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GUYANESE LITERATURE

Nov 02, 2008 Features / Columnists, Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

Two recipe books were launched at Carifesta X namely, ‘Taste of Carifesta’, with a subtitle ‘recipes of the Caribbean, Latin and South America’ and ‘Passion! Healthy recipes with Passion Fruit’. Both books were produced locally.

‘Taste of Carifesta’ was produced by Carnegie School of Home Economics, Guyana, and is a revised third edition of a book first published in 1972 for the inaugural Carifesta in Guyana. The second edition was produced in Jamaica in 1976 for Carifesta II.

Dr. Desrey Fox in the foreword of this third edition wrote, ‘everyone should obtain and read this recipe book’ because we are ‘becoming more careful of what we now eat’ and ‘traditionally, our foods have always been simple, spicy, wholesome, organic and healthy. The ways we planted and harvested our crops were not only sustainable for the environment, but also our bodies’.

Penelope Harris, Principal, Carnegie School of Home Economics, in the preface wrote ‘Caribbean cuisine is as diverse as the various ethnicities and cultures that make up the Caribbean’ and thus recommends the book to be used by ‘professional cooks as well as housewives and young persons who just want to explore their culture and heritage’.

Our rich heritage embodies the influences from the indigenous, European, African and Asian cultures. And is now as diverse as pepperpot in Guyana, flying fish and coo-coo in Barbados, ‘bus’ up shut’ in Trinidad & Tobago, ackee and saltfish in Jamaica. The sweet potato pudding in Jamaica is also known as ‘hell-a-top, hell-a-bottom and hallelujah in de middle’. So ‘Taste of Carifesta’ can extent your imagination in ways to leave you tongue-tied.

‘Passion! Healthy Recipes with Passion Fruit’ authored by Thelsa Garnette and Donna Morrison is a groundbreaking venture in Guyana. It was the result of findings from two researches namely, ‘the physico-chemical changes in passion fruit’ and ‘expanding our diet with passion fruit’.

Several conclusions were noted, namely that the fruit can be obtained easily throughout the year, it can be propagated easily and yields profusely, it has a longer shelf life than other fruits, it can withstand harsh temperatures for a relative long period, it can be transported without damage to pulp, the pulp can be extracted without the dripping discomfiture, the passion fruit has the highest phosphorus content among fruits and finally the passion fruit is relatively cheap.

Phosphorus is important for skeletal health and wellness and ‘it aids in the transportation of fats when it is combined to form phospholipids. Glucose and glycerol are easily absorbed in the body when they are combined with phosphorus. It is also very important for the adenosine triphosphate which is the high-energy compound in our body. The passion fruit should therefore become an important ingredient to supplement our diet’ (Introduction). 

Both books are designed for a healthier you, a healthier Guyana and the Caribbean; it now behoves you to get your copies and put into practice these useful recipes.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com

LITERARY UPDATE
•  Please contact me on how to acquire books launched during Carifesta X including the books mentioned in this series of articles and THE BALGOBIN SAGA by Petamber Persaud.

•  Mark it off on your calendar: Xpress Yoself GY presents an evening of the spoken word, poetry and other art forms. Venue: Upscale Restaurant; Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

•  Coming in November a lecture by Ruby Ramraj of University of Calgary on Nalo Hopkinson, the Caribbean foremost writer of sci-fi combination with Caribbean folklore.

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