Celebrities Share Favorite Kwanzaa Recipes

Kwanzaa Kinara
Detroit (WPI) - As Kwanzaa comes to an end it is an ancient tradition to close the holiday with a magnificent ethnic banquet. The Kwanzaa Feast, as it has been known in Ethiopia for thousands of years, celebrates the diversity of foods and recipes from across Africa. Here in the US these ancient delights are merged with contemporary flavors and locally favorite dishes to bring about an unusually warm, family and ethnic celebration.

World Press International sought out some of America’s best known celebrities to find out their favorite dishes to close out this senescent and holy holiday. Most are surprisingly easy to prepare and will add that special touch to your holiday banquet! Click on the link at the end of the article for the recipes.

Star Jones- “My favorite Kwanzaa dish comes from my Grandmother Fanny Massife from South Carolina, it is Deep Fried Crisco Pie. Now in Granny’s day Crisco wasn’t yet invented so they used lard or pork rendering or anything they had available. It’s just delicious!

Oprah- Without doubt the food I love best for Kwanzaa is Chicken Fried Suet! This actually is a fairly new recipe coming from the old Delta area of Mississippi. Rumor has it that Robert Johnson was writing a song about it just before he died!

Al Roker- Well, my favorite Kwanza meal comes from the backwoods of New Jersey! Just kidding. Actually, this is a meal my momma used to make every Kwanzaa when we were just kids in the fifties. I still remember gently breaking them open to smell the warm rich aromas! Nobody made these better then Momma- ‘cause it was made with love: Deep Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls.

Kenan Thompson- Well, there is only one meal that means Kwanzaa to me! You may not think it’s very ethnic or an old family recipe or anything but it is, at least in the Thompson family. It’s bacon fried Big Mac’s! When I grew up we didn’t have much money, and my home life wasn’t the best, but whenever Kwanzaa came I made a special effort to do something special for my nine little brothers and sisters. I was the oldest so I was in charge. These are easy to make but the important thing is that you have to leave the Big Macs in the refrigerator, still wrapped up, for at least three days before you roll them in the batter and fry. Man, oh man! You ain’t ever had it so good!

Bill Cosby- Jambalaya Jello. Mussels, crawfish, red beans, rice, okra mixed into creamy Double Rich Dark Chocolate Jello Pudding. Serve as a main dish or dessert!

Aretha Franklin- My Momma used to make the best Sweet Potato Pie! But ya’ll have plenty of recipes for that. No Kwanzaa would be complete without plenty of delicious desserts and my family favorite is Honey Glazed Dunkin’ Donuts quick fried in bacon fat then double glazed with Hershey’s chocolate and clarified butter! Don’t forget to flash freeze it so it is served warm on the inside and cold outside!

All our celebrities suggested a nice Three Roses wine and plenty of ice cold Coca-Cola to finish off the feast! Click here for the complete recipe: celebrityrecipes/Kwanzaa.WPI.com