Sunday’s Guest of Honor

This Sunday I was inspired. Not exactly sure by what.. but I felt the need to try something new.  Just for the hell of it and because I can. Damn it… I’m Dutch Pot Catering! The delicacy of the day was… Chicken Chow Mein.  Now I know it’s not a hard dish but I never tried it and my boys love Chinese food.  If I’m gonna try something… I do it all the way. I made my own pasta. Yes, yes, yes! I did it! It’s actually very easy, just time consuming. I think I will only do this again if I have a specific order or I get inspired again.

Homemade Pasta – Eggs, flour, salt, butter and milk. Knead dough or use your Kitchen aid to whip it together. Now, once kneaded and smooth, let it rest for 15-30 mins. If you have a pasta machine perfect. If you are like me, roll that dough out and use your pizza cutter and cut the dough in strips. I eye-balled the size. (My next present to myself will be a pasta machine- in case I get inspired…lol) Dry the pasta for about 1 hr. By then the dough should be kinda stiff-like.

Dried Noodles

Get a big pot and start boiling water with some salt just as you would for regular dried pasta. Once the water comes to boil drop the pasta in. Homemade pasta doesn’t take long. 5 min -7 mins. Once the noodles rise to the top, time to take em’ out. I drain the pasta but mix it with a little oil or you can use butter or PAM spray so they don’t stick.

Cooked Noodles

 

My Veggies – carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, onions, scallions, garlic, ginger. I forgot my peas .

Veggies

 

Marinade- This was the hard part. Fish sauce is an integral part of Asian cooking. But my family and myself have a sensitivity to shell fish. So, I tried my hardest to work on the taste. Soy sauce, honey, chili pepper and some other seasonings and  I got damn near close.

Marinade

 

Now the guest of honor… DUTCH POT’S CHICKEN CHOW MEIN!!!! (applause, applause)

Chicken Chow Mein

 

If you are looking for the exact recipe. Send me a link @ DutchPotCatering@hotmail.com. You can fan us on facebook (Dutch Pot Catering) and follow us on twitter at DutchPotCaters

Don’t forget… let your taste buds do the traveling and discover your inner-island awesomeness. DPC

Wednesday Tellings: Indian, Asian, Carib

Wednesday Tellings: Indian, Asian, Caribbean. Goat, chicken. We’re talking Curry! Kare Pan/Curry Bread- a new experience. http://ow.ly/42kXL

Rum Raisen Croissant Pudding

Sugar and spice and everything nice! That is the description of my Rum Raisen Croissant Pudding. A celebration arose so why not celebrate with alil sugar and spice. I’m by far a baker but I came across a few recipes on bread pudding and thought how dred it would be to use croissants and raisens soaked in a Jamaican rum mixture. It was a hit!

So, I’m not one for offering up my recipes but I will break down the ingredients for you. I figured let me share some of goodie goodness with my fans. For additional details or a pudding of your own, hit me up at dutchpotcatering@hotmail.com.

Rum Raisen Croissant Pudding

• Buttermilk
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Vanilla
• Rum (whatever is your preference)
• Raisens
• Croissants
• Brown Sugar & White Sugar
• Eggs

Thanks folks.

PS. Can’t find my adapter to download my photo from my digital camera (fooey!!!)

President Wyclef Jean??

Hot topic: Wyclef Jean wanting to run for president of Haiti!

Are people not entitled to something good in thier lives? Here is a man born and raised in this island. An island that is one of the poorest island in the Caribbean. He left Haiti and is a sucessful young man doing big things. He has a foundationg dedicated to his island.  He has made it (depending on which lens you are looking through). He now wants to come back to his native country and help them, rebuild, educate, lift up, etc. So, what’s the problem? Should he not have the opportunity be eligible to run for president?

Now, president is no easy task. I can’t say if he can or cannot handle such responsibility but I do know that Haiti has had a corrupt government and things haven’t been so great. There will be challenges as in any country but I’m sure he knows that. Afterall he is receiving death threats. Amazing! I also heard Sean Penn questions if Wyclef can do the job. I understand he has been living in Haiti off and on for a few months but can you really offer your two-cents?

 Calling all Caribbeans! Americans! Everyone! I want to hear from you. Share your thoughts.

President Wyclef Jean?

Comfort Food

Today, someone mentioned the word - MILKSHAKE! Immediately, my tummy and my mind connected and a smile soon emerged. Milkshake is one of my favorite comfort foods among many. Comfort food takes you to a natural high. It tastes so good when you are happy, when you are sick, when you are sad, when you had a bad day, when you are celebrating, when whatever happens in your day just happens. If I didn’t know better, I would swear comfort food was a third parent (who can’t speak). It just makes everything better, at least in my eyes.

Some may question is food not comfort on a whole. My answer to folks is yes, all foods are a comfort to someone. But there is that one dish (or 2 or 3 dishes) that brings a smile to your face and gets you gitty like a high school crush.  Comfort food brings you back to a special place in your childhood or that happy moment in your past.

