Darlena Pagan's blog

Marvin Gaye Lets Get It On

I am a reverend and a professional webmaster. I ordained ministers. Also, I design, develop and manage websites.

Black Country

The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham. By the late 19th century, this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation. The South Staffordshire coal mines, the coal coking operations, and the iron foundries and steel mills that used the local coal to fire their furnaces, produced a level of air pollution that had few equals anywhere in the world.

It is popularly believed that The Black Country got its name because of pollution from these heavy industries that covered the area in black soot. There is an anecdote (of dubious authenticity) about Queen Victoria ordering the blinds lowered on her carriage as the royal train passed through. However, historians suggest that it is more likely that the name existed even before the Industrial Revolution; outcroppings of black coal scarred the surface of the local heath, and the presence of coal so near the surface rendered the local soil very black.

The Black Country is also known for its distinctive dialect, which differs slightly in various parts of the region.

Despite its close proximity to Birmingham, the vast majority of the Black Country's population refuse to claim membership of the city, and are fiercely proud of their area's identity as a separate region.

South African Recipes

 Crayfish Salad

• 8 - 3 ounce crayfish tails (Use rock lobster if in the USA)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 lemon, cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup celery, cut into 1/2" dice
• 1/2 cup honeydew melon, cut into 1/2" dice
• Lettuce, for presentation
• Lemon wedges

Trinidad Tobago Trini Recipes

Pelau Chicken

Ingredients

• 2-3 lbs chicken (breasts or thighs)
• 2 limes
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic -crushed
• 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp oil
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 1 can pigeon peas (or green peas)
• 2 cups carrots
• 4 tbsp raisins
• 2 cups rice (NOT INSTANT!)
• 1 hot pepper (optional)

Dominica Recipes - Curried Goat

Ingredients

• 2 lbs goat meat
• 3 onions
• 1 bunch herbs of your choice
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 dessert spoon salt, or salt to taste
• 1/2 lb carrots
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tbsp fat (butter)

Barbados Bajan Recipes - Cou Cou

Ingredients

• 6-8 okras sliced
• 6 cups water
• 2 cups corn meal
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp butter

Haitian Recipes - Haitian Patties

Haitian Patties

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold water
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup vegetable shortening and 1/4 cup butter mixed together
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 2 tsp of parsley
• 2 chopped shallots
• 1 chopped garlic clove
• 1 lbs pound ground beef, seasoned
• 1 tbsp of beef or broth
• Hot pepper to taste

Red Stripe Chicken - Jamaican recipe

NGREDIENTS :

• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 3 pounds  chicken
• 2 cups canned coconut milk/cream
• 1 cup Red Stripe beer 
• 1 Large onion (chopped)
• 1 large green bell pepper
• Salt and pepper

Fufu

Fufu is a mash of yams or other starches served as an accompaniment to meat or vegetable stews. To eat fufu, pull a small ball of mush off with your fingers, form an indentation with your thumb and use it to scoop up stews and other dishes. Or place large balls in individual serving bowls and spoon stew around them.

• White yams -- 2 pounds
• Butter -- 2 tablespoons
• Salt and pepper -- to taste