Culturally Influenced Quick Fix Meals

So you came home from work and you're feeling to tired to cook and on top of that you're stomach doing more kung fu than Jet Li in a movie. So you're thinking what is the quickest thing you can whip up in the kitchen in 5-10 mins.Well here is a little history on some of our 'Trini' quick fix meals.

The term 'corned' comes from putting meat in a large crock and covering it with large rock salt that was referred to as 'corns of salt'.Before corned beef was salted beef which was practiced in ancient times in cold countries, they found that the meat didn't spoil if it made contact with enough salt.

The Irish were the biggest exporters of corned beef till 1825 where it was introduced to America.

Curried corned beef with potatoes and rice

Ramen noodles with vegetables

Ramen was introduced to Japan by some Chinese tradesmen in the 19th century.The word Ramen means 'noodles in soup broth'. When the U.S occupied Japan it imported wheat as away to contain communism.In 1970, ramen was introduced to the U.S by a company called Nissin which generated over 6 billion in profits.

It's pasta so of course it has some Italian origin.It is also said that
U.S President Thomas Jefferson at the time encountered this dish in
Italy and brough back to recipe to the United States where the famous
company Kraft put it a box in 1937.
'Lasanis' in the 13th century was said to be the first mac and cheese recipe

Macaroni and cheese

where parmesan cheese was originally used before they started
using cheddar cheese.

The Chinese Influence

A Chinese meal typically consists of two or more. A carbohydrate or starch such as rice or noodles accompanying dishes of meat, fish and vegetables. Spices such as ginger, garlic and onions are used in food preparation and preservation. In Chinese culture knives and forks  are considered barbaric because they are seen as weapons. However in Trinidad and Tobago the Chinese community use both chopsticks, knives and forks.

China was considered an agricultural based economy in time of a natural disaster would wipe out the food crop. To deal with this problem the Chinese people developed food preservation skills to extend shelf life of many foods. The Chinese who came to Trinidad bought these skills and have become popular can the wider community. This can be seen in the consumption of preserved mango, plum and pommecythere. Many of which we enjoy from time to time.