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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Jamaican Recipes (Part I)

Callaloo and Saltfish

INGREDIENTS :
  • 1 lb. callaloo
  • 1/2 lb. Saltfish (codfish)
  • 1 sprig tyme
  • 1 crushed garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon margarine or vegetable oil
  • 1 scotch bonnet pepper
  • 1 medium chopped onion
  • black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup water
METHOD:
  1. Wash callaloo leaves
  2. Cut up callaloo leaves in pieces.
  3. Sauté saltfish, onion, garlic, pepper, tyme in margarine or oil
  4. Add cut up callaloo leaves, water and stir.
  5. Cover saucepan and cook callalloo are tender.
  6. Add whole scotch bonnet pepper
  7. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
  8. Simmer then serve with avocado pear, boil banana and/or fried dumplings. 

Veggie Patty

INGREDIENTS :
  • 1 medium cabbage
  • 1 small tomato cut up
  • 2 tablespoon margarine
  • 1 scotch bonnet pepper. Cut up and add for spicy flavor.
  • 2 sprig tyme
  • 1 crushed garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 or 3 small slices of a sweet green pepper.
  • 1 medium chopped onion or 2 table spoon onion powder
  • black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup water
METHOD:
  1. Wash cabbage.
  2. Cut up/slice cabbage leaves in pieces.
  3. Sauté tomato,onion, garlic, pepper, tyme in margarine.
  4. Add cut up cabbage water and stir.
  5. Cover saucepan and cook cabbage are tender.
  6. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
  7. Do not over cook as you will be using this as filling.
INGREDIENTS FOR PASTRY:
  • 11 ozs suet (beef fat or shortening)
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 level teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup iced water
METHOD:
  1. Trim all skin and fatty membrane from suet and set overnight in freezer.
  2. Next day, with a very sharp knife shave suet as finely as possible.
  3. Combine salt and flour, then work in suet as you would shortening in plain pastry, cutting it in with two knives.
  4. Add iced water in sufficient amount to have a dough which can be rolled out.
  5. Form into a ball and with a rolling pin, pat gently, turning the dough over once or twice in order to have it all properly held together.
  6. Set overnight wrapped in wax paper in freezer.
  7. Next day, pull off enough dough (after defrosting) to roll into a circle the size of a breakfast saucer.
  8. Dip dough in flour before rolling.
  9. Roll quite thin and cut in a circle. (use saucer for help)
  10. In the center of each circle place a spoonful of cabbage filling, fold dough over to form a crescent shape seal edges with egg white or by crimping the edge and folding dough slightly under.
  11. Do not prick the pastry.
  12. Bake on ungreased tin sheet in a hot oven for about 35 mins.
  13. This recipe will make about 3 dozen regular patties. if cocktail patties are needed, use a smaller cutter than a saucer.
  14. Serving 3 dozen regular size patties. Try different fillings for experiment. 

Jamaican Callaloo Patty

 

INGREDIENTS :
  • 1 lb. callaloo
  • 1 tablespoon margarine
  • 2 medium chopped onion
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 scotch bonnet hot pepper (for spice version)
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cooking oil
  • 1 cup water
METHOD:
  1. Wash callaloo leaves
  2. Cut up callaloo leaves in pieces.
  3. Sauté chopped onion, pepper & garlic in margarine (Add scotch bonnet for spicy version)
  4. Add cut up callaloo leaves, water, oil and stir.
  5. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
  6. Cover saucepan and cook callalloo for 7 mins. Do not overcook.
  7. When cool use as fill for patty pastry
INGREDIENTS FOR PASTRY:
  • 11 ozs suet (beef fat or shortening)
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 level teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup iced water
METHOD:
  1. Trim all skin and fatty membrane from suet and set overnight in freezer.
  2. Next day, with a very sharp knife shave suet as finely as possible.
  3. Combine salt and flour, then work in suet as you would shortening in plain pastry, cutting it in with two knives.
  4. Add iced water in sufficient amount to have a dough which can be rolled out.
  5. Form into a ball and with a rolling pin, pat gently, turning the dough over once or twice in order to have it all properly held together.
  6. Set overnight wrapped in wax paper in freezer.
  7. Next day, pull off enough dough (after defrosting) to roll into a circle the size of a breakfast saucer.
  8. Dip dough in flour before rolling.
  9. Roll quite thin and cut in a circle. (use saucer for help)
  10. In the center of each circle place a spoonful of callaloo filling, fold dough over to form a crescent shape seal edges with egg white or by crimping the edge and folding dough slightly under.
  11. Do not prick the pastry.
  12. Bake on ungreased tin sheet in a hot oven for about 35 mins.
  13. This recipe will make about 3 dozen regular patties. if cocktail patties are needed, use a smaller cutter than a saucer.
  14. Serving 3 dozen regular size patties. Try different fillings for experiment. 

Steamed Cabbage

INGREDIENTS :
  • 1 medium cabbage
  • 2 tablespoon margarine
  • 1 scotch bonnet pepper (cut up and add for spicy)
  • 2 sprig tyme
  • 1 crushed garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 or 3 small slices of a sweet green pepper.
  • 1 medium chopped onion or 2 table spoon onion powder
  • black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup water
METHOD:
  1. Wash cabbage
  2. Cut up/slice cabbage leaves in pieces.
  3. Sauté onion, garlic, pepper, tyme in margarine.
  4. Add cut up cabbage water and stir.
  5. Cover saucepan and cook cabbage are tender.
  6. Add whole scotch bonnet pepper
  7. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
  8. Simmer then serve with avocado pear. 

Ackee and Saltfish Patty

INGREDIENTS :
  • 1/2 lb. Saltfish (codfish)
  • 1 dozen ackees
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 slices hot scotch bonnet pepper
  • 1 small red sweet pepper
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil
METHOD:
  1. Soak Saltfish in warm water to taste.
  2. After soaking saltfish (codfish), place it in cold water and boil.
  3. Clean the ackee. Remove the seeds and all traces of interior red pit from the ackees.
  4. Wash ackees five times
  5. Cover and boil until moderately soft.
  6. Drain, cover, and put aside.
  7. Pick up (flake) the saltfish and remove all bones.
  8. Sauté thinly sliced onions, garlic, scott bonnet pepper and sweet pepper slices.
  9. Add saltfish and the ackees, and turn the fire/stove up slightly.
  10. Add black pepper
  11. Pour in to serving plate and garnish with remaining onions and pepper slices
  12. Do not over cook as you will be using this as filling.
INGREDIENTS FOR PASTRY:
  • 11 ozs suet (beef fat or shortening)
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 level teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup iced water
METHOD:
  1. Trim all skin and fatty membrane from suet and set overnight in freezer.
  2. Next day, with a very sharp knife shave suet as finely as possible.
  3. Combine salt and flour, then work in suet as you would shortening in plain pastry, cutting it in with two knives.
  4. Add iced water in sufficient amount to have a dough which can be rolled out.
  5. Form into a ball and with a rolling pin, pat gently, turning the dough over once or twice in order to have it all properly held together.
  6. Set overnight wrapped in wax paper in freezer.
  7. Next day, pull off enough dough (after defrosting) to roll into a circle the size of a breakfast saucer.
  8. Dip dough in flour before rolling.
  9. Roll quite thin and cut in a circle. (use saucer for help)
  10. In the center of each circle place a spoonful of ackee filling, fold dough over to form a crescent shape seal edges with egg white or by crimping the edge and folding dough slightly under.
  11. Do not prick the pastry.
  12. Bake on ungreased tin sheet in a hot oven for about 35 mins.
  13. This recipe will make about 3 dozen regular patties. if cocktail patties are needed, use a smaller cutter than a saucer.
  14. Serving 3 dozen regular size patties. Try different fillings for experiment. 

