Dear followers on SXM (Sint Maarten), Our stay on this beautifull rock will end at the end of November. New adventures are ahead for me and my husband so we are leaving Sint Maarten. Because of the high demand for workshops I have plannend some last workshops for you to join. In this newsletter you will find an overview of them. I will also be cooking a last pop-up dinner … [Read more...]
Cacao, food of the ‘Gods’
Recently I visited a neighbour island Dominica (do not confuse it with the Dominican Republic). The island is very green and lush and with lots of rainforest. The ecolodge (banana lama ecovillage) where we stayed was growing their own cacao so Andy, the owner, showed me how to process the raw cacao. DOMINICAN TEA CULTURE I read an article about Dominican Cacao Tea and … [Read more...]
Kale, green superfood!
When it comes to greens, kale is one of the healthiest choices. But more than having a very high nutritional value, it is quite delicious too. As a leafy green vegetable, kale is available in three varieties: ornamental, dinosaur, and curly. Kale belongs to the family of cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and collard greens. Kale is very rich in vitamins, minerals and … [Read more...]
Plantain, a versatile vegetable
Plantains are a common fruit on our island. Plantains are also known as plátanos or bakbanaan and are closely related to fruit/dessert bananas. In general in the kitchen they are treated as vegetables much like fellow tropical produces such as potatoes, taro, breadfruit, yam and sweet potatoes. Plantains have been one of the staple … [Read more...]
Fruity water
At the moment it is very hot and humid on the island. That means that we need to drink a lot of water. But a lot of people and especially children, find drinking water boring so I want to give you some ideas to pimp your water. The tapwater on the island is Reverse Osmosis RO) water. Since most mineral particles (including sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron) are larger … [Read more...]
Fragnant Basil
Basil is one of the most popular herbs to cook with so I want to give you some ideas on how to use basil other then in your pasta dishes or pesto. Basil is a versatile and widely used aromatic herb. Basil is an annual plant that is easy to grow from seed but is very sensitive to cold. The plant grows well in warm climates and is widely used throughout southern Europe, … [Read more...]
Fresh cellery
Whether you prefer it in your Bloody Mary or as a dip there's no doubt that the distinctive taste of fresh celery is a welcome addition to salads, soups, smoothies and many cooked dishes. Health benefits It can help to reduce blood pressure and prevent related cardiovascular diseases. It contains pthalides (organic chemical compounds that act to lower the level of … [Read more...]
Arugula rocks!!!
Arugula is also known as salad or garden rocket, rucola, rucoli, rugula, colewort and roquette. Arugula is one of the most nutritious green-leafy vegetable of Mediterranean origin. It is a small, low growing annual herb featuring dandelion like succulent, elongated, lobular leaves with green-veins. Arugula is a quick growing crop, grows to about 2-3 feet in height with … [Read more...]