Cooking Up Change

In Cooking Up Change—the eagerly awaited sequel to teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt’s Recipes for Change—Platt journeys through a year in Black history with a little help from his beloved grandmother as he retells 12 important historic events and shares a recipe inspired by each one

Cooking Up Change is both a celebration of Black history and an invitation to experience it through the lens of food. With biographies of figures who shaped important events and mouthwatering recipes that carry their essence, this book will inspire future leaders with real stories of trailblazers who helped to change the world.

One event per month is highlighted. After sharing the story of a person related to each event—such as Dorothy Height for International Women’s Day in March—Platt pairs each moment with a delectable recipe that carries the essence of the occasion. All the stories and recipes featured are inspired by his grandmother; the person who guided him in unearthing his Black heritage and moved him to fall in love with cooking.

Each page features engaging color illustrations from Alleanna Harris.

Recipes include:
• Macaroni and cheese for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Key lime pie for Black History Month
• Deep dish peach cobbler for International Women’s Day
• Grilled fish for Jackie Robinson Day
• Molasses cookies for Memorial Day
• Red hibiscus drink for Juneteenth
• Apple pie for Independence Day
• Potato salad for the Great Migration
• Sweet potato pie for Labor Day
• Pork chops for Black Poetry Day
• Green gumbo for Election Day
• Coconut cake for Kwanzaa

Praise for Recipes for Change:
“Beautifully weaves together important Black history with delicious recipes.” —Kwame Onwuachi, James Beard Award winner and Top Chef contestant