FESTIVE LIGHT FRUIT CAKE

There is always a Christmas cake on the table during the Christmas season, especially a fruit cake. In Trinidad the traditional FRUIT CAKE is usually crumbly-moist or sticky-wet and black; its moisture resulting from the excessive use of alcohol. A Traditional Christmas fruit cake can be quite heavy and dense, so try a  lighter fruit and nut version. Using a fruit medley, this FESTIVE LIGHT FRUIT CAKE RECIPE gives you a great mix of festive flavour. A great choice when you don’t want a heavily spiced cake – but it’s just as Christmas-y.

It is very easy to make, even if you are a first-time cake maker. This cake could make you look like you know what you are doing. Just follow the instructions and soon you will have a tasty fruity cake.

RECIPE FOR FESTIVE LIGHT FRUIT CAKE 

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cup chopped cherries

1 cup light raisins

1 cup candied chopped pineapple

½ cup mixed chopped fruit and peels

½ cup candied chopped lemon peel

½ cup candied chopped orange peel

1 cup chopped walnuts

3 cups sifted flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup butter (1/2 lb)

1 cup of sugar

4 eggs

¼ cup light corn syrup

¼ cup orange juice

¼ cup sherry wine

METHOD

1.        Cream butter and sugar until light.

2.      Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.

3.       Add  and Combine chopped fruits, peels and nuts mix with the flour and baking powder

4.      Add corn syrup, orange juice and sherry wine to cream mixture

5.      Pour into well greased baking pan

6.      Bake at 275˚F for 1 hr and 15 mins.

ENJOY!!!!

PONCHE DE CREME

PONCHE DE CRÈME /  PUNCH AH CRÈME

Now we are getting into the hard stuff involved in a Trini Christmas. Ponche de Crème or Punch ah Crème is one of our homemade alcoholic drinks that we love to consume during the Christmas season and being 100% Trini, I must have some in my fridge for Christmas. I could have shared mine with you all, but we haven’t mastered teleporting drinks and food over the internet as yet. So in the mean time here is the recipe for you to try

INGREDIENTS

6 Eggs

4 cups evaporated milk

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup white rum

1 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon minced lime zest

1 teaspoon aromatic bitters

METHOD

1.       Blend the eggs together

Since this recipe uses raw eggs you may want to pasteurize the eggs by heating it in a double boiler, or bowl placed over water in a sauce pan, stirring constantly while maintaining the temperature at 140° F for three and a half minutes.

2.      Add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, nutmeg and lime zest and blend.

3.       Then add the rum and bitters and blend one last time

Pour in a bottle and refrigerate. Serve chilled.

SORREL DRINK

Sorrel: A Sign of Trini Christmas

Locally, sorrel is planted a few months in advance just in time for the Christmas Season . It could be seen in the markets, colouring the stalls in a sea of red. Sometimes while driving you can see vans parked at the side of the road or highway filled to capacity with sorrel awaiting passersby. Truly a sign that Christmas is near.

To me Sorrel is synonymous with Christmas in Trinidad. In every home you can find this Sorrel drink being made in preparation for invited guests during the Christmas season. The drink is made from the bright, red sepals of the sorrel plant that is sour in taste.

Sorrel Drink Recipe

1 lb. sorrel
10 cups water
1 cup sugar
2 sticks cinnamon

3 cloves
4 tbsp. grated ginger

optional:
¼ cup rum

Method

1.    Wash the sorrel.

2.    Separate the sepals from the ‘seed’. Please, note the technique used. Do not touch the seed with your fingers. The seed has fine ‘hairs’ that could penetrate the skin.

This is how it looks when separated. Note where the seed is being held.

3.  Wash the sorrel sepals again.

4.    Place in a deep pot and add the water, cinnamon, and optional spices.

5.    Boil for about 20 minutes or until the sepals begin to lose their colour and look jelly-like.

6.   Strain the sorrel and allow to cool.

7.   Sweeten with sugar and add the rum if desired.

Pour into bottle and refrigerate. Serve chilled.

Trinidad Black Cake

TRINI'S FAVORITE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Black cake brings back a lot of  memories like“bussing ah lime” by friends and family or going house to house paranging and  being served a delicious slice of black cake along with some homemade wine and you are enjoying yourself even though it is 1 o’clock in the morning and you’re trying not to eat too much at this house, because you have three more houses to parang in before you reach home.

TRINIDAD'S BLACK CAKE.  DO ENJOY!!!!

5 DAYS BEFORE:  Chop the following, mix well and leave to soak.

1 lb. prunes

1 lb. raisins

1 lb. currants

¼ lb mixed peel

½ lb. cherries

¼ lb. chopped almonds

1 bottle cherry brandy

¼ bottle rum

1 -2 tbsp. angostura bitters

On the day:

1 lb brown sugar

1lb butter (2 cups)

3 cups Flour

3 tsp baking powder

7 eggs

1tsp lemon essence, 2 tsp. lime rind, 2  tsp almond essence and 2 tsp. vanilla essence

½ tsp nutmeg

2 cups of browning (less browning may be used as desired)

METHOD

1.       Cream butter and sugar

2.      Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.

3.      Add lemon essence, lime rind, almond essence and vanilla essence to the mixture

4.      Add gradually flour, baking powder and grated nutmeg to the creamed mixture

5.      Mix in fruit and browning

6.      Pour into greased pans

7.      Baked at 250˚F  for 2 to 3 hours or until done

70 Days until Christmas 2014

It might seem like it's still a long way ahead, but Christmas is really only around the corner now. Not a bad time for some early christmas shopping to avoid the crowds, hustle and bustle and definitely a good idea to start dropping hints about what you'd like for Christmas

TRINI CHRISTMAS IS HERE

Its that moment in October when you unconsciously begin to hum Baron's "Spanish Woman" or hear the sounds of Parang Music for the spectacular "100 days to Christmas" countdown. That's when the atmosphere changes  and the celebratory spirits fill the nation. That's when you know - TRINI CHRISTMAS IS HERE!!!

Trini Christmas is the best

Trini Christmas is the best