Author: Chris De La Rosa

Hey i'm the admin of this forum, you can participate any time by logging in.

  • Energizing Apple Beet Coconut Smoothie.

    Here’s one of those drinks which is guaranteed to give you a boost of energy, especially during those draining winter months we experience in Canada. I was visiting mom and dad in Toronto a while back and I saw she had brought back a ton of Turmeric from our garden in Trinidad and Tobago. She went on to mention that she makes this drink for dad and my sister (who lives close to them), so I got her to share the concoction with me. I’ve been making this smoothie ever since then.

  • Tamarind Glazed Chicken Wings.

    While I did plan to share this recipe a while back, it was only after I received a request via Instagram did I actually get in the kitchen with chicken wings and camera in hand. The person who made the request was looking for a chicken wing idea to prepare for her Super Bowl party.. but she wasn’t a fan of the typical “Buffalo Wings”. With that in mind, I decided to give her and her guests a true taste of the Caribbean by using a tamarind glaze with a slight kick, to finish off the wings.

  • Fruity Passion Fruit Pepper Sauce.

    With my love for peppersauce (hot sauce) I’m always challenging myself to find different flavors to compliment the scorching heat of our beloved Scotch Bonnet Peppers, to add balance, depth and a unique finish. While this peppersauce is fiery, the fruity undertones of the passion fruit makes it very tasty and bearable for those of you who are not into pure heat! My mom like many from her generation, will argue that when making a ‘good’ peppersauce, there’s no room for fruit. However with the success I’ve had with the 10 + fruity pepper sauces I’ve shared on here, that mindset can be challenged.

  • | | |

    Festive Christmas Fried Rice.

    NO! Mommy didn’t make this for us as kids on the islands and to be quite honest, this was the first time my taste-buds were treated to such a colorful delight. Yes, the colors will play tricks on your mind, since the finished rice will look more like a holiday candy than fried rice. However I can assure you that this was very delicious and quite attractive served-up on a platter. For this recipe we’re joined by my friend Marc, who’s been rocking this recipe for a while now.

  • Caribbean Sorrel Glazed Ham.

    After posting this recipe on FaceBook someone commented “Sorrel only make for drinking” and while when I was a kid on the islands I would have agreed, seeing what creative cooks/chefs are now doing with sorrel, I know better. I’ve had sorrel cake, cheese cake, relish, ice cream, pudding.. even a sangria or two, just to name a few of the exciting ways sorrel is being put to use. Since sorrel plays such a huge role in the culinary Christmas landscape in the Caribbean, I though I’d rock a sorrel glazed ham this year.

  • |

    Stewed Black Eye Peas With Leftover Ham Bone.

    If you’re looking for a bit of luck in the new year while enjoying a delightful dish, I got you. It’s said that by cooking/enjoying black eye peas on the first day of the new year, brings a wealth of good luck the entire year. So I thought I’d put my leftover ham bone to use and share the recipe with you. Typically I’d do a traditional Caribbean soup with my ham bone, but I thought it would be an excellent way to add additional flavor to the somewhat bland black eye peas. Did you know that black eye peas is really a bean?

  • |

    Ultimate Jerk Turkey + Simple Gluten Free Gravy.

    “Chris we want ah Jerk Turkey recipe.. tired of boring oven roasted turkey” That was the DM I received on Twitter a couple weeks back.. even before I was thinking about doing this Christmas Special. I’m not a huge fan of turkey as I find the meat boring, especially when you think about the cost of it and the time it takes to get good results. My goal with this recipe is to show you how simple it is to make a tasty jerk oven roasted turkey, using a ‘cheap’ turkey and in much less time than the traditional method used for roasting turkey.

  • |

    Amazing Sorfran Rice [Vegan + Gluten Free].

    Before I get to the recipe I’d like to mention that in the Southern Caribbean what we ‘call’ Saffron (or sorfran) is really turmeric and NOT Saffron. Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus”. As we continue with the 5 days of Christmas recipes, chef Marc is joining us to share his take on this tasty vegan Sorfran rice (Turmeric Rice Pilaf) A lovely one-pot dish which is packed with layers of flavor, is gluten free and something you’ll be proud to have on your holiday dinner table.

  • Haitian Crémas (Kremas or Cremasse) A Christmas Favorite.

    You’ll find a version of this creamy drink throughout the islands but with subtle differences, as you move your way across the Caribbean (and Central America). Rich in milk, a layer of sweetness, some spice and how could one not include rum. Crémas (Kremas or Cremasse) is one of those drinks every Haitian (grown) expects to be served during the holiday season. And while you’ll find subtle differences in everyone’s recipe, this one is as simple to prepare while maintaining the taste and flavors of the traditional version.

  • |

    Carrot Pumpkin Rice (Vegan + Gluten Free)

    While I’m a HUGE fan of rice, I’m not overly fond of Basmati or any of the sort of scented rice which are widely available. However I find that when I make rice dishes with pumpkin, carrots or even coconut milk, using Basmati rice really enhances the dish overall. This vegetarian rice dish is very easy to put together and after the initial ‘cooking’ there’s no “work” for you, so you can sit back with your favorite beverage while the rice cooker does all the work.

  • Jamaican Curry Goat Recipe.

    While we use the same ingredients and for the most part cook similar dishes, you’ll find that as you travel across the West Indies the technique we employ on each island differs. That is exactly the case with one of the most famous dishes coming out of the Caribbean, Curry Goat. A curry goat from Trinidad and Tobago will most certainly be different than one from Grenada and just as unique as one done in a Guyanese or Haitian home. I’ve shared several methods of cooking curry goat so far, but it seems we’ve not had a go at a Jamaican version, until now.