Jocelyn Delk Adams shares simple ways to jazz up a classic recipe, interview

From her appearances on food television to her popular Grandbaby Cakes cookbook, Jocelyn Delk Adams appreciates that blending classic recipes with an updated twist is a way to keep food traditions fresh. Without losing that taste of nostalgia, that little boost to a classic recipe is a flavor that makes the next bite just as delicious as the first one.

Recently, FoodSided spoke to Jocelyn Delk Adams. Whether it is the holiday season or just longing for a taste of the familiar, a craving for those recipes and flavors from family traditions rise. For Jocelyn, she believes that there is a delectable balance between honoring tradition and bringing new approaches to the table.

For Jocelyn, she starts with a food memory that she loves. Starting with that familiar feeling is key. From there she looks to take that connected feeling and building on it. When a recipe is tied to such joy, it is already on the path to success. Adding a little personal nuance only makes that next bite even more special.

Sometimes the pantry can hold that inspiration. Starting from a strong foundation, Jocelyn believes that a few tweaks can create some bigger and more exciting. Using ingredients that home cooks have in the pantry, like Libby’s canned vegetables, can be the spark to “jazz up a recipe.” In some ways, those canned vegetables may “empower them to think outside of the can.”

While Jocelyn has taken inspiration from grandma, that spirit of being a touch of “rebellious” in the kitchen needs to be appreciated. Although a classic recipe holds appeal, there are plenty of reasons to make it your own. It can be as simple as taking a canned vegetable and making it special.

In some cases, the moment in the kitchen can be the spark that adds another layer of flavor. As Jocelyn shared, cooking with her daughter has her “seeing the experience through new eyes.” That “different perspective” gets her excited about cooking.

Sometimes the secret ingredient to a great recipe is more about the moment that the items in the bowl. From a little music to inspire the mood to a sprinkle of seasoning that is a taste of the unexpected, the process is just as important as the final product.

That type of mindset is part of the reason why the holidays and food go hand in hand. Even if certain foods, like Jocelyn’s family cornbread stuffing or a fried turkey, must be on the table, the reality is that memories are made beyond the moments at the table.

As Jocelyn has said before, infusing food with love is what makes it memorable. Whether it is tweaking a pantry staple like Libby’s canned vegetables into a favorite recipe or creating a new tradition from scratch, food is the language that everyone can understand. Isn’t it time to fill the plate with a bounty that everyone will remember long after the meal is finished?