Watermelon and Red Birds is my second cookbook collaboration with author Nicole Taylor. This recipe collection is unique in its scope and the way it is organized. It is the first Juneteenth-focused cookbook in existence! Instead of the typical table of contents divided by breakfast, lunch, or dinner; it is organized by the components that make up a great celebration, be it Juneteenth, anniversary, or birthday:

• Spice Blends

• Red Drinks

• Festivals & Fairs

• Cookout & BBQ

• Potato, Green, & Fruit Salads

• Snow Cones, Ice pops, & Ice Cream

• Cake! Cake! Cake! (And a Couple of Pies)

• Everyday Juneteenth

In the foreword, Stephen Satterfield writes, “These recipes are illustrative of [Nicole’s] gifts, moving us seamlessly from the historic to the contemporary, with ingredients and rhetoric together reinforcing a clear thesis—’I put on for my people.’”

For my part, I helped Nicole develop, refine, and test recipes she already had percolating in her notebooks. Sometimes an author has a glut of ideas and needs help focusing them down or exploring their variations. This project was also a test of strength for us during the COVID-19 pandemic with unstable grocery prices, shortages, and adjusting to a new way of working. Our proof of life and joy are here in this book. These stories are here to stay. If you don’t have a copy, buy one here.

So, what are my 5 best recipes in Watermelon & Red Birds?

Of the recipes I developed…

It’s always difficult for me to choose favorites among a pile of treasure, but I chose these recipes based on their ease and riffs on classics.

• Savory Elephant Ears - I had never heard of elephant ears before meeting Nicole, so I had a fun time researching them. They are large discs of deep-fried dough that are finished with cinnamon sugar. Our version makes it savory with a cheddar and black pepper sprinkle.

• Wavy Fries with Blue Cheese Dip & Lemon Pepper - We originally wanted to include waffle fries, but it’s not easy for a home cook to get the tools to make them. We opted for a wavy cutter to bring about that festival feel with the flavors of the famous lemon pepper wings of the South.

• Apricot Lamb Chops with Green Garlic Chimichurri - A luxurious treat, worthy of celebration. It’ll be easiest to get lamb and green garlic in the Springtime, a little bit ahead of June. For those that have my first cookbook, Showdown, you know that I love being around the grill. Lamb chops cook very quickly and go great with grilled apricots that get even better when their sugars caramelize.

• Chile Marshmallow Pies - I had so much fun recreating Moon Pies! They were one of my favorite gas station treats on family road trips. Our version whips up homemade marshmallows spiked with jalapeno and lime. Rounds of chile marshmallow get sandwiched between buckwheat graham crackers and the whole thing is dipped in chocolate.

• Devil’s Food Ice Box Cake - We developed our own recipe for chocolate wafers and that’s the hardest part. The rest is easy! Layer the homemade wafers with chocolate cream cheese filling and freeze it. When it’s set, press pecans into the sides before you slice it up.

As a vegetable-forward person…

For a plant-based menu, there are plenty of options! These are my favorite vegetarian items, but many of the recipes can be adjusted easily. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, there are two chapters dedicated to frozen desserts and cake.

• Meatless Baked Beans

• Zucchini Corn Dogs

• Summer Peas, Green Beans, & Corn Salad

• Garlicky Okra and Rice (minus the fish sauce, of course!)

• Corn Ice Cream Sandwiches

As a person who loves meat…

You do not need a grill to enjoy these cookout recipes. I included oven method alternatives that do not skimp on flavor.

• Beef Ribs with Harissa

• Rodeo Turkey Legs

• Chorizo Corn Chip Nachos

• Late Night Steak Tostada

• Blueberry & Beef Puff Pies

The recipes I revisited …

In the years after publishing the Watermelon & Red Birds, I found myself looping back toward these recipes.

• Strawberry Lemonade

• Pork Chops with Dukkah

• Quick Pickles (especially the red onions)

• Broiler Salmon with Romesco

• Roasted Nectarine Sundae with Honey Vanilla Ice Cream, Pistachio Brittle, and Caramel Sauce

I would love to hear if you cooked any of the recipes and posted them to social media. Make sure to tag me or send them along via email to randwiches at email dot com.