The+Caribbean

__**The Caribbean**__

**Influencing Cultures**  The four main influencing cultures in the Caribbean include Africa, India, Asia, Britain, Dutch, and Spain. **Geography** 

**Religion**  Christianity, combined traditions by African slaves created entirely new religions, Protestantism, Hinduism, Islam, & Judaism. **Personal Taste**  People in the Caribbean tend to cook with all types of spices, including garlic powder, mace, nutmeg, chili, and allspice. **Lifestyle**  A blend of major ethnic groups such as East Indians and Africans, Creole language with dialects in Haiti, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Portugese, & Africa. Music is very important: plays on city streets and in people’s homes, at special festivals people dance for days, laid back attitude portrayed. **Economics**  In the 18th and 19th centuries sugar plantation was a huge support of slave trade. They had high demand of this production from Spain, Portugal, Britain and the Netherlands. 70% of the islands jobs and accounts come from tourism. Many islands have been facing the challenge of increasing their economic independence. Since the US is closely linked with the Caribbean the US dollar is acceptable in the region. Aruba hotels for example have multiplied by 5 in capacity from 1985. Trade also has increased throughout time. Because of the economic down fall many of their foods are grown around them, but most is fished from the sea. Many food is sold for cheap because multiple people can not afford the expensive food variety. **Food and Ingredients**  Caribbean cuisine consists of a melting pot of cultures, including African, Indian, Asian, and European influences. Some national dishes include goat stew, pelau, and callaloo. Popular ingredients consist of okra, rice, green peppers, chick peas, tomatoes, cilantro, sweet potatoes, and coconuts. Meats include beef, poultry, pork, and fish. A dessert in the Caribbean, called black cake, consists of a popular British dessert called Christmas Pudding. Rum Cake is also highly popular, made from distilled local rum. 

= Bistec Encebollao  =

Ingredients

 * 2 pounds beef sirloin steak, sliced thinly across the grain
 * 1/2 cup olive oil
 * 2 tablespoons minced garlic
 * 1 pinch dried oregano
 * 1 (.18 ounce) packet sazon seasoning
 * 2 large white onions, sliced into rings
 * 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
 * 1 cup beef stock
 * 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

 * 1) In a large resealable bag, combine the steak, olive oil, garlic, oregano, sazon seasoning, onions, vinegar, beef stock, and salt. Seal and shake to mix. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to a couple of days.
 * 2) When you are ready to cook, dump the entire contents of the bag into a large deep skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the beef is fork tender, about 40 minutes.

Shrimp Fajitas Ingredients
 * 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
 * 1 tablespoon lime juice
 * 1 tablespoon soy sauce
 * 1 teaspoon chili powder
 * 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
 * 1 tablespoon olive oil
 * 2 medium zucchini, cubed
 * 1 red onion, chopped
 * 1 (10 ounce) box frozen corn
 * 1 tablespoon olive oil
 * 8 flour tortillas
 * 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
 * 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
 * 1) In a medium bowl, combine the Worcestershire, lime juice, soy sauce, and chile powder. Add the shrimp and marinate 15 minutes.
 * 2) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the zucchini, onion, and corn for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
 * 3) In a separate skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the shrimp are pink. Combine the shrimp and the vegetables. Place shrimp and vegetable mixture in tortillas; sprinkle with the Monterey Jack cheese and cilantro.

Works Cited

( http://caribbeanchoice.com/recipes/main.asp) (http://caribbeanwalkfood.com/) (http://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.present/economy/ ) (http://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.present/culture/) (http://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.present/religion/) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bistec-Encebollao/Detail.aspx) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cyndis-Shrimp-Fajitas/Detail.aspx)