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

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.

Take a look at the Jug-Jug  recipe below and add some Barbados to your Christmas this year:

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

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!

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.

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.

 
Melanie & Kimberly*

Image: NLJ

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!

Melanie & Kimberly*

Image: Glitter Guide, Pinterest