Specialties Gourmet was selected by to create a cookbook that showcased healthy versions of traditional recipe favorites. The Hearts and Souls Cookbook is a collaborative effort of Jefferson County churches and the Healthy Jefferson, Healthy Hearts Campaign.

The Jefferson County faith based community has a strong tradition of cooking and eating together at church and family gatherings, where the food sustains the spirit as well as the body. The delicious dishes in the cookbook show how you can eat healthier without giving up the traditional flavors loved by all. The recipes in the cookbook were contributed by church members and modified and tested by Chef Matrell Hawkins.

I believe that every meal prepared using healthful cooking techniques and wholesome ingredients has the potential to improve people’s lives.

Chef Matrell is the owner of Specialties Gourmet, a food service business that specializes in preparing healthful foods and educating people on the benefits of healthy eating.

Recipe Make Over
The recipes provided by the church members were modified by Chef Matrell to maximize the use of healthful ingredients and healthy cooking techniques to reduce calories, fat, and sodium content for each recipe.