Peanut butter and bananas are a match made in food heaven - whether you enjoy it on a sandwich or in a smoothie! I prepare this smoothie for my kids for a snack or a breakfast drink and it’s definitely a savior when...

Ever so not-so-often, when I am fortunate to have both the luxury of time and patience, I enjoy the challenge of trying a new recipe. These are my notes on my attempt……In other words..the following is moi interviewing moi. Which recipe did...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="943"] Trinidad sardine choka, served with Fried Bake[/caption] Trinidad Sardine Choka If you’re in a rush but still craving a hearty, healthy meal, Trinidad Sardine Choka is here to save the day. This traditional Trinidadian dish combines...

Cooking with Ria is one year old with over 20,000 views from visitors from every continent! The statistics are humbling...and motivate me to sacrifice more of my "me time" to bring more great recipes and posts to you..and I will. I promise....

Chow, in Trinidad and Tobaho,  is a simple, refreshing combination of fresh fruits, garlic, and culantro-also known as bandhania or shado beni. Consider it a "spiced up" fruit salad.   [Culantro, also known as bandania or shado beni]   The...

   The kids were off from school eager for excitement and adventure, the husband complained that he was stressed (the mother’s needs are insignificant) and so I booked a last minute flight. As luck would have it, winter break coincided...

  I have been making Paula Dean’s peach cobbler for years. One day I decided that it required a makeover with less butter and sugar. I know it’s an abomination, but occasionally I want to experience, “le plaisir sans la culpabilité!”...

This recipe for “Fry Bodi” is long green beans stir-fried with tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Cooking bodi past the steaming point brings out the intense flavor of the green bean. It’s juicy, tender, yet crunchy. The onion, which somehow gets...

I apologize for my absence, I haven't been in a creative frame of mind. I have been busy reading. Reading about the hidden science behind the 2012 predictions, trying to understand quantum physics and learning about the secrets of the Pyramids. Also reading...

I am almost afraid to post this recipe because my husband is sitting on the edge of his seat downstairs watching the New England Patriots beat his team the NY GIANTS, score 17-15.........and if that wasn't enough.......his wife is posting a recipe...

My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I responded, “nothing…just make me a nice dinner”. He mumbled, rubbed his head and looked as if he was 1. Sorry he asked the question 2. On the verge...

    In Caribbean households, a roasted pork shoulder is often a staple at large gatherings and holiday feasts, carrying with it the warmth of family traditions and celebratory cheer. This dish is known for its juicy, tender meat and...

  These braised pearl onions were required as part of the recipe for Julia Child's beef bourguignon which I posted earlier. Delicious, tender, sweet and full of flavor, I thought they deserved their own post. This side dish will also perfectly compliment a delicious grilled steak...or...

    "As is the case with most famous dishes, there are more ways than one to arrive at a good boeuf bourguinon. Carefully done, and perfectly flavored, it is certainly one of the most delicious beef dishes concoted by...

Lamb is definitely a huge favorite of mine. In this recipe, bite sized pieces of lamb are browned using "burnt sugar" and simmered with carrots, potatoes, tomato and fresh herbs including scallion, thyme, parsley and celery. The result is a...

    Saying goodbye isn’t easy. I would like to hold on to 2011 with my dear life for in January a birthday patiently awaits, and I’ll be another year closer to 40 [biting eight fingers]. It’s baffling. I am...

If you would like a variation to the regular sweet potato fries or oven sweet potato fries....or maybe you are looking for a healthy "comfort food" to snack on......or a new side dish to serve alongside your Thanksgiving, Christmas, weeknight or...

What is curry chicken? Curry chicken is essentially pieces of chicken seasoned with green seasoning and simmered in a flavorful curry base. Each cook has their variation, however, there is one constant and that is the use of green seasoning....

Happy almost THURSDAY! I love Thursdays...Guess why? 'Cause it's soo close to Friday....which is sooooo close to Saturday...which is....my favorite day of the week....which is also the day of the week I was born...which could be the reason I like vegetating so...

My attempt to take advantage of the "Black Friday" sale was very successful..This is probably the first year I started my Christmas shopping this early...I bought one gift for my hubbie, one for a friend, and about ten for me..as I said...

