18. Aruba (in the Caribbean)
“Aruba is an island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná and northwest of Curaçao.” -Wikipedia
“Aruba has no administrative subdivisions, but, for census purposes, is divided into eight regions. Its capital is Oranjestad.” -Wikipedia

 

The dishes we made:
Keshi Yena (Chicken and Edam Cheese), Aruban Pan Bati (Pancake-Bread), Jerked Asparagus (Susie’s) and Panlevi (Aruba Sponge Cookies).

 

Keshi Yena (Chicken and Edam Cheese)   VERY, VERY Good!
A traditional Dutch Caribbean dish featuring melted Edam cheese and spiced ground beef or chicken. Served as a main dish or appetizer from Aruba and Curacao in individual casserole dishes. Some people use a hollowed out round of Edam (after the family has eaten all the cheese inside) and fills it with the meat mix and then bakes it.

1 pound chicken white and dark meat or ground beef
1 small onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
1 Tablespoon raisins
1/4 cup green pitted olives coarsely chopped
1 Tablespoon capers
1/2 Madame Janette pepper or Scotch Bonnet
1 Roma tomato seeded and chopped
1 Tablespoon ketchup
2 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 Tablespoon sweet relish
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon parsley chopped
1 tsp salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound Edam cheese shredded

If using chicken, prepare it in advance by simmering in water (with salt, water, onion, parsley which is later discarded), allow it to cool, remove from the bones and then shred it. You can also bake the chicken pieces (sprinkled with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning) in a 350 oven for 45 minutes, allow it to cool, remove from the bones and then shred it.
Brown the shredded chicken or ground beef (or a combination of both) in a heavy frying pan.
Add the remaining ingredients except for the Edam cheese and parsley
Simmer for 15 minutes
Slice 2/3 of the Edam cheese into thin slices.
Grate the remaining 1/3 of the Edam cheese and add it to the meat and spice mixture.
Line the individual serving dishes with the slices of Edam cheese making sure they overlap (optional)
Fill the dishes with the Edam, meat and spice mixture and top with grated Edam
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, sprinkle with parsley and serve hot with bread.

 

Aruban Pan Bati (Pancake-Bread)              VERY, VERY Good! A savory pancake. Fun to eat with everything!
A staple of the Aruban diet, this simple, slightly sweet pancake-like bread goes well with all manner of soups and stews.
2 cups plain Flour
1 ¼ cups fine Cornmeal
2 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp skimmed milk powder*
<2 cups water*
1 pinch sea salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar

Stir the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and skimmed milk powder together in a large bowl and add the water.
Beat well, for about 15 minutes, until the batter is very smooth and of a thick, pancake mixture-like consistency.
Stir in the salt and the sugar.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium high heat and spoon out two heaped tablespoons worth of batter onto the pan.
Cook until browned on both sides, like pancakes.
Set aside to cool.
Serve with butter.
Notes
You can omit the skimmed milk powder and replace the water with milk with successful results too.
That would be 1 1.2 cups Milk.

 

Jerked Asparagus (Susie’s)         VERY, VERY Good!
Jerk Seasoning
Asparagus
Water

Sauté asparagus in a little oil and water with seasoning until tender.

Panlevi (Aruba Sponge Cookies)
These are fun, like very spongy sugar cookies!
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
dash of salt

Preheat oven to 325 F
Beat eggs until frothy. The more frothy = light texture.
Add in sugar and mix.
Add nutmeg and vanilla.
Mix well.
Sift flour and salt.
Fold into egg mixture.
Drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Edges should be lightly browned.