Fruit For Thought

Growing papayas is easy and very rewarding.  But it helps if you live in a warm climate all year around, like in Barbados.  Plant some small black seeds from the pulp of a sweet papaya in a small container with potting mix, spacing them out evenly in the pot to give them enough room to grow.  In about a week, they will start to germinate, and plant growth is fairly rapid once the seedlings get enough light and water. 

When the seedlings are about a foot tall, they can be separated and planted in the garden with loosely packed soil enriched with manure.  The seedlings will grow quickly and start to put out flowers within a few months.  After about 6 months in the ground, you will find fruits starting to emerge from the blossoms.  Some of the fruits, depending on the species of papaya, can get very large and heavy.  Since healthy papaya trees can put out multiple fruits at one time, it can become a heavy load for the tree to bear.  If the tree is not growing straight, it can be propped up with ropes or stakes to prevent it from bending over and breaking from the weight of all the fruit.  The trees produce fruit year round, which make it a joy to have as part of any kitchen garden.

Papayas can be allowed to ripen on the tree, although birds may peck at the ripening fruits, so picking them less than fully ripe may be a better option.  Once picked semi-green, they take about 1-3 days to fully ripen.  They can grow as large as 20” long and weigh several pounds.

Mature Papaya tree (Carica papaya; left); reaping a ripe papaya (centre; photo by Karen Wise Photography); papaya ready to eat (right; photo by Karen Wise Photography @ www.foodandart.com).

  

Papaya can be eaten as is, added to fruit salad, salsas, or blended in fruit drinks and smoothies.  The seeds are edible as well, and have a peppery flavour.

Papaya interior with black seeds (left); papaya sectioned for serving (right).

Papaya, also known in some parts of the world as ‘paw paw’, is a delicious tropical fruit with numerous health benefits.  They are a rich source of nutrients, including carotenes (vitamin A), vitamin C, and flavonoids, B vitamins, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, copper and magnesium.  They are also rich in fiber and contain the digestive enzyme, papain. 

If you live in a tropical or sub-tropical area, papayas make a great addition to your kitchen garden and are so simple to grow.  You will enjoy growing them and reaping the benefits of this delicious, colourful, and healthy tropical fruit.

 

Garden-to-Table Bajan Style

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Since my last post, I have been busy planting my own kitchen garden in Barbados and growing a variety of organic produce.  The garden is now producing an interesting array of herbs and vegetables throughout the year, allowing me to cook fresh, organic, garden-to-table style dishes.

Growing your own fresh produce is both fun and very rewarding.  The results can be amazing since really fresh food adds more intense flavours that are exciting to the palate.  Who knew how great a salad could taste when you can pick your greens fresh and use them right away.  It almost makes it hard to eat any other way.  But at least if you can start to supplement your daily diet with as many fresh foods as possible, it’s a great way to achieving a much healthier lifestyle.

In Barbados, it is easy to get rum barrels from any of the rum refineries (I source the ones from Mount Gay) and use them to grow herbs and vegetables.  That way, the produce can be reared above ground level and away from pests such as snails and slugs.  The rum barrels are large enough, deep enough, and are very attractive in the garden.

Fresh salad greens grown in a Barbados rum barrel.  This one has Arugula and romaine seedlings that have just been planted.

I try to make a fresh salad every day at lunch time.  My favourite type of lettuce is Arugula as it imparts a peppery flavour which is a nice addition to any green salad.  Having a simple Arugula salad with pear, cucumber, dried cranberries, roasted walnuts, green onions and fresh Italian parsley is simply delicious topped with a homemade fresh lime and olive oil vinaigrette.  I always add freshly grated Parmesan cheese as the finishing touch.

Arugula salad with pear and roasted walnuts topped with a fresh lime/olive oil vinaigrette.

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If you have never grown your own food, and you have the space at home to do it, I recommend it highly, even if you can only grow over a short period of the year.  The rewards far outweigh the effort required.  And don't be surprised if you get hooked. 

Autumn Harvest

Apples and Cranberries at the Market

Autumn is my favourite season, and is best enjoyed in my other island home of Montreal. With the cooling temperatures and changing landscape palette in southern Quebec comes the bountiful harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables that abound with flavour, colour and texture. The practice of apple picking at a farm is not only fun but also rewarding as you get to bring home fresh, crisp apples for making pies, cakes, and sauces.

