Timeline: 1995 "Food for the Soul" Cream Cheese Pound Cake / by George Geary

A few months back, I was searching for historical cookie recipes for an article about our mid-century home in Palm Springs. We wanted accurate recipes from the 1960s sitting on our table during the photoshoot. I came across Marguerette Allen from the south. Newspapers picked up a story called “Food for the Soul” featuring recipes from Black home cooks. This is her Cream Cheese Pound Cake.

It was rare for mainstream newspapers to write about any other food besides common foods that middle America would prepare or eat. This was a groundbreaking story with 10 recipes.

Marguerette Allen with her prized pound cake.