Virtual Jamaica: Rasta~ Ital Cooking

 

 

Today, we will try our hand at Jamaican Ital Stew...

 

Most Rastafari eat Ital.

The word is just vital without the V.

The meaning is a bit more complicated.

The closest dietary comparison is vegan...although some make exceptions for small fish...most don't.

Their proteins are consumed from nuts and beans. 

 Yams, rice, whole grains, nuts, beans and coconut/coconut milk are also used.

Since metal/aluminum pots are shunned...the ingredients are boiled together in clay cooking pots with water and covered.

The vegetables and spices/herbs are simmered until tender.

Clay Cooking Pot

These are handmade in the Rasta community and can be in a wide variety of sizes...some are lumpy and bumpy and blackened from the carbon fire that finished them.

You can buy one new on Amazon or eBay for around $60 USD.

There is no set recipe...and The Rasta combine the fresh vegetables and herbs available.  The combination is fresh, smells wonderful and is healthy.

The Ital Stew is usually served with a side of coconut rice.

Ital Stew with Rice and Fresh Avocado

Next week, we will leave St. Catherine Parish and check out Clarendon!

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Rastafarianism

Today we will explore The Rastas...

https://youtu.be/OjvP08LYNtU?si=B-9rabR_IC1LHckt 

A religion born in Ethiopia in the 1930's.

The beliefs are based on an interpretation of the Christian Bible.

Jah is the monotheistic "god" and Haile Selassie (Emperor of Ethiopia  1930-1974) is  considered The Messiah...or among some merely a prophet.

They wear their hair dreadlocked...eat Ital...partake of ganja as sacrament...follow patriarchal roles...and believe the ultimate goal is to repatriate to Africa.

24 Hours with Rasta People

https://youtu.be/UL7ctJwoVpU?si=0595uyzPtkOD1DYh

The Ital Diet is natural...very little sugar or salt...no additives...mostly vegetables and fruits...no pork or shellfish...

They also avoid alcohol and hard drugs.

They do not partake of food prepared by non-rastas or by menstruating women. 

Often, they gather their dreadlocks back in a Tam...or woven head covering.

 

 Next time, we will have an adventure in Ital Cooking!

 

 

 

  

 

Winning the Championship...Summer Vibes...John Update...Morning Glories

 

And it was amazing!

John and I were able to watch 3...4...and 5 together.

Last night was edge-of-your-seat stuff. Down to the last 8 seconds!

The Moment

https://youtu.be/ZLfOi0apAeg?si=EcMRlrKs7JA0NiZ_

The Locker Room

https://youtu.be/MwBmLp9GxMM?si=jaP8jVcSpYZaDKCF

NYC After the Win

 https://youtu.be/Hes-us73xLE?si=vhlojePwqwBCzd_-

The last time The Knicks won an NBA championship I was 13 years old.

This is the good stuff!!!

After what seems like forever...John has turned a corner!

Gaining weight back...doing well with PT...can climb stairs again...shot 6 games of pool in the basement with Jonathan and WON 3 of them...shortness of breath is less...O2 SATS are staying good...no pain...oh...and best of all...no further cancer seen!!!

We are beyond happy!!!!

The summer patio promises to be a profusion of pink...and I MAY have planted a few too many morning glories.

The hummingbirds will be thrilled.

The 90 degree heat, rain and humidity seem to have passed.

My fireflies are back and sparkling in the trees.

Summertime is near. 

So...here we are...almost the middle of the year.

Time to take stock.

And it feels like it has been a year, already.

So much for less stress...maybe in a few months, okay?

The PT/OT is helping...but it is dreadfully slow.

I have made little progress on my handwriting and zero on relearning to operate my camera...still trying.

My small muscle weakness seems to be primarily on my left side...so...I use my right hand and fingers.

I work every day to keep the ability to transfer myself and use multiple grab bars to still be able to soak in a bubble bath/get out of the tub independently.

...so important to me...

I've started painting and planting again.

Also, sitting outside with the cat and tea, to read or enjoy sunrise/sunset.

It took a while but I seem to have thrown off the stuckness of last year...and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel!

...hopefully, not a train...

My younger sister, Tina, and I watched as they removed the orange man's name from the Kennedy Memorial.

 

 Removing the P

 

And to quote Josh Johnson

"There is a cage fight on the White House lawn."

Yeah...it's embarrassing.

 

Elect a clown...expect a circus.

