Going bananas with bananas!

Three years ago my beloved father-in-law sent us 5 banana plants from his garden in Puerto Rico.  My husband planted them, fertilized and watered them.  After awhile, three plants survived and FINALLY one of them gave us fruit!  It was pretty amazing to see the gorgeous banana flower emerge, bloom and morph into “hands” of bananas. (see pictures)

Following is a little botanical background on the banana: 

Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa (Musa acuminata Colla, M. X paradisiaca L. )and for the fruit they produce.  They are thought to have originated in Malaysia, and later spread to the Philippines and India. The genus name of “Musa” honors Antonius Musa, who supposedly cured Caesar from his deathbed using medicines derived from the banana plant.  The perennial banana plant is the world's largest herb arising from underground rhizomes, which can grow up to 30 feet tall!  The large oblong or elliptic leaf blades extend upward and outward , becoming as much as 9 feet long and 2 feet wide.  The banana flower shooting out from the heart in the tip of the stem, is at first a large, long-oval, tapering, purple-clad bud. As it opens, the slim, nectar-rich, tubular, toothed, white flowers appear (called “fingers”). They are clustered in whorled double rows along the floral stalk, each cluster covered by a thick, waxy, hood- like bract, purple outside and deep red within.  The fruit "fingers" grow in clumps which are in turn called “hands”. The stem will grow about 9 - 12 hands which circle the stalk, meaning that a single banana plant can yield up to 240 bananas! This plant is totally biodegradable, aids in soil regeneration and absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide.  The Cavendish banana is the popular yellow banana we know in the U.S. and Canada.  Bananas were introduced to the USA at  the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, where each banana was wrapped in foil and sold for 10 cents.

Bananas are shipped all over the world and are prepared in a myriad of recipes.

In the Southeast Asian countries the banana flower, also called the banana heart, is stripped of its outer reddish leaves, sliced and then added to salads, curry dishes and vegetable stews.  The leaves of the banana plant are an essential ingredient for nearly all tropical cuisines. They are for baking, steaming, or barbecuing foods, much like parchment paper, tin foil or cornhusks (corn husks).  Banana leaves function as a natural wrap while imparting a subtle sweetness to the enclosed ingredients. They also make for an excellent and artistic way to present and serve food, such as an under plate, doily or table mats.

Green bananas are a great source of beneficial fiber.  Green bananas contain short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are indigestible to humans but preferred by the cells in the small and large intestinal linings.  When these cells are well-nourished and healthy, the body's ability to absorb nutrients and prevent diseases such as colon cancer, are increased  dramatically.  Bananas contain three natural sugars: sucrose, fructose, and glucose. They give an immediate boost of energy and are a good source of potassium and fiber. Today the banana is America's second best selling fruit (the apple is first)!

So now that you know all about banana, following is a traditional Puerto Rican dish called “Guineitos en Escabeche con Mollejitas” (Green Bananas Escabeche with Chicken Gizzards) you can go bananas with!  Escabeche is an acidic Spanish marinade and pickling used for seasoning fish, poultry or vegetables. This dish should be made 1-3 days ahead for the flavors to really mingle and develop.

Si me dan pasteles...

Pasteles (pronounced pas-tell-les) is a Christmas culinary tradition in Puerto Rico and to all Puerto Ricans globally.  They are basically meat filled pies whose dough is made from different vegetables. Pasteles are one of the most important elements in a Christmas Eve meal, the others being arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and lechon asao also known as pernil (roasted pork). 

So yesterday was our official “pasteles” making day.  Every Christmas season, I dread this day like the plague. The whole process of buying the ingredients, preparing them and washing 50 million kitchen thingies sends me into a Navidad tailspin.  I told my mother emphatically, that this year I would buy all the ingredients and the rest of the “trabajito” was hers.  My husband, who is filled to the brim with Christmas spirit this year, offered his services to assist her.  Que bueno yerno!!

