Mannish water for New Year's Eve

Like Christmas Day, the final day of the festive season is usually spent in the company of family and friends. In the rural parts of Jamaica, one fixture on the menu is mannish water made from a ram goat's belly, head and feet. It goes well with all-day lymes, afternoon sessions, village dances, cookouts and even at the sit-down dinner table. So, regardless of where you are or who you are with tomorrow, make this Jamaican staple a must and start the new year right.

Mannish Water

Chopped-up goat head, intestines and feet

Garlic, scallion, thyme, dried pimento berries, salt to taste

Whole green pepper, black pepper

3-6 green bananas

1/2 lb yam

3 small Irish potatoes

Flour for dumplings/spinners

2 chochos (optional)

1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper

Method

1. Wash chopped meat

2. Put in a large pot (pressure cooker best) with enough water to cover the meat.

3. Add three teaspoons salt, 8-10 seeds of pimento and let cook with five crushed cloves of garlic.

4. Cook on a medium/high stove till meat is tender.

5. Add more water

6. Peel and cut up potatoes and chochos and add

7. Peel green bananas (or cut off the top and bottom and slit skin)

8. Peel and add yam when bananas are almost cooked and lower flame so it simmers slowly.

9. When almost done, add black pepper, thyme, a few pimento berries, scallion, whole Scotch bonnet pepper (do not let it burst open) and let simmer

10. Serve hot

http://www.jamaicans.com/cooking/soup/manish.htm