Passover 2010 falls this year on the evening of March 29th. Even though it is some time aways I have already receiving requests for recipes, as well as for local seders. At the moment I am not sure if my health currently allows me to pull off a repeat of last year’s successful Reggae-Jazz seder, but we’ll see
I traditionally have a vegetarian dinner at Pesach, and this year will be no exception. Here is one menu combination that I am toying with
• Sarina’s Spicy …

Chive Blossoms – our garden
Tonight marks the start of Tu B’Shevat, one of my favourite holidays on the Jewish calendar. There’s something whimsical and life-affirming about having a New Year’s celebration for the environment and the seder (religious) service which accompanies it has a focus on our role as stewards of the planet, as well stewards of our own ever-evolving personal natures that I find inspirational. Traditionally this holiday is celebrated with vegetarian fare, and my centerpiece for many years has been eggplant lasagna.
I think it’s time to shake …

I am definitely in denial about the High Holidays this year. I barely scraped into Rosh Hashana and am now getting ready for the start of Yom Kippur (I am writing this before it has begun). This year I am prepping my ‘break-the-fast’ menu as much as possible beforehand and am focusing on no-cook recipes.
Coconut-Raisin Challah
Easy Vegan Spicy Peanut Soup with Fresh Mung Bean Sprouts
Open-Faced Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwiches
Challah, Cream Cheese and Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
Banana Mylkshakes
Hibiscus (Sorrel) Granita

Not only does this approach relieve a lot of post-fasting stress …

This blog is on the brink of entering it’s 4th year and I’ve never done a Republic Day post! For shame! This is probably because Republic Day comes so quickly after Independence Day and is by its own nature quieter in terms of pomp and circumstance. It is so nondescript that it was even removed, from 1999-2001, from the list of national holidays (it was reinstated in 2002). Still, a public holiday is a public holiday. And any time off is a good reason to cook. This vegetarian menu …

Image courtesy Chennette
Today is Eid-Ul-Fitr and it is marked tomorrow in Trinidad & Tobago by a public holiday. Like most religious holidays in Trinidad it is marked not just by strong community observance but also with warm interfaith participation. Because so many communities share this small space of land it is not unusual to have many religions represented on one street and neighbours at the end of the day are still neighbours. This year I haven’t been able to accept any of the Eid invitations I’ve received (or the Rosh …

Rosh Hashana Community Dinner 2007
L’Shana Tovah! Happy New Year! Tonight marks the start of Rosh Hashana, the start of the Jewish New Year. This year I enter it with probably the least enthusiastic head space that I’ve had in recent years. This is due to my still recovering from a rather nasty flu and an ever-growing list of ‘must dos’. Still, I expect that as the hours start ticking down, my nascent enthusiasm will grow and start to take over
Normally at Rosh Hashana I have a …

Opening of the Churchill-Roosevelt/Uriah Butler Interchange, May 1 2009
Happy Independence Day! This year’s menu is a trifecta of the new, the old, and a new twist on an old favourite What will yours be this year?
• Sarina’s Spinach-Ginger Salad
• Bertie’s Trinidad Pelau
• Sarina’s Independence Day Sugar Cakes
To learn more about Independence Day Celebrations in Trinidad, as well as the Independence Day Movement visit the Independence Day portal at the National Library website.

Mmm hamantaschen. In this part of the hemisphere, hamantaschen is probably the most recognizable symbol of Purim. These three-cornered pastries are usually stuffed with jams and sweet pastes of various flavours. My favourite base recipe comes from Joan Nathan’s Jewish Cooking in America,however my own twist is to use a filling of traditional ‘set fruit‘, combined with some chopped apples. This gives the hamantaschen a lovely rummy aroma, with the intense taste of Black Cake that is so familiar of Trinis of all ages, shapes and sizes.

Sarina’s Rum and Raisin …

This Sephardic Purim treat is rarely mentioned in Purim recipe lineups, overshadowed in familiarity by its Western European counterpart Hamantaschen. It’s a shame though, because this dessert is light, and deliciously addictive. Strips of dough are fried and sprinkled with confectioners sugar. I personally like to flavour the dough with a combination of almond and vanilla essences. The result is similar to the Indo-Trinidadian treat kurma (recipe coming soon!). Yum Yum Yum!

Haman’s Ears/Orejas de Haman
Source: The Jewish Cookbook: 70 Recipes Celebrating an Historic Cuisine (Creative Cooking Library)
Makes about 20 …

This is a recipe whose origins have become lost to the sands of time (and disorganization), however it is fast, nutritious and never fails to please. It’s a regular part of my Purim menu because of the prominent role that chickpeas play in that festival. In Trinidad cuisine chickpeas are routinely served curried or fried. Rarely do they get to shine, relatively unadorned, as the main star. This dish has definitely helped to change that for me!

East Indian Chickpea Salad
INGREDIENTS:
4 1/2 cups garbanzo beans, cooked
6 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons …