Callaloo okra and pumpkin stuffed foil roast fish

"Christmas is coming"

If you’re thinking how is a whole fish even an option for Christmas dinner? then you have never had a Jamaican Christmas dinner. Fried escovitch fish is always an available item and in our family, we don’t do filets. We serve whole fish.  Usually, it’s the only seafood item on the table for anyone who doesn’t eat other animal protein, on second thought maybe we will have a shrimp curry in addition. But let us say you are that one guest who is pescatarian, then chances are the whole fish would be the highlight on your plate. With that said, I decided to dedicate this fish to that person who is coming to Christmas dinner, who may be tired of the escovitch fish (as if that’s even possible).

Chicken Marsala

"Christmas is coming"

Mushrooms, garlic and wine anyone? This is almost one of the easiest thing I have cooked thus far. Chicken marsala is a dish I’ve always had at restaurants but never thought to cook. I generally try to cook recipes for the holidays that is easy to feed a crowd. This one fits the bill perfectly.

Curry Beef Crescent Rolls

"Christmas is coming"

Ground beef always gets left behind at Christmas in favor of the glorious roast chicken and baked ham. But this Christmas you can put your pocket friendly, 80/20 ground beef to good use. This recipe is easy and delicious (aren’t they all). The beef, curry and coconut milk all in a buttery flaky crescent roll…say no more.

Hazelnut Bread pudding

"Christmas is coming"

When you have stale bread, there is no better way to use them up than to make a bread pudding. And this recipe is truly the best bread pudding recipe ever.  It is extremely flavorful, rich in hazelnut flavors and a hint of Jamaican chocolate.  You may end up purchasing bread just to make it.

Sorrel Glazed Ham

"Christmas is coming"

In Jamaica, Christmas is the most loved holiday. It’s a time where we celebrate Christ and family. Once the Poinsettias start to turn red, you know it’s on and popping! With that the fruits are soaking, the sorrel pods are being harvested and everyone is starting to flesh out their Christmas plans. This ham needs to be at the top of list. It’s so moist and delicious and the sorrel and ginger sauce add the most perfect flavor to every bite.

Classic baked Macaroni and Cheese

 

 "Christmas is coming"

 

Have you ever been to a Christmas dinner without mac and cheese? I can say with a certainty that I have never been to any form of family dinner or special occasion that did not have macaroni and cheese in some form. So here it is, my simple, easy, cheesy and delicious version of the classic. I’m sure you’re thinking, I already know how to make this, but you don’t know how to make it like me :)

Orange Chicken

"Christmas is coming"

I’m always trying to find new and different ways to prepare chicken. Not that Orange chicken is a new thing, but it’s not really an everyday flavor for our home meals. When you think orange chicken you think Chinese take-out. This recipe is very flavorful and has beautiful citrus undertones. The chickens are browned to perfection and baked in the oven in a sweet sauce.

Rosemary garlic cream biscuits

"Christmas is coming"

One thing I have always said every dinner table needs, is yummy bread. It can be a hot crossed bun, some rolls or tender flakey biscuits. For this post I opted to go with the biscuits but not just any biscuits. The easiest biscuits you will ever make in your life. None other than cream biscuits, literally three ingredients needed for the most tender, flakey and soft puffs of love. Now add some garlic and rosemary to the mix and you have got a serious addiction on your hands.

Christmas Candy Crush Cookies

"Christmas is coming"

Here I am yet again with another baked item despite the fact that I hate to bake. This cookie dough really did stress me out quite a bit, but it turned out great in the end.  I could never have done Christmas recipes without at least attempting a gingerbread cookie. These babies are actually a cross between a short bread and ginger bread cookie. Very high fat content makes it nice and crumbly, with the sweetness and ginger undertones. 

Oxtail stew

"Christmas is coming"

 What’s more delicious than the tail of a cow seasoned, browned and stewed?  Its truly a staple in Jamaica, not seasonal like sorrel and fruit cake, but consumed all year round, especially for Sunday and Christmas dinner.  Any good Jamaican restaurant (US or local) will serve oxtail as a lunch item, and if the restaurant cooks it especially well, please believe any lunch breaks falling after 1:30pm have a slim chance of getting any.  If you missed it during the week, and you have a loving cook at home, you can surely keep your hopes up for Sunday dinner. If your Sunday dinners consist of cereal or KFC then I’m sorry but you will have to wait till Christmas dinner to feast on the succulent bones.

Rum and raisin roll cake

"Christmas is coming".

In Jamaica rum is as synonymous with Christmas as that baby in a manger. Its in so many desserts and drinks that are consumed in the season; sorrel, black cake, egg-nog, and rum soaked raisins. The latter is a long standing Jamaican tradition. Households are always stocked with sealed containers full of raisins, prunes and currants soaking in rum from the previous year. There are two types of rum cake. The white rum cake (basically vanilla cake soaked in rum) and black cake or fruit cake, which is made with the addition of the blended rum soaked fruits (and then soaked in rum).

Simply Roasted

 Do you ever notice how pharmacies, department stores and the retail industry in general is always a month or two ahead of all holidays? In September you will see Halloween and thanksgiving costumes and decorations anticipating the holiday. From October and November Christmas decorations are already stocked on shelves.  January can barely breathe before pink roses, chocolates and everything love is splattered all around us constantly reminding us that Valentine ’s Day is fast approaching.

Well it is in this same fashion that my blog will overlook the current holiday and prepare the masses for the future holiday. So even though it’s currently thanksgiving time Greedy girl is here to remind everyone that "Christmas is coming".