Afternoon Tea

4pm always seems like such a wonderful time to have tea. It really is the perfect time of day. After work, time to relax and unwind. Why not? And nothing's better than a cup of tea to make you feel at ease.
Felt a bit snackish recently and bought a little treat from The Happy Gourmet at Valpark Shopping Plaza. It's a new gourmet store in the East (FINALLY!), that's well stocked and quite reasonable. I bought my snacks and had the leftovers next day with some tea.
I don't have the time for making homemade treats these days since exams are near. Tea is also great during studying or when you're on a break and just need to ease your mind.

Product Review: Jell-O No Bake Cheesecake

Sometimes, we just don't have the time or energy or to make a dessert from scratch, especially something like cheesecake, or sometimes we just don't really know how. Maybe we need a dessert in a hurry, something that will impress, but something that isn't too complicated or time consuming. You can never fail with cheesecake; that's a fact! Well, actually, that's the more common belief. Unfortunately, I've never been a big cheesecake fan. Most cheesecakes I simply will not eat and few others are tolerable. I've made my own before, and I must admit, I enjoyed it thoroughly. That's the thing about a lot of foods I have tried before: I never really enjoyed them until I made them myself. It might sound weird or silly, but it's true. Back to the topic on hand...
A cheesecake here (in Trinidad), 8" and above goes for TT$100.00 and up. Some people don't always want to spend that money, some can't. The Jell-O No Bake Real Cheesecake Dessert goes for TT$25.00 or less for the smaller box, and less than TT$50.00 for the large box.

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The awesome thing about this is that it's easy to personalize and it tastes great. I topped mine with caramel. (I wanted to mix in chocolate chips but I had no minis.) It takes minutes to mix and just an hour to set. It can stay in the refrigerator for days, so it's a great make ahead dessert. You can add/top it with fruit, chocolate, caramel, jelly... anything you desire. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Here's a few awesome posts of recipes using this product:

• No Bake Chocolate Ganache Mousse Cheesecake from http://www.butiwantcake.com/
• Cherry Cheesecake Dip by Lisa Lohwasser
• Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries from http://kellieskitchen.blogspot.com/

You Are What You Eat

How cute and clever is this post on http://www.buzzfeed.com/. 

It's a little compilation of food quotes that they love!

I love pasta, as everyone knows, so I shared these. Check out the link for the original post!

Yeast Phobia

Recently, my sister tried using yeast for the first time. It seems that quite a lot of people are intimidated by yeast, or were at some point. But once you have a proper recipe, and you follow instructions right, it's a breeze! It's not that difficult to use, and oh the possibilities! So many things you always bought because you didn't know you could so easily make yourself: bread, bagels, donuts, pizza! When she discovered it, she realized how easy it actually is to use, and she got a little overexcited and started baking every day. It's okay though, there's nothing like freshly baked bread right out of the oven! According to her, it's intoxicating!
Here's a pizza she made:

The crust was thin and crispy (how she likes it), and quite flavourful. This crust is one you definitely won't throw out. It was topped with homemade pesto (instead of tomato sauce), bacon, artichokes, fresh basil and a combination of mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan. I'll be asking her to share her recipe soon!

Kitchen Essentials: Pumpkin

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The thing about pumpkin is, especially in Trinidad, we don't always know what to do with it. We think our options are often so limited, mostly because we have this particular perception of pumpkin, or a stereotype of it, and we are not adventurous enough to try it in a different way. A lot of us know pumpkin as a food option on a "curry" plate or to use in soup, or recipes that it's not a main ingredient. We often overshadow that which is the fabulous pumpkin, because we don't see or appreciate it's greatness (and diversity). If you use pumpkin in other ways, and really use it, you will be surprised at the outcome.

Pumpkin in History

The word pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepõn which means large melon. The word gradually morphed by the French, English and then Americans into the word "pumpkin." Pumpkins and squash are believed to have originated in the ancient Americas. These early pumpkins were not the traditional round orange upright Jack-O-Lantern fruit we think of today when you hear the word pumpkin. They were a crooked neck variety which stored well. Archeologists have determined that variations of squash and pumpkins were cultivated along river and creek banks along with sunflowers and beans. This took place long before the emergence of maize (corn). After maize was introduced, ancient farmers learned to grow squash with maize and beans using the "Three Sisters" tradition. (source)

Let me give you a couple of reasons to head to the grocery/vegetable mart:

• It's cheap. Pumpkins are often sold by the pound, in pieces. If you want whole pumpkins, you can find that too. Usually you'd get that from the trucks that sell them straight from the garden. However, when cooked down, you can get about 1-2 cups of pumpkin puree from a piece of pumpkin sold for approximately TT$5.00 (less than US$1.00).
• It grows well. You can have organic pumpkin for even cheaper if you grow it yourself. And they are pretty tolerant in different types of weather, so it's even better.
• It freezes well. Freezing pumpkin is good for a number of reasons. It will stay for a while in the freezer and you will always have some available. When you freeze pumpkin, it thaws soft, and can be made into a puree without cooking. So that's less time and energy for you!
• It's quick (and easy)! Especially if you use thawed (frozen) pumpkin, it's very fast to prepare. Pumpkin is full of its own unique flavour so it's easy to cook with minimal ingredients.
• Diversity! If you're willing to be a little adventurous, there are many ways to prepare pumpkin that you may be able to manipulate to your liking. Just try it!
• Even the seeds are edible!
• It's healthy. Come on, it's a vegetable! Or fruit! However you want to classify it, it's good for you!

