Jamaican Christmas Pudding for #SundaySupper

Dec 23, 2012 by

Any major holiday has me homesick. Not even so much missing Jamaica, but missing my family. I haven’t spent a Christmas in Jamaica in a decade. I’ll  have to work on fixing that in years to come. Aside from the family gatherings, and holiday parties, I always look forward to the food. YES! The food!! 🙂 The theme for today’s #SundaySupper is Holidays, Heritage and Traditions. Our wonderful host is Bea from Galactopdx. You’ll love the wonderful recipes being shared today!

Christmas time has always been a special time for families. Children get excited about gifts and everyone gets into the holiday spirit of giving. People also get into the kitchen and throw down! Yes, Christmas food is wonderfully made and is often done with much preparation. On Christmas Day, after church, we usually enjoy a big brunch – my Mom makes the BEST Ackee & Saltfish and Fried Dumplings ever. One of these days I’m going to try my hand at making fried Dumplings. Fried Breadfruit is another favourite thing to add to the list. Dinner is everything from Roast Beef, Ham, Roast Chicken, Smoked Chicken, Potato Salad, Moms special sweet and sour pork (this was only made at Christmas because Dad doesn’t eat pork. This was our time to experience it since we were almost pork-free {Bacon stays!}). Gungo Rice and Peas (Rice & Peas using Gungo Peas instead of Red Kidney Beans) is a must! Then there’s Rum Punch and Sorrel to wash it all down! To end the feast, look out for desserts like Sweet Potato Pudding, Bread Pudding, Cornmeal Pudding, and of course…Christmas Pudding or Christmas Cake.

 

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-6

Jamaican Christmas Pudding – fresh out of the oven

 

As I was mixing the batter, I had fond memories of my Dad’s baking. This was just like home. The wonderful aroma…me watching my father cut up the prunes, soaking all the fruits. And then baking day came. Our house smelled wonderful!

It smelled like Christmas 🙂

 

 

 

The original recipe called for additional items like dates, cherries, mixed peel and nuts. As a youngster, I remember not liking these things in christmas cake. I really do have a thing for texture. I can totally see why my kids are fussy with their food. It’s all my fault and I’m totally okay with that ~ sometimes. Since I was essentially making this to my liking, I just used the fruits I prefer. I bought a special jar just for soaking my fruits. Did you know that some people have their fruits soaking for months in advance in preparation for Christmas baking? We don’t play around when it comes to Christmas Cakes and Puddings.

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-1

Raisins, Currants and Prunes, soaking in rum and red label wine

 

Dad was the baker in the household so he always had Christmas cake to offer whenever friends stopped by or to give away. He doesn’t bake as much anymore, but was able to give me a few tips to help me along. Dad reminded me that blending the fruits before adding to the batter, gave the pudding a much nicer consistency. So that is exactly what I did. There will still be fruits left over to make another cake 🙂

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-2

Blended Fruits – 4 Cups

 

For the pan, I knew that I had to make the seal tight. I lined a baking tray with foil first. I then placed the bottom of the spring form pan on the baking sheet, then covered it with 2 layers of parchment paper. I then sealed the ring to the base so that the parchment was lining the pan and also allowed for it to be tight-fitting at the base so the batter couldn’t leak out. I hope I explained that properly. Here’s what I did!

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-3

Greased Spring Form Pan lined with Parchment Paper

 

Okay – So the recipe said to use a 9-inch pan. I wasn’t sure how much the pudding was going to rise and I didn’t want it to overflow. So I put 3/4 of the batter into the 9 inch spring form pan and the remainder in 9-inch square pan. Worked out perfectly. I baked the smaller cake for 2 hours. The next time I make this pudding, I will use a 10-inch pan instead. The pudding itself does rise, but as it cools it reduces. I wasn’t able to take a photo of it when it was almost at the top. I’ll know what to expect next time.

This was my first time steaming a pudding. This is essentially the difference between a pudding and a cake. The pudding has the boiling water directly underneath the batter in the oven, whereas this is omitted when baking the cake. Now I will definitely have to bake the cake and document the difference in texture and density.

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-4

Pudding Batter

 

The cake was still warm when I took the photos, but when the pudding was cooled, I put it back in the cake pan and added some rum. This will change the texture on the top just a little. Christmas cake/pudding tastes better after a few days, so let the rum work its magic.

