W346: Wrapped Food

The BBQ we had at my mobile home park on All Saints Day, Day of the Dead, Samhain or Halloween was a success. I billed the menu as ‘Ribbed, Wrapped & Rolled” because I was counting on wrapping food. The last cookout I made bean wraps – little gift wrapped morsels. This time I wanted to use the banana leaves that are all over the place here. Also, I picked up a bunch of sweet potatoes from a local source. My neighbor made her tamales (chicken and mole both) so there was more wrapped food. Both of these wrapped foods date back centuries.

Conkies Recipe

Origin: Barbados
Traditional - Colonial , Served on Guy Fawkes Day, Nov. 5,
Currently -Served at Independence celebrations, Nov. 30.

2 cups corn flour
1/2 cup flour
3/4 lb finely grated pumpkin
6 oz margarine/shortening melted
1/2 lb sweet potato (optional)
3 cups grated coconut
1 egg
1 tsp salt
4 oz raisins (optional)
3/4 lb brown sugar
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp spice (allspice?)
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp almond essence
*Banana, Plantain or Fig leaves (singed over fire) *Leaves can be substituted all together with wax paper or foil paper; however, your conkies won't taste as good.

Method:

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl then place a tablespoon in the centre of each piece of banana leaf. Fold the leaf into a parcel so the filling is in the centre. Place in a steamer basked and steam over plenty of boiling water for about 40 minutes, or until cooked through.

Source