Saturday, April 28, 2012

NYC on Business: 50 Shades of Cray

The Misadventures of a Blogger in NYC

Warning: This entry is NOT about how I met some strange, mercurial, billionare who took me down a kinky rabbit hole of whips and chains. And how we all listened to Rihanna's "S&M" song for the whole ideal. This trip to NYC was for business, not reenactments of 50 Shades of Grey. Ha! The closest I got to Christian Grey this week was meeting a young lawyer at a bar who has no idea J and I have created an entirely twisted backstory for him involving a sad childhood, deviant predilections, and yes, a red playroom. Poor Fiddy Esq

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Jamaican Easter Bun & Cheese



A Jamaican Easter means donning a frock worthy of Effie Trinket's approval, possibly a hat or at the very least a fascinator, and heading to church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in style. Then, after prancing around in pastel like a walking confection, we eat homemade Easter Bun and Cheese.

I know right. Jamaica is TOTALLY Suzanne Collins' futuristic Capitol. Manners y'all!

Ehem. Anyway...

Easter Bun, it's like American fruitcake only edible and deliciously topped with savory cheddar cheese. My family recipe has some minor deviations from the traditional Jamaican bun. I am a health nut after-all, so of course this has to be the most nutrient packed, fiber filled, whole foods embossed, Easter bun of them all. Plus it involves Guinness Stout, so you know it's good.

Dense and semisweet, we Jamaican's usually serve it topped with a slice of cheddar cheese.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 bottle of Guiness Stout                                  4 Cups of Whole Wheat Flour
4 tsp Molassas                                                 2 Eggs (beaten)
2 tsp baking powder                                        2 tsp Coconut Oil                                    
1 cup brown sugar                                           1 Cup Raisins
1/2 tsp of anise                                                1 16oz bottle of Maraschino Cherries
1 tsp (Vanilla, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Allspice)
Orange Peel
(yeah, that's right, no milk!)

Step 1: Mix Guinness, sugar, molasses,coconut oil, Raisins, Orange peel, Anise,nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice in a small pan and bring it to a boil. Remove this from the stove and let cool. Add the beaten eggs.

Step 2: Mix dry materials (flour, baking powder) in a large bowl and make a hole in the center. Poor the step 1 liquid into the center and then fold the flour into it.

Step 3: Pour this in a bun tin and bake at 350 degrees until done. You'll have to check it with a knife in the center 30 mins in and reduce the oven to 300 from there. These cakes are dense so it's difficult to say exactly how long it takes.

Enjoy!

And Happy Easter!