The Way We Were- Collabaration- The way we were at Christmas

 

Christmas long ago was quit exhausting, there was a lot of hustle and bustle  and keeping up with the day to day preparation for that special day was a work intensive process. For you see everything had to be done by the family. From the making of the curtains, painting, cleaning, baking etc. Christmas was really time consuming by the time the day came along most were dead on their feet unable to really enjoy the which was filled with more cooking. The lady of the house had to be multitalented and a multitasked because everything was done by her.

So coming up to big day cooking was very simple and was made up of dishes that took very little time to make. I must say women back then were masters at time management when it came to making a meal. Let's take a look down memory lane and see how a healthy quick meal was made. We are going to make a Palau.

Recipe:

 







1lb Wild/brown rice
5lb yard fowl cut ( this can be substituted with ex layer it has the same quality and taste)
3 lbs. freshly grown pigeon peas
4 cups coconut milk
3 tps coconut oil
3 tps rouco this would be pre made from the boiling of the bean of the plant in to a thick red  liquid (for browning)
1 cups dice pumpkin
1 cup dice carrots
fresh green seasoning ( chive, thyme, basil, celery, lemon grass, big thyme, shado- benie and ruff skin lemon, garlic and onion) all this must be blended together with salt.

Method

Grind seasoning in a mill, wash and cut up chicken with lemon juice and leave to marinate.
Clean pea and put to boil cooked until soft, drain and set aside.
Clean the rice making sure to remove any stones etc.
grate the coconut and squeeze out the milk
Put on the iron pot to hot, put the oil in and the rouco and when sizzling place in the meat and allow to brown, allow the meat to cook.
Then add all other ingredients to pot including the coconut milk and lower heat and steam with a fig leaf for cover.
Remove and serve hot with a cucumber. mmmmmmmmmmmm !

Know the healing properties:

PIGEON PEAS

 We all know this wonderful pea that we use in our local dishes like Palau. Its a drought resistant plant that originated in India and is cultivated across tropical regions all over.  It's packed full of nutrition as its full of protein, fiber and vitamins. Its contains B vitamins, Potassium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. Its great for vegetarians as it can be a meat replacement and its low in fat.

It can be found dried ,canned or fresh- its even available frozen.

The plant is easy to grow and can tolerate poor soils.

Coconut (Dry)

Spanish explorers named it Cocoas- because of the three eyes that looked like a monkey. The coconut palm "the tree which gives all needed for living" can be found all over the world.

The coconut referred here is the dry nut with the white meat which we all know. it can be grated or blended and the milk strained out to be used for cooking.

Coconuts are very nutritious as its packed with healthy fats, vitamin B1, B3, B6 and minerals including selenium, calcium, magnesium and many more. It can also be used as a milk substitute for those who have lactose problems. The milk gives food a distinct flavor and adds a natural sweetness to any dish.

The oil can even be extracted and used for cooking or used topically as a powerful anti- aging moisturizer.

Cilantro (bhandhanya /Shado benie )

 We all know this versatile herb as it is synonymous with green seasoning. This herb is used all over the Caribbean, Latin America and South East Asia. It has many names - Spirit weed, Cilantro (not Cilantro), saw tooth coriander,etc. and it is native to South America and the Caribbean

Cilantro is rich in Calcium, Iron, B vitamins, Vitamin A and C. It also used for colds, fevers and diarrhea. It can be made into a tea or boiled gently. Of course we use it as seasoning given its pungent aroma and taste.

Organically grown Cilantro has the best flavor and more natural oils that give its unique flavor. You can get this herb at any market or grocery.

 

The Way We Were- Courtship

THE DATING GAME

 

The way we were when one fell in love or decided it was time for them to settle down and find someone special to share there lives; was quit different from the courtship of today. Ones parents and match making chose and decided who was best for you sometimes the screening process was mostly like a business transaction. With the  details of match up being left up the parents of the couples. sometime with a not even anyone thinking to asked you if you liked the young man or visa versa and whose case scenario you would meet your intended for first time at the alter.

Today relationship is quit liberal  and direct and it is  fair say, that the women of today are the pursuer rather than the pursued. There may be allot of reasonable factors that contributed to this new kind of mating ritual  of course, of and there are allot of reasons that attributed to the trading of roles system what we have today;  where a woman can decide that it time for a  "bootie call" or wants a relationship she doesn't feel she need to wait to be asked,  she does the asking herself first and if the man is interested they hook up.  she is paying her own bills and is in control of her own life. therefore why should she not make the selection of her mate, her choice. Even if it means marring outside of her race. Something that would of brought great shame, pain and disgrace to her family. Wow how times have changed and I would say for the better.

 

 

 



But the way we were, courtship was exactly what is was supposed to be courtship. one waited to be courted. A potential suitor would scope out the girl of his choice, carefully observing her. As she went about her daily life. then when he was ready he would asked her parents for permission to visit, if he was known by  people in the neighborhood and had a good repetition he would be allowed, and after a short time of visiting, which  would never be alone.Then if they both like each other, he would approach her father with a formal writing letter request his permission to marry his daughter. And if they agreed and she accepted he would purpose formally to her.  There was hardly ever any sex  before marriage happening back, that kind of thing was consider un- lady like behavior. And spurred upon by all. It was the fashion back then to marry a virgin.

 

In my opinion relationship goes with courtship and it doesn't really matter how two people get together. Its all about how they live together that's important.

 

 



 

The Way We Were - The Styles

 

The styles we wore reflected a generation that wanted to be set apart from their parents moving away from the dullest and struggle of what they lived though and creating a new identity for themselves.

The clothing was  out there, radical and sexy look giving a new expression to how they felt about themselves. Just like the wave of social media define this generation, coming with it's new mode or medium of communicating; it was the same thing fashion did for the youths of the eighties.  So let take a blast though the past   and see if anything have really changed. In reality nothing ever really changes but us. Fashion just keeps revolving and coming back in a different and a new name depending on the designer. I have deliberatly mixed the eighties styles up with those of the twenty first centrury can you put the eighties from the 2015 designs. Let's how much you can spot give a me a comment on how much you can spot.

 

Even men fashion of the day is still the same now. So maybe before you call your parents old fashion you should think again. There are no new design just a fresh perspective on the same styles. Some thing to think about.