It's Carnival weekend here in T&T with lots to see, lots to do and lots to enjoy.It's a time most of us look forward to every year whether it's for the feting, the shows, calypso music or pan; young and old alike there is something for everyone to enjoy.Carnival is also a lucrative time for food vendors and fast food outlets, as they pull their portable kitchens roadside and peddle their wares. Come Carnival Monday and Tuesday there'll be no shortage of corn soup, boiled corn, shark and bake and Indian delicacies just to name a few.
If you're not one to "eat off the street" and you're going to do some serious liming this weekend, then you may want to take some portable and tasty snacks along with you.Pies are a great snack food and can be a light meal as well, you can even make them ahead of time and freeze them. Just take them out of the freezer the night before you'll need them and store them in the fridge. Dress them up with a little pepper or chutney if you wish and away you go for a fun loving time this Carnival!Happy Carnival! Be safe, stay hydrated and enjoy!
BAKED AREPAS
Dough
2 cups corn meal
1 cup flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter (regular or unsalted)
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Water to knead
Method
Combine all the dry ingredients, add butter and rub into mixture, add enough warm water to make a soft dough. Divide into 16 pieces, cover with a wet tea towel.
Filling
2 tbsps vegetable oil
1 cup chopped fresh herbs, chives, thyme, celery, parsley
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 pimento peppers, chopped
1/2 hot pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 lb beef, ground
2 slices bread, crumbled
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Heat oil in frying pan, add herbs, garlic, pepper and onion, saut� until tender about four minutes, add beef cook until no longer pink, about five minutes. Add a little water or broth to moisten if necessary.
If beef seems lumpy put it into your food processor bowl and process for 30 secs, just until fine.
Add crumbled bread and combine.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste and set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 375F.
Have a small bowl with a little vegetable oil handy.
Form dough into balls, rub with oil.
Press out to about 4 to 5 inch widths, fill, fold to a half moon shape, seal with a fork and place on a lined baking sheet.
Brush arepas with oil and bake for 20 minutes.
Cool on racks
Makes 16 arepas
ALOO PIES
Dough
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsps butter or shortening
Filling
1 lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
Salt
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped chive
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pimento pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 Congo pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)
2 tsps ground roasted geera
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying
Method
Make the dough by combining flour, with baking powder, salt and butter. Add water to make a soft but pliable and non sticky dough.
Knead into a ball and let rest.
Meanwhile boil potatoes with a little salt until tender, when cooked, drain and crush well with a potato masher.
Add garlic, geera, peppers, onion, chives, salt and ground black pepper.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Divide dough into eight pieces, and roll each piece into a ball. Rest for five minutes.
Roll each piece of dough into a five-inch circle, place about 1-2 tablespoons.
Onto the lower portion of the circle, and bring the upper portion over lower portion to cover in a half moon shape.
Seal and continue until all the dough and filling is used up.
Heat oil in a frying pan and shallow fry pies until golden brown.
Drain and fill with chutney.
Makes 8 pies
SPICY CARIBBEAN FISH PIES
1 lb boneless fish fillets, steamed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp fresh lime juice
1/2 cup finely chopped mixed herbs, (parsley, thyme, chadon beni, chives)
1 large potato, peeled, boiled and crushed
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Oil for frying
Method
Flake fish and remove bones, add all other ingredients.
Taste and adjust seasoning
Dough
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsps shortening
Method
Make the dough by combining flour, with baking powder, salt and butter. Add water to make a soft but pliable and non sticky dough.
Knead into a ball and let rest.
Divide dough into ten pieces, and roll each piece into a ball. Rest for five minutes.
Roll each piece of dough into a 5-inch circle, place about 1-2 tablespoons of the filling.
Onto the lower portion of the circle, and bring the upper portion over lower portion to cover in a half moon shape.
Seal and continue until all the dough and filling is used up.
Heat oil in a frying pan and shallow fry pies until golden brown.
Drain and serve.
Makes 10 pies