This segment is for the people who prefer to do it themselves at Carnival time. The ones who believe in packing a good cooler-ful of food and drink as they make their way to the savannah to view the Parade of the Bands. They are the ones who will have a friend waiting on the side with something in the trunk for when they feel peckish and the ones who feel "iffy" about purchasing food on the road. So if you're wondering what to cook and put away in the back seat for the journey and the spectacle that is mas, fear not, for we have some quick recipes that will get you in a gear for the season.
Trini Aloo Pies
(from the Naparima GirlsHigh School Cookbook)
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups water
Black pepper, to taste
Oil for frying
4 medium potatoes
1 tsp ground geera (cumin)
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt
Method
�2 Mix flour, baking powder, salt and water andknead lightly.Set aside to relax, covered witha bowl or wet cloth.
�2 Peel and boil potatoes in salt water until tender.
�2 Mash potatoes well. Season filling with salt,black pepper, hot pepper and ground geera.
�2 Divide dough into 9 loyah (balls).
�2 Flatten balls into 4 inch circles and fillwith potato.
�2 Wet one edge with water, fold over and seal,enclosing all potato.
�2 Flatten pie between hands as much as possiblewithout breaking the seal (they'll puff whenfried).
�2 Fry in deep oil until golden brown.
�2 Drain on paper towels, then pack up and takethem away!
Oven BarbecuedChicken Legs
Ingredients
12 thawed chicken legs � small to medium
(larger drumsticks will take longer to cook)
Juice of a lime
� cup store bought or homemade local seasoning
Salt and black pepper
Cooking spray
1 cup of your favourite barbecue sauce
Method
�2 Clean the chicken legs and wash them withthe lime juice.
�2 In a large bowl, pour the seasoning over thelegs and toss; add a little salt and pepper.Leave for at least 45 minutes to an hour tomarinate.
�2 Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
�2 Place the seasoned legs in a large roastingpan that has been coated with cooking spray.
�2 Place the pan in the oven and bake for25 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375.
�2 Remove the chicken from the oven and brush � on both sides and liberally � with barbecue sauce.
�2 Place the chicken back into the oven andcook for an extra 10 minutes. Remove from oven and brush both sides one more time.
�2 Place the chicken back in the oven foran extra 7 to 10 minutes until the barbecue sauce caramelizes. (You can also slice thechicken close to the bone to check fordoneness; if it looks pink, cook it for longer.)
�2 Once done, pack it up in your container and take it to your destination.