Coconut sugar cakes are known to every school child in Trinidad and Tobago. These confections are one of several ‘tuck shop’ (cafeteria) staples and are also commonly available from corner stores and street vendors. Made from grated coconut they are traditionally cut into squares comprised of 2 layers and/or colors (one pink, the other white). As the only binder used is crystallized sugar... 

Well Sugar High Friday #25 is up on me! I decided that I would try my hand at something that I’m calling Coconut Scented Rum Truffles (for now) I decided to make the filling with bittersweet chocolate, coconut cream and rum. The coating is semisweet chocolate. Half of the truffles were also sprinkled with light brown sugar for some disco-tastic sparkle. Overall I’m happy with the end... 

It seems hard to believe that the Pineapple Upside Down cake has not always been with us, however in reality canned pineapples were not available until 1903 when Jim Dole of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (now Dole Pineapple) perfected a way to tin them. So where did people get the idea of putting fruit at the bottom of a cake pan? Well this technique has been around since the Middle Ages. Traditionally... 

What better way to launch my menu plan posts than with the offerings that I made for my mother’s birthday today? The reason I came up with this category is cos I know how overwhelming it can be sometimes to decide what goes with what. Sometimes you just want someone to put together the combinations for you. Well, I know I do! LOL! OK ok ok. On to the food. What did I make? Well here was... 

If I was to host a Tropical Thanksgiving, what would I serve? That question has been in my head with all the Thanksgiving promotions on the US television channels. So, for this post I thought that I would troll the ol blogosphere for Thanksgiving recipes with an ‘island twist’ that all can enjoy! It seems (from the telly) that everyone in the US celebrates Thanksgiving regardless of race,... 

From Yahoo!News By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Mon Oct 23, 7:41 PM ET CHICAGO – New research on vegetables and aging gives mothers another reason to say “I told you so.” It found that eating vegetables appears to help keep the brain young and may slow the mental decline sometimes associated with growing old. On measures of mental sharpness, older people who ate more than two... 

Did you know that there are over 60 varieties of olives? The other day while watching the Food Network I saw one of the chefs in a supermarket of some sort looking for olives. My jaw dropped as I witnessed open containers (buffet style) of olives glistening like a multicolored mosaic of sorts. I had never realized that they came in so many different shapes, sizes and hues! Here in our local supermarkets... 

By: Beth Scott Junk food addicts argue with health food nuts, asserting white bread to be the best. The health food nuts retaliate exclaiming about how much better store bought whole wheat bread is than white bread. The battle rages on… On which side of this debate do you stand? For that matter, which side should you REALLY be pulling for? AKPC_IDS += "68,"; Read More →

By: Jeremy Zongker Bread makers are extremely popular. The average person can make delicious, homemade bread quite easily with a bread maker. Even with the ease of a bread machine, you must still use caution when adding the ingredients, even if you use a mix. You can make a variety of shapes and sizes of loaf with a bread machine. Many people use a bread machine to simply mix the ingredients then bake... 

A generous helping of ripe strawberries and a billowy cloud of softly whipped cream fill these homemade shortcakes, which are easily made in a food processor and have a drop-biscuit consistency. A crunchy textural contrast comes from toasted sliced almonds and sugar crystals that bake on top of the cakes. AKPC_IDS += "17,"; Read More →

The following recipe for Rosemary Polenta Pound Cake creates a finished product, delicately scented with fresh rosemary, with a perfect savory-sweet balance and lovely texture. AKPC_IDS += "19,"; Read More →

By: Beth Scott Dont you just hate it when you follow a recipe to the letter and when the bread baking is finished the bread not only looks nothing like the recipe books picture, but tastes terrible as well? There is no denying that bread baking as with baking anything is a delicate process. Bread baking involves so many things that first time bakers are often discouraged after a few failed attempts... 

By: Beth Scott Maybe you’ve never heard it before, but you really should be baking your own bread. Why? I think the number one reason everyone should bake their own bread is that it redeems you from years of bad health and medical bills. How so? HOMEMADE BREAD IS HEALTHIER It is much healthier to bake your own bread instead of buying bread that contains chemical add’tives, hydrogenated... 

The contrasting tastes and textures of cornmeal and fresh corn kernels enrich the following recipe from Georgeanne Brennan. Tasters at the San Francisco Chronicle really liked the charred fresh chiles and the light, souffle-like texture. Serve this anytime — even for a light supper with a green salad and French bread. Brennan started writing for the Food section in 1982. She is the author of:... 

This souffle is baked in individual ramekins, then cooled and baked again right before serving, making it a great choice for entertaining. Tasters loved its delicate texture and subtle goat cheese flavor. AKPC_IDS += "24,"; Read More →

The following high-rise popover recipe makes the perfect Sunday breakfast dish. Serve them hot from the oven with unsalted butter and strawberry jam. It was created by Flo Braker, who began writing The Baker column for The Chronicle in 1989. She is the author of: The Simple Art Of Perfect Baking AKPC_IDS += "22,"; Read More →