As a mother, wife, woman and caterer, comfort food is what brings people together cause you just can’t go wrong with comfort food.  Comfort food is simple! Comfort food is nostalgic! Comfort food is home!

Peanut Butter & Jelly, Mac & Cheese, Ice Cream, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Pancakes, French Fries….

Tell me, what is your comfort food???

K.

Rasta Pasta?

I had an event today and I cooked my but off. The menu contained my entree Rasta Pasta which I have changed now to Irie Pasta. I suppose I named my dish because it was catchy and everyone did it. But after a discussion with my husband I realized, according to my ingriedients, Rasta Pasta is an oxymoron. Some rasta’s don’t eat meat nor do they drink rum as they astain from all meat and flesh to clense the body.

So to pay respect to the rastafari movement and thier beliefs, I have changed my pasta dish to Irie Pasta. After all, the rum which is tossed with the veggies, meat and pasta makes everyone feel irie.

K.

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Email: DutchPotCatering@hotmail.com

Follow Me: www.twitter.com/DutchPotCaters

A Lesson in Culture

It’s absolutely amazing! There are more than 25 islands/countries that make up the Caribbean. However, there are more than 10 countries who have adapted the Caribbean lifestyle that are not physically in the Caribbean. 

During this time there are some issues arising and but there are great things happening in the isles. The people of the Caribbean are so unique. They have taken on traditions, food and styles of many: Chinese. Indian, African, Dutch and Spanish to name a few. It has been fused together to create something that is absoluetly AMAZING.

Although caribbean based, each island is different in thier own way. No two islands are the same. Do you add potatoes in your curry? Should you use kidney beans (red peas) or pigeon peas in your rice and peas? To rum or not to rum your sorrel? Is chow mein only a chinese dish- ask the people of Guyana. Reggae or soca?  Pepper- pot soup or calaloo?

So many differences but yet, when you travel to that island… you just know YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE CULTURE OF THE CARIBBEAN.

K.

Inspiration

I never really was much of a cook until I moved out on my own. It was then I experiemented, created and designed a combinations of foods. My house was like a mini restaurant. “I’ll provide the food if you provide the liqour”, that was my requirement. My home was full of friends, food, liqour and music. Music is what I use to get in my zone of cooking; music is what use to keep the party going; music is what use to get the clean-up finished; and music is what I need to wind down.

I love music but I am a child of the Caribbean and reggae and soca are my first choices to getting my cook on. 

Music is my inspiration. What is yours?

Growing up with Tradition

I remember when I was a child, my mom had me in the kitchen attempting to pass tradition down to me. While she was creating and designing and blending foods, flavors and spices I was too busy thinking who I would play tag with or what boy I would race down the hill (I was such a tom boy). At that time, I took everything she said for granted.  For years my mom thought I would never learn to cook (except for spagetti) and I would lose the customs of the Caribbean.

Now, I’m all grown up. I am a wife, mother, professional and entreprenuer. When I visit  my parents, I now do the cooking everyday that I am there. It is a must. I’m not just cooking for my family or my parents but people are now hiring me to cook. I actually like cooking. Go figure.

My oldest son is 14 years old. He is a typical teenager who thinks he knows  and can do everything. In a few years, he will be off to college and moving out on his own. His father and I are trying to teach him to become a respectful, successful and independent man. That  includes cooking. He is now responsible for cooking 1 day a week (with my supervision). He is slowing learning. He actually wants to help me in my business-Dutch Pot Catering (but must be paid of course).

Today was his first day in the kicthen. He wanted to make lasagna. I have to admit, it wasn’t half bad. Who knows, maybe he will be my business partner.

K.

To Forgive or not Forgive

No matter what country you are from or reside in, the notion from the native people is to never trust the government. The island of Jamaica is currently going through a polictical frenzy. 

Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, is wanted in the United States for alleged gun- and drug-trafficking between Jamaica and the U.S. He is known as a dangerous narcotics kingpin. Today, the government signed the extradiction request; after 8 months of receiving the request. It is eluded that Coke has had some ties with the political party that is running Jamaica. Whether the rumors are true or false, it appears the prime minister has been influenced by a criminal.  The prime minster has publicly apologized for the events that has occured and wants to continue to represent Jamaica and its people. Can an apology really make things better?

Jamaica and other Caribbean islands is full of passionate people, rich culture and an abundance of virtue. For corruption to be exposed almost taints the picture of the islands we love so much.  

 This is a sticky situation as you are not dealing with a domestic matter that is personal and involves a few people but a country that resides millions of people. You question if the prime minster has the people he is supposed to be looking out for best interest at heart. How do you rule a country where you have already created mistrust? So the question really is, do you forgive and (don’t) forget or just move on to someone new?

Read more:

Jamaica Observer, Jamaica Gleaner

K.