Cynthia Nelson

Home: A memory is just a taste away Hi Everyone, As I sat on a plane bound for the United States of America, I contemplated what to write about in this week’s column.

Jug Jug: No longer a tradition? Hi Everyone, Though it is a traditional Barbadian Christmas dish, it does not make an appearance on feast-laden tables throughout the island.

Christmas beans! Hi Everyone, It’s soon going to be Christmas and did you know that Christmas has its own beans?

Great news!   By Susan Harewood Guest columnist I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

Precious thyme Hi Everyone, Given that long ago thyme was used for its antiseptic properties and medicinal uses, and in ancient times some bathed in its water to renew their energy while others used it for embalming, we should really feel fortunate, to be able to get three varieties of this herb while many the world over only get one variety and I’m not talking about flavours here but rather, thyme in general.

I rise to bake Hi Everyone, Fraught with unpredictability, temperamental partners, atmospheric conditions that I cannot control and sometimes a shaken confidence, why then you may ask, would I venture into such an arena?

Can soup unite? Hi Everyone, Whenever my friend Adele mentions that she is making soup, I see her husband, Ivan, get a worried look on his face.

A selective sweet tooth Hi Everyone, I often tell people that I do not have a sweet tooth and that I prefer savoury, and it’s the truth.

One man’s Poison is another man’s Feast Hi Everyone, “Try and don’t poison the people.”

A familiar ingredient in unfamiliar ways Hi Everyone, Like you, I buy the same ingredients weekly, like you, I prepare the same dishes every week and like you, I am always looking for new ways to prepare these familiar ingredients that I buy often, that is why when I came across Brandade de Morue and Salt Fish Fried Rice, I knew I had to share it with you.

Oh Sweet Callaloo Hi Everyone, If you’re from Guyana, Callaloo refers to all varieties of spinach (bhaji) but if you’re from Trinidad and Tobago, then Callaloo is the beloved, must-have, soul food dish of the twin island republic.

Macaroni pie – definitely not ordinaryHi Everyone, Here in Barbados, the ability to make a “proper” dish of Macaroni Pie is testament to your ability to cook and some say it even makes you eligible to be a good wife.

Too much liming Hi Everyone, Lime and salt are two ingredients that give us so much flavour and taste but when we unwisely let them overstay their welcome, they rob us of those exact qualities – flavour and taste.

A few tips that work for me Hi Everyone, Want to shorten the cooking time for some dishes without losing the flavour?

I clean my plate for Dirty Rice Hi Everyone, Dirty Rice, don’t let the name of the dish fool you, it is one of the best tasting rice dishes you will ever eat.

One of a kind chicken curry Hi Everyone, For years I have missed eating chicken curry they way I wanted to, the way I had grown to love it.

Green seasoning A must-have in many kitchens Hi Everyone, It is that certain something that makes you go ‘ummm’ as you eat, it’s that mysterious flavour that makes certain dishes uniquely delicious, and it is that special seasoning that defines certain cuisines.

Roast Breadfruit Have it once and you’ll want more Hi Everyone, The flesh is soft and creamy yellow with notes of natural sweetness and that of the butter melted into it.

Hi Everyone, Yes, it’s a one-pot dish, yes, it’s about everything cooking up together, but no, not all cook-up rice is created equal.