The Betty Black Blog

Similar but Different
We would expect that two countries close both in geography and culture would have similar foods. It is therefore no surprise that neighbouring Jamaica and Haiti have similar cuisine. There are many indigenous fruit, vegetables and native animals in common. Canoes of the early Tainos plied back and forth between the two Islands. [...]

So the Holidays are over. The leftovers, though for many of us not as much as usual, are all gone. There’s nothing left but a pathetic looking ham bone. If you’re Jamaican you know exactly where that bone is going and it definitely is not in the garbage!

Hibiscus Sabdariffa, roselle or tropical cranberry, is a herbaceous annual that grows between three and eight feet tall, though in tropical climates it is often a perennial. Originating in West Africa it is a member of the Malvaceae, or mallow family. This upright shrub bears three to five inch long narrow leaves near the top [...]

Well dear friends we’re entering that Mad Season again! And in fine tradition we’ve borrowed American Thanksgiving from our friends to the north and are already going crazy (if we aren’t in Miami shopping) despite the fact that we’re in the middle of one of the worst recessions in history!

Six years ago when I decided to start my online magazine I had to come up with a name. My website was to be a little bit of everything which when put together would be uniquely Jamaican. After some thought the idea hit me. Allspice tastes like a blend of different spices but it’s not, [...]

When last have you been to St Elizabeth for some of their famous Pepper Shrimps? Too busy? Too far away? Well, try making your own.

To the eastern end of Jamaica, straddling St Andrew, St Mary and Portland, lie the Blue Mountains, the tallest section of the Island’s hilly spine. Blue Mountain Peak soars a majestic 7402ft (2256m) into the air. Half way up this lush range something magical happens, for this is where the world famous Blue Mountain Coffee [...]

The weather’s getting cooler, pear (avocado) is in season; what better time to make a huge pot of Stew Peas. It’s just my husband and I now, but I still make this quantity, divide it in three and freeze two portions.
Now here’s the thing: Stew Peas is not made with peas of any kind but [...]

Man (and Woman) has been making mixed drinks from Ancient times but in the 1920s, during the U. S. Prohibition, cocktails became the thing! Anyway, who cares about the history, here are the recipes. Don’t forget the Appleton!
No self respecting Jamaican blogger would start with anything but Planter’s Punch. The traditional formula goes like this:

Curry Goat is probably one of the most popular Jamaican dishes and, in some quarters, is a must for parties and special events. This dish, like so many others, exemplifies the melding of different cultures into what is entirely Jamaican. In 1845 the first indentured labourers arrived from India.