Basic Yellow Pound Cake

This is the sister recipe to the Basic Chocolate Pound Cake. Also from The Cake Mix Doctor.
1 package plain yellow cake mix
1 package vanilla instant pudding
1 cup whole milk
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs.
Throw everything into your mixer, and beat on low for 1 minute. Stop mixer, scrape down bowl, and beat 2-3 [...]

Basic Chocolate Pound Cake

This is my standard chocolate wedding cake recipe – it’s firm and more substantial, but still airy enough and really moist. Again, from The Cake Mix Doctor. (recipe for the yellow pound cake found here)
1 pkg (18.25 oz) devils food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix
1 package (3.9 oz) chocolate instant pudding
4 [...]

Caribbean Food — a few thoughts

My youngest daughter is from the Caribbean. Well,  she is from California now, but her first parents are both from the Bahamas.  We blessed baby Nori this week and hosted a small dinner afterwards in our home. In honor of her heritage, I decided to make a Caribbean feast. I did some research and made sure to [...]

Roasted Cinnamon and Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Use the red skinned Yams for this dish. It is slightly sweet, slightly spicy.  I slice them in circles, but they would be great in wedges too.
2 T (1/4 stick) butter, melted
2 T honey
1 T fresh lime juice
1/2 t ground cinnamon
2 pounds red skinned yams, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch rounds
Mango Chutney (get it [...]

Rice w/ Green Onion and Cilantro

This is the dish that went the fastest. Seriously. It was a toss up between this and the beans. Both of these are like an Island twist on the yummy rice and beans most of us love at Mexican restaurants. There is quite a Latin influence in island food, but always with a Caribbean twist (usually [...]

Roasted Spiced Chicken (or “less spicy jerk chicken”)

This dish is a good combo of the warm spices found on the Islands. Frankly, it was a lot of work for not much bang.  I don’t mind doing the work if I am going to get something wonderful out of it. This is basically a jerk chicken recipe but instead of the marinade being [...]

Caribbean Coconut Curry Sauce

Brush the slightly sweet lime scented sauce on chicken or shrimp before you roast or grill it.  This recipe makes enough for 1 1/2 pounds of chicken or shrimp w/ enough left over to pass at the table.
2/3  cup canned cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
6 T minced green onions
2 [...]

Lime Pickled Onions

These sound strange at first, but they are very mild and add a bit of a kick to the Island Pork.  They are also divine on Toasted Brie Sandwiches w/ Mango Chutney or on any other kind of sandwich.   They are easy and yummy and turn a beautiful shade of pink. They also add visual [...]

Mango Salsa

This one is for you Juile. I buy my mango salsa at Trader Joes, but until they hear your protests and build one for you….this will have to do…..
2 cups ripe mango, diced (again, I buy it already peeled and cut at Trader Joes..I have no idea how to do one from scratch….)
1 T fresh [...]

Caribbean Black Beans

When I read this recipie I wasn’t expecting much. It looked like a basic recipie…but when I made them I could not believe how so little work could make SUCH a flavorful dish.  I couldn’t stop eating these.  This one is a keeper for sure. I got lots of request for these, even from people [...]