Using Rosella - A Christmas drink!!

We grow edible hibiscus, Cranberry Hibiscus and Rosella/Roselle (Hibiscus sabdiffera) very easily in our climate. Here is a use for the sepals from the flowers of the Rosella.

Click on the link for the recipe.

Sorrel Drink

The red sepals of the Roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is commonly called sorrel in the Caribbean. The young leaves are great in salads, with a sour taste very similar to sorrel (Rumex acetosa), the vegetable of European origin (hence the common name.

Coconut Pumpkin Soup

We grow pumpkins and the other ingredients for this soup so easily in our climate. Click on the link for the recipe.

 Silky Coconut Pumpkin Soup

With our indigenous “pumpkin”, calabaza squash, in full season we buy a wedge every week and I try a new recipe. Epicurious.com has been a good source for recipes, some are great as is, and others, like this one, needed some tweaking. Here’s my version which turns out to be very much like those I had in South East Asia. Note that the roasting of the shallots is important for the flavour.

You could also try

Pumpkin Carrot Soup with ginger

Corn soup with corn and cassava dumplings

Recipes for the vegetables we can grow easily in our semi tropical/warm temperate climate are always useful.  Corn is so cheap to buy if you haven't a patch growing this year.

Click on the link for the recipe.

Trinidad Corn Soup with corn/cassava dumplings

Trinidad corn soup is sold as a street food/restorative, after fetes and events, especially at Carnival time. In my not too distant younger days I  had my share in the wee hours of the morning. Vendors sell portions in Styrofoam cups out of big silver vats. Quality is not consistent, the best is sold at a premium price from vendors with long lines and wait. Somehow the plump middle-aged ladies tend to make the best tasting street foods in the Caribbean. This one tastes like the best Trini cornsoup I’ve had.

Visit to Kaths Farm

It was perfect weather for collecting seed at Kath's farm. Click to enlarge the pic.

Food MythBusters – Do We Really Need Industrial Agriculture to Feed the World? (video)

Why do save our seeds?  Perhaps this video will be of interest.

Bamboo makes a great crop. Try bamboo shoots in a stir fry along with your more regular vegetables.