This too...is temporary.

 

Next week, we will get back to Virtual Jamaica!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Cup...The Knicks...Hummingbirds...Fireflies and The Garden

 It's beginning to feel like summer-time...

The hummers are slowly arriving, and I've seen a few flashes of fireflies at dusk, now.

It is in the mid-seventies to eighty degrees.

All of the seeds I've planted have sprouted...maybe more pink morning glories coming up than we'll EVER need.

The hummers will be thrilled.

They may require thinning and trimming back.

The summer patio will be a profusion of pink.

It will be beautiful! 

What a peaceful place to sit outside with the Tux-Cat, read and sip iced sweet tea. 

 

NYC is oscillating. 

The Knicks won again....and are currently 2 and 0.

If they win the FINALS the city will explode!!!!!

 

The long week is over...John is doing a bit better and has gained a little more weight back.

His nurse is due over again, today.

Tuesday, he has another specialist appointment.

We are fairly certain the decline over the last 6 or so weeks has nothing to do with the previous cancer...so THAT is a relief.  

It has taken a long time to get to this point...and will take a long time to recover.

We do believe he is recovering.

Have a great weekend!

love,

Carla

Listening to James' new album release!

 

 

 

 

 

Update:  So...yeah...

The guy and I stayed up and watched Game 3.

Got to watch Trump booed...which was fairly satisfying.

Watched him sleep...which was expected.

And watched him jinx the Knicks winning streak...sigh.

On to Game 4.

 

Virtual Jamaica: Worthy Park Estate Rum Tour

 

As Jack would say

"Welcome to the Carribean, Luv..."

Today our virtual adventure takes us to Worthy Park for their rum tour.

https://youtube.com/shorts/mYHXpiVjRsI?si=Ef3gju1IvJOBl_sy

Acres of sugar cane...pressing, both modern and human powered...fresh cane drink to enjoy...watching the rum making process and aging...tasting the various rums produced here...including a very nice cream rum....and later buying a bottle!

Rum Tour

https://youtu.be/3R4lAjHGbcA?si=ys7g6CXRK8W2Idjy

Worthy Park was established in 1670 and was dependent on the slave labor at the time. 

 

The sugar cane seems to stretch forever...and on a breezy day, like today, a soft rustling sound fills the air.

When mature...the cut sugar cane is piled high awaiting pressing.

 

Although, large machines now press the sugar syrup from the raw canes and slaves are long since abolished...the tour provides an interactive moment for tourists...

Resulting in a fresh glass of cane syrup to drink before continuing.

This syrup is then cooked down to molasses...then distilled into the rum we know today.

Stored and aged in oak wood barrels.

 And finally bottled.

 At the end of the tour there is the rum tasting.

 From the clear and very light...to the dark and even opaque of the cream.

A rum for every palate.

 Where you can buy it yourself.

https://liquorgeeks.com/products/worthy-park-109-dark-rum

Until next week...

 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Spanish Town

 

But first...breakfast

 

 You have to love it

this resort has everything!

 

Onward to Spanish Town.

 

LIVE CAM

 

https://www.youtube.com/live/-X_HjqTtg-U?si=WThydo4xzCkZdvdb

 

 

 

An eclectic mixture of the old and the new. Of history and vividly painted buildings. Of the scents of street food and the vibrancy of the marketplaces.

Tour

https://youtu.be/O7VeVa-2n70?si=SO8o6JUQYpZ2Zb7N

The street food is amazing, and there is a wide variety.

 

 

And the portions are huge.

Everything is within walking distance and tourist friendly.

Not expensive.

A great way to spend a day!

 

Until next time...

Virtual Jamaica: St. Catherine Parish~ Rosewood Resort

 

Today, we move on to St. Catherine Parish.

Specifically, Rosewood Resort at Dix Bay.

...near Spanish Town... 

It is posh...beyond expensive...has bay side villas and cottages and altogether perfect.

...at over 2000. a night...it better be...

 Our cottage for the next couple of weeks.

...thank goodness this is virtual...otherwise lodging here would be in excess of 28,000...

With an outside deck and table...a door that opens onto the beach...several Michelin Star restaurants...a couple of bars...three pools and spa-activities...we're home!

 

Even has room service from the bars and restaurants on the property...if you would rather.

Looking forward to two weeks of pampering, and whatever this Parish has to offer!

Wednesday, we will venture into Spanish Town...until then...