Sweet Cassava Pudding

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 medium sweet cassava
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 whole grated nutmeg or 2 teaspoons
  • 3 oz. Margarine
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • ½ cup raisin
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup warm water
METHOD:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Wash and grate cassava with a fine grater
  3. Combine the cassava, coconut milk, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and mix
  4. Combine this and the rest of the ingredients with the beaten eggs and mix.
  5. Slowly add the ½ cup of warm water and stir well
  6. Bake in greased baking tin for once over
  7. Serve warm with additional golden sauce (see recipe below) or caramel spooned over individual servings.
*Golden Sauce* INGREDIENTS:
  • 3 teaspoon butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup whipping cream 1
METHOD:
  1. Combine butter and sugar in a medium pan.
  2. Cook and stir over low heat until the butter is melted.
  3. Add cream and stir in cream
  4. Bring to a boil while stirring.
  5. Stir uncovered until the sauce has thicken
  6. Serve with pudding or refrigerate.
  7. If refrigerated reheat when serving 

Cornmeal Pudding

INGREDIENTS:
  • 3cups golden cornmeal
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ cups brown sugar
  • 5 cups thick coconut milk
  • ½ tsp. mixed spice
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp grated nutmeg
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup of the shredded coconut
METHOD:
  1. Sift together flour and cornmeal.
  2. Blend together sugar, salt, nutmeg, mixed spice and coconut milk.
  3. Add to cornmeal mixture, stirring until there are no lumps.
  4. Pour into a greased pan.
  5. Coat raisins with a little flour and sprinkle into mixture.
  6. Sprinkle shredded coconut on top.
  7. Dot generously with butter or margarine.
  8. Bake in a moderately-hot oven 350F for ¼ hour or until set.
  9. Combine and pour custard mixture (see recipe below) on top of pudding.
  10. Bake for a further ½ to ¾ hour or until set.
  11. Cool and serve.
*Custard Mixture*
  • ½ cup strong coconut milk
  • 4 heaped tbsps granulated sugar
  • Dash cinnamon
  • Dash vanilla
  • Combine all ingredients and use as directed above 

Coconut Toto

NGREDIENTS:
  • ¼ butter
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 tsps. Baking powder
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • 2 cups grated coconut
  • 1 cup Evaporated milk

    METHOD:
    1. Cream butter and sugar.
    2. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for 2 minutes longer.
    3. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
    4. Add flour mixture, and coconut to butter and sugar mixture alternately with Evaporated milk.
    5. Spread evenly in greased shallow baking tin 8” x 12”.
    6. Bake at 400F about 30 minutes

Boil Dumpling

 


Boiled Dumpling
INGREDIENTS :
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup cold water
METHOD:
  1. Sift the flour,cornmeal, and salt together into a large mixing bowl. Add the water 3 teaspoons at a time, just enough to bring the dough together with a firm consistency.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough well, for about five minutes.
  3. Boil a pot with water
  4. Break off pieces and form the dough into slightly flattened biscuits, about 2 inches across. For spinners roll the pieces between your palms into a pen shape.
  5. Place the pieces, uncrowded, into the pot of hot water --(Approx 5 -8 minutes)
  6. Service hot with other food (Serves 6-8) 

Stuffed Roast Beef

INGREDIENTS :
  • 1 medium rib eye
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 gloves garlic
  • Thyme
  • Scallion
  • Crushed pimiento seeds
  • ½ hot scotch bonnet pepper
  • Pick-a-pepper sauce
  • Paprika
  • Corn starch
  • Soy Sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Oil
  • Salt & Black pepper
METHOD:
  1. Dice all of the seasoning and mix with a little pick-a-pepper sauce and salt.
  2. Make small holes in roast and stuff the mix seasoning in the holes, all around, leaving enough seasoning to make gravy.
  3. Add Soy sauce, ketchup, salt, black pepper, paprika, pick-a-pepper and rub along meat.
  4. Let stand for a while.
  5. Heat oil in skillet, shake excess seasoning off. Add meat.
  6. Cook over medium heat, turning constantly to prevent sticking. Let it brown on each side. Do not add a lot of water. Just a little each time it dries out.
  7. Keep adding water until cooked.
  8. When cooked, remove from skillet to make gravy.
  9. Make corn starch in a paste and add to stock to make gravy. Serve over a bed of white rice or rice and peas 

Codfish Balls

INGREDIENTS :
  • ½ lb. salted codfish
  • 2 cups diced raw potato
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Vegetable oil for frying
METHOD:
  1. Soak codfish in water, preferably overnight.
  2. Boil for 1/2 hour.
  3. Drain, rinse under cold water and flake the fish making sure to remove fine bones.
  4. Boil diced potatoes for 20 minutes.
  5. Add butter, pepper and shredded fish to potatoes, mix well.
  6. Form mixture into light, feathery balls.
  7. Dip in beaten egg then breadcrumbs.
  8. Fry in deep oil in fryer basket until golden brown.
  9. Drain on absorbent paper and serve very hot with cocktail sauce. (Yields 12)

Callaloo Fritters

INGREDIENTS :
  • Callaloo Fritters
  • 2 cups raw callaloo cut up
  • ½ onion
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 tbsp. margarine
BATTER:
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp. salt (optional)
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • vegetable oil for deep-frying
METHOD:
  1. Heat margarine; sauté onion and tomato.
  2. Add callaloo and steam for about 5-10 minutes.
  3. Cool and set aside.
  4. Sift flour, measure, and sift again with baking powder and salt.
  5. Beat egg and add to cooked callaloo.
  6. Combine egg and calaloo with flour mixture.
  7. Heat frying pan and add oil to a depth of ½ inch.
  8. Drop by tablespoon in hot oil and fry.
  9. Serve hot. 