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-13

Jamaican Christmas Pudding

 

This is certainly a slice of Jamaican perfection. It was so good ~ just like this.

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-7

A slice of Jamaican Christmas Pudding

 

But this is a Christmas Pudding.

We have to have both bells AND whistles. So I added an optional garnish for this awesome pudding. You have to sit down though, to eat it with the special treat.

It’s so good, it will make your knees tremble.

 

Jamaican Christmas Pudding-18

Jamaican Christmas Pudding with Hot Wine Sauce

 

Enid’s Christmas Pudding Recipe had an optional sauce to add to this already delicious treat. It’s very simple to make, and very easy to enjoy. I made one very slight change. (Lyn, you just couldn’t leave it alone, could you??) I don’t like too much nutmeg. So I used allspice instead.

 ***

Hot Wine Sauce

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/3 Cup Unsalted Butter

1/2 Cup Red Label Wine

1/2 Tsp Allspice

In a saucepan, add wine and sugar over a low heat. Stir to combine. Add allspice and butter. Stir until fully combined, and pour over the cake – or individual slices.

***

 

I swear, this pudding alone is like 40 minutes on the treadmill. But ’tis the season to be jolly… so keep the slices modest and don’t sit still for too long this holiday season! I hope you enjoyed my post today.

From my family to yours, Have a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season! I will be back after Christmas so take care of you!

 

Here are the wonderful recipes being shared by the #SundaySupper Family!

 

Breakfast
– Orange Refrigerator Rolls by The Wimpy Vegetarian
– Eggs Benedict by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
– Holiday Cream Cheese Tea Ring by That Skinny Chick can Bake
– Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake by Small Wallet Big Appetite

Appetizers & Snacks
– Chicken Liver Pate by Tora’s Real Food
– Bindaetteok {Mung Bean Pancakes}by Kimchi Mom
– Crab and Asparagus Soup by The Urban Mrs.
– Roasted Chestnuts by Curious Cuisiniere

Sides
– Potato Salad {Schwaebischer Kartoffelsalat} byGalactopdx
– Italian Orange Salad by Shockingly Delicious
– Sweet Potato Casserole by Magnolia Days
– Lightened up Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes by Real Nutrition
– Carrots au gratin by Juanitas Cocina

Main Dishes
– Char Siu Bao – Chinese Roast Pork Buns by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
– Christmas Eve Pizza & Martinis by The Webicurian
– Savory Crepe Cake by Vintage Kitchen Notes
– West Indian Curried Goat by The ROXX Box
– Pot Cheese and Potato Cheese Pierogies by Cupcakes and Kale chips
– Seafood Gumbo and Grilled Oysters: A Louisiana Christmas Tradition by the Catholic Foodie
– Mom’s Paella by What Smells So Good?
– Portuguese inspired Chorizo Crown Pork Roast by The Family Foodie
– Dorie’s Chicken in a Pot by Gotta Get Baked
– New Year’s Eve Buckwheat Noodles with Mochi by The Ninja Baker
– Crab Cakes for Christmas Eve by Daddy Knows Less
– Mile High Lasagna by Cravings of a Lunatic
– Red Chile Pork Tamales by Home Cooking Memories

Desserts
– Pizzelles {Italian Wafer Cookies} by Chocolate Moosey
– Fudge by Dinner Dishes and Desserts
– Crescent Cookies by Cookistry
– Christmas Stollen by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
– Gluten Free Cookies for Santa by The Cooking Underwriter
– Pfeffernusse by The Foodie Army Wife
– Creme De Menthe Cake by I Run for Wine
– Panettone Bread Pudding by the Country Girl in the Village
– Spiced Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cake | A twist on a St. Louis Favorite by Daily Dish Recipes
– Chocolate Gingerbread Layer Cake with Eggnog Cream Cheese by Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends
– Jamaican Christmas Pudding by Lovely Pantry
– White Chocolate Cranberry Santa Cookies by Mooshu Jenne
– Christmas Tree Cookies by Damn Delicious
– Old Fashioned Lady Fingers {Creamhorns} by The Meltaways
– Rose Milk Almond Falooda {Indian Dessert Drink} by Sue’s  Nutrition Buzz

