By Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
Yvonne Robotham, a cleaning lady at the Negril branch library, is immersed in several cook books. She says she gets her
inspiration by reading and by mixing and matching ingredient to create new recipes. Below, a copy of her cook book 'A Unique Jamaican Cookbook'. - Janet Silvera/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
IT WAS a vision that drove Yvonne Robotham to write 'A Unique Jamaican Cookbook'.
Last year, one night, somewhere between sleeping, tossing and turning, she vaguely remembered an apparition that instructed her to pen six recipes in her nearby exercise book. Within months, the six recipes had grown into a 40-page book, which she said was a result of that vision from the Lord.
A cleaning lady at the Negril branch library by day, Spanish student in the afternoons, and cook book author by night, Robotham says, "I knew the art of baking from an early age."
On a recent Saturday the 62-year-old reminisced about the afternoons she used to spend in grandmother's kitchen, sitting on a stool and rubbing butter and sugar together.
Over the years her culinary
ventures have started and ended with family and friends -- until the night she got the vision. She has only been able to print 100 copies of her book because she
ran out of money. It was printed last March by Western Duco Company in Negril.
Today, in addition to putting out feelers to get the book
printed, she experiments with
all types of exotic dishes and writes a recipe daily. "My favourite creation is Oats Mackerel Cakes," she told Food. This unique dish (see recipe) is best eaten hot and "the taste is nutty, just like when you're
eating peanuts."
COOKING TO BEAT DIABETES
Several weeks ago when we met Robotham at the library she had completed her day's work and was immersed in several cookbooks, including, 'Meals in Minutes,' the 'Bake off Cook Book,' and the 'Bed and Breakfast Cookbook.' "I get a lot of inspiration and ideas from the many books I read," she explained. She added that she mixes and matches and "can be talking with you and a recipe just comes out of my head."
A diabetic for 18 years, Robotham said she sometimes gets tired of the strict diabetic diet and now creates interesting menus that are helpful to her and other diabetics.
In addition to cooking, cleaning and studying Spanish, on some Saturdays she volunteers to clean the offices of the Negril Chamber of Commerce.
Oats Mackerel Cakes
1 pack of oats (soaked in water
overnight), use according to
the amount of cakes you want
to make
1/2 to l lb. whole-wheat
or all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 or more tins of mackerel,
as desired
1-2 eggs, beaten
Water, to mix
Onion
Tomato
Oil for frying
Pepper, if desired
Ketchup
METHOD
Sauté onion and tomato and set aside.
Mash oats and mackerel together. Add flour, baking powder, eggs and seasoning. Mix to a smooth consistency then form into round cakes.
Heat oil in saucepan and fry the cakes until golden brown.
Callaloo Rice
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 stalks escallion, chopped
2 cups chopped callaloo
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 sprigs thyme
4 vegetable bouillon cubes
3 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup coconut milk powder
2 cups rice
1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
METHOD
Heat oil in saucepan and sauté onions, garlic and escallion for a minute.
Add callaloo, black pepper and thyme and stir-fry for a minute.
Add bouillon cubes, water and coconut milk powder. Bring to a boil then add rice and the scotch bonnet pepper.
Cover, reduce heat and simmer until the rice is cooked.
Remove from heat and serve.
Ripe Plantain Strips
6 very ripe plantains
cut in strips
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Vanilla
1 lb. flour
Oil for frying
METHOD
Add nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon to flour.
Dip plantain in flour mixture and fry in oil until golden brown.
