Latest posts
-
Jamaican Hominy Corn Porridge: The Creamy Breakfast That Takes Patience
Hominy corn porridge is one of those Jamaican porridges that feels different from the rest. It is not as quick as cornmeal porridge, and it is not as smooth in texture either. Hominy corn has its own personality. The grains are chewy, hearty, and filling, which makes the porridge feel more like a full meal…
-
Jamaican Pumpkin Punch: The Icy Cold Drink That Feels Like Dessert
Pumpkin punch is an all-year-round drink for me. It is not something I only think about during one season. Whenever you feel for something sweet, creamy, cold, and full of island flavor, pumpkin punch is one of those drinks that can satisfy that craving. It is rich, smooth, and best served icy cold — almost…
-
Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge: The Smooth Golden Breakfast That Feels Like Home
Cornmeal porridge is one of those Jamaican breakfasts where the texture matters just as much as the flavor. It should not be so thick that you feel like you need a knife to cut it. But it should not be so thin that it feels like flavored water either. The perfect cornmeal porridge sits right…
-
Jamaican Callaloo: The Versatile Vegetable That Fits Anywhere on the Table
Callaloo is one of those vegetables that can fit anywhere on your table. That is one of the things I love most about it. The steamed version can be used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner depending on what it is paired with. It can also be used in soup, especially the famous pepperpot soup, which…
-
Jamaican Saltfish Fritters: The Complete Breakfast Bite
Some Jamaican breakfasts do not need a big plate to feel complete. Saltfish fritters are one of them. When I was a child, a couple of saltfish fritters with your favorite tea was enough to make breakfast feel finished. You did not need a whole spread on the table. Once the fritters were hot, golden,…
-
Jamaican Liver and Fried Dumplings: The Breakfast Plate That Means Business
Some breakfasts are light. This is not one of them. Jamaican liver and fried dumplings is the kind of breakfast that feels strong, filling, and serious. It is not a little snack to hold you for a few minutes. This is the kind of plate that can carry you through the morning and maybe even…
-
Jamaican Red Peas Soup: My Number One Soup Every Time
If I had to rate all the soups we had growing up, red peas soup would be my number one choice every single time. There is just something about it that stands above the rest. Maybe it is the rich, thick broth.Maybe it is the sweet potato mixed with the savory meat.Maybe it is the…
-
Bun and Cheese French Toast: The Jamaican Breakfast Experiment That Actually Worked
Breakfast is without a doubt my favorite meal. Maybe it is because breakfast is so versatile. Maybe it is because I love eggs. Or maybe it is because breakfast gives you permission to be creative in a way that still feels comforting. Whatever the reason, breakfast has always been the meal where my imagination can…
-
Jamaican Chicken Soup: The Saturday Soup That Needed Big Dumplings
Soup in my household was not the neat little bowl of bite-sized pieces I sometimes see now. No. In my house, if soup was being made, the dumplings had to show up properly. My brothers would go crazy if the dumplings were too small. They had to be big enough that you could not just…
-
Jamaican Carrot Punch: The Sunday Dinner Drink I Had to Grow Into
Some drinks are more than drinks. In a Jamaican household, certain drinks feel like part of the meal itself. For my family, carrot punch was one of those Sunday evening dinner traditions. It was rich, creamy, spiced, and made with all the things that made it feel special — carrot, condensed milk, evaporated milk, nutmeg,…
-
Jamaican Bun & Cheese: The Sweet and Savory Tradition That Never Gets Old
Jamaican bun and cheese is one of those foods that feels simple until you understand what it means. It is sweet, spiced, dense, rich, and full of flavor. Then you add a thick slice of Jamaican Tastee cheese, and suddenly you have that perfect sweet and savory combination that Jamaicans know so well. I was…
-
Jamaican Fried Dumplings: The Breakfast Favorite I Had to Learn to Perfect
Fried dumplings are one of my absolute favorite things to eat, especially for breakfast. There is just something about a hot fried dumpling on your plate that makes the whole meal feel right. It does not even matter what you are having it with — ackee and saltfish, liver, sardines, salt mackerel, corned beef, or…
-
Jamaican Sorrel: The Christmas Drink That Brings the Season Home
There is only one place on earth where I truly celebrate Christmas, and that is Jamaica. Christmas in Jamaica is not just another holiday. It is the biggest holiday of the year, the one people prepare for, talk about, cook for, clean for, dress up for, and look forward to. After traveling and seeing Christmas…
-
Jamaican Peanut Punch: The Creamy Drink People Say Gives You Strength
Some Jamaican drinks come with a reputation before you even taste them. Peanut punch is one of them. It is creamy, rich, sweet, filling, and full of flavor. But if you grew up around Jamaican culture, you already know peanut punch is not treated like just any ordinary drink. People talk about it like it…
-
Jamaican Passion Fruit Juice: The Country Girl Drink That Tastes Like Summer
One of the perks of being a country girl is having fresh fruits and vegetables almost everywhere. While city girls may have to go to the market or shop to buy certain fruits, country life often gives you the blessing of seeing them growing right around you. Fruit trees, vines, backyard gardens, and neighbors sharing…
-
Jamaican Festival: The Sweet Fried Dumpling That Belongs Beside Jerk Chicken
Some foods are called sides, but they do not behave like sides. Jamaican festival is one of them. It may sit beside jerk chicken, escovitch fish, or fried fish, but festival has a personality of its own. It is slightly sweet, golden on the outside, soft on the inside, and shaped in that familiar long…
-
Jamaican Rundown: The Coconut Dish That Tastes Like Country Comfort
Some Jamaican dishes do not need to be loud to be memorable. Rundown is one of those dishes. It is rich, creamy, salty, savory, and full of coconut flavor. Depending on who you ask, you may hear it called rundown, run down, or even run dung, but the heart of the dish is the same:…
-
Jamaican Ice Cream: The Sunday Treat We Waited For
Jamaica has no shortage of sweet treats. We have puddings, cakes, drops, gizzada, grater cake, toto, sweet potato pudding, cornmeal pudding, and so many other things that can satisfy a sweet tooth. But those were the kind of sweets you could have almost any time, once somebody made them or bought them. Ice cream was…
-
Jamaican Corned Beef & Cabbage: The Simple Tin Food That Tastes Like Home
Not every Jamaican dish has to be fancy to be memorable. Some foods do not come with a big celebration, a long cooking time, or a table full of people. Some foods are simple, quick, and still manage to carry a whole childhood with them. For me, corned beef and cabbage is one of those…
-
Jamaican Curry Goat
The Dish That Makes Every Gathering Feel Complete There are some dishes that feel bigger than food. For me, curry goat is one of them. It is the kind of dish that shows up when people are serious about eating well. Family gatherings, celebrations, Sundays, Christmas dinner — curry goat belongs in those moments when…