Posted on 05/11/2016 3:41:29 PM PDT by Jamestown1630
For quite a few years in the 1980's-90's, I worked two jobs, and one night a week I'd leave one job after an eight-hour day, and drive directly to the other, where I'd work for several hours more. I've always eaten my largest meal at lunch, and generally didn't need to prepare for supper on those nights; but one evening, as I drove to the second job, I was hungry!
We used to have a lot of 'High's Dairy' stores in the DC Metro area, a type of convenience store - I think they still exist, though some became '7-Eleven' stores after the High's company sold them to Southland - and there was a High's conveniently located on my route that evening.
I stopped, intending to grab a hot dog to get me through the night, but spied something I'd never seen before: a row of bright orange turnover-type pastries, looking absolutely lurid under the heat lamp near the hot dog grill. They were Jamaican Beef Patties.
I bought one on a lark, and was addicted from that first 'patty'; it's been a beloved vice ever since.
I work one job now, and no longer have to eat on-the-run between shifts; but I will still buy these little patties in convenience stores when I'm running around on errands. I've also found a great frozen brand in a local grocery, which I keep on hand; but these can be easily made at home, and it was one of the first recipes that my husband and I tried together as newlyweds.
It's interesting to me that this meat patty was adapted to local spicy taste in the Caribbean, after the introduction of Cornish Pasties there, in the olden days; it made its way to the US with Caribbean immigrants during the 1960's-70's. Here is the Wiki on 'Jamaican Patty':
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_patty
Some recipes use Curry to flavor and color the crust, and some use Turmeric; and you can spice the meat up to your satisfaction. (The convenience stores usually offer 'Mild' and 'Spicy'; but lately the 'Spicy' isn't hot enough for my taste, or what I remember from that first one. )
I have even made this as a two-crust pie, when I didn't want to bother with cutting rounds and stuffing, to get my 'fix'; and that is *almost* as good as the stuffed turnover version.
Here are a couple of recipes (but Watch Out! they both use Scotch Bonnets, which some folks might want to switch-out for a milder pepper; on the other hand, if you're like me, you'll just add a little more ;-).
From the website 'Eat Jamaican', a recipe that seems a lot like what I'm used to from the convenience stores:
http://eatjamaican.com/recipes/beefpatty-recipe.html
And from Food Network, here is Emeril's much more 'fancy' take on the patty:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/jamaican-meat-patties-recipe.html
-JT
thanks!
I bought a bag of the soft frosted molasses cookies & they were sooo good. I got a bag of the wedding cakes, yuck.......too too sweet & tasted of chemicals. I think it’s funny & in turn sad that when you called they told you they were using healthier ingredients. How stupid, no one buys archway cookies for health reasons!
I buy them to throw crumbs at the birds outside my workplace. They love the oatmeal ones ;-)
-JT
Thank you for supporting the birdies!
I’m going to try that recipe...sounds great.
we live in eastern Washington and my bil is from the Duckhobor clan....
Exactly what I said to the customer rep. lol Who buys healthy cookies?!?!?!? They are a treat!
I feel like a mobile vending machine. They now follow me everywhere when I walk outside, and even recognize my car when my husband drops me off in the morning ;-)
They’re addictive. I hadn’t had one in a while, but writing this post was infectious; I’ve had three since Wednesday ;-)
-JT
PEANUT PATTIES / Original Recipe Clipping
ING 2 1/2 cups raw peanuts 3 cups sugar 1 cup water 1 cup white Karo 1/2 stick margarine Dash of salt
Lightly grease small aluminum pans (the kind pot pies come in) or cookie sheets. Cook the first four ingredients together until the mixture forms a firm ball in cold water. Remove from heat and add butter and salt. Beat until it begins to turn creamy. Drop by tablespoons into pans or onto cookie sheets.
Let set until firm.
That is incredibly adorable. ; )
It’s really bizarre. I’ve been feeding them for several years, so they really know me now. Last year, someone ploughed into the back of our car, and it was in the shop for a long time. At that time I had cultivated a mockingbird who would come when I called, to get a treat.
I was taking cabs to work for a while, and the first morning I rode up to my workplace in the cab, I opened the door to get out, and when I stood up, that mockingbird was already on the roof of the cab, looking at me! Unless mockers have ESP, he had seen and recognized me through the window!
I’ve loved birds all my life, and you learn a lot watching them. They’re just like people, really: there are some who are industrious and bold, and take initiative; there are some who try to live off the work of others; and some who have no gumption either way, and just lose out through timidity ;-)
There’s one male house sparrow who spies me as soon as I come out the door, and lands right at my feet with no fear at all, looking up in anticipation. And a cardinal who is so shy and diffident that he misses out on lots of peanuts. (I’ve gotta work on that guy.)
-JT
Sounds yummy! I will have to try to make one or at least find one already made. It so fun to try things totally new.
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