Whatever your musical persuasion, we bet you'll soon be singing the praises of soul—soul food, that is! Def Jam Records cofounder Russell Simmons recently told us that he plans to open a vegetarian soul-food restaurant and start a line of frozen veg foods (see interview). But you don't have to wait. We’ve compiled some Russell-approved recipes that you can cook up at home today!

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, until the onion begins to soften. Add the smoked tofu, black-eyed peas, rice and collards. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and hot sauce.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Sauté the onion and green pepper in the oil over medium heat until soft. Combine in a bowl with the Gimme Lean, oatmeal, bread, ketchup, garlic salt and pepper. Thoroughly mix with a spoon or your hands.
Press the mixture into an oiled loaf pan. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients for the coating and set aside.
Remove the loaf from the oven and turn it out onto a baking sheet. Spread the coating over the entire loaf. Cook, uncovered, for another 15 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.

In a skillet, mix the corn meal and water and cook until the corn meal begins to roll into a ball. Set aside. Mix together all remaining ingredients and add to the corn meal.

Using 2 to 3 Tbsp. of the mixture at a time, form into balls and deep-fry in 2 inches of hot oil. The balls can also be baked: Place on an oiled baking sheet, brush with oil and bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes or until golden.

Makes 8 to 12 servings.

Soak the bean curd in warm water for 4 to 6 hours. When the bean curd is softened, drain it, squeezing out the excess water, and cut into 4- to 6-inch lengths.

In a large bowl, mix together the margarine, peanut butter, nutritional yeast, miso and paprika to form a rich paste. If the mixture is too thick, add a teaspoon of water at a time to thin it a bit. Preheat the oven to 370 degrees F. Add the bean curd “ribs” to the paste and mix together, coating the “ribs” thoroughly. Place the “ribs” side by side on a large baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, turning them so they bake evenly, until the bottoms are crisp and brown.

Remove from the oven and using a barbecue brush, apply the barbecue sauce to the “ribs.” Return the “ribs” to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more.

Makes 4 servings.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes and margarine with an electric mixer. Blend in the tofu. Add the soy milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg, mixing until well blended. Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until firm. Serve with Sweet Cream Topping.

Makes 4 servings.

Blend all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Chill before serving.

Makes 11/2 cups.

Clockwise from top left:
Sweetie’s Sweet Potato Pie, Sweet Cream Topping, Hip Hoppin’ John, Morgan’s Baby-Get-Back “Ribs,” Hush Puppies, ” Mama’s Mock “Meatloaf”