Drinks
– Wine Pairings by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
– Cinnamon Infused Hot Chocolate with Southern Comfort Whipped Cream by Mama Mommy Mom
– Mint Chocolate Cocoa by Mama’s Blissful Bites

 

What does it mean for you to be Home for the Holidays?  Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on December 23rd.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our #SundaySupper to talk about our Holiday Traditions.  We are so excited to have you join us.  
All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

 

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Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies for #SundaySupper

Dec 9, 2012 by

Cookies! Last year, I wondered if I could make them. I did …and they came out great! this year, I’m all in! I’m experimenting and finding tons of awesome cookie recipes. I’m not going to get to try them all but I’m building up a nice collection! That’s what makes this #SundaySupper so awesome! This weeks theme is Holiday Cookie Exchange! The titles are wonderful and I can’t wait to see everyone’s cookies!

Who doesn’t love a good cookie? We love cookies at my home, but I don’t buy them often. I feel much better making them myself, even if it’s just for the season. It also brings me comfort that they are home-made, and made with love. And a few chocolate chips. After all,  chocolate is love, right? Check out my Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies and Ginger Molasses Cookies. Crowd pleasers!

The cookie I’m sharing with you has been tested by me twice. I guess when I say “me”, I really should be saying “us”. The first batch was good, it was finished quickly and you know that’s a good sign.I made some slight changes on the second batch. I used a bit more cocoa powder and used white chocolate chips instead of dark. That’s all. And that’s what I’m sharing with you today.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies for #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
These cookies are sweet with a hint of tartness. A wonderful combination and very festive.
Author:
Recipe type: Cookie
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Wholewheat Pasty Flour
  • ½ Cup Dutch Processed Dark Cocoa Powder
  • ½ Cup + 2 Tbsp Butter, softened
  • ½ Cup Brown Sugar
  • ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ½ Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Cup White Chocolate Chips
  • ¾ Cup Dried Cranberries
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. In a small bowl, sift in flour and cocoa powder. Combine with a whisk. Set aside
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and baking powder until combined
  4. Beat in egg until combined
  5. Beat in as much as the flour with the mixer
  6. Fold in chocolate chips and cranberries with a wooden spoon or spatula
  7. Using a cookie scoop, take up rounded portions and roll into a ball. Flatten then round the edges.
  8. Place on a parchment lined cookie tray with about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest in the tray for about 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
Notes
This recipe yielded 33 cookies Store in an air tight container for 3 days at room temperature or freeze for up to 3 months

 

I’m no cookie expert. In fact, I’ve made cookies that could compete with a rock. I kid you not. I didn’t give  up though. I had to really learn about the importance of cooking time, and not necessarily how they look when they come out of the oven. Baking for too long, is just a no-no. The good thing about cookies is that once you get the hang of it, its smooth sailing after that!

Scoop, roll, flatten, shape.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies – Ready for baking!

 

To make these cookies, I did a test run first with about 3 cookies. I learned that they do not spread much. I found that they came out  better if I hand rolled and formed them. I used a cookie scoop so the cookies were very similar in size. Who ever came up with those scoops is a genius.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies – Freshly baked

 

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

These are great for giving as gifts!

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

My family really enjoyed these cookies. The inclusion of cranberries really made it festive and even more delicious.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

#SundaySupper has a special host this week, who knows all about Cookies ~  Janet Keeler, Food & Travel Editor for the Tampa Bay Times and Author of Cookielicious. Janet be joining us with tips on baking for the Ultimate Cookie Exchange and to answer any of your baking questions.  Grab a glass of milk and join us for The Ultimate Cookie Exchange during #SundaySupper this week.  We are giving away 5 signed copies of Cookielicious with 150 fabulous recipes to bake and share.

 

The Sunday Supper Favorite Cookie Exchange Cookies:

 

Do you have a favorite cookie to take to a Cookie Exchange?  Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on December 9th.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our #SundaySupper Ultimate Cookie Exchange live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your recipe for The Ultimate Cookie Exchange on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.

 

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Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Squares for #SundaySupper

Dec 2, 2012 by

This weeks #SundaySupper theme is Favourite Celebrity Chef! Wow! How can a food blogger ever choose!!?? We are all so very excited about this weeks #SundaySupper. Our host for this week is Tammi from Mommas Meals. I am eager to see what everyone has made and also to see what celebrity chef has inspired them. I was a bit indecisive in the beginning because I adore so many Chefs on television. It is reasonable to say that I don’t have one specific chef as my favourite, since they each offer their own unique style and culinary flair.