I went apple picking last week in Hollis, New Hampshire with my sister Julie; some of the best apple varieties to pick at that time were Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, Rome and Red Delicious. Eating an apple freshly picked off the tree is an experience to behold. The ripe ones are crisp, juicy, and provide the maximum vitamin content. My favourite eating apple is the Fuji variety because they are sweet, crunchy, and juicy, however they were not ready to pick at the time of my visit.

Pumpkin Varieties at the Market

The Atwater Market in Montreal is a splash of colour with flowers galore interspersed with late summer/early autumn harvest produce. Pumpkins in a variety of colours, sizes and shapes are on display in their pre-Halloween glory. It is a tantalizing time to visit the market, and you are sure to return home with an enhanced appetite.

Colour Kaleidoscope of Chrysanthemums and Pumpkins

With all this fresh produce comes the desire to bake so that the home is well stocked with delicious homemade snacks. I whipped up a batch of Oatmeal, Cranberry, White Chocolate cookies made with whole wheat flour, brown sugar, organic rolled oats and roasted walnuts. I baked them a few minutes longer to ensure extra crispiness. The added walnuts enhance the nutty flavour of the oatmeal, and the white chocolate and dried cranberries impart a delightful sweet and sour taste to every bite. These cookies are wholesome, rustic and oh, so tasty.

Fresh Cranberries at the Market

Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and White Chocolate

Now it is on to more baking from my stash of fresh apples. Happy harvest from Crumbs Homemade!

Pure Pesto

Sweet Basil from the Garden

An essential condiment in my kitchen is Pesto, which is basically a paste or sauce made from fresh sweet basil leaves, pine nuts, fresh garlic, grated parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil. It is so easy to prepare that I make sure to have it on hand regularly. Ideally if you can grow sweet basil in your herb garden, you can have the fresh leaves available whenever you are ready to prepare the Pesto. And there is nothing like preparing a dish using fresh herbs just cut from your home garden. Otherwise, basil leaves are usually available in most grocery outlets, but make sure the leaves that you purchase are not withered or blackened, but fresh looking and very green.

Easy to whip up with a food processor that grinds all the ingredients together, Pesto adds a burst of flavour to any dish, and is especially delicious as a spread in sandwiches, as a pasta sauce, for chip dips, or as a cracker spread. Once you start making it, you will always want to have it stocked in your refrigerator.

Tasty, healthy, and versatile - Pesto is one of those must haves in any kitchen.

Fresh Pesto

How Does Your Morning Stack Up?

Cornmeal Pancakes With Fresh Berries

What better way to wake up on a Sunday morning than to the aroma of homemade pancakes cooking in the kitchen? And these are just no ordinary pancakes. They are Cornmeal Pancakes made with a specific type of cornmeal - a gritty, coarse variety sourced from the Bridgetown outdoor market where fresh fruits, vegetables, and condiments abound. This type of cornmeal provides a tasty, wholesome corn flavour, something you can really sink your teeth into. The pancakes are made with buttermilk, eggs, and oil, and no added flour or sugar. Stacked aplenty, topped with fresh berries of your choice - my preference is blueberries or raspberries - and doused with pure Canadian maple syrup, this is a great, hearty way to start a laid back Sunday. As the saying goes, keep it "easy like Sunday morning".

Typical Bridgetown Market Scene

Summer Sensations

Fettuccine with Stir-Fry Vegetables

After a long, devastating drought not experienced in Barbados for decades, the dry winter months have finally passed. From the onset of the first brief downpours during the month of May, the Bajan landscape suddenly emerges in all its glory. Garden ornamentals start to bloom profusely, offering their abundance of colour, texture and aroma.

The common sites of summer include brilliant yellow Poui trees, fantastic Flamboyant trees, and mango trees in full fruit. Summer colours, flavours, and heat can all be translated in the kitchen through dishes filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and spices.

One such dish is a pasta favourite made with stir-fried vegetables served over pesto infused fettuccine. Onions, red bell peppers, and broccoli are lightly pan fried in olive oil with fresh garlic and dusted with hot cayenne powder. The fettuccine is prepared al dente and mixed with homemade pesto, and then topped with the stir-fry mixture. Serve at lunch time in the garden surrounded by tropical splendour...............