To give you a quick breakdown on how the pasteles are made, you make a meat filling and a “masa” dough.  For the filling, you take a fresh pork shoulder roast, cut all the meat off of it and prepare it as a stew with onions, recao (culantro), green peppers, garlic, sofrito, fresh oregano, salt, capers, olives, Sazon and some additional “secret” ingredients.  My mother cuts the “cuero” (the thick fat cover of the pork roast) in small pieces and fries it separately until brown and crispy. She then adds this to the meat so no one gets a glob of white fat in their pastel. The masa consists of a combination of green bananas, green plantains, “yautia” (taro root) and calabaza (tropical pumpkin) which are peeled and then pureed in a food processor with a little milk, liquid from the pork “stew” and a touch of annatto oil (vegetable oil infused with annatto seeds). My husband was in charge of pureeing the vegetables and his “masa” came out beautifully, almost mousse-like! Suavecita!!

Now we are ready to start making the pasteles.  White “papel de pasteles” (parchment paper) or aluminum foil, banana leaves, achiote oil and butcher twine are used.  You take a sheet of paper or foil, place a piece of banana leaf in the center and paint the leaf with achiote oil to prevent the pastel from sticking.  If you don’t use a banana leaf you still paint the paper. The large spoonful of  “masa” is then spread on the banana leaf and the pork filling is placed on top.  You can add garbanzos, green olives and a bit of chopped red pimientos (red pepper) if you desire. You then fold the paper almost like you are wrapping a gift, making sure to double even triple fold the ends to prevent leakage of the masa.  Tie the packets of “pasteles” in pairs (seam sides together)securely with the twine.  You now freeze the little suckers for Christmas Eve.  Of course, the “helpers” get to eat one right away for their “ayuda”!  The “packets” are boiled in salted water for approximately 45 mins, turning occasionally to insure the entire pastel is cooked.  Once done, remove from the water, cut the string, drain off any water that may have gotten in the pastel, and slide on a plate.  Eating one of these is like spending a moment in heaven and having memories of Christmas-pasts rushing all over you!!  So what did I do while all this action was taking place in my kitchen?  I took a nap and woke up just in time to eat a pastel!!

Every Puerto Rican family has their own unique way of making pasteles. The following websites have pretty good recipes:

http://www.whats4eats.com/vegetables/pasteles-recipe%20

http://members.tripod.com/~apadilla98_2/recipes/cuisine.html

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/cocina/

Christmas Countdown Summary #1 aka Please pass the Sangria!

So the Christmas Countdown has finished its first week. I must admit that at first I was a little sad and disappointed because I did not immediately receive any emails regarding it. (that good old instant gratification bug bit).  But as the week progressed, I got the best feedback possible.

On the first day of Christmas.....I gave a little Christmas cheer with a smile!

• A lucky young man with a 57 math test score was spared bodily harm because Mom had the Christmas spirit.

• One participant “loves” the idea of the countdown.

On the second day of Christmas….I gave the Christmas spirit without interest!

•  Some one beat me to the Salvation Army bell ringer with a donation.

•  Someone graciously gave up their lunch.

On the third day of Christmas….I gave Christmas greetings in writing!

•  Someone shared their words at the crack of dawn.

•  Someone was inspired to write an entire poem.
  

On the fourth day of Christmas.....I gave a little Christmas silence!

• Two participants faced the “no gossip” challenge as soon as they hit the door at work. Both were very uncomfortable with the situation due to their heightened awareness of the Christmas spirit.

•  My husband and I constantly reminded each other to “wrap the tongue” when we began to make unsavory comments about some impatient and rude shoppers during the Christmas tree purchase. My husband actually turned a super negative ogress into a Christmas spirit-laden smiling human being with his gentle chiding and patience!!

On the fifth day of Christmas….I gave Christmas laughter!

•  I risked total humiliation and posted a holiday riddle on my FB status.

I’m finding that I’m saying “Merry Christmas” much more often.  I’m successfully resisting the urge to kill and maim bought on by the rages of “hot flashes”, a stressed society and inept customer service. Could it be that the Christmas Spirit is trying to find a crash pad in me??
I hope so, coz I have hung the “vacancy” sign for it in my heart!  To celebrate all the hard work we’ve done “Christmas-zising” this week…make a pitcher of the following doctored up Sangria and let’s enjoy a job well done!!

It's Coquito time!

