We are taking a wee break from our typical DIY Wednesday to share with you some recipes for the delicious food and drink we traditionally have at Christmas in the Caribbean. I for one, am shamelessly looking forward to my mom’s cooking and baking for the big day- especially her coconut bread and black cake (someday I will learn to do all of these things, I swear!).
Siurces in Links
- Coconut Bread (also known as Sweet Bread)- this addictive coconut loaf is a big favourite all year round, click here for the pic and recipe.
- Black cake (or rum cake) is a delicious cake made with dried fruit and steeped in rum- check out the pic and recipe here and also have a look at this lovely article about the traditional pastry among Caribbean Americans. Here’s a second recipe you can also try, and a third.
- Pepperpot is a thick meaty stew (pictured here with rice and vegetables)- grab your recipe here.
- Jug jug (pic)– this Caribbean dish is made primarily with pigeon peas – check it out here.
- Sorrel (or Agua de Jamaica) is a refreshing beverage made from dried hibiscus (very healthy too!)- pic, recipe and video here, with another recipe here.
- Christmas ham is an absolute requirement for most Caribbean homes. In Barbados,conversations around this time typically start with people being asked if they bought their ham as yet- as if to say that they can’t possibly be ready for Christmas until they do! Here’s a recipe for Honey Glazed Christmas Ham and one with a pineapple glaze (pictured above).
- Punche de Creme or Ponche de Crème (popularly known as ‘punch-ah-creme’) is our Caribbean version of eggnog- for the pic and recipe click here or take a look at these recipes here and here. This is a song from famous calypsonian, Lord Kitchener, about the joys of rum and a ‘punch-a-crema’ at Christmas.
What traditional Christmas treat do you look forward to the most at this time of the year?
