Tropical fantasy

My passion for cooking came from watching my grandmother and family members cook. On the beautiful Island of wood,water, beautiful green land, the bluest beaches,most welcoming and happiest people I've ever met not to mention the burst of flavor in every bite you take. Whatever is prepared and put in front of you it always smells and taste as good as it looks. Food is an art form that creates an explosion from the mixture of different flavors in your mouth. It creates a feel good feeling. Sparks relationships even, the first time I took my wife out I cooked for her it broke the ice sparked conversation and what better way to introduce myself than saying hey, this is who I am. As my palate matures I try to experiment with different flavors. Presentation is also very important it's important for your food to look good, smell good and most importantly taste good. 

One of my favorite dishes and my country's national dish is Ackee and salt-fish. If you every take a vacation to jamaica this is one of the many dishes you might see..

Ackee/Saltfish and fried dumpling recipe: 

1/2 lb Saltfish (dried, salted codfish)
 12 fresh ackees or 1 (drained) can of tinned ackees
 1 medium onion
 1/2 tsp black pepper
 3 tbsp of butter
 1/2 a hot chilli pepper (ideally Scotch Bonnet)
 1 sweet pepper
 1 chopped tomato
 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

 STEP1- Cover the saltfish in cold water. Let soak overnight (minimum 8 hours) changing the water 2 times

          2-Bring a pan of cold water to the boil and gently simmer the fish for 20 minutes 

          3-Chop the onion, sweet pepper, chilli pepper and tomato.

          4-Remove the fish from water and allow to cool.

             Remove all of bones and skin then flake the flesh of the fish.

          5- Melt the butter in a frying pan and stir fry the onion, black pepper, sweet pepper, chilli and thyme for about 3 minutes. 

          

6-Melt the butter in a frying pan and stir fry the onion, black pepper, sweet pepper, chilli and thyme for about 3 minutes. 

7-Add the Ackee and cook until hot throughout. Stir gently to avoid breaking-up the Ackee

8-Serve with yam, green banana, fried dumplings or Irish potato