Anole lizard (Anolis extremus) on red Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia splendens)

White Petrea (Petrea volubilis)

Orange Aphelandra (Aphelandra var.)

............or at sundown on the patio while witnessing the glorious sunset. Top this off with a Crumbs Homemade favourite, and kick back and relax. It's going to be a fabulous summer!

Barbados sunset

Winter Warmth

Winter season in Barbados means plenty of sunshine, brisk tradewinds, and deep blue skies, all of which lure plenty of visitors out of the cold and onto the island's sun-kissed shores. Included in those visitors over this winter season were a number of my relatives and close friends who, as my guests, were treated to a dose of Bajan hospitality.

What this meant was rolling up my sleeves and dishing out plenty of home cooked specials, including local fresh fish prepared with curry and other flavourful herbs and spices, fresh vegetables and crisp salads, and loads of fresh fruits. To top off these favourites, I baked up a storm of goodies that kept everyone calling for more.


Featured prominently on my winter dessert menu were Date Nut Squares, Blondies, and Blueberry Gingerbread, all equally tantalizing and delicious. Arranging slices of these cakes on a single platter for tea or after meals was a highlight of the day. The difficulty was choosing which one to taste, and as expected, most of our guests gave in and sampled all.

It was a pleasure having my sister and business partner, Julie, back in Barbados for her usual double-header visit in December and February. Whenever we get together, no matter where we are, we bake excessively, much to the delight of whoever is around us. We have found that an overwhelming favourite is the Pumpkin Walnut Bread which is moist and tasty, with the added joy of roasted walnuts and sweet raisins in practically every whole wheat bite.


My guests have all returned back to their respective temperate locations well rested and well fed, with wonderful memories of their time spent in Barbados. It is time for me now to kick back and savour a slice of that Pumpkin Walnut Bread just baked and smelling amazing. Cheers!

Coconut Bakes

Relaxing with a hot cup of herb tea is my idea of winding down from a long, stressful day at work. Complete that image by adding a slice of freshly baked Coconut Bread, or a soft, chewy Coconut Raisin Drop, each made with freshly grated coconut, plump raisins, and whole wheat flour. The smell alone of something baking with coconut is heavenly; the taste is even more amazing.



Coconut Bread, or Sweet Bread as it is referred to here, is almost a staple in Barbados. Our version is less sweet and more "nutty", but just as satisfying. Most Sweet Breads are sprinkled with granulated sugar before being baked to produce a bread with a crunchy topping. We leave that step out to reduce the amount of sugar being consumed. In our view, adding a generous amount of raisins to the bread provides enough natural fructose (fruit sugar) which complements the nutty coconut flavour. This tea bread is moist and flavourful and oh so Caribbean.


The Coconut Raisin Drops tend to go first when offered at my dessert table. It's really very hard to just consume one of these absolutely delightful mini-cakes. That is why I usually have to make a double batch whenever I have visitors stop by. We also make a White Chocolate Cranberry variety which is also terrific. Sampling one of each is definitely the way to go!

Hola Granola

We all love to snack in between meals, but the question is what to snack on that doesn't make you regretful after you swallow the last bite. One of my favourite snacks is fresh granola, which can be eaten on its own, or as a topping on fat-free natural yogurt which is drizzled with real maple syrup and topped with fresh berries. Most days when I come home from work, I grab the granola bag and hope that it is not empty because my husband, Geoff, is virtually hooked on it. He insists that I make a fresh batch every weekend so that we don't run out during the week.

When my sister, Julie, was last in Barbados over the holidays, she made this granola in a flash and I was amazed at how delicious it was. It is super easy to make and the result is a naturally sweet and crunchy snack that is healthy and satisfying. We've added it to our Crumbs Homemade menu so that we can share it with you.

Crumb of the Month

I love the smell of fresh lemons, especially from freshly squeezed lemon juice or from grating the rind of a lemon. Both ingredients form a part of this amazing Lemon Yogurt Cake which is incredibly moist due to the addition of fat-free natural yogurt to the batter. Add this cake to your picnic basket, and serve with fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries or grapes.



Lemon Yogurt Cake is well worthy of being the Crumb of the Month in this first month of a new decade. Fresh, tangy and bold - care to join me for a bite?

