Caribbean Food Trials

Making a simple syrup infused with lemongrass and keffir lime leaves to add to my pineapple sorbet. Also really yummy in cocktails!

Jerk Marinated tri tip with 2 kinds of okra, fried and sauteed with garlic

 I have also been experimenting with different ways of making jerk sauce and of course, jerk chicken.  If only I had an old oil drum ;)

(some of the many ingredients that go into jerk) 

Always essential: thyme, nutmeg, cinnamon, jamaican allspice, vinegar, green onions, scotch bonnet peppers (or habeneros). To mine, I also added molasses, tomato paste, garlic, hot mustard, brown sugar.  Assemble all the ingredients and put together the sauce.  No measurements needed, just taste and whatever you don't get enough of, add more.  Should have heat and sweet. Will be delicious.  Marinate meat, chicken, pork in it and also use as a sauce.  Seriously, this stuff is addictive and now I'm looking for anything to jerk :0 Ummmmmm.......:)

yum.

This time I played with the slow cooker.  I cooked the chicken for about 3 hours. It produced super tender, falling off the bone chicken with tons of flavor.  

On the side?  Plantains!!  No pics sadly.  Plantains sauteed in butter and brown sugar (just slice and cook) , mashed plantains ( treat like potatoes by boiling first) and plantain chips (sliced thin on a mandoline and fried) ! 

More island cooking to come!