With Christmas decorations, traditions and gifts all accounted for, the only thing left to unbox are the lip-smacking treats that are usually served last, off the dinner menu but are always the first items persons wish for. The season calls not only for memorable menus with gungo peas and rice, a crispy baked ham, herb-roasted chicken and baked macaroni and cheese but festive desserts from pudding to pastries that satisfy the spirit and make the palette fill with cheer. Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine has a dozen classic recipes to last the 12 days of Christmas ranging from simple traditional sweets to show stopping bakedEggnog with rum – Adopted from our British counterparts, the egg milk punch which is what it is called before any alcoholic beverages are added is traditionally consumed over the Christmas season. Homemade, it comprises of a mixture of milk, condensed milk or cream, whipped eggs, brown sugar and flavourings such as nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon. For Jamaicans the addition of a little white rum helps to take away from the egg-y taste and sometimes a stout. Serve cool, over ice.
Sugar or Butter Cookies – Cookies are still Santa’s number one favourite treat. The sugar cookies have a greater amount of flour than butter cookies but it’s the same basic recipe of egg, vanilla essence, all-purpose flour, baking powder, butter and of course sugar. The dough should be easy to divide so that it can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated until firm enough to roll and shaped into fun Christmas themed shapes. Add some ornamental frosting after the cookies have baked for 10 minutes and cooled and you’ve got the perfect thank you treat for Santa.
Marshmallow snowmen in hot chocolate – There no cookie or dessert without a nice cup of hot chocolate. This is a nice activity for children. We’re turning the marshmallows into snowmen. Taking three marshmallows at a time, place on a skewer or pretzel sticks on top of each other and take two sticks to insert at either side of the second marshmallow to replicate hands, get creative to make the face and buttons.Hint: Candy corn can be used as the nose. Now the hard part. The real Jamaican chocolate balls grated and boiled works but chopped Cadbury milk chocolate bars mixed with milk may be creamier. With the chopped chocolate melt in a microwave. Pour the melted chocolate into the and whisk together until creamy. Dip your marshmallow snowman in and enjoy.
Pineapple or Fruit Upside-Down Cake – Having all the flavours of a fruitcake with the dried or candied fruits of your choice – cherries, papaya, pineapple or cranberries, the upside-down cake is not a local tradition but adopted from America. With the popularity of pineapple rings, persons began laying it at the bottom of the cake pan with cherries in the centre and then pouring yellow cake mix batter on top. Once baked the fruits are caramelized and adds beauty to any dining table during the Christmas time.
Traditional fruitcake or pudding – A Jamaican Christmas celebration is not complete without the traditional fruitcake. Nowadays it is easier to acquire these things: margarine or butter, flour, eggs, almond flavouring, brown sugar, baking powder, mixed fruits inclusive of prunes, figs, soft dates, cherries, candied orange and lemon peel, raisins and currants, browning, mixed spice, fruit wine and sometimes ginger powder. You could start to soak the fruits a week ahead and still produce the ideal taste for a fruitcake.
Read more in our Vol 10 #4 Edition