Jamaican Christmas Tradition: Soaking Fruits

One of the many highlights at Christmas time in Jamaica is the savory and mouth-watering dishes, dessert, and drinks. It is the time of year when we indulge in the richness of our Christmas cake. However, Jamaicans who usually bakes this oh-so-delicious cake usually start preparing long before Christmas.


Raisins, currants, prunes, and dried fruits are gathered several weeks before. These are placed in a glass jar with our favorite food wine "Red Label Wine" and the right amount of Jamaican white rum.

The longer the fruits are soaked the tastier the cake is (so everyone says).

If you haven't started soaking your fruits you are behind schedule. However, it is not too late. Also, if you decided to bake at last minute you can steamed the fruits in the rum and wine and it will turn out just fine. Although soaking the fruits well ahead gives you an advantage. 

The aroma is so delightful

Stay tuned as we celebrate this Christmas season, the Jamaican way
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Recipe of the Week: Ginger Bulla Cake

4 cups flour                                            ¼ cup water
1 teaspoon baking powder                     1 cup dark sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda                         4 oz. butter, melted
¼ teaspoon salt                                      2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder                1 tablespoon molasses
½ teaspoon nutmeg, grated                    3 tablespoon ginger, grated
½ teaspoon cloves, ground

Recipe Of the Week: Green Plantain Porridge

Green Plantain

Ingredients
2 large green plantains                               3 cinnamon leaves
2 tablespoon flour                                      1 teaspoon vanilla
½ tin sweetened condensed milk               2 to 3 pinches of salt
¼ cup water                                               2 to 3 pinches of nutmeg
2 to 3 pinches cinnamon powder

Growing Up In Old Jamaica

Contributor: Simone Myrie

I grew up in deep rural Jamaica. In my district none of the citizens owned a motor vehicle, and so we walked everywhere. At age four I walked almost a mile to basic school on dirt tracks and unpaved roads. Back then we took our own cooked lunches to school. Some students wore shoes while others just went barefoot. There was no sense of inadequacy or inferiority felt by those who were shoe-less, and those who were fortunate enough to wear shoes did not feel as if they were better off. We learned and played together under the same sun, in the same schoolyard.

Recipe of the Week: Jamaican Hard-dough Bread

Hard-dough Bread

2 cups all purpose flour                                                             2 oz butter
1 teaspoon active dry yeast (or yeast of your choice)                 1 cup water
2 teaspoons sugar, granulated                                                   1 teaspoon oil
½ teaspoon salt

Happy Birthday Bob Marley

The right Honorable Robert Nesta Marley, a true Jamaican legend would have celebrated his 69th birthday today, although he left us May 1981 he lives on through his music. He has impacted billions across the world and today his music is very popular if not more than when he walked this earth. 

Recipe Of The Week: Turn Cornmeal

1 lb cornmeal                                       1 cup cherry tomato
4 cups coconut milk                             2 sprigs thyme
2 oz butter                                           ½ scotch bonnet pepper, seeded
1 teaspoon black pepper                      ½ cup onion, chopped  
2 stalks scallion                                    ½ cup bell pepper, chopped
 ¼ teaspoon salt

Saute onion, bell pepper and tomato in butter.
In a large dutch pot, bring coconut milk to boil.
Add sauteed ingredients, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, scallion, and salt.
Cook for 5 minutes.
Add cornmeal slowly, stir continuously to avoid lumps.
Cook for 8 minutes or until water dries out.
This should be moist, add additional water base on your preference.
Eat with favorite protein dish.

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Jamaican Bobsled Team Qualifies for Sochi Winter Olympics: Let’s cheer them on

Jamaican two-man bobsled team Winston Watts - the pilot and Marvin Dixon – the brakeman has qualified once again for the 2014 winter Olympics.  Winston came out of  retirement to represent his country for the last time and will make history as the oldest pilot of this race at the Olympics. Unfortunately, the four-man team did not make it hopefully, we will see them in the next Olympic.

Notable Delightful Jamaican Flavors: US Citizens with Jamaican Decent Part 1

Claude McKay

Claude McKay - born in  Clarendon, Jamaica. A world  renown writer and poet. Famously known poem "If we must die"