Virgin Islands Guava Tart Food

CARIBBEAN COCONUT TART

Steps:

• Prepare the pastry as directed: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and grated orange peel.
• With a pastry blender, cut in butter until fine particles form.
• Add 1 lightly beaten egg and stir with a fork until well blended; work with your hands until dough holds together in a ball. Divide into thirds.
• Set aside 1/3 of the pastry for lattice strips.
• On a lightly floured waxed paper, roll out the other 2/3 to a 12-inch circle. Use the paper to lift and gently turn pastry into a 10 1/2-inch tart pan with removable bottom (or 10-inch pie pan).
• Shape to bottom and sides of pan; trim excess from top edge of tart pan (or away from rim of pie pan).
• Bake in a 325*F oven for 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, divide remaining pastry into 10 pieces; on a lightly floured board roll each into a 10 to 12 inch rope. Cover and refrigerate while mixing filling.
• Filling: In a bowl lightly beat the eggs, then stir in sugar, salt and flour. Add coconut, orange juice and melted butter; mix well. Pour into prepared crust.
• Criss-cross ropes of dough on top of filling. Trim and press ends to edges of pastry. Return to a 325* oven and bake until crust is golden brown and center is set, about 40 minutes.
• Warm the jelly or jam until melted and carefully brush it over top of hot tart. Cool completely, as long as 24 hours, then remove sides of pan and cut tart in wedges.

TRADITIONAL BVI DUMB BREAD

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt and sugar, add enough water to mix the ingredients and knead.
• Grease the bottom of the pot with a little of the shortening and preheat by putting the tin with the hot coals on top of the pot.
• Remove the tin sheet and place the dough inside. Replace the tin with hot coals on top of the pot.
• Check the dough from time to time. When the bottom is brown turn the dough over and heat until the other side is brown. The whole process including the making of the dough should take 20 minutes.

KALALOO VIRGIN ISLANDS STYLE

Steps:

• Soak meats overnight in cold water to remove excess fat and salt. Cook meat and conchs in 2 qts water till soft.
• When meat is half cooked, add fish and crab and continue cooking till meat is tender.
• Peel eggplant. Add to pot with meat mixture. When soft, remove and chop fine. Return to pot.
• Wash greens, and chop fine or put through grinder.
• Cut up okras and add with greens to meat and eggplant mixture.
• Cook till greens become a dark green color. Continue to cook about 5 minutes longer. Taste, add a little salt if needed, and hot pepper if desired. If mixture is too thick, add 1-2 cups water.