Check out this CNN video of the health benefits of pumpkin as well as a recipe!

Here's a few lovely recipes I've found using pumpkin, that I'm sure you'd love!

1. Allrecipes.com Pumpkin Bread - This is an honestly fabulous recipe for pumpkin bread from Allrecipes.com's user Laurie Bennett. It has over 6,000 five-star ratings, which is well deserved. Try it, it's a great alternative to the more traditional "sweet bread" we enjoy in this country.
2. Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pie - You know this lady would not lead you astray! 
3. Spicy Pumpkin Pasta - This pasta was my inspiration to try my own. I have made pumpkin pasta time and time again since the first, and I never get tired of it. It's definitely one of my favourite quick-and-easy go-to meals! (I shall post a recipe soon for my version of pumpkin pasta [including alternatives].)
4. Pumpkin Soup - It's a classic, right? There are so many wonderful variations, you should try as many as you can. Pumpkin soup with some toast, or even a grilled cheese sandwich? Yum!
5. Pumpkin Coconut Curry (with Chicken) - "Curry" sort of pumpkin, but not nearly the same as we're used to. Try something new!
6. Pumpkin Chili - I kid you not.
7. Pumpkin Pie Martini - It isn't only for chewing, you know.

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I won't lie to you... Pumpkins are too fabulous to leave behind. Go get some!

Evening Thanksgiving

In Trinidad, we all love curry. We can't get enough of it. And everyone loves a little (what we call) "prayers food" or "curry". Last Saturday, my family had a Thanksgiving for my dad, for his health, strength and all his good fortune, as well as ours. My family follows Hinduism (not strictly), and we do not serve meat at Hindu Prayers/Thanksgiving.
I've always been the "channa and aloo" only type with salad and bit of "mother-in-law" (pepper salad), but I decided to try some other things this time. But, nothing really hits the spot like a big plate of channa and aloo with mother-in-law and roti. I just love my salad, so I eat about twice as much salad as anything else on my plate.

Channa & Aloo, Pumpkin, Bhagi, Curried Mango, Mother-in-Law, Fresh Salad

ROTI!!!

Mother-in-Law

Always remember to be grateful and show appreciation for everything you have, whether it be to family, friends or God.

Kitty-sitting For Easter

Last weekend, the Easter weekend, besides indulging in the lovely brunch, I had an exceptional weekend with a new friend. I was sitting for the weekend and it was brilliant. I really just instantly fell in love with this cat, and I miss him now that's he's gone. He was so loving, well-behaved and clean!

I loved the way he loved to cuddle to sleep. He was really great.

And curious.

Everyone in my family fell in love with him, actually. I hope he's all snuggled in and having a great night.

This is one of my favourites, even though I did not have my camera at the time and ended up taking it with my phone.

I miss you, Kitteh!

Easter Sunday Brunch at Jaffa

Last Sunday (Easter Sunday), I went to brunch at Jaffa [at the Oval] for the first time. I mention "for the first time" particularly because I intend on going back. I was unable to get any proper pictures this time, but I will definitely return and take some photos. There's was a wonderful wide variety of things to choose from, both breakfast and lunch options.

Here's a brief description of some of the things included (there was so much, I can't remember it all):

Juice Bar
- Orange
- Fruit Punch
- Mauby
- Iced Tea
- Several Others...

Soup
- Curry Soup

Breads
- Coconut Bake
-Fried Bake
- Sweet Bread
- Several Others...

Omelette Station including numerous add-ins, prepared fresh right before your eyes.

Pancakes with Toppings

Breakfast
- Breakfast Sausages
- Bacon
- Quiche
- Drumettes
- Vegetable Samosas
- Tomato "Choka"
- "Baigan Choka"
- Several Others...

Crackers, numerous cheeses, deli-meat, marinated olives...

Salads and Seafood
- Cole Slaw
- Apple, Celery and Walnut Salad
- Carrot Salad
- Pasta Salad
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Mussels
- Crab Salad
- Several Others...

Lunch
- Roasted Potatoes
- Stir-fried Noodles with Beef
- Mixed Vegetables
- Mahi Mahi
- Curried Chicken
- Cabbage Saute

Carvery
- Stuffed Leg of Lamb
- Roasted Pig

Dessert
- Ice Cream
- Chocolate Mousse
- Caramel Mousse
- Creme Brulee
- Creme Caramel
- Carrot Cake
- Brownies
- Strawberries and Pine with Chocolate Fountain
- Several Others...

