October 2014 – Page 3 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Food on Fire – The Joy of JERK

A Fiery Food Fetish – Jamaican Style

I enjoy a really good Jerk chicken and have the perfect recipe for those who are daring enough to try it.

FIRST, a bit of history (you can always skip this part & cut right to the chase but I think it’s a good idea to let people know where the dish originated from).

It all started with survival (and if you really want to take it a step further I guess you can say that that’s how all food started). The beginning doesn’t sound too appetizing. Escaped slaves living in the Jamaican jungle interior had to develop many survival techniques – but none more impressive than the way they hunted wild pigs (cleaning them between run-ins with the law) and covering them with a mysterious spice paste and then cooking them over an aromatic wood fire. Now this spice mixture is so popular, inspiring commercial spice mixes, bottled marinades and the use of the word “jerk” around the world. What about the word used to describe this dish? Most Jamaicans offer the non-scholarly explanation that the word refers to the jerking motion either in turning the meat over the coals or in chopping off some for customers.

However…JERK….is the English form of a Spanish word of Indian origin. The original Indian word meant to prepare pork in the manner of the Quichua Indians. Now Jerk is prepared with chicken, fish, shrimp even lobster. Several of the best jerk purveyors are still on the beach at Boston Bay, Portland (not in Oregon) somewhat off the tourist track mostly frequented by Jamaicans, not tourists. But I was lucky enough to try some from a local stand (actually no more than a thatch-roof hut built over low-lying , smoldering fire) – and it’s never tasted better.

The jerk sellers tend to be characters with colorful nicknames and singsong sales pitches that tell you why their jerk is the best on the island. They’ll even pull out a glass jar of jerk paste with lethal scotch bonnet peppers and scoop out some for you to try. This definitely will require a *red stripe to cool down the flames. *Red Stripe is the beer of Jamaica. Oh my, I almost forgot I have a recipe.

Jerrific Jerk Chicken

This recipe is great served with rice and peas. It can be made more authentic by doubling all the dry spices – including the fiery chili flakes! You could also substitute a whole chicken cut into serving size pieces instead of chicken breasts with terrific results. At this time of year you can grill the chicken under the broiler instead of on the barbecue.

1 Tbsp. ground allspice

1Tbsp. dried thyme

1 ½ tsp. dried chili flakes

1 ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 ½ tsp. ground sage

¾ tsp. ground nutmeg

¾ tsp. ground cinnamon

1 Tbsp. salt

2 Tbsp. garlic powder

1 Tbsp. brown, cane or coconut sugar

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce

¾ cup vinegar (either regular white or apple cider)

½ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)

Juice of one lime

1 fresh *scotch bonnet pepper, seeded & chopped

1 cup chopped onion

3 green onions, finely chopped

6 single chicken breasts, skin and bones removed.

Preparation:

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Slowly whisk in oil, soy sauce, vinegar, orange and lime juices. Stir in scotch bonnet pepper and onions. Add chicken, cover and marinate at least 4 hours.

Preheat barbecue to medium (or oven to 350 degrees). Remove chicken from marinade; grill 6 minutes each side or until cooked through with no pink remaining. Baste with marinade while grilling or cooking. Bring remaining marinade to boil; spoon over chicken. Makes 4-6 servings.

*Scotch bonnet is a very hot chili pepper available at West and East Indian food shops and at some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute a fresh jalapeno or extra dried chili flakes to taste.

Recipe courtesy of Sugar Reef Caribbean Cooking (McGraw-Hill)

History & Photos courtesy of The Food of Jamaica – authentic recipes from the Jewel of the Caribbean.

The girl who would be King spent several years (off & on but mostly on) traveling all over this beautiful island sampling resorts, jerk, rum, coffee and…..whatever else.

Another recommendation - Blue Mountain Coffee — Another recommendation – Blue Mountain Coffee preferably on the top of Strawberry Hill.

DESTINATIONS

Jake’s in Jamaica – Dream Destination

When you just want to RELAX with no outside interruptions – the very essence of a perfect vacation…you might want to go to Jake’s Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

Jamaica is a great place to unwind but when you think of places to travel in Jamaica what usually comes to mind? Is it fast paced and touristy Montego Bay, Ocho Rios for newlyweds and honeymooners or Negril for miles and miles of white sand beach and many all-inclusives?

When I travel I love to explore places off the beaten path and find little hidden treasures. If you drive for one hour outside Montego Bay you will find a beautiful tropical countryside with breathtaking views of fishing villages, beaches, centuries old great houses, natural waterfalls and wetlands. You’ll find the South Coast of Jamaica.