It’s the first week of December and this is when I traditionally make my first batch of “Coquito”, the quintessential Puerto Rican holiday drink. Coquito (“little coconut” in Spanish) is our version of the American eggnog.
The history of eggnog is at best sketchy. Many believe it is a derivative of the wine and milk punches from the old world Europe. In America, the punch was made by substituting rum for the wine. The American colonists called rum “grog” so the combination of the milk-egg blend and grog eventually became eggnog. Other experts attribute the term eggnog to come from the use of a small wooden mug called a “noggin” in which the “egg” concoction was served in taverns.
Coquito has many variations but it is basically made with Puerto Rican rum, coconut milk, eggs, evaporated and sweet condensed milks. Spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, anise and cloves. A little known fact is that Carnation Evaporated milk was created in 1899 and has been a favorite ingredient in the making of milk-based dishes ever since.
Coquito is traditionally served well chilled in shot or cordial glasses and may be sprinkled with grated nutmeg or powdered cinnamon.
El Museo del Barrio in New York City will be hosting their very popular annual Coquito Master Qualifier Series tastings on December 19th. Additional information may be found on their website - http://www.elmuseo.org/.
Following is my tried and true recipe for the very best version of coquito:

Christmas Countdown 2009

 
Thanksgiving has come and gone.   It was a wondrous affair at my daughter's this year.   She insisted on keeping it simple and by golly it was much less stressful!  Our two families came together quite nicely and we had a bountiful feast!  We were all thankful for the abundance of blessings that have come our way this year.  Which of course got me thinking of how how I could personally rid Christmas this year of it's vainglorious coat of commercialism and ostentatious smug.  So after a few hours of mulling it over, I sent the following email to my family and friends and thus the "Christmas Countdown 2009" has officially begun!! Fa-la-la-la-la, la,la,la,la!!
Following is a copy of the email sent:

“I’m having a party!”

As my sister uttered those words, my immediate response was “What are you selling?”

My sister a perpetual “hostess”, is the ultimate party plan diva.  Although she does it primarily to make a little extra money and get terrific “hostess-only” gifts, secretly she loves the whole social aspect.  It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with friends and learn about a product together.  Of course, this is very, very advantageous for the hostess. Because if you feel good, you spend more!

For all you “hostess party” virgins, here’s a brief breakdown.  You get an invitation to the product party from the hostess.  You arrive at the “party” house, view the product’s demonstration, hear the sales pitch and then pull out your checkbook/credit card and begin shopping!  After the sales are taken, the next pitch is thrown.  You too can have the “hostess only” gifts and make oodles of money by hosting your own party and/or become a sales associate.  Since selling, pitching and buying are all very hard work,  food and refreshments are now served.  You can all now gush about your new treasures over appetizers, cake and coffee.

This direct marketing was made famous by Brownie Wise (1913-1992), a former sales representative of Stanley Home Products.  She was a legendary saleswoman largely responsible for the success of Tupperware by perfecting  the home party sales system.

Ms. Wise was eventually  made VP & General Manager of Tupperware. She developed the incentive & rewards program for sales and provided self-employment opportunities for the participating women.  Her sales force grew from 200 women in the program in 1951, to an astonishing 9000 in 1954.  This is quite the accomplished feat considering the post-war, male-driven, pre-feminist social culture of the 1950s.  In 1954, she became the first woman to appear on the cover of Business Week.

Unfortunately she and Earl Tupper (founder of Tupperware) had a tumultuous business relationship which eventually resulted in her dismissal in 1958.  Not only was every reference to Ms Wise removed from company literature, but she was fired without stock options and the usual executive’s parting benefits.  Her total severance package amounted to one year's severance pay (approx $30K).

Ms Wise attempted many business ventures afterwards but did not accomplish the success of her Tupperware tenure.  She died in Kissimmee, Florida in 1992.

I give props to Brownie Wise for becoming a self-made woman and a genius in the marketing field.  She is a true inspiration and role model for the business woman today.

So, my dear sister, I raise my glass of Pinot Noir and salute your dedicated preservation of this business legend and put in my order for the laundry detergent!