For a long time, The Food Network is where I got most of my inspiration. It all started in 2007 when I was home for a year on maternity leave with my son. I was tired of just making sure the meat was merely cooked. I was especially tired of making cakes from a box. I really wanted to make a change in how I prepared meals for myself and my husband. I wanted to cook and I wanted to bake, and I wanted to do them well. This was something that was, and still is very important to me. For a while it was all about Paula Deen, Rachel Ray, Michael Smith, Giada De Laurentiis, Anna Olson, Laura Calder, Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, and Ina Garten. I’ve made recipes from all of them. I watched their technique, learned about ingredients that were unfamiliar to me, and also I learned about dishes from other cultures. I still draw inspiration from them to this day. My appreciation for food, and for the culinary craft continues to grow. I don’t watch as much Food Network anymore, as my time is very limited. But when I do get the chance, I ask not to be disturbed. In time, I will acquire their cook books and continue to be inspired.

After the birth of my daughter, I decided to stay home with my little girl and her big brother. I discovered and watched Everyday Food which came on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). I don’t believe I missed an episode. In fact, you’ll find that many of my earlier recipes came from The Food Network or Everyday Food. Everyday Food is no longer a part of my cable programming for whatever reason, but their website is still a very good resource for me. Can you imagine being one of the chefs in that test kitchen?

I got to thinking… who offers a selection of recipes that really appeals to me? …Martha Stewart. I buy her books, I bake her cakes, I follow her on Pinterest, I trust her recipes! I also love that she introduces and collaborates with other awesome celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse. Aside from the fact that Martha is a MOGUL in her own right, she is also a teacher. She is the epitome of culinary excellence as well as classic home cooking and entertaining.

Today I’m sharing with you a recipe that I adapted, simply because I wanted to try it with other ingredients. This is a great cake for the season, and also it is my most recent recipe from Martha Stewart that I have made. I made the original recipe first ~ Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares, and it was amazing! Then I made it my way, and guess what? It was amazing!

 

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chips Squares

 

 

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Squares for #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A delicious cake made with sweet potatoes and chocolate chips
Author:
Recipe type: Cake
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour, Unbleached
  • 2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • ¾ Tsp Salt
  • 1 Stick Unsalted Butter, Softened
  • ½ Cup Coconut Oil
  • ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ½ Cup Coconut Sugar
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Cup Sweet Potato Puree
  • ¾ Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat Oven to 350F
  2. Line the bottom and sides of a 9X13 inch pan with foil or parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray.
  3. In a medium bowl, sift flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda. Add salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, cream butter, oil and sugar until combined.
  5. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.
  6. Beat in the sweet potato puree
  7. On a low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until combined.
  8. Fold in the chocolate chips
  9. Spread the batter evenly into the pan. Push the batter into the corners as best as possible.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean
  11. Allow to cool completely in the pan
  12. Cut into squares, serve and enjoy.
Notes
This recipe is adapted from http://www.marthastewart.com/336431/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-squares

 

Well, of course the cake smells amazing. It was firm but moist to the touch. Cut into portions using a very sharp knife. I made 15 squares but you can cut them a lot smaller if you wish.

 

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cake – fresh out the oven!

 

One thing for sure – the colour and texture of this cake is awesome. Moist and chewy. Certainly something to consider for gatherings over the holiday season. It’s so easy to make and also very easy to transport.

 

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chips Square

 

How about this tasty little treat for your friends and family?

