Soul-Food-Gifts

There’s nothing like giving personalized soul-food-gifts to impress family and friends. People love receiving food gifts because it makes them feel special. Homemade food gifts are treasures and will be remembered for years to come.

Below are a few ideas and suggestions that you can use for your soul-food-gift-giving projects.

· Send a friend Grandma’s Pound Cake. Write the recipe on a recipe card or use decorative paper and replace the word “Grandma’s” with the person’s name you’re sending it to, example, Helen’s Pound Cake. Hand-deliver the cake.

· Take a friend on a picnic at their favorite location.
Suggested menu: fried chicken, southern potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, rolls, dessert.

I know your family and friends will be so impressed when they receive a special homemade soul-food-gift. I know I would be. Try a few throughout the year and watch your popularity soar.

· Send an assorted dessert gift basket.
Include chocolate bars, lemon bars, and tea cakes. Or, you could serve their favorite lunch in a gift basket. Hand-deliver the basket.

· Host a late evening dessert bar.
Suggested menu: Mississippi mud cake, carrot cake, sweet potato pie. Slice and arrange nicely on a tray or platter, and serve with coffee and cold drinks.

· Invite friends over for a southern-style country breakfast.
Suggested menu: country ham with gravy, scrambled eggs, breakfast coffee cake, homemade biscuits, coffee, orange juice.

· Host a soul food history party. Make trivia questions and let the guests sample primitive foods used at that time, such as Fufu (vegetables and mashed sweet potatoes), mango, collard greens, and spoon bread. This is also a wonderful activity to get the kids involved.

· Send someone their favorite dessert for their birthday in a gift basket.
Hand-deliver the dessert.

· Host an afternoon tea party.
Serve assorted mini sandwiches, example egg salad, turkey, tuna, raw vegetables, cut fruit, and decorative cup cakes, and an assortment of teas.

· Host a southern-style spaghetti supper. Include family members who celebrated an event during the previous month, such as a birthday, promotion, or anniversary.

· Invite a group of kids over for a cookie baking party.
Let them bake cookies, decorate them, and make ice cream sandwiches.

· Host a party for weight smart adults.
Serve a reduced-fat or low-fat menu. Suggested activities: low impact exercises to upbeat dance music.

ŢThese recipes can be found in our recipe section. Also, for more ideas to coordinate your gift-giving efforts, please visit our Soul Food Meals section below. Happy gift-giving!

Cassandra Harrell is a Soul Food Advisor and recently owned a soul food restaurant and catering service. She has coached one-on-one sessions on preparing great soul food cuisine.

End of Soul-Food-Gifts - Click here for Soul Food Meals
End of Soul-Food-Gifts - Click here for Brief History.