Trinidad Food

So... it's holiday season and our good friend is from Trinidad.  He is so far from home, missing his family and their food.  We have him over for supper time to time and he keeps talking about how wonderful trini food is, so I thought I'd do my research and see what I could find.  I actually came across quite a few yummy looking recipes websites - so I decided to invite our friend over for another supper and surprise him.

I will say - - I did NOT deviate from any of the recipes, because I had no clue what I was doing, and I wanted it to be authentic as possible.  So here's the website where I got all the recipes.  I've tried a few other of her recipes, as well, they are wonderful!!!

http://www.cookingwithria.com/

Here is the plate of food I made.  It ALL turned out absolutely wonderful!!

On the plate: 

Jasmine Rice (on bottom)

Callaloo (green stuff)

Stewed Chicken (on top)

With... Macaroni pie (This was MY FAVORITE!!)

I also made (but didn't get a picture of....)

Mango Chutney (with bits of croissants to act as a pholourie) 

Sawine for dessert - - super yum!!

Fig punch to drink (in Trinidad they call banana's figs, who knew?)

Again... I got all of the recipes from that wonderful lady, in the link I shared above.  I suggest you use that page if you want authentic recipes, because our friend almost cried when we handed over a plate of trinidadian food.  He said, "Just like my mom makes....."  That almost made me cry!!!

Burrr... It's Cold. Let's try some warm Raspberry Coffee

Finally... South Dakota is starting to feel like... well, South Dakota.  It was actually 80' the other day which is not normal for us!  But I wake up this morning and am actually a bit chilly and I smile.  I feel good.  I am totally in love with the fall and this morning was just perfect with the sharp breeze and the crunchy leaves.  I love it.  I decide to make a nice, warm cup of coffee while my youngest eats breakfast.  Warm Raspberry Coffee. 

My totally awesome Grandma had given me a gift last winter of a water heater.  No... not the normal type of water heater, it's for the kitchen.  Looks like a normal, plastic pitcher.  You plug it in, fill it with as much water as you need & turn it on.  It boils your water in just a few minutes.  (Great for instant mac 'n cheese, Ramen noodles, oatmeal or any type of hot drink.)  I looked it up online and they call it an Electric Kettle from Rival.  This is what it looks like.  

Anyway....  So we don't drink enough coffee in my house to warrant a coffee maker, so I do instant.  Oooh... I know.  But I don't mind.  I play around with the different things you can do to it, and so far this is my favorite!! 

RASPBERRY COFFEE:

INGREDIENTS: 
Cold Milk
Hot cocoa mix/powder
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Torani Raspberry Syrup
Strong Coffee

DIRECTIONS:
1) Fill your mug about 1/3 full with cold milk
2) Mix in 1/2 small spoon of hot cocoa mix, 1 full spoon of sweetened condensed milk and 1 to 2 spoonfuls of Torani Raspberry flavor syrup.  The amount depends on how strong you want the flavor.  (I have some syrup leftover from my Italian Sodas I made awhile back.)
3) Mix well in the mug then add in your strong coffee you just made with the awesome water heater thingy.  Mix it all together real well and consume on a nice, chilly morning while you're adorable boy eats breakfast.

To add to the feeling of the day, I decided to put out my new Goodwill find: Ghost Candle Holder.  It was only $.50 and I love it.  Add a candle glow and ooooh, it's awesome.

Enjoy the cold weather....  Fall is awesome!

Italian Soda

I've seen these recipes all over - I've even pinned one.  However, I seem to be drawn to the ones that add a little cream to them.  I've combined them, which isn't hard because they are very similar.... and I've come up with this one.

One of the main ingredients is the flavor syrup and that makes me really frustrated because in my area the only types of Torani flavored syrups available are for coffees, so there's not many yummy fruit choices.  The best one I found was raspberry, so I did what I could with it.  So... here goes:

INGREDIENTS:
Flavored syrup (Torani brand is best, fruit flavor seems most popular.  I wanted strawberry, but o well... I used raspberry.)
Soda water / Club Soda (I actually used the flavored carbonated waters... again raspberry flavor)
1/2 & 1/2 cream (milk or any type of cream is suitable, according to what I've read)
Ice
Whipped cream (from a can!!!  Yum!)

DIRECTIONS:
1) Pour in flavored syrup first.... 1-2 tbsp, depending on your liking

2) Pour in equal amount of cream & whisk together

3) Fill with ice, either a little or almost all the way to the top

4)  Pour in your soda of choice, leaving a small rim at the top

5) Top with a good sized dollop (don't you just love that word) of whip cream from a can

** Now, I've had issues with this recipe, and I've made it differently each time (3 times, so far) and have not found a good combination or order that doesn't result in slightly curdled milk/cream.  Of course, you could just leave out the cream ingredient, but it just tastes so good with it!

I've come across this website with a list of different flavor combinations you might like to try!
http://www.kaldi.com/torani-italian-sodas.htm

If anyone has tried this and used cream and NOT had it curdle at all.... please send me a note on how in the world you did it.  Mine tastes awesome anyway, but I would love to know that secret!!

Thanks for reading - - Enjoy this drink!!