 

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chips Squares

 

Please enjoy the recipe selections from the #SundaySupper bloggers:

 

Starters or Snacks :

Martin at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog – Oyster and Brie Soup and Wine Pairings for Celebrity Chef #SundaySupper

Linda at The Urban Mrs. – Inspired by Bobby Flay, Lobster Chowder with Roasted Corn Salsa

Erin from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts – Rachael Ray’s Cinnamon Popcorn

Cindy over at Cindy’s Recipes and Writings – Jamie Oliver’s Bread and Tomato Soup

Jeff at The Catholic Foodie – Drop Biscuits – Breakfast with Chef John Besh

Renee over at Kudos Kitchen By Renee – Giada De Laurentiis’ Garlic Toasts With Red Pepper Aioli

 

The Main Dish:

Sheila at Cooking Underwriter – Paula Deen’s  Chicken in a Crock Pot w/ Sauerkraut and Apples

Laura over at Small Wallet Big Appetite – Martin Yan’s Beef Chow Fun

Sarah over at Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends – Michael Symon’s Lola burger with crab tater tots

Susan at The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen – Ina Garten’s Baked Shrimp Scampi

Tammi at Momma’s Meals – Lee Drummond’s Sloppy Joe’s

Lane over at Supper for a Steal – Bobby Flay’s Rosemary Bricked Chicken

Tara from Noshing with the Nolands – Michael Symon’s Pork and Apple Scallopini

Shannon at Country Girl in the Village – Simple Red Sauce over Rigatoni. Inspired by,  Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos

Kris over at In the Kitchen with Audrey and Maurene – Rachael Ray’s Muffin Tin Meatloaf

Nicole from The Daily Dish Recipes – Paula Deen’s Slow Cooker Pulled Pickled Pork Sandwiches

Becca from It’s Yummilicious – Ina Garten’s Grown Up Bacon Mac & Cheese

Alice at  Hip Foodie Mom – Sunday Pot Roast with Risotto Cakes from Kelsey Nixon

Jen over at  Juanita’s Cocina – The Neely’s White Turkey Chili

Brianne from Cupcakes & Kale Chips – Crockpot Beef Pot Roast with Mushrooms inspired by Giada DeLaurentiis

Isabel at Family Foodie – Polenta with Garlicky Shrimp inspired by Chef Todd English

Wendy from The Weekend Gourmet – Shrimp Penne in Pesto Cream Sauce, From Emeril Lagasse

Bobbi over at Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen – Cheesy Poblano Chicken

Patti at Comfy Cuisine – Tyler Florence’s Chicken Francese

Roxanne over at The Roxx Box – Jambalaya Pasta with Penne, Chicken, Shrimp and Andouille

Sue from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz – Rachael Ray’s Spicy Corn Chowdah Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Jamie at Mama Mommy Mom – Penne with Asparagus, Smoked Gouda and Prosciutto. Adapted from, Giada De Laurentiis’

Tora over at Tora’s Real Food – Pork and beans with Alton Brown’s pickled pork

Elisabeth over at The Hand That Rocks The Ladle – Emeril’s New Orleans Style Red Beans & Rice

 

Amazing Sides:

Megan from I Run For Wine – Curtis Stone’s Acorn Squash Roasted with Thyme

Sandi over at Midlife Road Trip –  Gabriele Corcos’s Gnocchi di Patate

Shelby at  Diabetic Foodie – Orange Pecan Black Rice, adapted from Ina Garten

Katie from She likes Ruffles, He likes Truffles – Chef Fabio Viviani’s Spinach and Artichoke Risotto

 

Sweet Endings:

Renee over at Magnolia Days – Brownie Tart

Conni at The Foodie Army Wife – Inspired by Ree Drummond – Scrumptious Apple Coffee Cake

Paula over at Vintage Kitchen Notes – Bill Granger´s Cherry Tart

Pam from The Meltaways – Savannah Sheet Cake

Katy over at Happy Baking Days – Mary Berry’s Treacle Tart

Jaime over at Mom’s Test Kitchen – Southern Tea Cakes

Amy over at Kimchi MOM – Crack Pie, I Can’t Quit You

Lyn from The Lovely Pantry – Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Squares

Melanie at From Fast Food to Fresh Food – Sand Tarts

 

Wine Pairings: 

Martin at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

 

 

Please join on us via Twitter for #SundaySupper on December 2, 2012, throughout the day. In the evening, we will meet at 7 PM EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat
All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.
We invite you to visit our our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

 

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Banana Coconut Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nut Streusel for #SundaySupper

Nov 11, 2012 by

I’ve been looking at this recipe for a few days now. I was determined to make it and thanks to #SundaySupper, I’m able to share it with you all today. You see, we are entering a wonderful season of giving – Thanksgiving in the USA, and of course Christmas is almost upon us. It is a beautiful thing to give a thoughtful home-made gift to family and friends at this time of the year. This weeks theme for #SundaySupper is Gifts From The Kitchen. The host this week is our very own Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian. With our usual spectacular line up, we hope to inspire you with gift ideas for the season. Please take a look out our baked items, condiments, soups, snacks, drinks and yes, without a doubt…sweets. Maybe you’ll find something special and thoughtful for you to give as a gift.

