So here's to 2012! A year that will be filled with peace, love, success and happiness! Hope everyone has an amazing, safe and enjoyable New Years!
Melanie & Kimberly*
30/12/2011
Out with the Old and In with the New!
The later part of this year has been very exciting for Loop Barbados and we are so looking forward to 2012. We have some great things coming your way for the New Year and we wish to thank all of our lovely readers who have been there with us thus far! We love you all!
So here's to 2012! A year that will be filled with peace, love, success and happiness! Hope everyone has an amazing, safe and enjoyable New Years!
So here's to 2012! A year that will be filled with peace, love, success and happiness! Hope everyone has an amazing, safe and enjoyable New Years!
28/12/2011
Parlour Beach Barbados
We sincerely hope all of you had a fabulous Holiday weekend and Christmas. Barbados was sunny and wonderful and the beaches were full of locals and tourists alike soaking in the wonderful Christmas sun. One of the beaches that may have been on your wishlist if you were in Barbados is Parlour beach. Parlour beach is located in the village of Bathsheba, sandwiched between Soup Bowl and High Rock. It is both a popular surf as well as relaxation spot. The best swell direction for Parlour is North-East and it has consistent left and rights. However, when the swell is big and the surf is up it is advised that only intermediate or advanced surfers brave the waves as the currents are very strong and sharp rocks very prominent.
So whether you decided to venture down the east coast to surf, or sip on some refreshing coconut water (yes from the coconut itself) Parlour is a definite must stop on your Barbados 'to-do' list!
Image: Loop Barbados
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| Parlour Beach, Bathsheba Barbados |
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| Parlour Beach, Bathsheba Barbados |
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| Parlour Beach, Bathsheba Barbados |
So whether you decided to venture down the east coast to surf, or sip on some refreshing coconut water (yes from the coconut itself) Parlour is a definite must stop on your Barbados 'to-do' list!
Melanie & Kimberly*
Image: Loop Barbados
23/12/2011
Happy Holidays!
Reaching to all the corners of the world, Loop Barbados would like to wish all of our readers, friends and family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! May everyone's Holiday weekend be full of joy, peace and love!
Melanie & Kimberly*
Image: Pinterest edited by Loop Barbados
21/12/2011
Santa's Got a Sunburn - the brilliant Jug-Jug
Loop Barbados's next "Santa's got a sunburn feature" will be the famous jug-jug. It's not Christmas in Barbados if there is no Jug-Jug on your table Christmas day. This dish made of pigeon peas, pork, stewed/salted beef, onions, guinea corn flour and spices is one that could/should never be omitted, as for many Barbadians it is what makes a Christmas meal 'Christmassy'. Jug-Jug is a savory like pudding and is said to be a corruption of the Scottish dish haggis first made by Scottish prisoners brought to Barbados after the 1745 Jacobite rebellion.
Image: Nation News
250 grams pork
250 grams beef
2 liters water
1 whole hot pepper
500 grams pigeon peas
1 Tbs. thyme
1 Tbs. parsley
1 Tbs. chives
1 medium onion
125 grams guinea corn
Cut up meat, chop thyme, parsley and chives. 2. Cook pork for 20 minutes then add beef, season with salt if fresh meat is used. Add pepper, peas and cook for 30 minutes or until peas is soft. Strain and reserve stock. 3. Mince meat finely. Add peas and pound in a mortar or put in an electric blender. 4. In a pot, add thyme, parsley, chives and onion to reserved liquid and boil for 5 minutes. Add guinea corn slowly and stir briskly for 10 minutes.
Melanie & Kimberly*
Image: Nation News
19/12/2011
The Crop of Barbados - Sugar Cane
It was in 1642 that sugar farming was introduced in Barbados by the Dutch and since then, sugar has not only become a major part of our history but also has been a main molding source of our culture and heritage. For years Barbados only used sugar for feedstock, fuel and rum; however in 1664 that changed and the bigger plantations started exporting the sugar and soon it was dominating Barbados's economic growth. "White gold" was the name given to it because of the great wealth, fame and statue it produced for the island.
Although our main economic driver is no longer sugar and Barbados does not produce half the amount it did in the past, as you drive through the country side you will most definitely be greeted by fields upon fields of sugar cane. It is a sight you will never forget!
Image: Loop Barbados
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| Sugar Cane, Barbados |
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| Horses in the Paddock with sugar cane in the background, Barbados |
Although our main economic driver is no longer sugar and Barbados does not produce half the amount it did in the past, as you drive through the country side you will most definitely be greeted by fields upon fields of sugar cane. It is a sight you will never forget!
Melanie & Kimberly*
Image: Loop Barbados
16/12/2011
Its Friday!
Wishing a ......
This magical spot of Cherry Tree Hill is simply brilliant! Especially on a day like this one! Hope everyone's weekend is a great one filled with merriment.
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| Cherry Tree Hill, Barbados |
This magical spot of Cherry Tree Hill is simply brilliant! Especially on a day like this one! Hope everyone's weekend is a great one filled with merriment.
