A PLEA FOR HELP: An emotional request for basic needs painted on this gate serves as a constant reminder of the dire situation being faced by citizens in parts of Haiti.
FLASHBACK: It’s hard to forget the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti in 2010. Mosctha’s 20-20 Campaign involved providing food, tents and water. Mosctha was also involved in building homes for the displaced.
The Sweetest Thing : Haitian Sweet Potato Cake
Haitian Sweet Potato Cake
2 pounds sweet potato, peeled
1 large ripe banana, peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ (12-ounce) cans evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cloves, crushed
Rind of 1 lemon, grated
1½ cups light coconut milk
3 teaspoons butter
Preheat oven to 375º F.
Grate sweet potatoes into mixing bowl. Mash banana into sweet potatoes. Add all the ingredients (except 1 tablespoon brown sugar), mixing in one ingredient at a time until each ingredient is fully blended into the mix.
Spread evenly into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of brown sugar over the top of the pudding. Bake for 1½ hours, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
Serve warm or cold and keep leftovers refrigerated.
Pikliz Please!
A staple of Haitian cuisine is Pikliz. For most it is a home-made condiment geared to amp up the spice factor of a main dish be it any type of meat or fish, but for me it might as well be the main dish.
I don’t believe in following recipes to the T and Pikliz is perfect to experiment with - so instead I’ll give you the goal: create a relish/slaw/salsa like substance that has spice & tang.
The process is simple.
1. Thinly slice cabbage.
2. Chop, slice and dice a trillion other ingredients.
3. Toss the above in a jar.
4. Add some sort of acidic liquid like grapefruit or orange juice.
5. Put the lid on the jar.
6. Practice patience- the longer your creation marinates, the hotter it will be.
My Pikliz usually consists of things like:
- white cabbage
- orange juice
- A dash of guava or mango juice for touch of sweetness
- lime juice
- vinegar
- onions
- carrot (shredded)
- scotch bonnet peppers (finely chopped)
- sea salt
- peppercorns
- whole cloves