Stumbled upon this stylishly funky hotel/spa by accident while driving along the South Coast. It’s a world away from the island’s high-pressure resort towns. A welcome opposite of Ocho Rios while still maintaining tropical charm with a beautiful low-key seafront setting and lovely gardens. The brightly painted cottages stretch along the water’s edge, in the sleepy settlement of Treasure Beach in south-west Jamaica. Centred on a lovely open-air dining ‘room’, the pool and Dougie’s bar, Jakes has really lovely, raffish Jamaican charm.

The Bar

The PROS:

Friendly staffers who know every guest by name
On-site art classes for everyone, all ages
Daily yoga and Pilates workshops
One of Jamaica’s best spas
Excellent restaurant with fresh, locally produced Jamaican fare.
No nearby tourist attractions or nightlife

THE CONS: Remote location on the South Coast No nearby tourist attractions No nightlife Coarse black-sand beaches less desirable for swimming A hike – two hour drive ($120 by taxicab) from Montego Bay’s airport No in-room TV, phone, or Internet

In a NUTSHELL:

With just 30 hippy-chic cottages in secluded Treasure Beach, Jake’s is a member of Bespoke Hotels, a trendy, luxury hotel group. Guests come to unplug — there’s no phone, Internet, or TV in the cottages (but there are CD players and CD’s in each room with an extensive CD library). The black-sand beaches aren’t Jamaica’s most impressive, but the Driftwood Spa, on-site painting classes for all and yoga/pilates workshops, and excellent locally prepared food make this a particular favorite.And that is exactly why I recommend Jake’s.

And if you’re lucky there may be some other hidden treasures…but we can’t discuss them here. If you catch my drift ~~wood~~.

Photos: d. king http://www.jakeshotel.com/

FUN

Words…being an Italian

wannabeItalian style is a natural attitude. It is about a life of good taste. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Simple but with good taste. Luxury is possible to buy. Good taste is not. – Diego Della Valle (President and CEO of the Italian leather goods company, Tod’s).

The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again. – George Miller

If your mother cooks Italian food, why would you go to a restaurant? – Martin Scorsese

FUN

Health MATTERS: MERCURY rising – should we be worried?

First off, let me preface this by saying I LOVE SUSHI and tend to eat a lot of tuna especially.

General concern about the levels of mercury in our water and food are coming up more and more so you can imagine my interest to see the article about toxicity levels in my weekly Goop in-box edition .

Goop asked Dr. Alejandro Junger, a Cardiologist and detoxification expert (they claim to trust him with their lives & love his very easy-to-implement program, Clean), just how concerned we should be. And more importantly, they asked him how we can help our bodies unload toxic heavy metals.

IS MERCURY POISONING A REAL THREAT?

Mercury is an extremely toxic element and heavy metal that is increasingly affecting the health of millions of people. It’s a major problem today because our exposure to it is rising, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. One of the primary ways we are exposed to mercury is by eating large fish such as tuna, shark, and swordfish. The bottom line is that we want to reduce our exposure to mercury as much as possible.

One of the biggest challenges is that most practitioners and researchers are not aware of the latest science that shows elevated levels of mercury can take a serious toll on our health. Exposure to this heavy metal has been linked to increased incidents of chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune conditions, ADHD, autism, as well as memory loss, irritability and blurred vision. Even if you don’t have one of the ailments listed above, mercury exposure could still be having an effect on your health. When I see a lingering health issue that hasn’t been cleared after significant lifestyle, cleansing, and dietary changes, I look to see if mercury is one of the causes.

DOES MERCURY EXPOSURE JUST COME FROM FISH? WHAT ARE ALL THE SOURCES?

There are different types of mercury, but most of our immediate exposure comes from just a few major sources:

Fish that are high in methylmercury, also known as organic mercury. Typical examples are the big fish mentioned above, like tuna, swordfish, shark, etc.
Mercury amalgam—also known as inorganic mercury—dental fillings.
We can also be exposed to mercury through drinking water (especially private water systems like wells that are often untested and municipal systems), occupational exposures, and by coal heating in homes.Most of the mercury tht finds its way into the environment is from coal-fired power plants, artisanal gold mining, and processing plants that make plastics and chlorine. The mercury is sent into the air, then rained down on lakes, into soil, and carried off by rivers. It all eventually makes its way to our oceans where the organic compound is then accumulated into the fatty tissue of fish. Finally, it ends up on our plates.

