It’s Christmas and this means that we are almost at the close of the year 2020. Traditionally there are many celebrations during the holiday season but like most things in 2020, we have adapted our gatherings to smaller groups and simpler celebrations than in past years as we observe and practice caution and forms of…
Category: Cakes
Tropical Upside Down Fruit and Nut Cake
Tropical Upside Down Fruit and Nut Cake The warm golden color palate of the Fall season is highlighted in this beautiful cake making it the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table. Reminiscent of the tropics with the flavors of pineapple and a hint of coconut, it will evoke nostalgia for many who may…
Baking soda vs Baking Powder and how to use them effectively
Baking soda vs Baking powder Have you wondered what the difference was between baking soda and baking powder?Were you ever in the process of making something which required one of these leavenings only to realize that you didn’t have the one which the recipe listed? And if so, did you simply substitute one for the…
Cassava Coconut Pudding with Rum Raisin Sauce
Cassava is a root tuber which we in the Caribbean know well. It is actually native to this part of the world and has been cultivated in the northern portions of South America, Southern meso America and the Caribbean for ten thousand years. This starch tuber is also known as manioc or yuca. Cassava has…
Peanut Chrysanthemum Cookies
Peanut Chrysanthemum Cookies I remember those cookies fondly as a child. I was never a big fan of peanut butter, but I did like these dainty cookies whenever we had them on special occasions. The pastry was very refined and the filling was slightly sweet and peanut flavored. There was the characteristic red dot in…
Portuguese Guyanese Style Shrove Tuesday Pancakes Malasadas
The Lent season which is the 40 day religious period of prayer, reflection and penance in the Christian traditions will begin next Wednesday. The Lent period then officially ends on Easter Sunday. This weekend and the days leading up to Ash Wednesday will be ones of excesses for some, with the Carnival festivals enjoyed in…
Chewy Coconut Cookies
Living in the Caribbean, we can always find fresh coconut on hand. It is a mainstay in my kitchen and I keep a few packages of freshly grated coconut in my freezer. I can then use these convenient packages whenever I need to make some fresh coconut milk or to make a coconut dessert like…
Tea Party in the Tropics
I have always loved tea and tea time. On week days when I am busy with work and my daily activities, tea time is just a pot of good strong English tea and maybe a slice of cake or a small pastry if I have fresh baked goods on hand. I also really enjoy the…
Carnival in Haïti
In Haïti, once the Christmas and New Year festivities are over, it immediately signals that the pre-Carnival season is imminent. You have to understand that for Haitians, Carnival is probably the biggest celebration of the year. For many here, Carnival is greatly anticipated and it is truly a time where people of all walks of…
Christmas Traditions Then and Now
December is a busy month of family traditions. Many of you are likely to be planning Christmas celebrations and parties as it is traditionally a month of festivities. For me, the season is usually a busy and happy one. Christmas has always been my favorite season. My traditions are a mixture of Guyanese and Haitian…