I chose this recipe because of the ingredients and how easy it was to prepare. The aroma was just something to talk about. It was awesome when my husband came home from work and the house smelled wonderful. He was a nicer man and I know this cake had something to do with it!

 

Banana Coconut Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nut Streusel

 

I gave one cake away already to a friend and she and her mother loved it. Giving home-made gifts are always nice, but it is very important to consider food sensitivities. I plan to bake another set without the macadamia nuts. I’m sure it will taste just as fabulous. The nuts are there to give added texture. Either way will be fine. The streusel has a nice crunch because of the Turbinado sugar.

 

Banana Coconut Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nut Streusel for #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A wonderful cake infused with banana and coconut with a sweet and crunch streusel topping. A perfect gift for any holiday season.
Author:
Recipe type: Cake, Dessert
Ingredients
  • Dry Ingredients:
  • 3½ Cups All Purpose Flour, Unbleached
  • ¾ Cups Flaked Coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
  • 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • Wet Ingredients:
  • 1 Cup (2 Sticks) Unsalted Butter, Softened
  • ¾ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ¾ Cup Coconut sugar
  • 4 Eggs
  • 3 Ripe Bananas, mashed
  • ¼ Cup Strong Brewed Coffee
  • ¼ Cup Coconut Milk
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • Streusel Topping:
  • ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 2 Tbsp Coconut sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Turbinado sugar
  • ½ Tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 4 Tbsp Cold Butter, cut up in small pieces
  • ½ Cup Macadamia Nuts, coarsely chopped (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Grease and flour three 8X1/2-inch round foil cake pans and set aside
  3. In a medium bowl, add flour, coconut, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Sift to combine. Set aside
  4. In a large mixing bowl, add butter, granulated sugar and coconut sugar. Beat with a mixer until fluffy and fully combined
  5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition
  6. Beat in coffee, coconut milk and vanilla.
  7. Beat in mashed bananas on low speed, just until combined
  8. Spread batter evenly in prepared pans. (about ¾ full)
  9. For the streusel: In a small bowl, add streusel ingredients and mix with a fork, combining until it appears to be like coarse clumpy crumbs. Stir in the macadamia nuts. Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter
  10. Bake for 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
  11. Allow to cool in the cake pans for about 30 minutes before serving.

 

I made a few adjustments to make it a little more interesting. I replaced brown sugar with coconut sugar. I replaced the milk with coconut milk. For the streusel, I went half and half with coconut sugar and turbinado sugar instead of using brown sugar. I believe this gave it a more coconut flavour than just the shredded coconut in the body of the cake itself.

 

Banana Coconut Coffee Cake With Macadamia Nut Streusel

 

The cakes came out beautifully. They were fully baked at 35 minutes as per the recipe.

 

Banana Coconut Coffee Cake With Macadamia Nut Streusel

 

I didn’t wait too long to taste the cake. It is an absolute MUST that the cook and the official testers sample the cakes before they are given away. Unless of course, its something that you bake all the time and you know exactly what you’re going to end up with.

 

Banana Coconut Coffee Cake With Macadamia Nut Streusel

 

I for one, was completely satisfied with this cake. It is a nice item to bring as a gift while making your rounds over the holiday season, and its something that can be easily shared among a small group of people. I was very grateful for the inexpensive foil baking pans. It made the gift convenient to bake in, and portable! I enjoyed dressing these cakes up. I’m sure they will put a smile on anyone’s face 🙂

 

Banana Coconut Coffee Cake With Macadamia Nut Streusel

 

Here are the gifts from the #SundaySupper team:

 

Breads / Breakfast

Condiments / Ingredients

Soup and Snacks

Sweets

Drinks

Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on November 11.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your own posts for Gifts From the Kitchen on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.

