Seamoss Punch

1 1/2 tins condense milk
1/2 carton Carnation milk
1/2 cup granola (optional)
2-4 cups water (cold)
3 cups of crushed ice (optional)
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
A pinch of nutmeg
2 teaspoon Angostura bitters
1 lb (in my case 1 pk of store bought sea moss)
1 tablespoon sugar for added taste (optional)
1 teaspoon lime juice
2 sticks cinnamon

Method:

1. Soak dried Seamoss in cold water for 15 minutes.

2. Wash thoroughly with a spoon of lime juice.

3. Fill a pot with two quarts of fresh water

4. Add the cleaned Seamoss and two cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil.

5. Once boiling, cover and summer on low heat for 20-25 minutes. During this period the seamoss will soften and the water will thicken.

6. Remove from heat and discard the used cinnamon sticks.

7. All the mixture to cool and store it overnight into the fridge, allowing it to form a gel.

8. In a blender place the sea moss gel, 2 cups of ice, Carnation milk, granola, nutmeg, and 2 cups of water.

2. Blend until smooth.

3. Place half of the mixture in a large mug and blend the other remaining ingredients.

4. Pour into mug and mix slightly with a wooden spoon

N.B. if you wish you can add sugar for taste.

As always...enjoy!!! 😁

Ginger Beer - Authentic Trinbago Style

Ginger makes a wonderful drink as well as tea. For the Christmas season we usually drink ginger beer. The bast part is since ginger is available all year round you can make this drink any time. It's soothes my nerves.

Ingredients:-

1 lb green ginger
8 cups cold water
1 lime
1 1/2 cups sugar

Methods:-

1.  Wash and remove the skin from the ginger
2. Chops the ginger and then blend in 1/2 cup of water
3. Pour into a large pot the remaining water and leave the ginger mixture to soak for approximately 24hrs
4. When fermented, strain the mixture
5. Add the lime peel to the ginger beer and sweeten to taste
6. When sweeten remove the lime peel
7. Bottle and refrigerator
8. Serve chilled

Now it may be a strong brew, but it totally delicious.

Sorrel Drink - The Authentic Trinbago Way

Hmm, yes people it's that time of the year again...Christmas. And in Trinidad and Tobago we prepare two drinks during this season. One being Sorrel and the other Ginger Beer. Now pull out your pen and notebooks..cause this recipe is for you.
Oh and for the health conscious, Sorrel is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. It also provides you with adequate among of fiber. All that and it tastes good! Enjoy.

Ingredients:-

1-2 cups of dried sorrel petals
1 tbsp cloves
1 piece of dried orange peel
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
10 cups of water
1 cup sugar (or more to taste)

Method:-

1. Allow 10 cups of water to boil in a large pot 
2. Then add the sorrel, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange peel
3. Let boil for 45 minutes while occasional stirring is required every 15 mins or so
4. Cover tightly and steep overnight (or for approximately 2 hours for those who can't wait)
5. Strain the juice into a large mug or pitcher 
6. Serve chilled 

If you find it a bit sweet you can always add water. Do enjoy and give me some feedback on how the recipe worked for you.

Orange Juice Spike

I love orange juice. It's healthy for you, since it jam pack with vitamins and minerals that help maintain a healthy body. My weakness in a beastly cold cup of orange juice. Unfortunately, my lifestyle does provide me time to squeeze fresh oranges. So this recipe requires the concentrated orange juice. However, freshly squeezed will also do the trick.

Ingredients:-

3 cups of crushed ice
2-3 cups of Orange Juice (pasteurized or concentrated will do)
3-4 drops Angostura bitters
2 tbsp lime juice (fresh or concentrated)
2 tbsp of sugar for taste (optional it all depends on whether you're using concentrated or pasteurized)
1 cup water (optional)

Methods:-

1. Place 11/2 cup of crushed ice along with 1 3/4 cup of orange juice in a blender.
2. Blend for approximately one (1) minute
3. In a large juice mug add the remaining ingredients and stir
4. Now add the blended ingredients and taste the difference.

Service immediately or leave to chill in refrigerator. Since I am a part of a large family this will serve around  six of us. 

Choco-Lovers' Delight

This is a delicious drink for the chocolate lovers. But wait there's more. Not only is it chocolate but the ingredients are also aimed towards the health conscious.

Ingredients

 1 1/2 cups rum and raisin chocolate (optional, you can also use plain chocolate or fruit and nuts chocolate)
3 1/2 cups cold low fat (or skimmed milk)
1/2 cup condensed milk
1 tsp essences
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 cup granola

Method

1. Blend all the ingredients in the blender
2. Blend until smooth
3. Serve immediate
4. Garnish with fruit of choice ( strawberries, blackberries or currants)

Ponche De Creme

Ponche de Crème is a festive drink usually made during the Christmas period in the Caribbean. It is a strong delectable drink that embodies tradition in Trinidad and Tobago, along with rest of the Caribbean.

Ingredients:-

6 eggs beaten

2 tsp lime zest (grated)

3 tins sweetened condensed milk

¾ cup evaporated milk

2 cups rum

1 tbsp aromatic bitters

2 pinches freshly grated nutmeg

Method:-

1.       In a large bowl, beat / whisk eggs and lime zest using an electric mixer

2.       Slowly pour in the condensed milk, while mixing and add the evaporated milk

3.       Gently stir in the rum, bitters and sprinkle with nutmeg

4.       Put the Ponche de Crème in the fridge to chill at least for an hour before serving *

5.       Serve over crushed ice or leave in freezer for ½  hr for a beastly cold drink

6.       You can also place some whipped cream on top drizzled with caramel , when serving or a pinch of cinnamon

* You can place the drink in a Juice mug if the bowl is too big for the fridge.

Banana Punch ( Smoothie)

Bananas are high in potassium and it helps smoothen the lining of the stomach for those with ulcers.

Bananas are nutritious and tastes delightful.  So eat up, but in this case drink up.

Ingredients:-

4-6 ripe bananas sliced

100g tin condense milk

½ cup granola

2 ½ cups milk

1½ cup water

2 cups Ice

1-2 tbsp sugar

Instructions:-

1.       Place bananas, ice, condense milk and ½ cup water in blender and blend for 2 mins.

2.       When It becomes thick, pour ½ of the punch in a juice mug and add the remaining ingredients and blend

3.       Garnish with whip cream and caramel or chocolate shavings and remaining granola

4.       If you like you could add extra milk to make it even creamier.

Do Enjoy / Bon Appétit

Peanut Punch

This is a tasty drink, which most people enjoy.

Ingredients:-

1½ cup smooth peanut butter

100g tin condense milk

½ cup granola

2 ½ cups milk

1½ cup water

2 cups Ice

1-2 tbsp sugar

Instructions:-

1.       Place peanut butter, ice, condense milk and ½ cup water in blender and blend for 2 mins.

2.       When It becomes thick, pour ½ of the punch in a juice mug and add the remaining ingredients and blend

3.       Garnish with whip cream and caramel or chocolate shavings and remaining granola