(Again, alcohol was definately around back then ... ice? nope, not here in the tropics ....I am not sure just what would have been cooked in those far off days, but took into consideration what some of the old timers told me they enjoyed when they were young....there are no rivers or 'sweet water' holes on this island anymore, ALL piped water is desalinated)
Intro as before:
The first settlers were the Amerindians who had been living here since 2000 BC . Then a tribe of Arawak Indians left their homeland in the Orinoco basin of South America and migrated upwards along the chain of Caribbean islands.
There were a few fresh water springs around Pic Paradis, Mt. William, Billy Folly, and in Terres Basses (Lowlands) but they could only support a small population, this is where the Arawaks settled around 550 BC. The Arawaks were a relatively cultured and peaceful tribe, and introduced agriculture and pottery, and a well structured social organization to the island. Later the Arawaks were subjugated by the more aggressive (and apparently cannibalistic) tribe of Carib Indians, who came down from North America in the early 14th century, and later gave the entire Caribbean its name.
Then the Spanish arrived.
Research tells us that Oualichi is the name that was given to the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin by its original Caribbean Indian settlers.
It is thought that cane sugar was first used by man in Polynesia from where it spread to India. In 510 BC the Emperor Darius, of what was then Persia, invaded India where he found "the reed which gives honey without bees".
• 1493 Columbus planted the Caribbean's first sugarcane in Haiti.
Lemons are considered the most useful of all fruits and thought to have originated in northern India. They were introduced into Assyria, where they were discovered by soldiers serving Alexander the Great, who took them back to Greece.
• 1493 Columbus took citrus fruit to the West Indies.
Spanish:
Legend has it that in 1493 Christopher Columbus embarked on his second voyage to the New World. There is discrepancy in records as to just where Columbus sighted and perhaps anchored at the island of Saint Maarten but popular belief is that it was on November 11, 1493, the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours. Columbus named the island San Martin. This name was translated to Sint Maarten (Dutch), Saint Martin (French).
St. Maarten celebrates its national day on November 11th
Spanish Sangria
So many Spanish Sangria recipes consist of 'a little bit of this, a little bit of that', and whatever fruits happen to be in the kitchen. Because the success of any mixture will depend on the quality of these ingredients, it is crucial always to use good red wine, fresh fruit and flavorful juice.
Sangria must always be served ice-cold. If serving from a punch bowl, stir it in the bowl before ladling it into a glass. Finally, if possible, drink it on the beach - there is no finer feeling.
Feel free to add other ingredients.
Strong Sangria Recipe - Olé, Olé!
Fortified with wine, vodka, and gin, this recipe will strip you from your everyday worries (and perhaps, your memory as well). Makes 6 glasses
Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups dry red wine
2 cups sparkling apple juice
4 TBL gin
4 TBL lemon flavoured vodka
Juice of 1 large orange
Juice of 1 large lemon
2 ½ TBL sugar
Wash and thinly slice crosswise:
1 orange, 1 lemon, 1 lime
Preparation:
Pour all the ingredients into a large pitcher, mix well, and refrigerate. Serve chilled over ice.
Spanish Style Chicken Recipe:
This Spanish style chicken makes a good main dish for most meals. The marriage of the irresistible flavors of chicken with other ingredients is the secret to this Spanish style chicken.
Ingredients:
2 TBL extra virgin olive oil
2 TBL butter
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 LB mushrooms, sliced
2 TBL unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 TBL freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp each dried thyme, salt, and pepper
1/2 cup raisins
2 whole, chicken breasts, skinned, boned
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Extra virgin oil, for brushing chicken
Prepare wine sauce;
Heat oil and butter in a saucepan.
Sauté onion and mushrooms over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Stir in flour and cook for about 2 minutes.
Stir in white wine and chicken stock.
Bring mixture to a boil.
Simmer sauce, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens.
Mix in lemon juice, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper, and raisins.
Simmer 5 minutes.
Taste to adjust seasonings.
Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, set aside and keep warm.
Preheat grill.
Cut chicken breasts in 1/2-inch strips.
Stir thyme into olive oil.
Brush chicken strips with flavored oil.
Grill chicken over medium-high heat about 3 minutes on each side, or until done to taste.