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Black Bean Soup With Hot Roast Pepper Cream for #SundaySupper

Nov 4, 2012 by

It’s November and the boots and coats are officially necessary when going outdoors. The weather has been terrible and watching the news has been quite depressing. Hurricane Sandy did some serious damage in the Caribbean as well as the East Coast of The United States and parts of Eastern Canada. My heart goes out to all those affected. While I was making this soup, I thought about my friends/family in Jamaica who went several days without electricity – and some without water. Thankfully, everything is returning to some sort of normal, as life indeed has to go on.

I really like this weeks theme for #SundaySupper. There’s nothing better than a home-made soul warming meal on a wet, cold, gloomy day. I don’t know about you guys, but I feel better when I’m with my family eating a nice soup or stew with the family! I was so impressed with the line up this week,  I encourage you all to check out the wonderful dishes prepared by my fellow food bloggers. This weeks #SundaySupper is being hosted by Susan from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen.

My recipe today comes from a book I bought while I was in Jamaica last year called Caribbean Food Made Easy by Levi Roots. I didn’t have to make many changes at all. Most of the ingredients I already had on hand – whether in my fridge or in my pantry. I’m really thinking about having soup more often. My husband absolutely loved this soup and asked me to kindly note this soup as a definite favourite. Enough said! This soup made about 6-8 servings and I was able to freeze 3 servings for lunch this week.

I should note that I used Scotch Bonnet Pepper in this recipe. I have never been able to fully enjoy spicy food. Seriously. But somehow this soup hit the spot in the best way, because I enjoyed it immensely! I also did an extra step because I’m picky with my gravies and creams. I strained the pepper cream – which was a task because it is rather thick. This step is totally optional, but I do like the smooth creamy texture that resulted in me doing so.

 

Black Bean Soup With Hot Roast Pepper Cream

 

Black Bean Soup With Hot Roast Pepper Cream for #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A hearty soup, perfect for the fall or winter season. Can be served as an appetizer or as a main dish.
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Jamaican
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • For the soup:
  • 1 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Butter
  • 1 Onion, finely chopped
  • 1 Large Carrot, finely diced
  • 1 Stick of Celery, thinly sliced
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1½ Tsp Ground Cumin
  • 1 900ml Carton Chicken Broth (I used no salt added)
  • 3 540ml/19oz Cans Black Beans, rinsed and drained
  • Salt & Pepper
  • For the cream:
  • 2 Red Sweet Peppers, cut in half, seeds removed
  • ½ Scotch Bonnet Pepper, seeds removed
  • Olive Oil
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 2 oz Double Cream (I used Whipping Cream)
  • A pinch of Kosher Salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (roast)
  2. Brush sweet peppers with olive oil (both sides) and roast for 30 minutes
  3. Place the peppers along with any juices into a blender along with the scotch bonnet, lime juice, cream and salt. Blend until smooth.
  4. Optional: strain the pepper cream and store in a jar.
  5. Refrigerate until needed.
  6. In a dutch oven, add the grapeseed oil and butter over medium-low heat.
  7. Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic.
  8. Sautee for a few minutes and then add about 2 tbsp water. Cover for about 15 minutes. Check every few minutes to ensure that the vegetables do not burn.
  9. Add cumin and stir to combine
  10. Add black beans and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer
  11. Cover for about 20 minutes
  12. Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 15 minutes
  13. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth or a desired consistency is achieved
  14. Reheat the soup, stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  15. Serve hot with a few spoons of the pepper cream on top
Notes
Recipe from Caribbean Food Made Easy by Levi Roots

Black Bean Soup & Hot Roast Pepper Cream

 

I absolutely love the vibrant orange and the creamy texture of the Hot Roast Pepper Cream. For those who love the heat, use a whole scotch bonnet pepper. It’s only a few teaspoons of the cream that gets stirred into each serving of the soup. So the intensity of the pepper does get toned down a little bit.

 

Hot Roast Pepper Cream

 

Scotch Bonnet Peppers! A staple in every Jamaican home (well, almost every Jamaican home).

 

Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper

 

Photography by Lyn of The Lovely Pantry

Black Bean Soup with Hot Roast Pepper Cream. A perfect appetizer or main for an autumn or winter night.

 

Here are the soul warming recipes brought to you by the #SundaySupper team! Please share, pin, email, print, make and enjoy!

Main Entrees: 

Chili/Stews:

Soups:

Desserts/Beverages:

Join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your Sunday Supper Soul Warming Recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them with all of our followers, too.

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