Quick Vegetable Curry

INGREDIENTS:
  • Frozen vegetables (Broccoli, carrots, beans, etc)
  • 1 onion - sliced
  • 1-teaspoon salt to taste
  • 2-tablespoons cornstarch
  • ¼ cup water
  • 4-tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 tablespoons curry
METHOD:
  1. Add olive oil into a skillet and heat
  2. Add curry & mix with hot oil
  3. Add onion slices & sauté
  4. Add frozen vegetables to skillet
  5. Mix cornstarch with ¼ cup water until a paste is formed
  6. Add cornstarch paste into skillet until lightly thickened.
  7. Cook for 10 minutes then serve

 



    Jamaican Recipes (Part II)

    Bread Pudding

     

    Bread Pudding
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 1 lb day-old white bread (preferable hardo bread)                                 
    • 1/4 cup melted butter
    • 1/2 cup sugar                                   
    • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon               
    • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg                    
    • 1/4 cup rum
    • 1/3 cup raisins
    • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
    • 4 cups whole milk
    • 5 eggs (beaten well)
    METHOD:

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
    2. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish with butter.
    3. Line the baking dish with wax paper
    4. Remove the crust from the bread
    5. Break up the bread into small portions. 
    6. Combine the bread, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, rum, raisins, and melted butter in a mixing bowl. 
    7. Pour into the baking dish.
    8. Mix the condensed milk, eggs and whole milk
    9. Pour this over the bread mixture in the baking dish. 
    10. Place the oven
    11. Bake for 1¼ hours. You can test if it is baked by inserting a small knife in the middle until it comes out clean.
      erve warm or cool.
    12. Best served with Ice cream or whipped cream.
    13. Serves 6 to 8

    Boiled Yam

     

    Gallery

    Yam in pot
    Yam Unpeeled
    Yam Cooked
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 3 lbs. Yam Teaspoon
    • Salt or a small piece Salt fish (cod fish)
    METHOD:
    1. Put gloves on your hand as touching raw can will irritate the skin and cause it to itch.  If you do not have gloves rub oil on your hands.
    2. Boil water in pot on a high fire.
    3. Peel the skin off the yam. The peel should be approximately ¼ inch
    4. Cut yam in small serving portions
    5. Rinse the pieces in cold water.
    6. Place the salt or salt fish in the boiling water
    7. Add the pieces of yam
    8. Cook for approximately 32 minutes until tender
    9. Serve warm

     

    Cabbage Salad

     

    Cabbage Salad
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 1 Green cabbage
    • 4 medium Carrot
    • 6 Stalks Celery
    • 1 Cucumber
    • ½ Cup Sugar
    • ½ Cup Vinegar
    • ½ Cup Oil
    • 1 Cup boiling water
    METHOD:
    1. Slice cabbage into thin strips
    2. Slice carrot into thin slices
    3. Slice celery in to thin strips crossway
    4. Slice cucumber into thin strips
    5. Place all ingredients in to a container
    6. Pour the boiling water in the container
    7. Cover the container for 20 minutes       
    8. Drain the liquid
    9. Serve at room temperature 

    Cornmeal Fritters

     

    INGREDIENTS:
    • ½ cup cornmeal
    • ½ cup flour
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 3 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 egg, beaten
    • 1 cup milk
    • 2 tbsp margarine
    • Few drops vanilla
    • Oil for frying
    METHOD:
    1. Sieve salt, flour and baking powder in a bowl.
    2. Add cornmeal and sugar.
    3. Put in beaten egg, vanilla and milk by degrees, after rubbing the margarine into the flour mixture.
    4. Beat until smooth.
    5. Drop by spoonfuls in frying pan and fry in hot fat.
    6. Drain on absorbent paper before serving. 

    Curried Callaloo

     

    INGREDIENTS :
    • 1/3 Cup of bell pepper (sweet pepper), chopped and de-seeded.
    • 3 scallions, crushed and chopped
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 3 cups calloloo
    • 3 medium potatoes
    • ½ Cup fresh corn
    • 2 sprig thyme
    • 1 tomato chopped and de-seeded
    • ½ Cup of Curry
    METHOD:
    1. Wash callaloo leaves
    2. Cut up callaloo leaves in pieces.
    3. Dice and boil the potatoes for approx 2 minutes. Do not overcook.
    4. Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan
    5. Sauté the scallions and bell pepper in the vegetable oil
    6. Add the other ingredients and let simmer for 7 minutes. Stir during this time.
    7. Serve will hot with yam, dumplings and boiled green bananas 

    Oven Baked Breadfruit

     

    Breadfruit
    INGREDIENTS:
    • 1 Mature Whole Breadfruit
    • 1 Teaspoon vegetable or coconut oil.
    • Alumni foil

    METHOD:
    1. Preheat your over to 425F
    2. Rub the outside of breadfruit with the oil
    3. Bake for approx. 1 hour
    4. Use skewer to check if cooked.
    5. When cooked use  pot holder to hold and peel off skin.
    6. Cut in half.
    7. Cut out the 'heart'(uneatable portion in the middle with seed).
    8. Cut breadfruit into pegs and serve.

     

    Ackee Dip

     

    Ackee Dip
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 2 Cups boiled ackee
    • 2 ½  tbsps grated cheddar cheese
    • 2 table spoons onion
    • ½ tsp lemon juice
    • Salt and hot pepper to taste
    METHOD:
    1. Mash ackee
    2. Combine and mix with other ingredients
    3. Chill in the refrigerator for 2-3  hours before serve
    4. Serve on Jamaican crackers or crumpets. 

    Quick Jamaican Rice & Peas

     

    Quick Rice & Peas-Main
    Sunday Rice and Peas is a must but when you are on the go it can be a challenge. Our quick rice and peas is for the person on the go that wants to have Jamaica’s “Coat and Arms’, but quickly with a Rice Cooker and pre-cooked pigeon or red peas.
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 2 Cups Uncle Bens Rice
    • 3 Sprigs thyme
    • 2 Clove Garlic
    • 2 Stalks scallion
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon pepper
    • 1 can green pigeon or red peas with coconut milk (Ocho Rio brand)
    • 3 1/2 cup water (Or use the required amount for the rice cooker)
    • 1 Scotch bonnet pepper
    METHOD:
    1. Pour the rice in the Rice Cooker.
    2. Combine the water with the green pigeon peas with coconut milk into a pot.
    3. Be sure the rice is completely covered with water
    4. Add the salt, pepper, thyme, Garlic and scallion
    5. Place Scotch bonnet in the pot
    6. Turn on the rice cook
    7. Serve once the rice cooker has completed cooking. Do not keep the rice cooker on warm as it will burn the bottom of the rice.  

