Thursday 18 July 2019

Bakes

In Barbados, we have a variety of  well-loved island foods that Bajans enjoy eating.
Whether you are a true "born and bred" Bajan or just a visitor to the island you will end up enjoying a bake or two for a morning breakfast or a daytime snack. 
Whether you're far away from home or just kicking back on a Sunday morning and not sure what to eat to start the day, bakes will do the trick.
My friend Carl recently sent me a photo of his brunch plate.

Bakes - the Bajan way

Oh my gosh golly...Bakes...I had not eaten any of these delicious delicacies for so long.
My mum would make us bakes on rainy days or when we had run out of bread or even when we were ill and we didn't feel like eating....we always ate the bakes.
My taste buds started to water and I longed for them once more.
I decided there and then that I would make myself some bakes for lunch.
They're quite easy to make and every pantry should have the basic ingredients on hand.
I have no exact measurements...sorry....just eye ball it.

Bajan Bakes
The rough measurements for the ingredients are:
 2 cups of all purpose flour (I mixed a little spelt flour into the batter)
I tablespoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
2 tablespoons (or less) of sugar
A little spice - a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)
Water to mix it all together into a pancake consistency.

In a pan with hot oil carefully place the batter in spoonfuls and fry till golden brown on both sides.

Good old Bajan Bakes
Only eight bakes?
Of course not..... I made two layers of them...couldn't help it.
Bakes can be eaten with fishcakes, (another Bajan favourite), any kind of frizzled fish (bul jol), cheese, porridge or even a heavy drizzle of pancake syrup....whatever you fancy.
Opened up a can of Tuna in Thai Chili sauce (VERY HOTT) to go along with the bakes.
A nice fresh salad and a glass of cold mango juice and it was all good.

As luck would have it, a friend popped by and he was happy to have some too. (see photo above)
A little later, daughter dear came by and she was overjoyed to find them and she loaded up a good portion to take home with her.

They were really good and I hope I won't take too long to make another batch.

It must be noted here that the other Caribbean islands also enjoy bakes too, but depending on which island you visit, the bakes will be different.
Sometimes they are small and dense and muffin like, or they may be  large and round or big and fluffy with an air  pocket on the inside that can be filled.
Any way they are served they are all good.

Tuesday 16 July 2019

A child's love

Being a mother is one of the purest joys in my life.
My daughter is an inspiration to my soul, my being,.....she is my "raison d'etre".
Despite her being an adult now I still cherish and protect her like a mother hen.
She is and will always be my only "chickee".

I remember way back when I found out I was pregnant  how excited I was.
I prayed for a safe delivery and I was blessed.
I prayed for a baby girl and I was blessed.
I prayed to love her unconditionally and I was blessed.
I prayed that our bond would be forever strong and I was blessed.

Today that little baby girl is now a woman and I am overjoyed whenever I see her.
She is caring, sensitive, funny, thoughtful,selfless, protective and very loving.
As I get older, somehow she realises that it is now her turn to look after me "the mother" who is now "the child".
Our conversations are filled with her curiosity on my whereabouts and my daily chores and if she can help me in any way.
I feel so blessed that she has grown up to be a good person, a good daughter, a good friend.

She seems to be following in my footsteps more and more...this makes me very happy.
She is now a REAL plant lover.
Her veggie garden puts mine to shame and her gorgeous flowers are like a small botanical garden.
I never thought I would live to see the day when she would be interested in digging around in the dirt.

On Friday afternoon after finishing for the day at bible school summer camp, she popped by to say hello and shower me with hugs and kisses.
In her hand she held a small bunch of freshly picked flowers..
"These are for you mum," she said happily.
"To the best mummy in the world!"
Immediately it brought back memories of me walking her to school in her blue overall uniform with  a freshly pressed white blouse, her pigtails neatly tied with blue ribbons, .....and how she would stop along the way and pick flowers from various hedges which she would then hand over to me just before saying goodbye for the day as she entered the school gate.
Memories do bring a smile and a tear to your eyes....yes they do.
A mother's love....now a child's love.


 The best floral bouquet from the best daughter in the world.



 "To the best mummy in the world!"


Thank you Nat!
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