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How to make Chicken Puffs | Trinidad

How to make Chicken Puffs | Trinidad

Chicken Puffs: Pâte à choux, a light pastry dough, is filled with savory, flavorful chicken paste.   It’s been a rough year thus far, and I expect the turbulence to continue for another twelve months. Corporate mergers and acquisitions, downsizing, increased workload, learning new systems, unrelenting deadlines, [continue reading]

Trinidad Black Cake / Caribbean Rum Soaked Fruit Cake

Trinidad Black Cake / Caribbean Rum Soaked Fruit Cake

The Origins of Black Cake (Caribbean Rum Fruit Cake) Black cake — or Caribbean rum fruit cake — isn’t just a dessert. It’s memory. It’s Christmas mornings, wedding tables, and that one aunt who guards her fruit jar like treasure. Rich, dark, fragrant with rum [continue reading]

Mummy’s Easy, Cheesy, Caribbean “Scalloped” Potatoes

Mummy’s Easy, Cheesy, Caribbean “Scalloped” Potatoes

  I thought to myself, if I only had time to share one recipe over the next two months, what would it be? This dish came to mind. Mummy made this occasionally to go with our Sunday lunch, which was always fancy and interesting. One [continue reading]

Trinidad Pumpkin Talkari

Trinidad Pumpkin Talkari

Growing up in Trinidad, pumpkin talkari with dosti roti (a layered roti) was one of my absolute favorite meals. Strangely enough, it’s also my 10-year-old daughter’s favorite meal. In my recipe below, cubes of pumpkin are sautéed with the simplest of ingredients: olive oil, garlic, [continue reading]

Moist Buttermilk Cornbread

Moist Buttermilk Cornbread

This beloved bread has evoked many passionate discussions that extend from the north to the south. The Northerners prefer their cornbread sweet and the Southerners never add sugar. This Trini will avoid that controversy. Allow me to exercise my First Amendment Rights by claiming that [continue reading]

Ria’s Accra – Codfish Fritters

Ria’s Accra – Codfish Fritters

  Accra, cod fish fritter, saltfish fritter, cod cakes or bacalaitos, however it is referred to in your area of the planet, does not induce childhood memories. Heck, I don’t even recall eating it as a child, and prior to developing this recipe, I had [continue reading]

Trinidad Macaroni Pie

Trinidad Macaroni Pie

Macaroni pie is not to be confused with the American mac and cheese, which my kids would eat everyday if I allow them to. They would let you know that it’s not the same.   I have yet to replicate the flavors of the mac [continue reading]

Summertime Pasta with Sausage (Meat or Shrimp) and Veggies | Vegan Option

Summertime Pasta with Sausage (Meat or Shrimp) and Veggies | Vegan Option

This post made me question my sanity. Cooking, pic taking and catering to everyone in my household simultaneously is quite challenging. Sometimes I wonder why my hobby wasn’t as easy as looking at television. I can’t explain this passion. Who spends five hours taking pictures of [continue reading]

Ria’s Caribbean Pepper-Jerk Shrimp

Ria’s Caribbean Pepper-Jerk Shrimp

  Last father’s day, I prepared a feast for my hubbie. A feast which included these Caribbean pepper jerk shrimp. [Actual Menu.. In retrospect….what the heck was I smoking!!?? I must really like to cook!…..] I did not post pics or provide details of that [continue reading]

2013 Vacation Pics – Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman Islands, Honduras

2013 Vacation Pics – Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman Islands, Honduras

  I’ve been recovering from a serious case of the flu/cold. None of my “all natural” magic potions worked immediately(like I would have liked). Oil of oregano, ginger and thyme tea, honey and lemon, apple cider vinegar, home-made soup, fish broth. You name it, I [continue reading]