February is a month to reflect on our past and present. This past week we celebrated our Presidents and we honor many Americans who helped shaped our nation in honor of  African-American History Month.

In reflecting, this month allows us to celebrate the culinary traditions with traditionally African-American dishes.  We can all agree that it is important to celebrate your roots and acknowledge your ancestors who made a difference in their own lives to help improve yours.

Gloryfoods.com celebrates African-American history month with an assortment of delicious recipes that feature a variety of beans including black eyes, lima’s, reds, great northern’s, and black beans.  Glory Foods is based in Columbus, Ohio and sells southern-style products such as beans, fresh-cut bagged  and canned vegetables.

We particularly love the Gloryfoods.com recipe which calls for black-eyed peas, which includes the Mixed Green Mesclun Salad with black-eye pea vinaigrette. Make sure and give it a try!

Mixed Green Mesclun salad with Black-eyed pea vinaigrette

Mixed_Green_Mesclun_Salad_with_Black-Eyed_Pea_Vinaigrette_(2)_382_200

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Glory Foods® Sensibly Seasoned™ Black-Eyed Peas
1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers
1-1/4 cups olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 garlic bulb, peeled
1/4 cups olive oil
Baby organic greens (enough for 6 servings)
Directions

  1.  Drain liquid from black-eyed peas and set aside. Reserve liquid for later use.
  2. In a food processor, puree the red bell pepper, garlic, vinegar and 1/4 cup liquid from the peas. When complete, drizzle one cup of olive oil. Place all of this in a mixing bowl and add in the peas.
  3. In a large bowl, toss the organic greens with the pea dressing. Place on individual salad plates, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with a hot bleu cheese crouton.

Southern Style Black Bean Cakes

black bean cakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (15.5 oz) Glory Foods® Sensibly Seasoned™ Black Beans, drained
  • 2 Tbs. all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. cumin, ground
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper, ground
  • Pan release spray, as needed

Directions

  1. Combine Glory Foods® Sensibly Seasoned Black Beans, flour, cumin and pepper in a food processor, and mix until a paste begins to form and the ingredients are well blended.
  2. Apply enough pan release spray to a nonstick pan and place the pan over medium heat.
  3. When the pan is hot, place one portion (1 mounded, full Tbsp.) of the bean mix carefully into the pan.
  4. Apply pan release spray to the back of a heat resistant, plastic, flat spatula and gently flatten the mound of bean mix to form a even flat cake. You may add another portion to the pan if it is not overcrowded.
  5. Brown the bean cakes on both sides and serve or you may cool and store for later use. Serving Suggestion: Serve topped with a poached egg and warmed Glory Foods® Sensibly Seasoned Tomatoes, Okra & Corn.

Southern Baked Beans (Pinto and Lima Beans) 

Lima Baked Beans

Ingredients:

1 can (14.5 oz) Glory Foods® Lima Beans
1 can (14.5 oz) Glory Foods® Pinto Beans
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/8 tsp. black pepper, ground

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place Glory Foods® Lima Beans and Glory Foods® Pinto Beans in a mixing bowl.
  3. Add brown sugar and pepper to the beans and mix well.
  4. Pour the bean mixture into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
  5. Bake uncovered for 1-1/2 hours or until the beans are thickened.

Join in, and celebrate by creating your own recipe to pass down to your family!