceeded to read African-American
Holiday Traditions. I discovered that although African-American Holiday
Traditions wasn't a cookbook, I learned several lessons when it came to
entertaining, setting a table, and establishing traditions. I also
learned halfway through the book that recipes were included in the book.
My attitude was lifted somewhat.
African-American Holiday Traditions is loaded with traditions from Broussard's family, and African-American celebrities. I wasn't exactly pleased at first with the celebrity tidbits. It seemed a bit too hoity-toity to me. Eventually, I started getting into it for a couple of celebrities had excellent traditions. I'm sure that I wasn't suppose to be thrilled with every single one, but the few that I liked, fired up my creative juices.
Probably the single most important pages, in my opinion, were how to set a table and creating the right atmosphere for dinner. No matter how I spoke the contrary, I am beginning to worry about china, silverware, setting a table. In the past I was only concerned about the food. Now I'm leaning towards how to set a good-looking table. Broussard provided a number of examples of table setting, even going as far as explaining silverware placement. I'm not saying that I'm going to go Martha Stewart on you all (I can't stand the woman), but it is good to know these things.
The recipes that Broussard featured in the book are good. Broussard's Creamy Macaroni & Cheese are along the same line as mine (naturally mine is better). The recipes are arranged for the holiday menu that Broussard suggest should be served. I like this format. It reminds me of the cookbooks by Edna Lewis. In case you can't get a hold of your grandmother, Broussard is an excellent resource to tap when it comes to your holiday menu.
Although my reading of African-American Holiday Traditions didn't get off to the best of starts, I have come to embrace it and look forward to using my newfound knowledge during the holidays. I am well aware that we are in the beginning of the summer season and it may seem strange to recommend African-American Holiday Traditions, but I do recommend it, highly. Actually, Juneteenth is coming up, so you might as well knock it off right. *smile*
