After having started this feature a few years back... With the intention of continuing the series and eventually making this into a book. Featuring not only recipes but also stories from the ol' time people.
I discovered that contrary to what I had imagined, it is much harder than I knew to get the ol' people to talk, and share their recipes. Of course covid pandemic made talking to almost anyone nearly impossible unless it was vitally important. And especially talking to person's of that generation, who were the most hardest hit by the COVID-19 virus and it's side effects. Had been made even more difficult than ever by the restrictions that the pandemic stipulated.
Therefore this project has been put on hold for a long while now. Still it has been made even more apparent that these real traditional recipes that we were seeking to feature in this book. Are indeed in danger of being lost or forgotten, as the older generations pass on, without passing on these recipes to us the next generation.
Now that I am no longer based in Jamaica its even harder than before to get to speak to the elders, who carry the secrets to these ol' time favourite recipes. So in the meantime I have included the links to two of these recipes found on one of the most reliable resource websites Jamaicans.com
So what was next on the list?
Peanut Drops
and
Coconut Drops
As another Christmas approaches we Jamaicans are dealing not only with recovery from the Global pandemic just a few years ago. WE have recently suffered from major losses after the most powerful Hurricane ever to hit Jamaica almost swept away a huge proportion of the western parishes.
So I will not be overly concerned about not continuing with this particular project for now as we focus on more important and essential matters. However I do hope that we will continue to reinforce the need to preserve our traditions and to value the opportunity to connect with our elders whilst they are still here. To encourage them to share some of these recipes so that they can be kept alive by the proceeding generations.
As they only know too well that these generations are often not practicing older traditions and things that are worthwhile, but may require greater amounts of patience. Like those traditional fruit soaked Christmas cakes, that have been an annual treat that are savored and some even made famous, by those families who have the most exquisite recipes.
This Christmas maybe limited in comparison to many others but lets remember to value those people who are, and the practices that are, most important. Our traditions, the real meaning and spirit of Christmas and I, encourage you to try to get your granny, your auntie or whoever is the baker to share those Christmas cake recipes with you!😉
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