Jamaican Tie-A-Leaf (aka Duckanoo or Blue Drawers)

Serves 4-6 

Ingredients

1 lb. cornmeal
2 ounces flour
1/2 lb. sugar
1/2 cup grated coconut
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. mixed spice
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. molasses
2 tsps. vanilla
2 1/2 cups coconut milk or skimmed milk

Method

1. Blend all dry ingredients and grated coconut thoroughly. 
2. Mix together coconut/skimmed milk, molasses and vanilla.
3. Add mixture to dry ingredients stirring briskly
4. Place 1/2 or 1 cup of the mixture into quailed banana leaves or aluminium foil; wrap, gift wrap style and tie with twine or banana bark. OR Pour 1 cup of mixture into cooking bags and tie the bags with twine.
5. Put the small parcels into boiling water, enough to cover and cook for 40 minutes or until done.
6. Add grated coconut for extra bite in flavor. 

Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

2 ozs. cornmeal
1 pint water
4 tbsp. brown sugar or
2-3 tbsp condensed milk
1/2 cup skimmed milk powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. grated nutmeg or powder
1/4 tsp. salt
*Bay/Cinnamon leaf

Method

1. Mix cornmeal with a little water. Bring remainder of the water to boil with salt and Bay/Cinnamon leaf. 
2. Stir in mixed cornmeal. Continue cooking for about 7-10 minutes. 
3. Mix skimmed milk powder with an additional 1/2 cup water and add to porridge. 
4. Sweeten to taste and add vanilla and nutmeg.

Bonus: Serve with tough crackers (aka water crackers) or hardough bread for dipping.

Jamaican Jerk Pork

Ingredients

4 lbs pork (chops or loin)
2 oz roasted pimento (pound)
6 stalks escallion
4 cinnamon leaves
3 scotch bonnet peppers (chopped)
1 tsp. nutmeg (grated)
1 clove garlic
1 onion (minced)
*Liquid Smoke

Method

1. Combine and pound all seasonings to a paste
2. Rub seasonings into pork and leave to marinate for an hour
3. Place meat over charcoal fire, preferably made from pimento wood. Alternately marinate meat with a dash of liquid smoke and bake in oven until done.