Nuts About Coconut

What could be more Caribbean than coconut? No surprise then that we use freshly grated coconut in a number of different recipes at Crumbs Homemade.

I buy my coconuts fresh from the market in Bridgetown every Saturday morning so that I have ample grated coconut available for my weekly baking binges. It is not difficult to crack a hard, brown coconut to get at the white flesh inside. You just hit it with a hard implement a few times until it starts to crack and then gently pry it open. Most coconuts have water inside them which you can collect and use in recipes calling for coconut water. Once you have the coconut cracked open, the white flesh inside can then be pulled off the brown outer shell and grated with a box grater. Most coconuts yield over 2 cups of grated coconut which is plenty for most cakes or breads that include that ingredient.

I prefer not to use dessicated coconut when I bake as I find it too dry, and the unsweetened variety is not readily available in Barbados. But fresh coconuts are available on the island all year around. Freshly grated coconut is moist, naturally sweet and really delicious, adding loads of flavour and the right amount of moistness to cakes, tea breads, and cookies.

I started the New Year making Coconut Raisin Drops which are small, round cakes about 3" in diameter filled with freshly grated coconut and loaded with raisins. They come out soft, chewy and moist, and are a delight to eat at tea time or at breakfast. They also make a great healthy snack, as they are made with whole wheat flour and a minimal amount of raw cane sugar.

In Barbados, Coconut Bread is very popular, also known as "Sweet Bread" because it is sweet and baked with a sugary coating. "Rock Cakes" are also really popular - they are small, plain round cakes that are very dry and hard, and traditionally eaten with a sweet fizzy drink to help wash them down. Taking aspects of both popular items, we developed these Coconut Raisin Drops which are less sweet and wonderfully chewy. These small cakes are already a big hit with Crumbs Homemade customers!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas in Barbados means turkey and jug (a local recipe made of crushed pigeon peas), sorrel, punch-a-creme, mince pies and black cake, a traditional fruit cake that is made with dried fruits that have been soaked in rum for many weeks. White sand and palm trees replace snowbanks and pine trees, and all the traditions of a Caribbean Christmas run strong.

For the holidays, Crumbs Homemade produced some festive recipes using some of the traditional Christmas ingredients, including rum, dried fruit, coconut and spices. Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies, Rum & Raisin Holiday Bread, Tri-Chocolate Almond Biscotti, and Blueberry Gingerbread were some of the items baked for the occasion. People young and old love receiving edible gifts, especially those that are hearty and homemade.

Happy Holidays to the customers and followers of Crumbs Homemade, and best wishes for 2010!

Do Blonds Really Have More Fun?

Welcome to my world of chocolate and all the wonderful things that you can bake with chocolate. It's hard to pick a favourite, and in my view, anything made with chocolate is a winner. Add to your list these wonderful, chewy Blondies, a paler version of a classic Brownie that is loaded with chocolate chips and roasted walnuts. Brownies are usually a popular choice on any menu, and Blondies are as delicious. Be assured that you will have as much fun eating these chocolate-loaded Blondies as you would eating any version of a Brownie.

Blondies were one of the many whole wheat goods that were offered by Crumbs Homemade at Brighton Market yesterday morning. My sister, Julie, and I teamed up to bake all the goods, and were on hand to offer the products to the Market's bustling holiday crowd. Menu items included whole wheat Coconut Bread, Classic Banana Bread, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Coffee Cake, Pumpkin Spice Bread, Zucchini Walnut Cake, Date Nut Squares, Oatmeal Raspberry Squares, Coconut Raisin Rock Cakes, and Cranberry White Chocolate Rock Cakes.

Rock Cakes are small but very dense mini cakes that are immensely popular with locals in Barbados. They are normally very hard to bite into, but children love to munch on them slowly and savour each sweet bite. The Crumbs Homemade version, although crunchy, is softer and more flavourful, and may require a name change because they would not be considered as hard as a "rock". Their consistency is more like a scone, and are great for breakfast, tea time, or just as a wholesome snack.

Zucchini Walnut Cake

My sister, Julie, is visiting from Boston and we will be baking a number of Crumbs Homemade delights during her stay at my home in Barbados. She is a Food Writer and Chef, a primary consultant for Crumbs Homemade, and one of the best bakers I know. Welcome back Julie!