The lunch was good, but the breakfast items and dessert were brilliant! The caramel mousse... Mmm. I will definitely be returning to enjoy some more of their breakfast.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I celebrated my 22nd birthday on March 23rd, 2013. I'm not that much into birthdays, not like I used to be. I feel like birthdays are hyped so much, it's too often a let down. That's probably part of the reason why I don't make a big deal of the day, or mention it to anyone. I'm not saying it's a bad day, nor do I have the birthday blues. It's just a day.
My family and I had a couple different plans, one of which included visiting Golden Bell (Korean) Restaurant for the first time. I've seen a couple of enticing pictures online which encouraged me to make the trip. However, when we got there, it was not at all what we expected. It was basically a fast food restaurant, but smaller than the norm. Even more unfortunate was the fact that what we planned on ordering was only being served at night. We did not bother dining there and since we did not make reservations anywhere else, we decided to go to Chaud Cafe and Wine Bar. We figured we'd without a doubt enjoy our meal there, so why not?
I didn't. Everyone else was content, but I was not satisfied. Content being the key word because it was not incredible, mediocre... at least this time. Of course the fries never fail to impress, it is the best. My sister started with the Cioppino which I tasted and it was good. It was definitely a starter, since the portion was pretty small. I forgot to take a picture, though.

We ordered a steak salad. It is a fantastic salad, and I probably should have gone that route if I wanted a salad. The steak was still tender despite it being well done (his preference), but he still thought it to be good... not great. The big pieces of Gorgonzola became overpowering, and if I did not warn him initially, it would have ruined the salad much earlier. 

Then we ordered a steak sandwich, which was also good, but still not great.

My sister had the burger which she enjoyed very much, fortunately. We also ordered a pasta with shrimp, but I also did not get a picture of that.

I ordered the lamb salad. The portion was quite small, especially compared to the steak salad, and it was dry and bland. The bacon bits did not help it much, and usually I love lentils, but I did not enjoy this.

For dessert, I had the apple crumble which is supposed to be served with a brown butter pecan ice cream which they did not have, and had to serve it with vanilla instead. I did not mind the vanilla much because I love the combination of apple pie/crumble with vanilla ice cream. However, I did not enjoy the apple crumble. The apples were cold and had a weird texture (a little bland as well) and the crumble had too many oats that were still dry and raw. I ended up leaving back more than half of the dessert, finishing the ice cream and only quarter of the apple crumble. It may be enjoyable to some, but I was disappointed.

We also ordered the banana beignets which everyone tried and enjoyed, except me. I was not in the mood for bananas, so I skipped it. They also respected our request to have to served alcohol free, so that was a plus.

The chocolate mousse was fluffy and not overbearingly chocolatey, so it was pretty good.

The flourless chocolate cake with intensely chocolatey. The chocolate lover would definitely enjoy it, it was alright for me. However, the sour cream sherbet was delicious and served well in toning down the intense chocolate taste.

All in all, everyone was content with their meal (except me), but it seemed to have been either a bad day for them, or us. My birthday was not filled with exceptional food like I had hoped, but it's okay because I'll be making up for that very soon.
The next day, my sister did make me meatball sliders (with homemade bread), served with mozzarella and marinara which was quite good. That was definitely and enjoyable meal. She also baked me a white cake with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries, so, I can't complain too much. My birthday wasn't all that disappointing.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Homemade biscuits? Yes, please. Biscuits AND gravy? Heck yeah!
Recently we started a breakfast club at the office, where we all have a day of the week and we bring breakfast for one another. It's been going on for a few weeks, and it's been quite fun. My first week I made sausage and peppers, which is a classic that I love. I also made potato pizza another week. I was skeptical about potato pizza at first, but when it tried it... Wow. It's always great to try new things, no matter how odd they may appear. This week, I made homemade biscuits and sausage gravy. I actually did not get a picture of the biscuits or gravy I made this week, but I do have a picture of some I have made in the past. I thought it'd be a good idea to share my biscuits since it's an easy and extremely delicious breakfast.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 4 tbsp butter, cold
• 4 tbsp shortening, cold
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• To glaze: one egg beaten (with 1 tbsp. milk/water)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the butter and shortening, and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until the it is pea-sized. Stir in the buttermilk. Do not to over-mix.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead the dough a couple times, just until it comes together. Roll the dough out with a floured rolling pin until it reaches about 1” thick, then cut with a floured biscuit cutter. Place the biscuits on a lined cookie sheet, and brush the tops with the egg beaten with milk.
4. Bake the biscuits for about 12-15 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown and nicely risen.

I actually prepared the dough and cut it out the night before, then baked it in the morning. It's great because you can prepare it and store it for later use so it can be a quick and convenient breakfast, even on a weekday. These would even be great to replace dinner rolls or to make a sandwich. It's versatile. I think I'll be cutting and freezing some dough for when I'm in the biscuit mood with little time.

Usually I'd make the gravy with sausage (I like Johnsonville), but one of the girls in the office does not eat pork so I used minced beef to make the gravy. I seasoned it well, sauteed it with a bit of olive oil then added cream, a bit of flour (to thicken), and a little grated parmesan. Easy and full of flavour!

Everyone enjoyed this breakfast (especially my brother who wants me to make it again).