    Quick Festival Mix

     

    Festival
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 2 cup flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt to taste
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 cup cornmeal
    • 2 tsp. baking powder
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
    METHOD:
    1. Mix dry ingredients together.
    2. Add water to make soft dough.
    3. Divide into 5x3 inch flat shape in long dumplings.
    4. Heat the oil to 350° in a large saucepan,
    5. Fry the dumplings until golden all over, 2 to 3 minutes.
    6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot. 

    Gizzada

    Ingredients for filling:
    • 1 cup Water
    • 1 ½ cups Grated Coconut
    • 1 ½ cups Brown Sugar
    • ¼ tsp. Grated Nutmeg
    • 1 oz. Butter
    Method:
    1. Boil water and sugar together to make syrup (low heat)
    2. Add the grated coconut and Nutmeg to the syrup.
    3. Stir the ingredients so it does not thicken. Boil for 15 minutes
    4. Add the butter
    5. Stir ingredients for another 6 minutes. Be sure the butter is not visible in the filling.
    6. Allow the filling to cool.
    Ingredients for pastry:
    • 2 cups Flour
    • Ice water
    • 1 tsp. Shortening
    • 1 tbsp. Butter
    • ½ tsp. Salt
    Method:
    1. Sift flour and salt together.
    2. Cut the butter and shortening in to small pieces, add to the flour along with the cold water.
    3. Make into pastry (dough).
    4. Place the pastry into a plastic wrapping or foil wrap.
    5. Put the pastry in the fridge for ½ an hour.
    6. Remove the pastry from the fridge.
    7. Use a rolling pin to roll the pastry on a cutting board to a ¼ inch thickness. (Flour the board first)
    8. Cut circles in the pastry using an 8-oz cup/glass. (You can also use a cookie cutter)
    9. Cut 16 circles from it
    10. Crimping (Pinch) each of the pastry circles to form a casing. It will be holder for the filling.
    11. Crimp in a uniform pattern as this will give the decorated effect.
    12. Place the casings on a greased tray and part-bake in the oven (at about 350 degrees Fareinheit for 15 minutes)
    13. Place the pasty on a greased baking sheet. Bake the dough pieces at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
    14. Remove it from the oven and then add the filling to the baked pastry. Bake the gizzadas for another 20 minutes.
    15. Remove them from the oven allow to cool.
    16. The gizzadas are now ready to be served

    Steamed Cabbage and Saltfish

    NGREDIENTS :
    • 1 medium cabbage
    • 1/2 lb. Saltfish (codfish)
    • 2 tablespoon margarine
    • 1 scotch bonnet pepper (cut up and add for spicy)
    • 2 sprig tyme
    • 1 crushed garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 2 or 3 small slices of a sweet green pepper.
    • 1 medium chopped onion or 2 table spoon onion powder
    • black pepper
    • salt to taste
    • 1/4 cup water
    METHOD:
    1. Wash cabbage
    2. Cut up/slice cabbage leaves in pieces.
    3. Soak saltfish in water to remove some of the salt or boil. in water for 5-7 minutes
    4. Cut or pick up the saltfish to make small pieces.
    5. Sauté saltfish, onion, garlic, pepper, tyme in margarine.
    6. Add cut up cabbage water and stir.
    7. Cover saucepan and cook cabbage are tender.
    8. Add whole scotch bonnet pepper
    9. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
    10. Simmer then serve with avocado pear.

     

     


     


     

     


     



     

     


     

    Jamaican Recipes (Part III)

    Jamaican Guinness Stout Punch Recipe

     

    Jamaican Guinness Stout Punch Recipe-2
    The Jamaican Guinness Stout Punch is very similar to Irish Moss. Like the Irish Moss the Guinness stout was introduced to Jamaica via the Irish. Also like the Irish Moss drink the Jamaican Guinness Stout Punch is a notorious drink among men (and some women) who seek “vigor”. It is believed “to put lead in your pencil “, “put it back” and boost energy that will lead to an increased libido.
    Ingredients:
    • 12 oz. bottle Guinness stout
    • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
    • ½   teaspoon Nutmeg
    • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
    • 1 raw egg (beaten)

    Methods:
    1. Break and beat the raw egg in a bowl
    2. Place the Guinness stout, raw egg and condense milk in a blender. 
    3. Mix the ingredients in the blender
    4. Pour the drink into a covered drink jug
    5. Add Cinnamon and Nutmeg
    6. Stir lightly
    7. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
    8. Serve cold. 

    Jamaican Peanut Porridge

     

    Jamaican Peanut Porridge Recipe
    Jamaican Peanut porridge is a delicious breakfast treat. It is a favorite of vegetarians because it is high in protein.  Before it became “main stream” dish it was categorized as “street food”, as it was mainly served by street food vendors in Jamaica. It is now enjoyed by Jamaican tourists  and locals alike.
    Ingredients
    • 1 cup raw peanut
    • 1 cup oatmeal
    • 1 tbsp. Flour
    • 1 tbsp Cornmeal
    • ½  Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • ½ cup evaporated milk
    • A pinch of nutmeg
    • ½  teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp Salt
    • Water as needed (approximately 2 cups)

    Method:

    • Place the peanuts in a blender and process until it is almost smooth.
    • Remove the peanuts and place in a container.
    • Place 1 cup of water in a pot to boil and add ½ tsp of salt.
    • Place the oatmeal in a blender and process until it becomes power.
    • Combine the flour, cornmeal, peanut, oatmeal in a container.
    • Slow pour water in the container and mix the ingredients to make a liquid paste.
    • Pour the liquid paste into the boiling water.
    • Stir until evenly mixed. (Do not let the flour get lumpy)
    • Cover and cook on medium setting. To prevent the porridge from boiling over, lift the cover and allow steam to escape.
    • After 12 minutes turn the setting to low then add the vanilla extract, nutmeg, sweeten condensed milk and evaporated milk.
    • Stir until evenly mixed. Cover and cook for another 2 minutes.
    • Turn of the heat and allow the porridge to slightly cool before serving. 

    Irish Moss

     

    Irish Moss Recipe - Jamaican Drink-2
    The Irish Moss is a seaweed that was original found near Ireland hence the name.  The Irish consumed Irish moss during the famine of the 19th century in Ireland. The seaweed grows on rocks in Jamaica. Irish migrants to Jamaica brought the tradition of the Irish Moss to Jamaica.   It  is one of Jamaica’s most notorious drinks among men (and some women)  who seek “vigor”. It is believed “to put lead in your pencil “, “put it back” and boost energy that will lead to an increased libido. It is also used by many as a herbal medicine.
    • ¾  lb Irish Moss
    • 3 oz. gum arabic ( known as gum acacia is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree)
    • ¾ cup natural honey or  1 can sweetened condensed milk (use natural honey)
    • ¾  pound sugar
    • 5 oz. isinglass
    • 5 oz. linseed
    • 3 tbsp. vanilla extract
    • 5 qt. water
    • 2 tablespoons of powdered nutmeg
    Method
    1. Wash the Irish Moss to remove sand and other matter.
    2. Place the Irish Moss  in water overnight. One part Irish moss to two parts water. (Optionally can cook right away however you will have to cook it longer)
    3. Place 5 qt. water in a pot and bring to a boil
    4. Add Irish Moss, gum arabic, isinglass, and linseed.
    5. Cook for ¾ hour until all the ingredients, with the exception of the Irish Moss, has dissolved.
    6. Pour the liquid into a strainer to another container. Throw away the boiled Irish Moss.
    7. Add the rest of ingredients to the liquid and mix well. Boil for an additional 10 minutes.
    8. Let the mixture cool and then place in the refrigerator for 5 hours before severing. 

