Wednesday, October 25, 2006
A year ago yesterday I started on this blogging adventure, not having a clue where it would lead me. I wasn't sure how long I would keep on blogging, and I can't believe how quickly the last year has passed. I like to think that writing this blog has not only allowed my friends and family to learn more about my life in France, but has also helped me to improve my writing, something that has always been on my long list of :To Dos".
In thinking about the past year of blogging it occurred to me that I never explained just what Callaloo Soup is. Those of you in the Caribbean or in some way associated with that part of the world need no explanation I'm sure. For all my other loyal readers however it certainly bears a description.
Callaloo is the familiar name for the large, heart shaped leaves of the root vegetable known as dasheen or taro or malanga.
When cooked, it has a consistency similar to spinach, and is just as
nutritious. Callaloo Soup is a rich chunky soup made from a base of
callaloo leaves, and containing a selection of root vegetables
(dasheen, tania, yam, sweet potaoes, green bananas), salted pork,
coconut milk, spices and stiff & sticky dumplings. And hence the
catch line of the blog: a little bit of everything.
Ironically,
as a child growing up in Grenada I didn't even like this soup, I had to
be forced to eat it, the only part I enjoyed were those stiff &
sticky dumplings. Now when I do get the chance to eat it I lick the
bowl. Once I started living outside of the Caribbean, Callaloo Soup
became a symbol to me of everything Caribbean, everything Grenadian,
everything that said home. It was the perfect name for my blog.
So what else is Callaloo Soup? A place for me to write my thoughts. A place for me to share my art. Somewhere I can connect with people the world over. A place through which I can make friends. My little spot on the world wide web.
