Monday, March 28, 2011

Frying Pan Cookies - my favorite!

1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups chopped dates
2 beaten eggs
2 cups Rice Krispies
Coconut for rolling

Cook these slowly in heavy pan for 10 minutes, stirring all the time.
Let cool for 5 minutes then add 2 cups Rice Krispies & 1/2 cup broken walnuts. Form into balls (about 1 inch) and roll in coconut. Keep refrigerated, and eat quickly (really, the same day you make 'em, so you need a crowd!) otherwise the Rice Krispies will soften and lose their crunch.

I love old time recipes, and these are a favorite of mine.  Also, a treat as my grandmother would make them when I visited once a year.  Now, I make them myself and have them more often, but I always liked hers best!  I hope you enjoy the recipe... frankly,  everyone I've ever introduced them too, has RAVED! 

Rock Cakes: A teatime treat

1 lb flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 lb margarine or butter
1/2 lb sugar
1 cup fruit (raisins) and citron peel and cherries - or to taste
1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp almond essence
2 eggs

Add baking powder and sugar to flour and mix.   Cut margarine into flour until crumbly.   Add fruit, peel and essence.   Beat eggs and add to mix.   Drop by craggy spoonfuls onto baking sheet, and bake for 10 - 15 mins.

Don't let the simplicity of this recipe fool you.. these are lovely, and a perfect thing to to have with a cup of tea after an afternoon nap (if you're so lucky;)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Flying Fish Substitute - For those of us not living in sunny Barbados:(

This is how I make my 'flying fish' here in the states and it's not too bad!

Firstly, you have to make some green seasoning  or you can use the bottled stuff  if you're lazy (like me!):



Then defrost some fish.  I used this:

but any nice white fleshed fish would be good - and probably better!

Then, in keeping with our tradition, soak in lime and salt to 'clean' the fish (just 5 mins or so, we're not cooking it):



Rinse off the lime and salt, pat dry, slice some slits in the flesh and stuff with seasoning:


Now, tilapia doesn't bend over like flying fish, so I don't use the flour mixture like the true Bajan way.  But this is good too;)
Mix a couple of eggs with a bit of water and baking powder (I still add the baking powder - not sure if it does  anything, but I like it) and then dip in the fish, then breadcrumbs, then fry (saute?) in a little oil:


Gosh, don't they look yummy?!  I served mine with cajan rice and beans - which we would NEVER do in Barbados, so don't be like me;)



It was really good though.

Enjoy:)













Bajan Green Seasoning - We use this on EVERYTHING!

1 bunch of green onions (spring onions)
1 scotch bonnet pepper or 1 habanero
Bunch of parsley and dill
1 sprig of thyme
1 sprig of sweet marjoram
3 garlic cloves
1 small onion
Lime juice, vinegar*, salt and pepper

Chop the green onions finely (by the way, those hands belong to Cummins - my gran's cook:

Mix in dill and parsley - not too much of either:

Then the sweet marjoram:


Now the thyme:


Now grate the onion and garlic into the mix like so:


Add in some hot pepper if you can handle the heat (can you handle the heat?) and mix in some lime juice (ours was frozen since limes were out of season at that time.  The little red specks are the pepper):



You're almost done.. finish by seasoning with a pinch of salt and pepper, a splash of vinegar and then use it liberally!  Save any additional either in the fridge if you're going to use it up right away, or freeze for future goodness.

This is the DEFINITIVE taste of Bajan cooking.  We honestly use it in almost everything, and it is the must have recipe to cook our food.

P.S. Cummins can make this so delicious that you're tempted to eat the seasoning plain!  I haven't quite gotten there, but I did photograph all her steps, so maybe you'll do better.

Enjoy!

Ground Nut (Peanut) Stew

1/2 jar of peanut butter (smooth / crunchy)
Chicken - thighs are best
3 onions
potatoes
small tin of tomato paste
black & white pepper, cayenne pepper
garlic, 3-4 cloves
Bajan seasoning, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt and Worcestershire sauce.


Soak chicken in lime juice and salt (you don't have to do this step, but in Barbados, we clean almost all our meat and fish by a quick soak in lime and salt).

Rinse off lime and salt and boil chicken in a little salted water.  Let simmer and cook down with the seasonings, salts, peppers, onions, potatoes (cut into chunks).
When meat is tender add 1 tin of tomato paste.
Place 1/2 jar of peanut butter into a dish and melt down with some of the hot water from the chicken.
Make it into a thick paste and when all melted down, add to the chicken.