Melanie & Kimberly*
14/12/2011
Santa's Got A Sunburn - Sorrel The Christmas Drink of Barbados
For the next few weeks in December Loop Barbados has decided to do a "Santa's got a sunburn" segment. This segment will include different Barbadian and Caribbean Christmas traditions which we are proud to share. Our first feature- the one and only sorrel. Sorrel is a maroon in colour fruit which grows on a shrub. When this fruit is soaked in water a pleasant tasting and vibrant red juice is produced. This is a Christmas tradition in the Caribbean and especially in Barbados, as no Christmas soiree is complete without it. In addition to its great taste, sorrel contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, calcium, niacin and riboflavin. It also contains flavonoids which give the fruit its deep maroon colour and are known as powerful antioxidants for the body.
Take a look below for the famous sorrel and sorrel liqueur recipe!
Melanie & Kimberly*
Take a look below for the famous sorrel and sorrel liqueur recipe!
SORREL DRINK
2 lbs Sorrel (cut, washed and drained)
4 pints of boiled water (use hot)
1 stick spice and a few cloves.
2 lbs sugar (mix to taste, use less if you do not like it too sweet). Leave Sorrel to soak in water with spice and cloves for 24 hours then pour off and add sugar to taste.
4 pints of boiled water (use hot)
1 stick spice and a few cloves.
2 lbs sugar (mix to taste, use less if you do not like it too sweet). Leave Sorrel to soak in water with spice and cloves for 24 hours then pour off and add sugar to taste.
SORREL LIQUEUR
4 lbs Sorrel (cut, washed and drained)
1 Pint Gin
1/2 Pint Barbados Rum
2 lbs granulated sugar
3 gills (15 ozs.) boiled water, cooled.
Steep (soak) sorrel in gin and rum for 1 week, boil sugar and water until fairly thick. Drain off liquid from sorrel and add to syrup. Store in bottle and keep for at least 2 weeks before using. Really nice after 3 months.
1 Pint Gin
1/2 Pint Barbados Rum
2 lbs granulated sugar
3 gills (15 ozs.) boiled water, cooled.
Steep (soak) sorrel in gin and rum for 1 week, boil sugar and water until fairly thick. Drain off liquid from sorrel and add to syrup. Store in bottle and keep for at least 2 weeks before using. Really nice after 3 months.
Melanie & Kimberly*
12/12/2011
In the Heat of the Moment- The Scotch Bonnet Pepper of Barbados
The Scotch Bonnet pepper, also known as Scotty Bon, Boney Pepper or Caribbean red pepper is a variety of the Chili pepper found in Barbados and throughout the Caribbean. To give you a little bit of an idea on how hot these peppers actually are, a jalapeno pepper has a heat rating of 1000-8000 scoville units whereas a scotch bonnet has a heat rating of 100,000-350,000 scoville units! From jerk seasoning, to pickle, to fish, to chicken you will find scotch bonnets in almost any traditional cuisine in Barbados. And let us not forget the famed pepper sauce made from scotch bonnets. It is often said that Barbadians have "hard mouths" because of the amount of pepper sauce they place on everything!
These peppers are hot but give such flavor and dimension to any meal!
These peppers are hot but give such flavor and dimension to any meal!
Melanie & Kimberly*
09/12/2011
Weekend Of Christmas Festivities
It's the second weekend in December and it seems that they are getting busier and busier with festivities! On Saturday 10th December starting at 9.00 PM will be the annual Snow Ball at Lion Castle! Snow in Barbados?..No think again. The hosts actually have acquired a snow machine which produces a snow-like substance. This is pumped all night while everyone mingles, dances and enjoys a few. This ball also acts as a charity, everyone who attends is required to bring a gift for a child in need which is then presented to them on Christmas Day! For more general and ticket information please call (246) 826-4304.
On Sunday the 11th starting at 5.00 PM will be Carols By Candlelight. The Rotary Club of Barbados hosts this event yearly as, again a way to raise money for the poor at Christmas. Locals and visitors gather in the garden of Illaro Court (the Prime Minister's House). There are performances by local and international talent (Sir Cliff Richards will be performing), plus as the sun sets and the night falls everyone lights a candle. By about 6.15 PM the entire courtyard is beaming with beautiful candlelight and everyone is singing along with the artists. Usually each individual will bring their own treats and drinks and enjoy the simplicity of it all. If you decide to come don't forget to bring a gift for the poor! For more information please email rotarybarbadossouth@gmail.com.
Hope to see some of you there!
Image: Glitter Guide, Pinterest
On Sunday the 11th starting at 5.00 PM will be Carols By Candlelight. The Rotary Club of Barbados hosts this event yearly as, again a way to raise money for the poor at Christmas. Locals and visitors gather in the garden of Illaro Court (the Prime Minister's House). There are performances by local and international talent (Sir Cliff Richards will be performing), plus as the sun sets and the night falls everyone lights a candle. By about 6.15 PM the entire courtyard is beaming with beautiful candlelight and everyone is singing along with the artists. Usually each individual will bring their own treats and drinks and enjoy the simplicity of it all. If you decide to come don't forget to bring a gift for the poor! For more information please email rotarybarbadossouth@gmail.com.
Hope to see some of you there!
Melanie & Kimberly*
Image: Glitter Guide, Pinterest