    Coffee Jamaican Style

     

    Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
    INGREDIENTS:

    • 2/1-2 cups hot, freshly brewed Jamaican Blue Mountain arabica coffee
    • 1/2 cup Tia Maria
    • 2/3 cup dark Jamaican rum
    • 8 tablespoons of light cream
    • 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
    • chocolate shavings

    Directions:

    1. Place freshly brewed coffee in a saucepan.  Heat over low heat.  Add Tia Maria, rum and brown sugar.  Heat until nearly boiling, continuing to stir the whole  time.
    2. Remove from heat and pour into 4 heat-proof glass coffee cups until 2/3 full.
    3. Using a round-bottomed spoon, float 2 tablespoons of cream onto the top of the coffee.
    4. Garnish with chocolate shavings.  Serve hot.

    SERVES 4

    Escovitch Lobster

     

    Escovitch Lobster
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 1 Cup vegetable oil
    • 6 lobster tails, shelled
    • 4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon white sugar
    • 1 teaspoon onion salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
    • 1 ½  cup milk
    • 3 eggs (beaten)
    • 1 cup white Vinegar (For Escovitch Sauce)
    • 1 cup water (For Escovitch Sauce)
    • 2 table spoons vegetable oil (For Escovitch Sauce)
    • 1 table spoon sugar (For Escovitch Sauce)
    • 2 Onions (For Escovitch Sauce)
    • 4 Scotch Bonnet Peppers (For Escovitch Sauce)
    • 20 pimentos seeds (For Escovitch Sauce)
    METHOD:
    1. In a bowl combine  the flour, thyme, sugar,  salt, black pepper, onion salt, garlic salt,  paprika and cornstarch together in a small bowl.
    2. Combine the egg and milk in another bowl. Beat well.
    3. Place oil in a frying pan/sauce pan. Enough to fry one side of the lobster. Please note that this is not a deep fry therefore the lobster
    4. Cut the lobster tails in the bite size pieces.
    5. Dip in the lobster tail pieces in the egg mixture then the flour mixture.
    6. Heat the oil to 400 degrees and place the lobster tail pieces in the frying pan/sauce pan
    7. Fry crisp until golden brown. Turn down the heat as necessary.
    8. Turn other side and fry crisp until golden brown.
    9. Set lobster aside in a dish
    10. Slice onions, scotch bonnet pepper (For Escovitch Sauce)
    11. Combine the vinegar, water, 2 table spoons sugar and oil in a small pot (For Escovitch Sauce)
    12. Place on stove and boil. (For Escovitch Sauce)
    13. Place onions, scotch bonnet pepper, and pimento in the pot (For Escovitch Sauce)
    14. Boil contents on stove for approx. 5 min. Be careful of your eyes burning if contents are overheated. (For Escovitch Sauce)
    15. Pour contents on the fried lobster tails
    16. Serves 6 

    Boiled Banana

     

    Boiled Bananas
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 3 fingers of green bananas
    • 1 cup milk
    • 5 cups water
    • 1/2cup flour
    • 1/2 tsp. salt sugar to taste nutmeg [vanilla optional]
    METHOD:
    1. Wash,peal and grate bananas
    2. Add flour and salt to grated bananas and mix well.
    3. Beat mixture with fork while adding water until smooth.
    4. Sweeten to taste and add nutmeg and vanilla.
    5. Pour mixture into boiling water, stirring constantly to prevent lumping, stir until mixture thickens.
    6. Continue cooking, and milk ,and let it simmer over low heat .
    7. Cook for about 30 mins. 8. Add sugar to taste and spices. 

    Jamaican Pumpkin rice

     

    Pumpkin Rice-2
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 2 cups uncooked white rice
    • ½  lb. Cod fish/salt fish
    • ½  lb diced pumpkin
    • 2 tsp. Vegetable oil or Olive oil
    • 1 medium onion (chopped)
    • 3 ½  cups water
    • Salt (to taste)
    • Black pepper
    • A sprig of thyme
    • 2 stalk scallions, chopped
    • 2 -3 tbsp butter or margarine
    • 1 Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Optional – used to taste ) 
    METHOD:
    1. Soak (6 hours) or boil Cod fish/salt fish to remove most of the salt
    2. Drain the water
    3. Remove the Cod fish/salt fish and place in a dish.
    4. "Pick up" (break in to small portions and remove any bones) Cod fish/salt fish and Set aside
    5. Peel pumpkin and dice
    6. Add to water and boil for 10 minutes.
    7. Add vegetable oil while boiling.
    8. Cook until pumpkin is fully cooked (soft...easily mashed with a fork).
    9. Add rice and all the other ingredients except the Scotch Bonnet Pepper.
    10. Mix while it's cooking to distribute the color
    11. Add the whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper after 20 minutes on top of the rice. If you want spicy rice dice the Scotch Bonnet Pepper and add directly to the rice & mix.

    12. Steam for 25-30 more minutes or until done.
    13. Taste to ensure that the rice is seasoned
    14. Serves 4 -6 people.

    Sorrel Chutney

     


    Chutney Sorrel
    This Christmas make a nice, sorrel chutney! If you have fresh Jamaican sorrel give it a try! This  is  absolutely excellent on chicken, fish, or pork, or in sandwiches. It is great for when you have an over-abundance of sorrel during the Christmas season.
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 7 cups of sorrel calyces
    • 2 ½  cups brown sugar
      2 ½ cups water
    • 2 small onion (diced finely)
    • 1 garlic clove (minced)
    • 2 inch piece of ginger (finely grated)
    • 1 lime (juiced)
    • 1 tbsp white cane vinegar
    • ¾  cup golden raisins
    • 7 pimento (allspice) grains, crushed
    • 2 yellow Scotch Bonnet pepper (de-seeded & finely chopped) 


    METHOD:
    1. Wash sorrel thoroughly, using the fingers to lift it from the water.
    2. Put into stainless steel container and set aside.
    3. Combine  water, brown sugar, pimentos, ginger and garlic in a large saucepan.
    4. Cook over high heat for five minutes then reduce to a simmer.
    5. Add sorrel calyces, raisins, lime juice, vinegar and scotch bonnet
    6. Stir all the ingredients
    7. Cover, cook and stir occasionally until the mixture has a jam consistency.
    8. Removed from heat and chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.
    9. Place chutney in spotlessly clean jars for storage. The flavor improves after a couple days.
    10. This chutney can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 months.