Following is the Sunflower Cake Recipe, sis served at this weekend's party:

Holiday Baking

There's a chill in the air, football games have started and Thanksgiving is 16 days away!  OK, so my chill is from the AC because it's 89 degrees in Miami. November is the my time to lose myself in flour, butter, eggs, chocolate chips, chocolate squares, pumpkin puree, lemon zest, chopped nuts and so on.  I've always loved to bake and I have the collection of cookbooks and baking gadgets to prove it.   From making Dunkin Hines brownies in my tweens with my sister in our Connecticut kitchen, I have graduated to making exquisitely decorated maple leaf sugar cookies and perfectly kneaded and risen breads. The flour sifter, measuring cups/spoons, thousands of recipes and hundreds of unsalted sticks of butter have been the ones to usher in the end-of-the-year holidays for my family.  But with all the "experiments" I have done, the two creations most loved by the family are "Pumpkin Roll" and "Da Bomb Peanut Butter Toffee-licious Cookies".  The pumpkin roll recipe was given to me by Helen Joy, a long time friend.  The recipe was her grandmother's and its the best in my humble opinion.  It has minimal tweaking by me.  Da Bomb PB cookies are just that...da bomb! This is a compilation of different PB, toffee and chocolate chip cookies reciepes from my vast resources.  My husband and son devoured a whole batch in less than 12 hours.  So pre-set that oven to the required degrees, put on your apron, pour a glass of your favorite wine, play some Christmas music and get baking!

The Count’s Soon to be Favorite Caramel Apple

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, over many quaint and curious cyberworld volumes for a perfect caramel apple recipe, the light bulb went on! I said to my self “Self, is there a wine caramel apple recipe out there?” And the answer is a spoocktacular and banshee wailing “Yes!” Be still my tell-tale heart! It’s sort of Halloweenie-fitting that the Red Wine Carmel Apple recipe comes to us in the death throes of the last issue of Gourmet which was instituted in 1941. This month’s announcement from parent company Conde Nest, illustrates the changing trends in the epicurean world due to a fledgling economy. Lavish is out, green and thrifty is in. And this is not a bad thing. I did try 2-3 recipes from Gourmet, but always had to look for some exotic or obscure ingredients that sent the cost of preparing the dish somewhat beyond my meager means. Sometimes the simpler & less time consuming recipes will allow you more time to banter and actually enjoy your meal with friends and family. So tonight, my fellow ghoulie gourmets, I will be actually making this recipe for my Favorite Count (wink, wink, Santos!). I will be using a Rosemount 2005 Shiraz (left over from Erica & Bruce’s wedding) and I will be cutting the apples into wedges and pouring the wine caramel sauce over the slices to save time. This culinary delight will then be enjoyed with tonight’s viewing of the Hitchcock 1963 classic “The Birds”. This will be my precursor to All Hallows Eve and to how Stephen King so eloquently stated “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Here’s to living, my friends!

Greetings my fellow connoisseurs!
As for this past weekend, I spent it lovingly making the Recipe of the Month from the Rock Resorts newsletter. Chef Mary Nearn’s (La Posada de Santa Fe in New Mexico) recipe for Coriander Crusted Scallops with Chive Potato Hash and Sweet Corn Sauce recipe forced me to learn some “new” cooking techniques, including how to make herbed oil, how to strip corn on the cob and how to cook scallops perfectly. The sweet /russet potatoes combination with the scrumptious sweet corn sauce was awesome. I must confess that I am a total klutz with a knife, so my dear husband, diced everything for me. As for the wine, I originally thought about having a Sauvignon Blanc but out the corner of my eye at Publix, I spotted Ecologica, an organic wine made with 60% Torrontes and 40% Chardonnay, which had been touted as one of the first Fair Trade Certified(TM) and organic wines to be sold in the nation. I had recently tasted the Crios Torrontes ((pronounced tore-rahn-TEZ), from Argentina upon my son’s enthusiastic suggestion and liked it quite a bit. I wondered how the Chardonnay would recast the Torrontes taste and promptly dropped it in my cart for the modest price of $12.99. I chilled this wine for approx 25 mins and placed it in a terra cotta wine cooler. I let it breathe for approximately 20 mins before serving. It does have a convenient screw top.

Read on for the tasting notes:

A New Venture

....so on the advice of dear primito Jerry, I have decided to start a blog on my experiences with wine and food! I currently love to cook "different" foods and drink all wines. Here in my little corner of cyber-space, I will lend voice to my tastings for your kind perusal!