Soul food is a style of cooking that is characterized by heavy use of fat, seasonings and spices. It is often associated with African Americans and Southern United States. The first thing you will notice about soul food cooking is the large amounts of fat that are used. The most common form of fat used in soul food cooking is lard. Lard is also used to cook meats and vegetables. Another type of fat that is used is bacon grease. This can be used as a substitute for lard or it can be used as a separate ingredient. In addition to these fats, butter is also commonly used. Butter is used to make biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and many other foods. The next thing you will notice about soul foods cooking is the use of seasonings. Most soul food recipes will call for a variety of seasonings. The most common seasoning used is salt. Other seasonings used are black pepper, garlic, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. These seasonings are often combined with a variety of herbs such as thyme, oregano, and basil. The final characteristic of soul food cooking is the use of spices. Many of the spices used in soul food cooking are hot. Some examples of these spices are cayenne pepper, chili powder, and paprika. The main ingredients in soul food cooking are meat, vegetables, and starch. There are a number of ways to prepare these items. For example, the most common way to prepare chicken is to deep fry it. Other ways to prepare chicken include baking it, broiling it, and stewing it. A popular way to prepare vegetables is to boil them. Some examples of vegetables that are commonly boiled are collard greens, okra, and tomatoes. Finally, the main starch used in soul food cooking is macaroni and cheese. Macaroni and cheese is prepared by boiling noodles in a mixture of milk, cream, and butter. It is then topped with a variety of seasonings such as cheese and bread crumbs.