    Ital Stew Peas (Veggie Stew Peas)

     

    Ital Stew Peas is sometimes called Veggie Stew Peas or Vegetarian Stew Peas
    INGREDIENTS :
    • 2 cups red peas (kidney beans)
    • 2 whole scotch bonnet peppers (if you like it hot cut the pepper up)
    • ¼ cup water
    • 2 cups coconut milk
    • bay leaves
    • 10 pimento grains (allspice)
    • cloves garlic (1 crushed and 3 whole)
    • 3 chopped scallions
    • 1 small onion chopped
    • 3 sprigs of thyme
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon natural sea salt (sold in stores)
    • 2 potatoes (Irish), cubed
    • 1 sweet potato, cubed
    • 3 carrots, sliced
    • Veggie spinners/dumplings (See Recipe Below)
    METHOD:
    1. Soak the peas in water for a least 10-12 hours in the pot
    2. Place coconut milk, bay leaves, scallion, pimento grain, whole garlic and whole pepper in the pot.
    3. Slowly boil and simmer for 1 ½ hours or until the peas are tender.
    4. Season by adding the onions, crushed garlic and thyme.
    5. Add carrots, spinners and potatoes
    6. Let simmer for 30 minutes
    7. Remove the scallions, bay leaves and hot pepper before serving.
    8. Serve hot with white rice.
    Veggie Spinners
    INGREDIENTS:
    • 1 cup wheat flour
    • Enough water to bind
    METHOD:
    1. Place flour in a medium bowl.
    2. Work mixture with hands while adding enough water to bind, making a stiff dough.
    3. Roll into 1 inch long pieces, drop into boiling stew peas or soup.
    4. Boil until they float or add them during the last 20mins of the cooking process. Enjoy 

    Red Stripe Chicken

     

    red stripe chicken
    INGREDIENTS :
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • 3 pounds  chicken
    • 2 cups canned coconut milk/cream
    • 1 cup Red Stripe beer 
    • 1 Large onion (chopped)
    • 1 large green bell pepper
    • Salt and pepper
    METHOD:
    1. Cut the chicken into serving pieces
    2. De-deseed green bell pepper and chop up onion
    3. Heat vegetable oil in Dutch pot
    4. Brown the chicken in oil (both sides)
    5. Remove the chicken
    6. Pour off some of the oil.
    7. Leave 2 table spoon of oil in the pot
    8. Return the chicken to the pot
    9. Add the coconut milk and red strip beer
    10. Once the pot is boiling reduce to heat to a simmer
    11. Cook for 30 minutes
    12. Add  onion, bell pepper
    13. Add salt and pepper to taste
    14. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes as the liquid reduces and thickens.
    15. If the liquid evaporates before the chicken is done replenish more Red Stripe beer.
    16. Serve while hot
    17. Serving size 4-6

     


     


     


     


     

    Sunday, November 28, 2010

    History Of Gully And Gaza

    When it comes to Dancehall now adays it seems that the biggest news is Gully verse Gaza. The word Gaza mi say and Gully mi say seem to be on every mixtape because of the Twins of Twins latest release named, you guessed it, Gully Vs Gaza. If you were to travel Jamaica you would see tags of Gully or Gaza. You hear reports of violence because of the feud. Where exactly did the feud start?
    Well once upon a time Gully nor Gaza didn’t exist. Kartel was Killa’s right hand man and Mavado was just buzzing. The only war we knew of was Bounty Vs Beenie. The final round to me was on the Show Off Riddim. Hands down Bounty earned his title as the victor. All though Kartel and Beenie weren’t going at it Kartel was on Bounty’s side because he was part of the Alliance.
    What happens next was much like what happened between The Game and 50 Cent.  Now remember around this time D’Angel left Bounty for Mr. Moses and later on she became his wife.  Kartel was chatting with Beenie, calling himself the 5 Star General, and all sorts of things Bounty would see as betrayal.  This is basically what lead to Kartel being kicked out of the Alliance.
    Kartel put out tracks, and records and showed the Dancehall community that him still have it and he nah need Killa fi mek money.  At this point the rising star Mavado becomes Killa’s right hand man.  Kartel has the Empire and he is doing him with the occasional shot to the Alliance and its members.    The shots became more so at Mavado.  This is when the whole Mafrado and Song Writer thing come out.  There were reports of people from the camps doing drive by’s and fighting and the war was on.  Both of them from different Mavado from Casava Piece and Vybz Kartel the Portmore representer.  This fared into the Gully Gaza territories.  The artists that supported either artist became a part of the camp.
    Then Sting ‘08 come and people wanted a clash.  The clash came and went with mixed feelings from fans and the artists.  Kartel said he was ready to clash any day, any time, any mic.  Mavado on the other say “anyway” and moves on stating that he doesn’t need to be like jack the ripper killing dead people aka Kartel.
    I think Kartel won the clash because is supposed to showcase lyrical talent.  Mavado barely said anything that wasn’t “level”.  This is the same reason why Beenie lost to Killa on diss tracks.  Mavado is more versatile as far as making songs and can create a hit, something that you can hear in the club and just dance to but Kartel is not to far behind.  He has improved in that category.  He has been on some conscious tracks and held his own and is also able to create witty lyrical tracks.

    Monday, November 22, 2010

    A Few Jamaican Jokes

    An old couple in Jamaica was puzzled when the coffin of their dead relative arrived from foreign.
    The corpse was so tightly squeezed inside the coffin that her face was practically touching the glass cover. When they opened the coffin, they found a letter pinned to her chest which read:
    Dear Mama and Papa:
    Mi a sen yu wha lef a Puncie fi di funeral dung deh inna Jamaica. Sarry seh mi couldn't mek di funeral cause dem seh di expenses dem too high. Yu wi find inside a di coffin, unda Puncie body:
    12 can a Bully Beef
    12 bottle a Posner Shampoo
    12 bottle a Posner Conditioner
    12 bottle a Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion
    12 tube a Colgate toothpaste
    Pon Puncie body is a brand new pair a Nike (size 8) fi Keefa.
    Unda Puncie head is four pair a Nike fi Boysie son dem. Puncie a wear six Fubu t-shirt - one is fi Trevor and di rest fi im son dem.
    Puncie a wear one dozen Wonder Bras (a fi mi favorite), jus devide dem mongst the likkle gal dem inna di district.
    Di two dozen Victoria Secret panty dem dat Puncie have on is fi mi nieces and mi cousin dem.
    Puncie also have on eight Levi pants, tek one fi yuhself and give di rest of dem to di likkle boy boy dem whey work pon Papa truck.
    Di Swiss diman watch yu did ask mi fa de pan Puncie lef wris and di tings dem wha yu did sen come beg mi for Mama (di earrings, ring and chain), dem is where dem suppose fi wear pon Puncie body, please tek dem before anybody come fi view di body.
    hope seh yu get everyting alright. Di damn palitishan dem mek yuhaffe tiefall kina way fi get tings eena di kuntri.
    God bless yu and keep yu,
    Your loving daughter,
    Babsie
    P.S. Mi a beg yu find a dress fi Puncie bury eenna.

