Do you have anything to celebrate today? If not, take a moment to reflect and find something small to commemorate. Even a tiny achievement or milestone can bring you joy. Jocelyn Delk Adams, in her book “Everyday Grand,” encourages us to do just that and emphasizes that joy is a conscious choice we make every day. To complement her philosophy, she shares comforting recipes like her Garlic Butter Baked Cod.
Adams places great importance on food in her life, family, and culture. For her, it serves as a way to express love, gratitude, and embrace life’s little moments of happiness. Her first cookbook, titled “Grandbaby Cakes,” was inspired by her website Grandbaby-Cakes.com, which she launched in 2012. There, she focused on baking family recipes, with a special emphasis on her grandmother Maggie Small’s recipes, whom they lovingly referred to as “Big Mama.” Just a year and a half after starting her blog, literary agents reached out to her.
“People loved the recipes and the stories about my family,” shared Adams during a phone interview from her home in Dallas, where she resides with her husband and daughter. She is now a full-time recipe developer and brand ambassador, and her cakes are sold through Williams-Sonoma. Adams attributes her success to following her passion.
Her grandmother, who lived in Winona, Miss., respected tradition while still infusing her recipes with unique twists, according to Adams. Although Big Mama passed away in 2018, Adams still feels her grandmother’s guiding spirit, especially when she experiments and creates variations of traditional dishes.
“Southern cooking is not a one-size-fits-all,” Adams explained, highlighting the differences in ingredients and cooking techniques across families and regions. However, Adams maintains her commitment to perfection and maintaining a focus on family. Despite her parents living nearby in Dallas, the rest of her family is scattered across the country. When they come together, Adams enlists their help in perfecting her recipes. For her macaroni and cheese, for instance, she made 15 recipe variations. During a Christmas gathering, she presented her final two versions for a blind taste test to determine the recipe that made it into her cookbook.
“They are brutally honest,” she admitted. “That’s perfect for me because I value 100% honesty.”
Adams emphasizes that each recipe in her cookbook serves a purpose. Some recipes offer a balance between simplicity and indulgence, like her Garlic Butter Baked Cod, which uses accessible and affordable ingredients. She wanted to find a fish dish that would have universal appeal while incorporating a unique twist. The end result should make you feel like you put in a lot of effort, yet it remains low-key with few ingredients, most of which you likely have in your pantry.
Although the dish is perfect for the summer when farmers’ markets are abundant with fresh produce, it can be enjoyed year-round by using frozen cod and grocery-store cherry tomatoes, which become delightfully sweet when baked.
To prepare the dish, melt butter in a skillet, then add garlic, tomatoes, a splash of wine, dry seasoning, and fresh herbs. Nestle the cod fillets into the sauce, cover the skillet, and bake in the oven. When you remove the lid, you’ll be greeted with a tantalizing garlicky aroma and a luscious-looking sauce that will make you want to dig right in.
Adams aimed to evoke a feeling of happiness and joy with each recipe in her cookbook. She wanted the words and food to exude brightness and vitality. Photographer Brittany Conerly perfectly captured the vibrant tone Adams envisioned. However, Adams is not naïve to the harsh realities of life. She wanted her book to honor the African American experience, recognizing the importance of laughter, dance, and smiling during difficult times.
But she also understands the significance of filling our minds with positive thoughts, just as we fill our pantries with the right ingredients. In “Everyday Grand,” she provides “kitchen essentials” that go beyond cookware and preferred ingredients. Adams includes seven daily affirmations to remind us to live in the moment and focus on the positive aspects of life.
“Affirmations are an integral part of my daily life,” Adams shared. “If I was going to write an authentic cookbook that truly represents me and how I live, it was essential to include them.”
Ultimately, each person must find their own path and determine what resonates with them authentically.
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