Jamaican Chocolate Cake

I love chocolate. That is my weakness. Allspice gives a unique and wonderful flavor to chocolate cake. I know what you are thinking. Isn't allspice used in Jerk seasoning as well? Yup..that is why they call it ALLSPICE..it has so many combined spices it can give all dishes a unique flavor.

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 c. milk
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1/4 tsp. Jamaican allspice
1 egg yolk
2 c. cake flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1 c. superfine sugar
2 egg yolks
3 T. water
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. dark rum
2 egg whites, whipped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 - 9 inch layer cake pans.

Whisk together chocolate, milk, allspice, brown sugar and one egg yolk in the top of a double boiler, stirring until a custard is formed and mixture thickens. Cool. Stir in baking soda and salt. Sift the flour onto waxed paper.

In bowl of electric mixer, whip the butter, gradually adding sugar and two egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a cup, stir together 3 T. water, 1/2 c. milk, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract and 1 Tbsp. dark rum.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternating with the vanilla/milk/water mixture. Stir in the chocolate custard mixture and beat until smooth, approximately two to three minutes at medium speed of mixer.

In a clean bowl, using the wire whisk attachment of your electric mixer, beat two egg whites until soft peaks form; gently fold into cake batter.

Turn into greased layer cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 25 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Turn out onto wire racks to cool. Level with a serrated knife if required, then stack and frost with chocolate frosting.

Note: This recipe calls for superfine sugar, not to be confused with confectioners or 10X sugar. If you don't have superfine sugar you can pulse regular granulated sugar in the food processor to substitute. Domino supplies superfine sugar in 1 pound packages at the supermarket or in larger quantities at the bakery supply or foodservice outlet. Superfine sugar dissolves readily and works best for cakes, helping to produce a lighter texture.

Jamaican Indian Vegetarian Stew

This is a wonderful natural vegetarian stew. While perusing the web I found this great dish (Jamaican Vegetarian Stew) from Ifoodtv. It is really simple to make and very tasty. It is done with and indian flavor. Jamaica has a very large indian population

Okra and Saltfish Video

Here is a simple recipe for those who love Okra.

Jamaica Curry Stew Beef

1 tablespoon of curry powder or more to taste
2 lbs. Stewing beef cubed
2 tbsp. Oil
4 tbsp. Sugar
2 large onions, sliced
1 bottle beer (12 oz) (red stripe)
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce (or pickapeppa sauce)
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. Soy sauce
1 tsp. Basil
1 small carrot chopped up
salt & pepper (and optional hot pepper, of course) to taste

METHOD / DIRECTIONS:

In a heavy frying pan or skillet, heat oil, add sugar and allow to burn until dark brown. Add seasoned beef and stir well to coat pieces of meat; cook for 6-8 mins., stirring constantly. Add onion and cook for 5 mins more Sprinkle in the curry powder, Stir in beer, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, hot pepper and basil. Bring to the boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until meat is tender. If potatoes or taro root are desired, cut them into small pieces and add them just before beef is tender.

Server over rice

Jamaican Mango Bread Recipe

This is a recipe that takes the traditional bread and puts Jamaica's most popular fruit in the mixture. Enjoy.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
¾ cup cooking oil
½ tsp. salt
1¼ cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
2 cups diced mangos
¼ cup peanuts
½ cup coconut, shredded

PREPARATION
1. Sift flour, salt, soda, and cinnamon together. Make a well in dry ingredients
mix well, and add eggs, oil, vanilla, sugar, nuts, coconut and mangoes;
put into 2 greased 8 x 4 x2 loaf pans.
2. Let stand 20 minutes before baking at 350 degrees of for one hour.

Jamaica Beef Soup

This is a true Winter Dish. It will warm you up.

INGREDIENTS :

• 2 qt. water
• 1 lb. soup bones or stewing steak
• 1/2 lb. carrots, cubed
• 1/4 lb. turnips, cubed
• 1 lb. pumpkin, cut up
• 1/2 lb. cho cho, cut up
• 1 lb. yellow yam, cut up
• 1 sprig thyme
• 2 stalks escallion
• 1 tablespoon salt

METHOD:

1. Boil soup bones in 2 qts. water (about 30 minutes in pressure cooker).
2. Cut up vegetables, yam and cho cho and add with seasonings to soup.
3. Dumplings may be added if desired.
4. Once it starts to boil, simmer uncovered until yam is cooked and soup is of a medium consistency.
5. Serves 6

Source:Jamaicans.com