Archives for March 2015

Join(ed) the Revolution!

March 31, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders Leave a Comment

I am very proud and excited to have become an ambassador of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution!

The Food Revolution was launched in 2010 to fight the obesity epidemic and to get people cooking again. It aims to educate children about food in a fun and engaging way, and equip them with the basic skills to lead healthier, happier lives. With a global army of more than 1300 volunteers, we all work together to inspire change and fight diet-related diseases.

Curacao Food Revolution Ambassadors

Living on an island with an extremely high number of people with obesity and diabetes, there is a lot of work to be done! Luckily, I have my fellow ambassador Muriel Strobos with whom I have joined forces. Our first project together is the upcoming Food Revolution Day on May 15th. On this day we will organize culinary activities for the local kids. Make sure to follow my blog and the Food Revolution Facebook page for more details. It promises to become a fun and tasty day!

If you have 20 minutes to spare, please take that time to watch this video. You will understand the importance of the Food Revolution, when you see little children not being able to distinguish a tomato from a potato!

Do you want to support our fight for food education? Then please Sign and Share this petition.

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Jerk Chicken Skewers with Mango Mayonnaise

March 26, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders 1 Comment

This is a good recipe to pimp a plain old chicken skewer. The jerk marinade is made with fresh Scotch Bonnet peppers and ground allspice, and adds lots of spice and flavor to the meat. …

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Tuna Ceviche with Tequila Dressing

March 19, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders 2 Comments

Tuna Ceviche with Tequila Dressing

When I was young and pretty ánd backpacking through South America (those were the days!), I had my first encounter with ceviche. It was on a beach somewhere in Peru and I was immediately hooked. Fresh fish, lime, spice, cilantro. I loved the bright flavors!…

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Grilled Okra

March 13, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders 3 Comments

Grilled Okra

One of my favorite tools in the kitchen is my griddle pan. It works like an in-house BBQ and adds lots of flavor to meat, fish, bread and vegetables.

Did you know that grilling vegetables is a great way to prepare them? I use peppers (all colors), eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, pumpkin, tomatoes, onion, you name it. Toss them with a quick dressing of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, a little black pepper & salt and dig in.

One day, I had some leftover okra and decided to give that a go on the griddle pan. It turned out delicious! Because you only grill it for a few minutes it stays really fresh and crunchy. So many people are afraid of this – perceived slimy – vegetable, but it is so versatile if prepared in the right way, I think we should give it another chance.

This grilled version is as easy as it gets. Sprinkle with some good quality extra virgin olive oil and some coarse (sea) salt and you’re done. It makes a great snack on its own, can be served as a side dish with grilled meat or fish, or added to a salad of grilled veggies.

So no excuses, please, it is a must try!

Grilled Okra

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4

Ingredients

250g fresh okra, washed and sliced in half lengthways
1 tablespoon good quality extra virgin olive oil
a sprinkle of coarse (sea) salt
extra: a griddle pan (or BBQ)

Instructions

Heat your griddle pan for 5 minutes. Do not put any oil on the pan or it will become a smoky affair. Put your sliced okras on the griddle, cut side down. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the beautiful grill-marks appear. Turn and grill for another 2 minutes on the other side.
Put the okras in a nice bowl and dress with the olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Serve immediately.

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Cooking Classes

March 6, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders 2 Comments

In addition to the free recipes that you can find on my blog, I also teach Caribbean cooking classes with a modern twist. Besides a fun night out and a chance to meet new people, you will learn various cooking skills like how to fillet fresh fish and how to make your own sausages.

I received so many requests for the classes, that I have scheduled a few extra ones in the coming weeks. Note that it is the same class each week, so just pick the day that suits you best!

Click here for more information.

Caribbean Cooking Class

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Veggie Kidz

March 5, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders 1 Comment

We have been a guest-blogger for the ladies of Veggie Kidz for some time now.

Their colorful Veggie Kidz cookbook was published in 2014 and was recently elected as the no. 2 vegetarian cookbook of the year! The book is filled with healthy (but fun) recipes for children and cheerful pictures. Don’t let the “vegetarian” part scare you. Even if you’re not a veggie, you can easily find a delicious recipe for a meat or fish-free day….

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Bustling 1st Farmers Market!

March 3, 2015 By Helmi Smeulders 5 Comments

The 1st Spice Girl Farmers Market took place last Saturday. And it was bustling!

Local farmers, fishermen, winemakers, beer brewers and other entrepreneurs arrived early in the morning with fresh farm products, freshly caught fish and prepared organic foods, juices & wines. They hardly had time to stock up their food stalls, before visitors started arriving and took their chance to load up their bags with lots of fresh produce….

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Archives for March 2015

Grilled Okra

Ingredients

Instructions

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