Every time I visit Cynthia’s food blog at Tastes Like Home:  My Caribbean Cookbook, I become hungry.  I’m tempted to reach through the screen to grab some of that delicious Caribbean-inspired food she prepares.  One of the foods I immediately hungered for, at first sight, was her salt fish dish call Buljol.   In the month of January, I made Cynthia’s Buljol dish a lot – practically every other day (and will continue to do it).  I love how the flavor of this  salty cod fish (also known as Bacalhau), is balanced out by the way it’s cooked and then simply mixed with ingredients like tomatoes and sweet peppers. 

Cynthia has a cookbook available on Amazon.com.  The name of the book is the same as her food blog – Tastes Like Home:  My Caribbean Cookbook (by Cynthia Nelson).  It’s a wonderful book filled with recipes that she personally put together and beautifully photographed.   You can find the recipe for Buljol and other tasty Caribbean foods in her cookbook, which does not disappoint. 

Paz

Buljol — Salt Cod Fish

Buljol served with rice

Pink Flowering Ninebark

Hi Everyone.  Sorry I’ve been missing in action for some time.  I’m taking a break and will be back in September.  Keep having a good summer.

Paz xoxo

If you’re interested in helping the earthquake victims of Chile and are unsure of where to make a donation, you might want to consider the international disaster relief agency ShelterBox.  They deliver emergency shelter (a ten- person tent, blankets, water purification, storage equipment, a stove, cooking utensils, basic tools, children’s activity pack and other vital items) to people affected by disaster worldwide.         

I first mentioned ShelterBox after the quake in Haiti.   They’ve helped many people there and are now helping the earthquake victims of Chile.  You can read about it here and here. 

To read more about ShelterBox and or make a donation, go here.

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Recently, I received some awards from very nice food bloggers.  Thanks for making me feel honored and special.

Kat from Our Adventures in Japan passed on the Sunshine Award to me.  

According to Kat, "The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world." The rules once this award is received are as follows:

1. Post the logo on blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link the nominees
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person you received this award from.

Sophie of Sophie FoodieFiles passed on the Happy 101 Award. 

I’d like to pass both these awards to EVERYONE who stops by here and always leaves a comment.  That means all of YOU.   Thank you for your presence on my blog and your kind comments.  Kat and Sophie, thanks again, for thinking about me.

Best,

Paz

Contents of a ShelterBox

I’d already made a donation to help with the disaster relief efforts in Haiti.  Then I read about ShelterBox USA on Jai and Bee’s blog, Jugalbandi.  ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that helps people, worldwide, when a disaster strikes.  They provide boxes that contain a tent and other necessities, like thermal blankets, waterproof ponchos, stove, pans, utensils, water containers, tool kits, children school supplies and more.  They’ve helped in several several countries, ranging from Afghanistan, Angola, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Louisiana, Mississippi to Zambia and more.  I liked what they do, so I made a donation to them.

There are many charitable organizations collecting funds to help victims of the Haitian earthquake but I thought I’d share the information about ShelterBox with you.   If you would like to help those affected by the disaster in Haiti and haven’t done so yet, you may want to consider making a donation to ShelterBox.  Even if you have already made a donation elsewhere, you may want to consider making a second donation to ShelterBox.  Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps them help others in their time of need.

If you’re interested in learning more about Shelterbox USA and would like to make a donation, go here.   The main headquarters is based in the United Kingdom.  In addition to the United States, there are also chapters in Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, New Zealand and Denmark.  You can find the web sites for these countries at this link.

The contents of the ShelterBox provides a roof, basic supplies and six months of clean drinking water for ten people in Haiti.  They need shelter and help now.  So, let’s help them now (In the comments section on the donation page, state that you want your donation to go to Haiti.).

Thanks,
 

Paz

Ed. Note:  Below is an update on the ShelterBoxes.  They recently arrived in Haiti (Port au Prince) and have been put to immediate use.

Hi Folks:

I’ve mentioned Drop In & Decorate®, the cookies-for-donation event founded by Lydia of The Perfect Pantry, many times before and it’s time for me to mention it again. 

It’s so exciting for me to know that this fun and worthwhile event continues to spread across the 50 states and Canada and it’s about to start again for the holiday season.  

Here is what Lydia writes about Drop In & Decorate®:

We’re based in Rhode Island.  This will be the 8th year of cookies-for-donation in my kitchen.  We are year-round, not just at the holidays.  But holidays are a great time to get people together.

I’m not a baker – in fact, I’m baking-challenged!  So, really, anyone can do this.

There’s a free guide with everything you need to know to host your own party, download on our web side (www.dropinanddecorate.org)

Before the end of this year, the 10,000th cookie will be decorated and donated.  Where???

December 4 is National Cookie Day.

Cookies make people smile, and bring a bit of happiness to people in difficult circumstances.

If you’re interested in this cookie donation and would like to participate, here’s how: