And Still I Rise

During the season it's a time when persons traditionally cook up a storm. The refrigerator is stocked with all kinds of meat including the must have ham. Sorrel, gingerbeer, mauby and the requisite liquor are also staples in most homes.

I've been wondering what is St Vincent's special Christmas meal or if we really have one. Most homes would bake black cakes which are fruit and predominantly rum based. However, it's not unique to Vincentians neither is the green peas stew that features heavily around this time of year.

I recall one Christmas spent in Barbados where the specialty was something called jug jug. I don't have a vivid memory of the taste but I recall it being meat based and having either corn or peas cooked along with the meat. Last Christmas my aunt's Guyanese tenants cooked up pepperpot and offered me some. It was really hot but very tasty, I must admit. Trinidadians always talk about pastelles which I gather is a cornmeal pasty filled with meat,raisins etc and steamed in banana leaves. Am sure the other islands more than likely have something unique to them but am yet to find something special to us. Well at least we have Nine Mornings but am still a tad jealous.