Hey Good-looking! Thanks Guavas!

Have you had your guava today? Packed with Vitamin C (some scientists argue that it has more Vitamin C than Orange) and other nutrients, this is one of nature's gifts that you should not pass up when it is in season. Right now, in the Caribbean, we are enjoying a bountiful guava season! Click here to read the column and learn more about the health benefits of this fruit. Be sure to check out my previous posts on Stewed Guavas, Guava Jam & Guava Cheese.

I made a chunky-style jam and encased it in a rich short crust pastry, very similar to the Guyanese pine tarts.

On another occasion, I sliced the sweet flesh and made mini Guava Tart Breads and a loaf as well. I swapped out the apples from my friend Chuck's Apple Tart Bread by substituting with cups of sliced guavas. See the recipe here at the bottom of the column. Thanks Chuck.

And you don't have to ask, of course I make some drink :)

If you've never had guavas before, do give it a try.

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I'm all spiced up

I chuckled a couple of weeks ago as I read Dave Martins’ article, Guarding the recipe, in which he expressed his enjoyment of some “mouth-watering” and “mek yuh foot bottom lif’ off de ground” (make your feet lift off of the ground) food in the forms of corn bread, fry bake, pepper sauce, fried snapper and coconut fish. Dave enjoyed these creations so much that he wanted to try making them himself but the creators would not share their recipes. Although he extolled the delights of his Cardamom Bread, he stopped short of sharing his recipe with us. He’s guarding his recipe too! Well, I was going to have none of it... click here to read the column.

I first saw the Cardamom Bread on Aparna's blog and was led to Mike Swanson's website. Mike, thanks again for permission to publish your recipe in print. You can click here for Mike's recipe in which he gives variations if you're making the bread by hand or using a bread machine.

Cardamom Bread

Aparna's recipe with some variations can be found here.

I seriously doubt that the coconut-fish concoction that Dave was referring to was the Kerala Fish Molee, I think he had some of Belize's Fish Serre which is similar, in that the fish is cooked in coconut milk along with fresh herbs and some ground provisions. Thanks to my friend Lyra, I hope to make this dish soon and share the recipe with you.

Fish Molee Spices

For now, I'd like you to continue enjoying this wonderfully delicious and delicately spiced fish curry that is Fish Molee. You can find recipes for it here, here and here. Since I first made Fish Molee, I have been using Malar's recipe and tweaking it with lemograss :) Thanks for permission to publish your recipe too Malar.

Fish Molee

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In search of a pot!

Boiled & ready for drinking. Look at the cream on top!

I ran myself ragged this past Tuesday in search of a pot in which to scald milk. I visited eleven stores before I found the kind of pot I was looking for – one with the capacity to hold a gallon of milk and the requisite heavy bottom. Four and a half hours after setting out from home, I returned, tired and hot, but triumphant. I had my milk-pot! Want to know why and how it all started? Click here to read the column.

I have friends and my mom's visiting. Last week, I wrote about my list of things for mom to bring for me, well, in the case of Aunty Sarah, it was a stunning surprise, among the things that I had requested, she surprised me and brought sweet treats - that I've never had before in my life - all the way from India. Gosh, some of us foodies really are spoilt! Here's what she brought:

I'm taking my time going through them.

This is one of my mother's favourite meals for dinner - dhal & roti. The dhal is poured onto the plate and the roti then torn to pieces and mixed together. Dhal, I love but dhal and roti, together like this, not my thing :)

Have a good weekend everyone!

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When you come, what to bring

Are you like me – do you give your best friends and loved ones a list of food to bring when they’re coming to visit from overseas, especially if they are coming from home? I do! A few days ago I had a taste of home. My mom’s visiting and she brought for me Chinese Fried Rice and Chinese Cakes (moon cakes). Bliss! Click here to continue reading the column. I'd love to hear what are some of the goodies you request when loved ones are coming to visit :)

Fresh Black-Eye Peas

Last week, for the first time, I bought some fresh black-eye peas. It was a joy to cook with especially since it was done cooking in no time. It is not feasible for me to cook often with fresh peas though as it is costly. The amount you see here in the photograph - just over a cup, costs US$4. A few weeks ago I saw this dish, Aloo Lobia over at Monsoon Spice and knew right away that I'd be making it soon. My friends, Sonia, William and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sia's Aloo Lobia

For several years now, I've been seeing this particular variety of cucumber at the market here in Barbados but never felt motivated to try it even though I love cucumbers and purchase them weekly. It's simply called Bajan Cucumbers. The skin has always been a turn off for me - like something's wrong with it. However, last week, I thought that I'd give it a try and once I cut it, I found it was very similar to the regular cucumbers. It doesen't taste any different, it's just a different variety and it grows larger in size. It sells for more money too! If any of you recognize this variety of cucumber, please let me know.

Bajan Cucumber

Finally, plums are in season. These are caribbean plums. They're rather fragrant when ripe. Though they do not have a lot of flesh on them, they're a delight to have.

Caribbean Plums

Enjoy the weekend, especially for those of you in the USA celebrating Labor Day!

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