Reading our new favorite book "Thank you, world" by Alice McGinty

Say hello to our menu, inspired by Grenada’s sandy beaches and lively seaside parties. While I’ve wished (over and over again) that Oklahoma had a shoreline, the best thing I can do for now is to have beach parties without the beach. I know it’s a stretch but, if it’s particularly windy, the Oklahoma wind almost sounds like the ocean… and then I don’t miss Cape Cod and Boston nearly so much.

If you haven’t already guessed, let me just say – we do a lot of imagining in our house. Case in point: we read Ava about ten books a day. This latest book we picked up, called Thank You, World, is a brilliant way to dream about how things are done in other lands. In the picture above we’re looking at the ways kids sleep around the world; she’s pointing out the child happily crashed out in a hammock. Adorable.

Vegan Oil Down with Yucca [Recipe]
Oil Down can be made with breadfruit or yucca – our recipe uses the latter, the very ingredient I swore off months ago after several failed recipes. It’s hard to swear off an ingredient beloved around the world – plus, breadfruit is out of season. For this recipe, simmer yucca in coconut milk with onion, carrot celery, a hot pepper, and spinach (a substitute for the popular callaloo), until thick and the coconut oil creates a slick surface. While meat-eaters can add pork, this is a lighter, vegan version.

Spinners and Sinkers [Recipe]
No Oil Down is complete without spinners and sinkers, Caribbean dumplings. Ours include a touch of corn meal for color and a bit of toothsome texture.

Nutmeg Ice Cream [Recipe]
Nutmeg is everywhere in Grenada, so nutmeg ice cream simply had to make this list. You’ll think you’re spooning frozen eggnog. Creamy and luscious.

Caribbean Rum Punch [Recipe]
1.2.3.4… that’s the Rum Punch formula. One of sour. Two of sweet. Three of strong. Four of weak. I think you’ll love what I used to bring the formula to life. It all gets dusted with fresh nutmeg. Stay tuned for the recipe.

What would you try?

*The meal review and all recipes will be posted by Monday morning.