soul food

The term Soul Food originated from the cuisine developed by the African slaves mainly from the American South. A dark 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 usually 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. Every ethnic group has what it calls "soul food" - soothing, comfort food that brings back warm memories of family dinners, however, today, the term "soul food" simply means African-American cuisine.