Last month I was invited to participate in the blogging collective “Kwanzaa Culinarians“. Linking writers throughout the African diaspora it includes such heavyweights as Chef Bryant Terry, as well as known foodies like Sanura of “My Life Runs On Food“, Courtney of “Coco Cooks” and Chrystal & Amir of “The Duo Dishes“. Needless to say, I took it... 

I adore brownies, and I definitely don’t make them often enough. Although there are now dozens of variations on the brownie theme (even blondies), for emotional satisfaction I still find that nothing surpasses the simple all-chocolatey goodness of the original. This simple recipe from Everyday With Rachael Ray has stood the test of the time as I have made it several times since first posting... 

Several months ago my mother came home with these things that looked like ginger roots, but smaller and thinner. I asked what they were and she said ‘turmeric’. She had bought them for medicinal reasons (we use a lot of herbal and aromatherapy concoctions in my household) but I also knew it had culinary value as well. Curious, I tried using it in a recipe or two but found it more hassle... 

This post was first published February 8, 2009. It has been updated twice since then. What do you get when you combine Fried Eggplant with the skill and experience of a world class chef? These out of this world ‘Eggplant Cutlets’. Like many of the Mario Batali dishes that I have tried, this recipe provides rich flavour and a satisfying contrast in textures, through what appears as relatively... 

This cake is Dorie Greenspan’s take on tiramisu, but, as the title alludes, in cake form. When I first baked this dessert, back in 2009, it was also the first time that I’d worked with mascarpone. I instantly fell in love. It’s so light and smooth and reminds me clotted cream (a rather unhealthy indulgence of mine ) Like all of Dorie’s recipes, that I’ve tried to date,... 

MMMM pawpaw. Growing up it was probably near the bottom rung of my favoured fruits. It wasn’t sweet enough, the seeds wigged me out, and the texture was just too bleh. In an effort to get me interested my mother would serve it to me drizzled in honey. This attempt worked more times than not, and as I got older my palate started to enjoy and appreciate this fruit, with or without adornment. It... 

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Top Trini Condiments This post was originally written for a 2007 installment of “Waiter There’s Something in my…”! The theme was sauces. Originally I had thought of coming up with a pasta sauce as I haven’t made pasta in a while, however over the past week we have been flooded with mangoes (from friends and neighbours). The influx... 

. From Epicentre.com: Ginger is one of those ingredients that can be many things to many people. Not only is it used in cuisines around the world, but it also comes in a variety of forms fresh, pickled, dried, and crystallized among them . People who bake may immediately call to mind the ground ginger they use in gingerbread or the jewel-like crystallized ginger they add to holiday cookies and cakes.... 

Since 2009 I have actively incorporated more raw and vegan dishes into my regular diet and have found the benefits to be multifold. For one my body hasn’t succumbed to flus the way it regularly did in the past and I have found that many autoimmune responses that I had in the past to stress have become a lot more manageable. With many of my favourite fruits and vegetables currently back in season,... 

This post was originally published on October 13, 2006. It has been updated twice since then. Bake is a popular breakfast bread here in Trinidad. Hearty by nature, its heavy crumb keeps you feeling satisfied for hours. Especially when taken with a savory topping. My version here, raises the fiber content through a healthy dose of wholewheat flour. Be sure to pay attention to the resting time and... 

Writing is a funny thing. Some days the words seem to flow effortlessly and other days it’s a struggle. I’ve spent the last few hours hemming and hawing around beginning this post and it really isn’t anything that complex or profound. If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s for an online event that ends today I probably would just leave it with the 1000+ drafts that I currently... 

This recipe’s origins lie in an impulsive purchase of starfruit (carambola) in 2007. Somehow I had an idea of using it to make a cheesecake topping but the cheesecake never materialized and I was stuck with the silly things in my vegetable drawer. Rather than let them go bad I pondered what else I could use it for. See I’ve been committing myself to not only recreating and sharing as... 

Salads in Trinidad are traditionally a disheartening affair that leaves you wondering why the cook/establishment even bothered. Two wilted lettuce leaves, a force-ripe watery slice of tomato, and some slivers of cucumber served either unadorned, or swimming in some vague mystery oil with specks of pepper flecked throughout. All that’s missing is a headstone for your plate. Most people down it... 

This Basil Lemonade recipe was originally made for Stephanie’s 43rd edition of Blog Party! One of the things that I love about adding basil to beverages is the muted herbal flavour that it imparts. This lemonade is no exception. It softens the acidity of the lemon/lime juice, and also mellows out the overt sweetness. Be sure to blend the basil leaves and lime juice completely before adding... 

This salad is a nostalgic favourite of mine. It was the only form of vegetables that my Aunt provided on a regular basis when I (and many of her godchildren) would spend part of the school holidays by her. From young I enjoyed the contrast in textures between the smooth creamy mayonnaise, and crunchy carrots… and the occasional burst of sweetness that the raisins provided? Heaven! So imagine... 

As previously mentioned, it’s mango season and mangoes have been pouring in from the trees of various family friends. Now mangoes are not a cookie cutter fruit. They come in many different varieties. I confess however that I am no mango connessiuer. All I know is some have smooth seeds, some have very hairy seeds (which mom says they used to turn into dolls when she was a kid), and some are very... 

June 23rd is Corpus Christi in Trinidad and Tobago, a public holiday. According to Gov.TT: Corpus Christi is a long-standing tradition in our islands, going back to our pre-British occupation by the Catholic Spaniards. Though mainly observed by Roman Catholics, it is a designated public holiday. This special Feast Day is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, in commemoration of the institution... 

Like any good food blogger I have amassed a huge list of recipes from other bloggers that I plan to ‘try one day’. One of my very first ‘Fabulous Finds’ was this Buttermilk Cornbread recipe that I got from Radmila’s food blog ‘Papamo‘ in 2007. Radmila is a true example of 21st century globalism. She is Serbian, married to a Guyanese, and living in Canada!... 

This quick and easy rum pudding is the next installment in my retro Caribbean Beachcomber series. The name is derived from the tales of a rather prolific aristocratic serial killer. I was not aware of Bluebeard or the stories before making this dish and I must say I am glad, because I am hard pressed to find a connection between the two and would rather not have such visions in my head while enjoying... 

Chalk it up to my high functioning autism, or my devotion to High Fidelity, but I just LOVE making ‘best of’ and ‘top’ lists. This time around I’m making a list of my Fave 3 Caribbean baked goods for May. Why for June? Well no reason really, maybe cos my Top 3 is constantly evolving and changing. So this is just a snapshot really, hope you enjoy it 1. Wholewheat Bake...