    One night a man was was relaxing watching TV when out of the kitchen
    comes his wife with a pan --BOOF!-- "a who nayme Shiela?" asked the wife, "mi disya
    payp eena yuh pocket wid di nayme Shiela pon it, who is she?". The man rubbing his
    headback said "me and Richie did dung ah di racetrack tiddeh an dat is di nayme of di
    horse weh we bet pan, a wah duh yuh?!!". So the wife apologized, kissed his
    headback, and went back to her chores. 15 minutes later the wife storms out of the kitchen
    again --BOOF!! BAM!!-- "A WHA DUH YUH?!!" shouted the husband, and the wife shouts
    back "YUH HORSE DEH PON DI PHONE!!". 

    A RASTAMAN WENT TO VISIT AN OLD FAMILY FRIEND. RASTAMAN KNOCK PON DI
    DOOR
    AND SMADDY INSIDE SEH: " A WHO DAT"
    RASTAMAN----- " I AND I, JAH RASTAFARI, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORD:
    CONQUERING LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, SON OF HAILE SELASSIE I"
    THE PERSON INSIDE REPLIED: "A ME ONE DEY YAH, AN MI NAH OPEN DE DOOR
    FI SO MUCH AH OONU".

    Nursery Rhymes - Jamaican Style
    Mary had a likkle lamb
    Her father shot it dead.
    Now it goes down quite a treat,
    with rice and hard dough bread .
    Simple Simon met a Pieman, going to de fair.
    Said Simple Simon to de Pieman,
    What have you got there?
    Said de Pieman unto Simon,
    Pies, you fool whappin, you a hidiot!!
    Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
    Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
    All de kings horses and all de kings men,
    said " cha , 'im, only a egg."
    Jack and Jill
    Went up de hill
    to have a likkle fun.
    Idyat Jill forget she pill
    and now them have a son.

    a jamaican guy enters a resturant and while sitting at his table he notices a gorgeous woman sitting at another table alone. he calls the waiter over and asks for a bottle of the most expensive champagne to be sent over to her knowing that if she accepts it she will be his.
    the waiter gets the bottle and quickly takes it over to the young lady, saying that its from the gentleman. she looks at the champagne and decides to send a note back to the jamaican, the note reads...
    "for me to accept this bottle you need to have a mercedes in your garage, a million in the bank and 9 inches in your trousers."
    After Reading this note the jamaican sends back a note of his own, it reads...
    "jus su yuh know...me av a bran new benz an a bran new bimma park up inna mi yard, an mi av over 10 million inna de bank but nuhbaddy an mi mean NUHBADDY nah gon mek mi cut 3 inch off a wah mi av inna mi pants...suh yuh can jus sen back di

    this mad dread locks man named kiddy liked my mother and when ever he sees her she would run and hide.
    one day my mom was on the verandah with my sister and she spotted kiddy coming into the yard and ran into my gran aunts room to hide.
    kiddy came upon the veradah calling my mom and saying he had seen her so she can come out.
    now my gran aunt a big time coward took brave heart and went out to tell kiddy that my mom is not there and who he saw was two country girls who came to visit.
    my aunt was fearful and wanted to get away so she lied and told kiddy that she's not feeling too well.
    so kiddy said he would pray for her... he then put his hand on her head and started praying.
    while he's praying all of a sudden kiddy shouted and said "RISE!!!!! my gran aunt with no hesitation jump up quick to his order. so mom asked her why she jump so quickly.... she said because she heard that he was praying for a woman the week before and he told her to rise and she did not and he gave the woman a lick in ar head.

    An elderly Jamaican man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite Jamaican pastry, 'Gizzada' wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed.
    Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs. With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table were literally dozens of 'Gizzadas'.
    Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled posture. His parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the 'Gizzada' was already in his mouth, seemingly bringing him back to life.
    The aged and withered hand trembled on its way to a 'Gizzada' at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked with a 'dutch-pot' by his wife...... "Move yu back-side!" she said, "Dem ya a fe you funeral."

    One day bigboy go a school an di teacher say
    everybaddy fi draw sup n
    So when di teacha luk pan everybaddy drawing
    Di teacha seh good good
    Den when it reach to bigboy him come up an di teacha dey dey a luuk pan di paypa an seh
    but bigboy mi no see nutn me ongle see waan likkle dat.
    So hair bigboy him now yes teacha es a plane but it dey far out u caaan seet. fuuunnny eh Thats mutombo frm santa Cruz

    Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God. "Where have you been?" God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made!"
    Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"
    "It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."
    "Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused.
    God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth while southern Europe is going to be poor. Over there I've placed a continent of white people and over there is a continent of black people," God continued pointing to different countries. "This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and
    covered in ice."
    The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass in the Caribbean and said, "What's that one?"
    "Ah," said God. "That's Jamaica the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful beaches, blue mountains, streams, hills, and water falls. The people from Jamaica are going to be very handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world holding good jobs. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace, play football and go to the Winter Olympics."
    Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!!!"
    God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots that run their government."

    Two years ago i visited Jamaica. I went to the hospital to visit a
    friend. I overheard the nurses giggling about something one of the dying patients said.
    Curious to hear the joke i asked them what it was: A nurse went up the the dying
    councillor and asked him if he was feeling pain. The dying man turned to the nurse and
    shouted paaaain,paaaaain tell me about PPPPPPPPP NNNNNNNNNNNNNN PPPPPPPPPPPPP
    OF COURSE THIS MAN WAS A 36 YEARS VETERIAN IN THE PNP PARTY.

    Top 10 Richest Jamaican Dancehall/Reggae Artistes (Alive)

    So… has it ever crossed your mind, who are the richest Jamaican entertainers? Usually, we love information like these by Forbes, but too bad — this list doesn’t exist in their catalog. However, according to the Jamaica Observer, someone — whosoever sat down and did a quite interesting research and so, we are not sure if these are just speculations or actual facts.
    Anyways, Shaggy reportedly tops list of richest Reggae acts. There are no doubts that if this list was for the all time richest reggae musician, the number one person would be Bob Marley, with an estimated worth of over US$130 million.
    Shaggy topped the list due to selling over 20 million copies worldwide of his 2001 album Hot Shot, but equally due to securing a lucrative royalty deal for that album better than 90 per cent of the industry. We spotted the list as followed below.