Chicken is done when it is slightly firm to the touch and juices run clear if chicken is cut with a knife.
Remove chicken to serving dish or individual plates.
Drizzle sauce over chicken.
Intro as before:
The first settlers were the Amerindians who had been living here since 2000 BC . Then a tribe of Arawak Indians left their homeland in the Orinoco basin of South America and migrated upwards along the chain of Caribbean islands.
There were a few fresh water springs around Pic Paradis, Mt. William, Billy Folly, and in Terres Basses (Lowlands) but they could only support a small population, this is where the Arawaks settled around 550 BC. The Arawaks were a relatively cultured and peaceful tribe, and introduced agriculture and pottery, and a well structured social organization to the island. Later the Arawaks were subjugated by the more aggressive (and apparently cannibalistic) tribe of Carib Indians, who came down from North America in the early 14th century, and later gave the entire Caribbean its name.
Then the Spanish arrived.
Research tells us that Oualichi is the name that was given to the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin by its original Caribbean Indian settlers.
It is thought that cane sugar was first used by man in Polynesia from where it spread to India. In 510 BC the Emperor Darius, of what was then Persia, invaded India where he found "the reed which gives honey without bees".
• 1493 Columbus planted the Caribbean's first sugarcane in Haiti.
Lemons are considered the most useful of all fruits and thought to have originated in northern India. They were introduced into Assyria, where they were discovered by soldiers serving Alexander the Great, who took them back to Greece.
• 1493 Columbus took citrus fruit to the West Indies.
Spanish:
Legend has it that in 1493 Christopher Columbus embarked on his second voyage to the New World. There is discrepancy in records as to just where Columbus sighted and perhaps anchored at the island of Saint Maarten but popular belief is that it was on November 11, 1493, the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours. Columbus named the island San Martin. This name was translated to Sint Maarten (Dutch), Saint Martin (French).
St. Maarten celebrates its national day on November 11th
Spanish Sangria
So many Spanish Sangria recipes consist of 'a little bit of this, a little bit of that', and whatever fruits happen to be in the kitchen. Because the success of any mixture will depend on the quality of these ingredients, it is crucial always to use good red wine, fresh fruit and flavorful juice.
Sangria must always be served ice-cold. If serving from a punch bowl, stir it in the bowl before ladling it into a glass. Finally, if possible, drink it on the beach - there is no finer feeling.
Feel free to add other ingredients.
Strong Sangria Recipe - Olé, Olé!
Fortified with wine, vodka, and gin, this recipe will strip you from your everyday worries (and perhaps, your memory as well). Makes 6 glasses
Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups dry red wine
2 cups sparkling apple juice
4 TBL gin
4 TBL lemon flavoured vodka
Juice of 1 large orange
Juice of 1 large lemon
2 ½ TBL sugar
Wash and thinly slice crosswise:
1 orange, 1 lemon, 1 lime
Preparation:
Pour all the ingredients into a large pitcher, mix well, and refrigerate. Serve chilled over ice.
Spanish Style Chicken Recipe:
This Spanish style chicken makes a good main dish for most meals. The marriage of the irresistible flavors of chicken with other ingredients is the secret to this Spanish style chicken.
Ingredients:
2 TBL extra virgin olive oil
2 TBL butter
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 LB mushrooms, sliced
2 TBL unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 TBL freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp each dried thyme, salt, and pepper
1/2 cup raisins
2 whole, chicken breasts, skinned, boned
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Extra virgin oil, for brushing chicken
Prepare wine sauce;
Heat oil and butter in a saucepan.
Sauté onion and mushrooms over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Stir in flour and cook for about 2 minutes.
Stir in white wine and chicken stock.
Bring mixture to a boil.
Simmer sauce, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens.
Mix in lemon juice, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper, and raisins.
Simmer 5 minutes.
Taste to adjust seasonings.
Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, set aside and keep warm.
Preheat grill.
Cut chicken breasts in 1/2-inch strips.
Stir thyme into olive oil.
Brush chicken strips with flavored oil.
Grill chicken over medium-high heat about 3 minutes on each side, or until done to taste.
Chicken is done when it is slightly firm to the touch and juices run clear if chicken is cut with a knife.
Remove chicken to serving dish or individual plates.
Drizzle sauce over chicken.