Mix well and taste.  If it needs more pepper etc, add it.  Color is very orange, brown, sometimes dark peach.
If too thick, add water, if too thin add more peanut butter and let simmer.  Peanut butter will stick and burn
so stir well and often, keeping a low heat.

Serve over rice.  Corn pie, garlic bread and salad make fine additions. Some chopped chives over the top is also yummy!

Note:  Make sure chicken is cooked well and soft before adding peanut butter.

This recipe is courtesy of my cousin Sara, who is also a fine cook!  Thanks Sar!

Bajan Flying Fish - the true old time way!

Okay.. I will probably clean this up and do a photo essay on this in the future, however, if you have a fair idea of what you're doing, then you will be able to follow.  I promise to fix it though!

Season flying fish and bend in half (seasoning side in so it doesn't fall out).  In bowl, mix a teaspoon of baking powder and some flour - maybe a cup - with some water.  You're trying to make a thin - but not TOO thin - batter.  Put fish in and let it soak for 5 mins.   Take fish out, and put in breadcrumbs and flour.  Fry seasoning side down.

Crazy for Cou-Cou!

1 cup corn meal
2 1/2 cups water
6 okra, sliced
butter

Process in blender , add meal and pour into buttered dish.  Microwave for 8 mins, remove, stir well and return to microwave for 5 mins - until firm.  Smooth more butter on top, cover dish and serve.

This is not how my granny's cook made cou-cou, but it is a really good method for doing it and doesn't involve endless stirring.  Trust me, I wouldn't bother if it wasn't JUST AS GOOD.

Sweet Potato Mashed with Pineapple

Mix mashed sweet potato (white (aka boniato)  people, not any of that orange yam stuff please!) with a can of crushed pineapple.  Top with generous pat of butter and serve!

It's a nice change from plain sweet potato, and now that I am thinking about it, it would probably be really nice using the orange yams too - but we don't eat those in Barbados.

Bajan Salt Fish Cakes - The world's BEST appetizers!

Good piece of salt fish (salted cod fish.. can be found in Spanish supermarkets very easily) boiled until soft.  Pick out bones.   Flake and mix with thyme, onion, seasoning, pepper (hot) and sweet marjoram.   Add flour and a 1/2 tsp of baking powder  Mix until a soft paste/batter.
Test by frying one - if it sticks to the pan it needs more flour.

Well, this is certainly going to send some people in a dither - I would be right there along with you normally - except this is how I got the recipe from my granny's cook.  Sorry!  I'll try and be more precise in the future recipes.. or maybe I'll make this  and do a photo essay.  

Keep your fingers crossed!

I found a video of someone making salt fish cakes, and it is a good representation of what the batter should look like, how to fry it (even though we don't use that much oil as it ain't cheap in Barbados!) and what it should end up looking like.  Here you go:)


Pepper Jelly - Sweet and Hot

6 cups granulated sugar
1 cup hot peppers (scotch bonnet/habanero) minced
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
2 envelopes of certo (or 1 bottle).

Place sugar in large saucepan, add pepper and vinegar and bring to a rapid boil.  Remove from heat, cool for 10 minutes, add certo and stir.   Bottle in sterilized jars.  

This is some seriously good stuff!  I use it in sanwhiches, as a glaze on chicken, dabbed on cream cheese on crackers - really anything where a dash of sweet heat would go well.  It's the recipe my grandmother used, so treat it well:)

P.S.  When mincing peppers,do it in a well vented area!  (Goggles might be a good idea also.. just in case).

Pudding and Souce? Not any day soon.. sorry!

Hi there!  My name is Pudding (not really.. it's a nickname given to me by a dear Aunt who recognized my one true love (desserts) early in life), and I hope to share some delicious Bajan recipes on the web.  For some reason, Bajan's are not sharing their great recipes!  I don't know what's going on there, but I actually read on someone's blog, that they consider salt bread a 'national secret'.  Well, pfffft that!  I LOVE salt bread, and since I don't live in Barbados any more, I want the bloody recipe thank you very much!  My Uncle makes a great one, so as soon as I can get it, I will post.  I initially wanted to call this blog Salt Bread (due to my love for it!) and I did start one up - saltbread.blogspot.com, but I have forgotten my email account attached to it:(  Oh well.. this is good as I do love pudding and souce too, but as stated, don't hold your breath for the recipe.  It's a pita to make!

Okay folks.. forgive that awkward introduction.  I hope to improve as I go along.

P.S. I am unemployed at the mo, so posting of recipes may be slow due to my penny pinching.