Christmas Black Cake

Ingredients

1/2 lb butter
1 tsp. almond flavouring
6 ozs. bread crumbs
1 tbsp. mixed spice
1/2 lb granulated sugar
2 tsp. lime or orange rind
4 cups mixed fruits (raisins, currants, prunes, citron,
 cherries, dates)
6 ozs. flour
1 cup white rum
1 tbsp. browning
6 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1 pint red label or port wine
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Method

1. Prepare tin by lining insides with grease paper. Grease with butter.
2. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in browning, vanilla and almond flavouring, lime juice and rind.
4. Add eggs one at a time and beat in well. Add soaked fruits, cherries, dates and nuts.
5. Mix breadcrumbs, flour, baking powder, salt and mixed spice.
6. Add alternately, rum and port wine.
7. Pour into prepared baking tin and bake at 250°F (125°C) for about 2 hours.

Yield: 4 lb cake

Jamaican Festival

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
3 tbsp. cornmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup water

Method

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and cornmeal and combine
2. Add the sugar and stir
3. Add the vanilla to the water, and then add the mixture to the dry ingredients, binding to form a soft dough.
4. Knead lightly
5. Leave covered for about 1/2 an hour. Divide the dough into eight portions
6. Flour hands
7. Knead lightly, then roll and pull each portion to form a 6 inch x 1 1/2 inch length, about 1/8 inch thick.
8. Dip the festival in a mixture of cornmeal and flour then deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.

Tip: Serve with Jerk Chicken or Jerk Pork.

Jamaican Gizzada

Ingredients
2 cups grated coconut
1 tsp. Powdered ginger or
1 tbsp. Grated root ginger
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 lb brown sugar
1 pinch

Method
1. Combine all ingredients adding sufficient water to cook coconut (about 1/2-3/4)
2. Boil until very sticky (about 20-30 minutes)
3. Beat a little and drop by spoonfuls onto a greased tin sheet
4. Allow to set.