Barbados @ 50 - Lime & Salt

It's a Caribbean thing but Barbadians seem to be the leaders in the practice of liming and salting all seafood, meats, and poultry before cooking. I say leaders because they leave the acidic brine for as much 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing and seasoning. Fresh juicy local limes and lemons are generously squeezed over proteins along with salt and rubbed all over the seafood or meat to "clean" it. This is more of a cultural practise rather than a practical and necessary one (at least not for that length of time).

 

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Black & White Wednesdays - Salt

My good friend Susan Wolfe has started a new photo event: Black & White Wednesdays - A New Culinary Photo Event. It promises to be fun; why not join in? Here's my entry for this Wednesday.

Salt - revealed

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The Best Gift

Are you looking for a gift that satisfies?
Are you looking for a gift that's memorable?
Are you looking for a gift steeped in tradition?
Are you looking for a gift...

Give the gift of food and you are bound to hit all your targets. Give the taste of home to someone who can't make it home this year. Give the gift of a favourite meal. Whatever the reason, your gift of food will be cherished. Read this week's column for suggestions and ideas as to what food gifts you can create to share with your family and friends. When you're done, check out Zu's Spoonful of Christmas event in which many of us took part in 2007 for more food-gift ideas.

I had made flavoured salts and continue to get requests from my friends throughout the year for refills :) Click here for the recipes at the end of the column. Be sure to check out the flavoured sugar recipes as well.

Top left: Cumin Salt; Top right: Chili salt; Bottom: Rosemary Salt

This Pumpkin Pone is bound to be a hit with all pumpkin fans. Fresh coconut, pumpkin and spices come together for celebration that's bound to delight. See the recipe here.

The gift of food is priceless and moreso when given to those in need; let us remember this as we gaze at the bounty spread across our tables.

This is going to be my last post for 2009. My next post, all things being well will be on January 9, 2010. However, I'll be around to check out what you are up to as you cook up a storm :)

As I look back on this year, I will remember it always for it brought me huge challenges and battles unexpected, however, the year is ending on a high and for that I am truly thankful and feel immensely blessed. Thank you for all your love, support and guidance. I pray that you and your loved ones will have a joyful, blessed, safe and peaceful holiday. May the New Year bring you all you wish for, especially good health and happiness.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Mangoes, pepper & salt

As children, my sister and I used to love to eat green mangoes with pepper and salt. These days I can't seem to absorb so much of the acid from the green mangoes but I looooove ripe mangoes. Recently I bought some half-ripe mangoes, pounded hot chillies and coarse sea salt, mixed them together and oh man, it was so good! The sweetness of the mango was heightened and constrasted pleasurably with the salt. The pepper offered lingering notes of heat.

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