wagonwheel

OK. Enough is enough snow already !!! In one week we had 100 cm of snow, the result of 3 different blizzards. In order to improve morale ( and it's bad folks ), I'm having a Caribbean/Mexican/Hawiian party at my house. Already have some decorations, but looking for suggestions/recipes you might have picked up in your travels.
Thanks for the help...we need it !

Diana

What a fun idea! Can I come? 8-)

Here is a recipe for the greatest Margaritas! Seems simple but it is sooooo good. I used Minute Maid Lime Concentrate and Herradura tequila:

INGREDIENTS:
1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
6 fluid ounces tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec

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DIRECTIONS:
Fill blender with crushed ice. Pour in limeade concentrate, tequila and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Music: Buffett, Bob Marley, Steel Drum Band, The Gipsy Kings, Tito Puente Jr.

Caribbean Rum Punch:

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup fresh lime juice
2 cups simple syrup
3 cups amber rum
4 cups orange juice
4 dashes bitters
freshly grated nutmeg

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DIRECTIONS:
In a pitcher, combine lime juice, simple syrup, rum and orange juice. Add a few dashes of bitters and some grated nutmeg to taste. Serve chilled over ice.

Jamaican Me Crazy Chili:

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 pounds ground round
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 1/2 cups chopped yellow bell pepper
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon hot paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

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DIRECTIONS:
Place ground round in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside. Coat a large Dutch oven with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. When pan is hot add the olive oil and sautee the onion and garlic until the onion is tender, then put in the yellow pepper and cook until tender. Season with cumin, paprika, chili powder, sugar, salt and cloves. Stir in the stewed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans and cannellini beans. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil then stir in the meat and tomato paste. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat, stir in the vinegar and serve hot topped with fresh cilantro.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken:

INGREDIENTS:
1 teaspoon onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 habanero pepper, sliced
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch strips

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DIRECTIONS:
Combine the onion, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, thyme, sesame oil, garlic, allspice and habanero pepper in the container of a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Place the chicken into a large resealable bag, and pour in 3/4 of the sauce. Squeeze out excess air, and seal. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Preheat your oven's broiler.
Remove chicken from bag, and discard marinade. Broil chicken for 10 to 15 minutes, turning once to ensure even cooking. Heat remaining sauce in a small pan, and pour over chicken when serving.

Have fun!

wagonwheel

Thanks so much for the recipes Diana. My husband loves Jerk Chicken.

I picked up little drink umbrellas today, plastic sunglasses, leis, and some straw hats.

Trying to get some travel posters from some agencies but they are hard to come by.

Dad is mixing up the music for me ! Jimmy Buffet will be played heavily, and I have a tape of reggae music bought off the street in Jamacia. I need to find some Cuban rythms as well.

I'm warming up just thinking about it, even though the current temperature outside is - 20 C.....

Diana

Wow, you are doing this up right!

Get some Tito Puente and Celia Cruz for Cuban music.

-20!!!!! Where do you live - Antarctica?!?

wagonwheel

Feels like Antarctica, but actually it's Nova Scotia, and this is very unusual for us !

My family is heading into the tank due to the unusal cold and heavy snow, and although some of us are going to Vegas in 64 days, 8 hours and 34 minutes, the others are suffering for warm breezes and sunshine.

There should be some wacky pictures from this. All the men are wearing Hawiian shirts, and the women are wearing sundresses...with turtlenecks and fuzzy socks !!!!

faithie

Hey ! I am in Montreal , but the WHOLE family is in P.E.I. , and New Glascow N.S. !!! I will tell them about the party !!!!! LOL , AHHHHH .... I am homesick now ! Faith .

faithie

And Diana , we do not get as much snow here , but we get the COLD , the warmest it has been in a week is -20 . Last week for 2 days in a row we woke up to -32 !!!! BRRRRRR....... OH CANADA !!!! Dreamin of Costa Rica , Tobago , Tortola , Jamaica , St. .......... and so on .... Faith .

tivertonhouse

See an extensive file of recipes on www.jamaicans.com
Add 'Dutty Rock' by Sean Paul and
'Strip Tease' by Lady Saw CDs to your playlist for dancing -- the latter especially, a good 'drop-jaw' conservation starter....

tivertonhouse

Make that 'conversation' instead of conservation-- Lady Saw is well known for holding nothing back...

wagonwheel

I love Jimmy Buffet's "My head hurts and My Feet Stink", or something like that !!!

mm

Stuff you can hold in your hand is best for socializing and dancing.

Taco-seasoned meat wrapped in pie dough to make small triangular Empanadas - great finger food

Jerk chicken is a must.

Red Stripe Beer is essential.

Many big fat bones to keep the appetites sharp!

mm

ScottB

I love these kinds of parties, so here are a few suggestions of things we've done in the past. Since it's an island theme, make sure everyone brings shorts/tank-tops, and crank your heat up for the night. For some reason, everyone really gets into the spirit if you're dressed appropriately. You don't need to go extreme on the heat, but crank it up to 80 degrees for a few hours!!

Here's our favorite Island Cocktail:
start with a tall glass filled to the top with ice, (at least a 12 oz glass)
1 shot of Rasberry Stoli Vodka
1 shot of Malibu Rum
equal amounts of pineapple & cranberry juice to fill the glass. Either a fresh slice of pineapple or simply a lime for garnish. Shake well, and enjoy!!

Buffet & Marley always works.....

wagonwheel

Love the ideas !

kaudrey

I got this recipe for Rum Swizzles from a hotel in Bermuda. I make them every year at my July 4th party:

20 oz. light rum
16 oz. Dark Rum
6 oz. Apricot Brandy
1 can large pineapple juice (the big can in supermarket)
1 quart orange juice
6 oz. grenadine

NOTE: I actually add ANOTHER quarter of OJ to this recipe, and even after that - these are VERY STRONG. I'd say add juice to your taste. It makes about 2 big pitchers full.

Karen

mm

Look for any of the hundreds or more recipes for Sangria. Great for sipping and goes with just about anything.

Another fun thing to do is to give your food items fun names. For example the Sangria might be labled "Santo Domingo Sangria" and the empanadas could be "Mayan meat pies"...

brenandg

Recipe for the Virgin Islands famous "Painkiller"

4 parts pineapple juice
2 parts orange juice
1 part cream of coconut
Pussers rum to taste (about 2 to 4 parts)
Serve over crushed ice.Lightly sprinkle with ground nutmeg
"The freshly grated nutmeg is essential".

OT

Sounds like a fun party!

How about some goatcurry?

crowisland

Just planning tropical party myself:

Copy this link into google for a variety of recipes.

http://web.foodnetwork.com/food/web/...;GoSearch.y=10

belair

For cuban type music on the internet you can find great tunes at
www.salsastream.com
We have it on in the house when we are home - its a must to get us through these Canadian winters.
Thanks for all of the great recipes I have written them all down and hope to have a caribbean party too.

Chuckster

I would absolutely suggest a Barefoot Man CD for the party!