Harlem Soul Food Recipes - Ideas for picnic lunches October 26 - Howabout starting off with KFC chicken and then supplement with a fresh fruit salad and the following:

taken from BIGG Superstore: http://www.biggsuperstore.com/tbsrecipes/soulfood/index.htm

Crackling Corn Bread
4 cups of cornmeal
2 teaspoons of soda
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
4 eggs, beaten
4 cups of buttermilk
1/3 cup of bacon drippings
1 cup of cracklings
Directions:
Combine the cornmeal, soda, and salt, stir in eggs and buttermilk. Heat bacon drippings in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan until very hot, add drippings and cracklings to batter, mixing well. Pour the batter into hot pan, bake at 450ºF. for 25 minutes or until the bread is golden. Cut into squares. Makes 15 to 20 servings

Black-Eyed Peas 1
1 pound black-eyed peas
4 cups water
1 medium onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup cubed ham (option substitutes: 2 polish sausages, 2 hot sausage links, or bacon)
1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper (optional)
Pick and wash the black-eyed peas. Place them in a slow cooker or, if you wish to cook them on the top of the stove, a large Dutch over. Combine with salt, pepper, onion, water, and ham or other meat. You can add crushed red pepper if you like spicy food. Simmer on the top of the stove or turn slow cooker to high and allow peas to cook 3 to 4 hours. Serves 6 to 8.

Charleston Macaroni and Cheese
One 7 ounce package of macaroni
2 quarts of water
2 teaspoons of salt
1 small box Velveeta cheese
2/3 pounds of Colby longhorn cheese
7 slices of American cheese
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 can of cream, canned milk
2 cups of milk
4 eggs
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
In 2 quarts of boiling water add 2 teaspoons of salt and the small box of macaroni. Boil until tender or 6-8 minutes. Drain, and put the macaroni in 13 x 9" baking dish and add 1/2 margarine and cheeses. In a small bowl, beat the 4 eggs, cream and milk. Mix with the macaroni and add salt and pepper. Bake in 350ºF. oven, stirring twice, for 45 minutes. Put the remainder of the cheese on top and bake last 15 minutes.

Sweet Potato Pie 1
5 medium sweet potatoes
3 to 4 quarts of water
1 1/4 sticks of butter, melted
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons of nutmeg
2 teaspoons of vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons of baking powder
1/3 cups of evaporated milk
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Place in a deep boiler, covering with water. Simmer for 60 minutes until ready for mashing. Cream the potatoes, removing all of the lumps. Add the butter, sugar, nutmeg, vanilla and eggs, mixing well. Add the baking powder to the milk, and stir into the potatoes. Pour the ingredients into pie shells and bake at 350ºF. for 50 minutes or until firm. Cool and serve. Makes 12 to 14 slices.