It's 2:02 AM...day after our humble feast, no, several hours after. Words really aren't necessary on this post..even if I wanted to share the details of my day, it's not even possible. You know why(hint--the "T" word). All I'll say is thank you. Thank...

I am sure you would agree that this year went by too quickly. I wasn't ready for Thanksgiving and I'm not all that motivated to cook twenty dishes again this year....I haven't been myself...I am probably very ill. By this time...

'Trinidad Gulgula' are flavorful, deep-fried banana fritters." Gulgula Recipe: Traditional Banana Fritters You’ll Love If you're looking for a quick, sweet snack or a simple dessert, look no further than Gulgula, the traditional banana fritters! Made with just a handful...

  Dhal is to Trinidad what split pea soup is to the rest of the world. Dried split peas are cooked with sufficient water, turmeric, garlic and a whole hot pepper until the dhal is tender. It is then swizzled...

Callaloo is considered Trinidad's national dish by many. A statement quite debatable since we, our Twin Island Republic, boasts of a wide range of scrumptious dishes! In my version of callaloo, spinach, ochroes, carrot, pumpkin and fresh herbs are simmered...

Today I woke up around 11 am [late, fun-filled night last night with a few of my neighbors]. I didn't feel like cooking so I went out and bought a toasted bagel with lox cream cheese-one of my favorites. This doesn't...

The weather is cooling down in New York (well, it did last week..hot this week...and we might have a blizzard next week...) and I must end my love affair with all things decadent for awhile—just until I get back to...

It was a tradition in our house when I was a child to eat fresh homemade bread, ham, and hot sauce on Christmas mornings. Now, even though I am older and have a house and family of my own, I...

Sawine is a rich, creamy, comforting dessert made with milk and vermicelli (fine noodles) that's flavored with ginger, cinnamon, and sometimes other aromatic spices. It's one of my absolute favorite desserts! I could eat it every day for the rest...

  What is coconut milk? The extract of freshly grated flesh of a mature coconut blended with water is referred to as coconut milk. The mature coconut is easily identifiable with a tough, brown, hairy shell. Are coconut milk and...

What is Trinidad Pelau? Pelau is a savory one-pot Trinidadian favorite. Meat including chicken, beef or pigtails is first browned using “burnt sugar”(little past caramelization point), to which rice, fresh herbs, peas or beans, veggies and coconut milk are added...

The morning started with our 7 year old running into my bedroom at 7 am!! I thought she was eager to give her daddy the countless cards she made for him, but no, that was not the case. In her tiny...

While we get ready to say au revoir to beautiful, rainy, cool Spring and along with it hopefully the challenges, disappointments and broken dreams....I share with you a poem and a few of my favorite Spring shots...... Lines Written In Early Spring by...

I know I get excited about desserts and this is no exception. This berry cobbler made me speechless. I sat down at my desk and tried for several minutes to put the taste into words but this is all that...

To me, the market in any country is usually the most exciting place to visit because it is a cultural museum and tells so much about the country and its people. During my most recent visit to Trinidad(updated 2019), going to the market...

OVEN BBQ RIBS: Steven Raichlen, the BBQ master recommends using pork ribs as it is one of the most perfect morsels ever to grace a dinner plate. How do you like your ribs? Do you favor a full flavored dry...

On my way home from work, I stopped by the pizza restaurant and bought a pizza dough for $3.00. Used to be $2.50. Probably recession? Dough rolled out and topped with grated cheddar cheese I bought in Trinidad...which was imported from...

The purists might have a bone to pick with me for giving the classic Chicken Cacciatore a Trinidadian twist, but I’m more than willing to take that risk. The magic lies in marinating the chicken with our beloved “Green Seasoning.”For...

This coleslaw salad is made primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage, carrots, sweet peppers, and apples and tossed with a mayo dressing. It's creamy, crunchy, sweet, yet slightly tangy. The vinegar used in a traditional recipe is replaced with lemon...

One hour after returning from my mother's day lunch at a restaurant, someone requested ribs and potato salad for dinner. I am not saying who. It should be criminal to ask a "mom" to cook on mother's day, but apparently withdrawal...