    1. Shaggy at US$22 million (JM$1.8 billion)

    2. Jimmy Cliff at US$18 million (JM$1.5 billion)

    3. Sean Paul at US$11 million JM($944 million)

    4. Ziggy Marley at US$10 million (JM$858 million)

    5. Sean Kingston at US$7 million (JM$601 million)

    6. Damian Marley at US$6 million (JM$515 million)

    7. Maxi Priest at US$4.6 million (JM$395 million)

    8. Buju Banton at US$4 million (JM$343 million)

    9. Beenie Man at US$3.7 million (JM$318 million)

    10. Bounty Killer at US$3 million (JM$258 million)

    Shaggy managed to sign a sweet deal with UMG, named MCA Records at the time, where he earned (greatly on) each album sold for Hot Shot. Majority of artistes are lucky to earn $1 off each album sold. The Marley’s on the other hand having their own company to work with, puts them at an advantage to earn more off album sales.
    Regarding tour dates, again each artist’s earnings vary according to their popularity and demands. Therefore, when artistes like Sean Paul or Sean Kingston would earn an average US$40,000 per tour date, other artists like Bounty and Beenie would be brushing an average US$10,000.
    Sean Paul is very conservative, and it is possible that Bounty Killer accumulated that amount because he is also a conservative spender and has other businesses. Regarding Jimmy Cliff, he has been around from in the early days of reggae and has been involved in music, songwriting and movies. He did songwriting for big artistes and also got his songs covered by the likes of Bruce Springsteen with Trapped.
    According to the Jamaica Observer, the total combined worth at US$90 million is greater than the annual earnings from Jamaica’s major exports including bauxite at US$85 million in 2009 (separate from the US$368 million earned from alumina exports) and sugar at US$72 million according to Bank of Jamaica statistics.
    It signifies the earning potential of the nation’s music which has come under threat in recent years from international gay and government lobby groups. Consequently, all the top 10 artistes made the bulk of their income prior to the mid 2000′s.

    Jamaican Culture And Jamaican Traditions

    Amaican culture can be aptly described as the Jamaican human activity within different aspects of everyday life that relate to Jamaican traditions. Jamaican culture can be divided into several sectors or sects, usually called Jamaican aspects of culture.
    Origin: Jamaican culture is defined as the origin of its entire population. The Jamaican culture is mixed as most of the society is ethnically diverse. There are several nations and peoples, the majority are African, then Indian and Chinese, then the minority being European. There is a North American contingent but they did not contribute to the origin and main stream Jamaican society.
    Traditions: Jamaican traditions assist in defining the culture of the society. Jamaican traditions are ritualistic acts that are carried out over a specific period of time or at a specific event. This is very prevalent in Jamaican society and is fundamental in defining Jamaican culture. The most popular Jamaican traditions are for most national holidays, such as Christmas cake, Sorrel, pudding at Christmas time, Fried fish, lent at Easter time and other national holidays. Rituals such as the famed Nine Night after the death of a loved one are a popular Jamaican tradition that characterizes the Jamaican culture.
    Cuisine: Jamaican cuisine and cooking is an important aspect of cultural embodiment. The foods and the recipes make a culture richer. The Jamaican culture has been enriched by superb Jamaican foods such as Jerk Chicken Recipes, Jerk Pork and the infamous Red Stripe Beer. It is foods such as these that help to define Jamaican culture.
    Religion: Another key indicator and unifying aspect Jamaican culture. Jamaican has developed a unique type of religion. The primary type called Pocomania which was a blend between European Christianity and African religious practices, the secondary is Rastafarianism. This religion is practically by a small amount of people in the country, hence is not really a unifying aspect but gives Jamaican culture through religion its uniqueness and hence requires mention.
    Music: Reggae and its derivatives such as dance hall, rock steady are key for the development of Jamaican culture. This music has its origins in Jamaica and cannot be claimed by any other nation. The captivating type of music has led to a growing following. The music has an upbeat aspect to it’s with constant rhythmic beats.
    Art and Clothing: Jamaican Art and Clothing are both very important in defining Jamaican culture. Jamaican art has steeped in the depicting Jamaican everyday life. This has manifested it self in sculptures, paintings, collage and craft works. This is a direct shift from the more abstract type of European art and even the African more morbid types of art that focus a lot on history. Jamaican art culture at most does not focus on history. Jamaican clothing does reflect culture. Though Jamaican clothing and fashion is not as popular as European and African clothing it is defined by the use of primary colors and the popular use of cotton because of the tropical climate.
    Folk Lure: This is yet to be aptly recognized as a part of culture. Folk lure can often be cited as a part of Jamaican tradition however folk lure is stories and ballads passed down through the generations. However this is not really the case but folk lure and happenings are carried through in dance and drama which fall under ‘other arts’ another corner stone of culture.
    Other Arts – Jamaican dance, drama and speech in culture. Primarily Jamaican culture is depicted in dance by folk music, dancing kumina, the quadrille and other Jamaican dances which tell stories of the history of Jamaican sending the message to the young through dance. This technique has kept even to this day with dancehall reggae and the many dances and dancers such as Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy a popular Jamaican dancer of the new era that passed in 2006. Jamaican speech is defined as patois. Though this is actually incorrect as patois is really broken English and French, Jamaica really speaks broken English. The distinct accent of a Jamaican almost embodies the Jamaican culture. There is another great aspect to the arts and culture as the speech or language carries in both, music and art. Jamaica culture is unique not just to the Caribbean, but to the world and the Jamaican Diaspora has carried the Jamaican culture worldwide. It is reported that there is at least one Jamaican living in every country in the world, a most admirable feat and a huge benefit for Jamaican traditions.

    Tattoos and Piercings In Jamaica








    Portrait

    Courtney Buckley    
    ( Klymax-elite Tats )



    Cover Up
    The old ancient art of tattoo and piercing is vastly taken over the city of Kingston,once labeled as evil or wicked if seen sporting a tattoo or piercing here in Jamaica.Jamaica is vastly becoming Americanized due to the fact that people are travelling more and learning new cultures as well the nationwide popularity of cable television.
    The tattoos these days are far more advance than it's predecessors mainly due to the fact of advance in technology and equipment.There are many tattoo and piercing artist here in Jamaica but i am only going to focus on one(1) and his name does not need and introduction really and thats Courtney Klymax Buckley.   
    Courtney is the founder and owner of Klymax Tattoos which can be found on 55 slipe road .Kingston, Cross Rds, Shopping Plaza Shop 21. (firts plaza on ur right below courts).Tattoos and Piercings is these days synonymous with being hip and swagg due to large amount of entertainers and sports personnel both locally and internationally most of  which models there tattoo and piercing in their videos and respective sporting venues.
    (to be con't)