When we eat high-mercury fish, the mercury is distributed throughout our body but primarily takes hold in the kidneys and brain. Once there, the mercury can cause slow havoc to a variety of organs especially the heart, brain, and gut.

In pregnant mothers, mercury is transferred to the fetus through the placenta causing increased risks of poor neurological performance, language skills, and verbal memory.

New cases of mercury poisoning have also been connected to certain skin lightening face creams. I recommend that people check if their products are free from toxic chemicals at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.

industrial or environmental mercury sources may require both industrial and governmental assistance to design ways to prevent exposure to forms of mercury.

Mercury Poisoning Prevention at Home

At home, there are a few mercury- containing items (for example, thermometers, medical devices, some disinfectants, fluorescent light bulbs) that potentially can be the source of mercury poisoning. People are advised to read the labels on products to see if they contain mercury, have warning labels about potential toxicity, or have directions about how to dispose of a broken or non-useable product.

Mercury Poisoning Prevention – Vaccines

Another source of concern by people is the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used in vaccine preparations. Except for some influenza vaccines, it is not being used in most vaccines.

What a major drag it would be to not be able to eat my favourite sushi anymore. Let’s try to clean up our act ASAP! Anyone??

Source: Goop.com & emedicinehealth.com

FUN

Feel-good Friday: Cruising

And perusing all the lovely boats in Coal Harbour over a beautiful Vancouver weekend.

Just chillin & checking things out

Seeking something… …like going on a big Safari

This is the perfect parking spot

but I settled for this instead

and parked myself here for the better part of an afternoon

I hope this weekend is as good as last!

double click to enlarge photos

Photos: d. king

beauty

Beauty biz: Shhh…Secrets from around the Globe

Different cultures have tried-and-true BEAUTY REMEDIES as old as the civilizations themselves.

We always love discovering new methods for achieving gorgeous skin and shiny hair so we looked to countries around this beautiful planet of ours to find out their beauty secrets. Find the “best at-home” treatments from around the world that you can DIY with items from your kitchen.

Beginning with my current (and recurring) obsession:

ITALY

For many generations, Italian women have been flaunting beautiful, glossy hair thanks to a nourishing yogurt and olive oil recipe.

Try now: Mix one cup of plain whole-milk yogurt with one teaspoon of olive oil. After shampooing, comb in the mixture and let sit for five minutes. Rinse the mask out with cool water.

EGYPT

Since the days of Cleopatra, women have been bathing in milk for soft, rejuvenated skin.

Try Now: Add 3 cups of powdered milk to a warm bath to remove dead cells and soften skin. You’ll instantly notice your skin becoming smoother and softer.

MEXICO

Known for their smooth complexions, women in Mexico have long been exfoliating with avocado.

Try now: Make your own face scrub by drying out a clean avocado seed in the sun for one week. Cut into 4 pieces and drop into a blender to grind into a chunky powder. Mix the remnants of the seed with a daily moisturizer and massage into skin while in a steamy shower.

GREECE

According to lore, Grecian gods bathed in rosemary water to purify and thicken hair.

Try now: Boil fresh rosemary in two quarts of water and let cool before pouring over clean hair. This cleanses any buildup on the scalp and stimulates follicles to spark hair growth.

CHINA

Women in Southeast Asia have been using a traditional tamarind skin peel to remove sunspots and acne scars for ages.

Try now: Remove the pulp from three fresh tamarind pods and mix with honey and water until the consistency becomes creamy. Massage onto skin and let sit for five minutes before washing off. Repeat weekly for lasting results.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Women have been using garlic to strengthen their nails for centuries.

Try now: Finely chop half of a fresh garlic and add to a bottle of clear nail polish. Let sit for 10 days before applying to nails. The strengthening and antibacterial properties in the garlic make your nails stronger—but not without a bit of a stench.

CANADA & USA:

recommended by the girl who would be king

For those who don’t like going to the hairdresser or want to experiment at home with a really easy DIY catwalk worthy dip-dye kit.

New Wild Ombré is the first ever DIP-DYE COLOUR KIT by L’ORÉAL PARIS. It may not be natural but it ends up giving your hair a two-tone fashion-forward finish.

The specially designed application brush will apply the lightening crème solely to the desired area of your hair to create the ultimate two tone effect. Maximum waiting time – 45 minutes.

Source: thezoereport.com (because Rachel Zoe is so much more than a stylist)