Southern & Soul: conectando la historia negra y la gastronomía

In this 6-week course, learners will gain knowledge about food dishes that have come to be regarded as "soul food." We will also discover the difference between "soul food" and "southern food." Each week we will trace the backstory of one food item to learn about its origin and connection to Black culture. This information will be presented via slides and/or video presentations. After the history lesson, learners will view a video of me preparing that particular dish. They are encouraged to then prepare the same dish. 

Interaction will take place via the class discussion board. Each Sunday I will post the new video and a question or thought relating to the topic. I will also ask that learners to upload pics of their prepared dish and include a comment about their cooking experience and what they learned while preparing it. Throughout the course of the week, I will monitor the class discussion board and answer any questions. I will also offer weekly "office hours" to learners who would like to chat one on one about any material presented in the lesson, about the recipe, or about the preparation of the dish. We will also use Google docs to encourage engagement -- with students submitting reflections each week about the previous week's lesson, menu item, and cooking experiences. 

Preparation: Each week I will post the menu item we are preparing the following week along with a supply list. Learners will therefore have what they need to follow along with my video for that week and prepare their meals. At the beginning of each video I will give a short presentation on proper food handling and sanitation.

Safety: This course does have a cooking component. As a result, it is up to the parents to determine the level of supervision needed.

***NOTE, as stated above, we will learn the origin of each dish in the history presentation that takes place before the cooking portion of the class. Many of the dishes listed did not necessarily originate within Black societies, but all have deep connections to Black culture and traditions, particularly with respect to the preparation, and is thus one of the main objectives of the course -- to teach the connection between the food and the culture and to show how that particular food item came to be known as "Soul Food." ****

Menu items: Each week we will learn about and prepare one dish; however, in some weeks we will cover two dishes if the menu items closely complement each other. The menu schedule is as follows: