Citrus

Umoja: Orange Palm Sugar Cake

Sanura

Orange Palm Sugar Cake

Communities come together for various reasons: a devastating event, to raise money and a call for change. My idea for KwanzaaCulinarians.com honestly started when learning about a popular food show host demonstrating a Kwanzaa cake. It’s obnoxiously funny and insulting at the same time. However, it inspired a question: Are there any Kwanzaa recipes? Kwanzaa is about supporting and celebrating the African Diaspora. Everyone of African descent has a recipe representing his or her country, culture, language, religion, community, tribe and family. And, we should celebrate and honor our diverse heritage, in a respectable tradition. Read more →

Orange Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts

Orange Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts

Sanura

Orange Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts

Knowing the holidays are upon us, it’s time we organize and plan our menus to reflect this festive time of year of giving and eating. From now until New Year’s, I’m introducing a series of fresh and healthy dishes for the holidays. Some recipes are reinterpretations of classic recipes with a healthy twist. Other recipes are new ideas to serve with traditional classics. The festive holidays are no different then the rest of year, for we should all strive for a healthy and balance lifestyle everyday.

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Lemon Ginger Tea

Sanura

Lemon Ginger Tea

It’s that time of year when everyone or someone is not quite feeling well with colds, sore throats, body aches and headaches. As much as we try to avoid becoming ill, eventually the cold catches up to most of us at least once per year, and it’s usually when we’re most stressed. Medications temporarily offer relief from annoying dry coughs, nasal drippings, and pounding headaches; vitamins promise over night cures; and a wise visit to a doctor for practical treatment are one of the many ways to seek relief from minor colds. Occasionally, I patiently wait for a soothing cup of Ginger Lemon Tea, a classic homestyle treat. Read more →

Lavender Lemonade

Sanura

Lavender Lemonade

We talk about eating balance meals, regularly working out, and decreasing stress to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, the importance of sleep is rarely mentioned. Receiving seven to eight hours of sleep improves the memory, encourages the brain to embrace new ideas, helps control weight, and builds the immune system. Personally, to get my daily-recommended hours of sleep, I’m striving to begin the evening by turning off the computer. No checking emails, for my responses are more effective in the morning. FaceBook friends and fans can wait for tomorrow, and my influence on Twitter ends a little after dinnertime. Creative projects are scheduled for the afternoons, for working in the super early morning hours is an old college habit that must die. Getting a better night’s rest and more hours of sleep requires me to have better time management and efficiently organize daily tasks. It’s difficult at first, but I’m rediscovering calmer evenings.

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Wheatberry Salad with Mint, Roast Asparagus, and Blood Oranges

Sanura

Wheatberry Salad with Mint, Roast Asparagus, and Blood Oranges

There’s this sudden fascination with grains lately. Such curiosity started last year when amaranth greens were included in a weekly farm share. A quick online search yielded information about amaranth grains. It’s commonly found in the bulk section of organic or natural food stores. Since then, I’ve discovered other types of grains.

Thanks to globalization, plenty of grains have been introduced to our market recently, such as amaranth, barley, quinoa, kamut, kasha, rye berries, and so forth. A few weeks ago, Melissa Danielle, a foodie friend, requested a recipe using wheatberries. Quite honestly, the name of the grain is easily recognized, but its visual appearance is daunting. Situations like this casually remind us how disconnected we are from food and it’s actual source. It’s commonly flattened into flakes for breakfast cereals or granola, similar to corn and oat flakes. It’s also baked in bread for additional flavor and nutrients, hence the name “Whole-Grain Bread”. Read more →