Pineapple Slaw
(Serves 8-10)

A colorful, zesty cabbage slaw that adds pinapple. Perfect as an accompaniment to any entre.

4 C cabbage (shredded)
4 slices pineapple (diced)
1 C carrot (shredded)
1/2 C apple (chopped)
2 T green bell pepper (chopped)
2 T red bell pepper (chopped)
1/4 C apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt

Combine vegetables in a bowl. In smaller bowl, dissolve sugar and salt in the vinegar, then pour over slaw mix. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Tips & Glossary:

Caribbean cuisine is an exquisite blend of African, Asian, European, and Carib Indian (the area's original inhabitants) foods. Dishes are highly seasoned, either with a dry rub or marinade—or both. Following are some typical ingredients found in Caribbean food.

Spices: Allspice, bay leaves, black pepper, chives, chili peppers, cilantro, cinnamon, coconut, curry powder, escallion, garlic, ginger, lime, mace, nutmeg, onion, oregano, sugar, thyme, orange, tomato paste, vanilla, cayenne (red) pepper.

Jerk: Jamaican cooking method in which meat is rubbed, prior to grilling, with a blend of seasonings, often firey hot. Jerk is also the name of the seasoning (from Spanish charqui, or dried meat). You can buy jerk in most grocery stores (even McCormick makes it), or can make and store your own.

• 1 T each—onion powder, garlic powder, dried chives, brown sugar; 2 tsp. each— (ground) allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon; 1 tsp. each—sage. thyme, salt, black pepper, cayenne (or more to taste). Mix thoroughly and store in a tightly covered jar.

There are thousands of versions; figure out what flavors you like most and add or subtract accordingly.

Typical Caribbean Meats: goat, pork, chicken, and some beef (though beef has tended to be expensive).

Fish: varieties that abound in surrounding waters, some familiar to us—grouper, cod, tilapia, blue marlin; others not so—200 species of jack, chip-chips (tiny clams), casadura (primitive armored catfish).

Indigenous plant foods:
• ackee—/peach-looking fruit with pulp like scrambled eggs
• annatto (achiote) seed—red coloring or flavoring agent w/ slightly sweet peppery taste.
• callaloo— like spinach
• cassava root (taro root)—
• malanaga root—
• scotch bonnet peppers—
• breadfruit—fruit used like a potato in salads, stews, even whipped.
• passion fruit

More familiar foods:
bananas and plantains, okra, yams, papaya, mangoes, coconut, yams, sweet potatoes, rice, beans, corn and cornmeal.