Elite life
Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands Recipes)
The first known inhabitants of the Caribbean region were Indians and from them European settlers gained knowledge of local fruits and vegetables. The Indians raised ground provisions like cassava and knew how to make bread from it. While most of the indigenous Indian cuisine has not survived, their influence is still apparent. One of the enduring cooking methods the Indians used was barbecue!
In the early days of colonization in the Caribbean two groups with vastly different cooking styles and ingredients lived together; Europeans and Africans. The Europeans brought recipes and food products like beef, onions, garlic and wheat that were unknown to the region. They also brought many food items that are today synonymous with the islands such as breadfruits, limes, mangos and sugar cane. With the importation of African slaves came new crops like okra and new cooking styles. From the Americas came beans, corn, potatoes and varying types of peppers.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon shortening
Cooking Instructions:
To rapidly boiling water add salt and sprinkle cornmeal in slowly, stirring the mixture. Allow water to boil with cornmeal a few minutes. Stir briskly to prevent lumping. When well combined add shortening. Cover and allow to steam for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Okras may be added. Cut the okra into small pieces and allow to boil for a few minutes before adding to the cornmeal. Suggestion: It is difficult to cook a fungi that is lump free. To prevent lumps and get a smooth fungi - mix 1/4 cup of cornmeal with 3/4 water. Add to boiling water, stirring constantly while adding. Let this cook to consistency of a thick cereal, add remaining cornmeal and stir, mashing lumps as you stir.
Ingredients:
Pastry
4 cups flour
4 level tablespoons unsalted vegetable shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup water
Filling:
1/2 lb. lean ground pork AND
1/2 lb. ground beef OR
1 lb. ground beef (omitting pork)
1 large sweet pepper
1 medium onion
1 tablespoon minced celery
1 tablespoon minced parsley
2 tablespoons margarine
1 clove garlic, crushed
Hot pepper to taste (optional)
1/4 cut tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon Oregano
1 tablespoon fine bread crumbs
Cooking Instructions:
Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Cut in shortening with knives or pastry blender. Add water gradually to form a soft dough. Knead gently on a floured board for a few minutes. Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes. Shape into small balls, roll out and cut into size circles desired for turnovers.
Sauté pork in margarine until brown, usually about 10 minutes, add beef and continue cooking another 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cook for a few minutes longer (make sure beef is cooked, no longer pink) If filling seems very dry add a little water.
Place filling on each circle of dough, leaving edge bare, moisten edge with water, turn over and seal meat inside dough by pressing moist edge together with fork. Fry in hot deep fat, until dough in golden brown.
Ingredients:
1oz. dried sorrel
3 slices of fresh ginger (1 inch thick)
1 tablespoon cloves
1 piece dried orange peel
sugar
10 cups boiling water
A few grains of rice
1/4 cup white or dark rum
Cooking Instructions:
Put water and ginger slices in a large saucepan. Cover and boil well for 3 minutes. Place sorrel, cloves and orange peel in a jar with boiling ginger-water mixture. Allow mixture to sit for 24 hours. Strain the mixture and sweeten to taste (Sorrel is quite tart, so a couple cups of sugar may be necessary.) Add rum. Pour liquid into glass bottle adding a few grains of rice to each bottle. The grains of rice are said to help quicken fermentation. Leave bottles of sorrel un-chilled for a minimum of 24 hours before serving.
