A Caribbean Valentine’s Day Treat

Sorrel jam is a Caribbean delight.

By Minna Lafortune

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 12, 2016: Sunday February 14th is Valentine ’s Day and millions of dollars will be spent on roses and chocolate around the world.

But what if you are a Caribbean national living in the Diaspora or if you want to give something other than roses and chocolate what could you give and how can you give your valentine a memorable Valentine’s Day? To have a memorable Valentine’s Day, I would like to suggest that you give your Valentine’s their favorite Caribbean food, fruit or flower, especially if they are nostalgic about the  happy carefree days of their adolescence youth or just the Caribbean region!

Given the saying “that the way to a man or woman’s heart is through their stomach,” preparing or treating your Valentine’s to their favorite foods, can only be more endearing, making for a closer relationship. Favorites fruits such as premium mangoes, nesberrys, the delicious custard Apple and flowers such as a red Hibiscus flowering plant, red Anthuriums or red Bounganvillas with a teddy bear or favorite sweets are great and unique options. Mint balls or paradise plums, which are favorite sweets of many people in Jamaica, for example, can really impress your Valentine’s even more.

For over twenty years, I have been lucky to have been given roses and chocolate sent/delivered to me on Valentine’s Day, and while I am grateful  it has been consistent and lovely, the most memorable Valentine’s Day for me was a few years ago when  I received six large sweet nesberrys and a teddy bear with a Valentine’s Day card!

These items gave me such a thrill then and anytime I recall the memory. It remains the best Valentine’s Day ever for me! If sending fruits, teddy bear and a card does not make it memorable for you, maybe the following Valentine’s Day dinner menu may help you to have a memorable Valentine’s Day!

Menu

Lobster Consommé

Tomatoes and Beets Raisins Salad

Honey Mint Dressing

Roasted Buttered Sweet Potatoes

Steam Snapper Filet

Red Cabbage Slaw with Shredded Carrots

Butter Cookies with Sorrel Jam

Hot Creamy Chocolate Tea

My recipe for Sorrel Jam is as follows:

Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh sorrel petals

2 cups water

3 cups granulated sugar

Method:

1. Rinse sorrel petals.

2. Place sorrel in a deep pot and cover with water, bring to the boil and simmer until soft.

3: Add sugar and cook until a thick jam consistency forms

4. Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal immediately.

Use on cakes/toast/cookies and ice cream.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Minna LaFortune is a trained Caribbean caterer and also president, Society for the Advancement of the Caribbean Diaspora (SACD). Check out her food group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/bestfoodscaribbean/