Pati's Mexican Table: Jamaica flowers charm the kitchen

Pati Jinich

Article written and photos taken for and published by National Public Radio's Kitchen Window on July 22, 2009

Growing up in Mexico City, my sisters and I used to prepare exotic meals, perfumes and potions for the inhabitants of our enchanted forest. That was our dog, the bluebird, snails, butterflies and ladybugs that happened to peek into our backyard and witness our extravagant mess. It also included any family friend who happened to stop by and become a willing victim. We sometimes offered cooking classes too.

My mother set us up in the backyard on a big blanket with random pots and pans, while she cooked laborious weekend meals. There was a fig tree, an apple tree, a peach tree, a couple of what we called Chinese orange trees and tons of azaleas and herbs that offered an immense array of witch-crafting material. But among our most prized ingredients were dried jamaica flowers, known here as hibiscus flowers, stored in a big jar in the kitchen.

To read entire article and get recipes for Jamaica concentrate, water and variations; Seared duck breast with jamaica and orange sauce; Watercress, goat cheese and pecan salad with jamaica flower vinaigrette click NPR's Kitchen Window

POSTED IN: Recipes , Salads , Main Courses , Cold & Hot Drinks

TAGS: Agua , Drink , Duck , Flowers , Goat Cheese , Hibiscus , Jamaica , Kitchen , NPR , Pecans , Recipe , Salad , Sauce , Vinaigrette , Watercress , Window

Print Entry
Print Recipe
Share
COMMENTS (3)

Print Entry | Print Recipe |

Share this Entry |

subscribe to rss |

Comments

Pati : I just love the way you take us all to these amazing food feast travels.........
Thank You !
kar

karen | July 22, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply

I am so thrilled to even read about mexican food. estoy una aficionada de mexico, y por las cuatro ultimos anos = tengo la marivillosa oportunidad de vivir con una amiga que me da el gusto de la cusina mexicana.
es la razon de mi enthusiasmo, gracias para todo
vivo en quebec, durante le verano en una pequeno isla
come hay tan en tu pais que me gusto tan
en septiembre voya tener 91 anos,y espero que los angeles
von darme el placer de estar en tu pais una otra vez
es como estar en paradiso
excusar, hablo mucho y fui muchas veces en la maravilla cudad de mexico. gracias de estar en mi vida
tu cronica me da tan placer
nb bebi el te de flor de jamaica peso no supo que es posible
de usar los por cusinar, son los mimos = gracias

isabelle lafreniere | July 23, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply

Dear Isabelle,
Thank you very much for your kind comments and I am so glad you like to read these posts. It is my pleasure to write them! Let me know if there is anything in particular you are interested in...

Pati Jinich replied to comment from isabelle lafreniere | July 25, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply

Name
Email Address
URL
Remember info?