Always read the recipe with an eye for calculation first.

That is, I have Sheila Ferguson's 1989 book "Soul Food: Classic Cuisine from the Deep South," so I thought I'd try making the Black Bottom Pie, which I had never tasted. The recipe calls for a cup of sugar. Sounds reasonable? Yes, until you think about what you're reading and you realize that the bottom half - the chocolate half - gets only 1/4 cup of the sugar, along with 2 ounces of UNSWEETENED chocolate!

Luckily for me, I tasted the chocolate mixture before pouring it into the crust. I added more sugar immediately. Next time, I'll use semi-sweet chocolate and the same amount of sugar. I'm pretty sure most people won't think that's too sweet. (Calling for unsweetened chocolate HAD to have been a mistake. I only hope there aren't too many mistakes in the book.)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/603329.Soul_Food
(reader reviews)

The top half, btw, is custard made with milk, eggs, cornstarch, gelatin, and bourbon - or rum, as you prefer.

Ferguson grew up in Philadelphia and in 1967, became a member of the soul music group The Three Degrees. She left in 1986. For about a quarter-century, she lived in England (that explains the tips in the cookbook for English readers) but she moved to the island of Majorca (Spain) in 2008.

You can see her singing "When Will I See You Again" here (she's the lead singer):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6fVDAjs9f0


Lenona.