If there’s one event I look forward to every year during Black History Month, it’s the celebration sponsored by the Toms River Branch of the NAACP and the Ocean County Library that combines food and community with a whole lot of soul.
This year’s “Celebrate Black History Month” program is set to begin at noon on Feb. 22 at the branch located at 101 Washington Street in the heart of downtown Toms River. To make a reservation, call 732-349-6200.
It’s always a warm and welcoming afternoon, one that includes entertainment and information for all generations and a place at the table for all at a food tasting prepared by members of the NAACP.
Recently Bahiyyah Abdullah, president of the Toms River Area NAACP met me in the cafe at the library to talk about what the program has to offer this year. There will, she said, be music and Stepping by young people who simply spellbind the audience with their mastery of producing complex rhythms and sounds through a mix of footsteps, spoken word and hand claps.
And there’s going to be a theater piece by members of the Bright Start Touring Theatre who will present their program “Struggle for Freedom: The Life of Dr. King,” sponsored by the NAACP and Friends of the Ocean County Library.
All of this leads up to the annual grand finale. That’s when the lids come off the food warmers on the buffet tables and the line forms for the “tasting” of African American heritage foods that are a major hallmark of this event.
Abdullah, who is also the Chief Mission Officer of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, spoke of the event as a time that “enables us to celebrate our culture and keep it alive and share it. It wasn’t always taught in schools.”
It’s an eye-opening experience, she said, “one where everyone has a good time. Many people tell us that they wait for the library booklet to come out every year so they know when it will be. Usually, we get between 125 and 150 people. It’s one of the largest programs of the year.”
In a small way, she said, the buffet mirrors the food offered by the new African American Museum in Washington where the foods of the African diaspora are featured. “You have to wait on line for a long time,” said Abdullah, who has visited there twice and plans to return. “It brings together people and foods from all different cultures. It’s a wonderful experience. "cultures through the food.”
In past years at the library event, I’ve savored Macaroni and Cheese, ribs and some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten.
“Expect to see food from north to south,” with an emphasis on the south, said Abdullah, who originally hails from the south. Her legacy Banana
Pudding Recipe is a sweet testament to that culinary tradition.
Bahiyyah Abdullah’s Legacy Banana Pudding Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup sugar, divided in half
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3 eggs, separated
- 2 cups milk
- ½ tsp. Vanilla
- 45 vanilla wafers
- 5 bananas, sliced
- dash of salt
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix ½ cup sugar, flour and salt in the top of a double boiler. Blend in 3 egg yolks and milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
Reserve 12 wafers for garnish. Spread a small amount of the custard on the bottom of a 1-1/2 quart baking dish. Cover with layers of 1/3 each of the remaining wafers, bananas and remaining custard. Repeat layers 2 times.
Beat the egg whites on high speed with a mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread over the custard, sealing well to the edge of the dish.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
The pudding, which serves 12 at 2/3 cup each, should be cooled completely. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with reserved wafers just before serving.
Photo by Luigi Pozzoli on Unsplash
Lois Rogers has been writing about faith, family and food since the late ‘90s, most notably in her award winning blog, “Keeping the Feast,” which appears this year during this Lenten season on TrentonMonitor.com “A Place at the Table” is her new blog currently under construction. Lois is available as a guest speaker for parishes and local organizations and speaks on a variety of topics. Contact her at [email protected].