To kick off her visit, I whipped up a Zucchini Walnut Cake, one of my sons' favourite cakes, especially when iced with cream cheese frosting. This version is unfrosted to keep the sugar content down. This wholesome whole wheat cake is loaded with grated zucchini, roasted walnuts, raisins, cinnamon and allspice, producing a moist, flavourful cake that can be enjoyed any time of the day. In fact, if you don't tell anyone that there is zucchini in this cake, they would never know!

I make Carrot Cake using the same recipe, substituting the zucchini with grated carrots. Many carrot cakes are made with crushed pineapple, but I much prefer this variety with raisins and walnuts which are a perfect accompaniment to zucchini or carrots. The smell of this cake while it is baking is absolutely divine!

Chocolate Chip Cookies at Brighton Market

Every Saturday morning, Brighton Market in St. George is one of the many places in Barbados to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Other items sold there include beverages, baked goods, plants, local crafts, jams and condiments. Today, Crumbs Homemade offered a variety of whole wheat cookies, scones, blondies, and banana bread for sale, providing customers with more wholesome dessert/snack choices. It was clear from the response that more people in Barbados are seeking out healthier foods and lifestyles.

Sweet Mangoes

A study of fresh Mangoes (acrylic on canvas) painted by my husband, Geoffrey, earlier this year is a fitting addition to this blog, especially as it is his birthday! I will be posting his work regularly on this site as he continues to work on his collection of watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings. Geoffrey, a local Barbadian, is a landscape architect and environmental planner who paints in his spare time, primarily natural vistas, still life, and abstracts with a natural theme.

There is nothing more refreshing than a sweet mango eaten fresh off the tree. A variety of mangoes are grown locally in Barbados. Mangoes are terrific blended in fruit punches and used for chutneys, sorbets or fresh fruit salads. Mango season runs through the summer months throughout the Caribbean.

Fresh Pumpkin From Bridgetown Market

I visit the Bridgetown market every Saturday morning to purchase fruits, vegetables, and other fresh ingredients needed for my cooking and baking. Fresh pumpkin is always on my shopping list, and I look for ones which have dark orange flesh, promising to be sweet and flavourful. Barbados pumpkin is available all year around and there are a variety of different species which are locally grown.

I use fresh pumpkin primarily to make Pumpkin Ginger soup with added hot cayenne pepper, but also to add to my favourite stews and stir fry vegetable dishes. For baking purposes, I use canned pumpkin which is less watery than fresh. Our whole wheat Pumpkin Walnut Bread is loaded with raisins and roasted walnuts, and lightly spiced with nutmeg and allspice. Along with the traditional rum cakes, mince pies and fruit cakes, our Pumpkin Walnut Bread is a terrific addition during the festive season.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins

Muffins are easy to make and fun to eat, especially if they include chocolate! These chocolate muffins are especially delightful as the semi-sweet chocolate chips that are added to the batter melt into a ganache that bursts in your mouth with every bite. Made with whole wheat flour, a minimal amount of brown sugar, and lactose-free milk, these muffins are definitely a must for chocoholics.

Banana Cranberry Walnut Bread

Banana bread is a staple in many homes, and everyone has their favourite recipes. My mother made banana bread whenever there were bananas in the house going ripe. In fact, she made it so often that we nicknamed her Nana Banana!

Adapting her recipe into a more wholesome variety by using whole wheat flour and canola oil, this version is really moist and delicious. In Barbados, I grow bananas in my home garden, and prefer to pick them fresh for baking then to buy them at the grocery. Bajan bananas are really sweet, imparting a natural sweetness to the bread. That means less sugar is needed in the batter.

Banana bread is so versatile that you can enhance it to make it more festive, which is ideal for the holidays. In this variety, roasted walnuts and dried cranberries are added to boost the flavour and add more texture. Before being added to the batter, whole walnuts are roasted in the oven to bring out the nutty flavour, and are then crushed into coarse pieces. For breakfast, tea time, or dessert, this luscious banana bread is perfect for any occasion.

Scones

Scones are best served warm from the oven. Made plain or with corn meal, our whole wheat scones are loaded with raisins, cranberries, or other fruits. They are a great alternative to breads at tea time or breakfast, and can be sweetened by adding your favourite jams with every bite. Our special Oatmeal Raspberry is made with organic oats and seedless raspberry jam, a variety that is sure to please!