Expo Jamaica 2014 - Sweet Experience

Expo Jamaica 2014-                 Sweet Experience

It's 3 days later and I'm still feeling excited about my 2 day visit to Expo Jamaica 2014. Yes, 2 days!

Saturday and Sunday of Expo Jamaica 2014 was awesome! On Saturday, I tried desperately to browse the booths and engage the staff but, not a chance with the kids.  So I had to go back on Sunday. This time I invited my sister and nephew to come experience it. 

I did get a chance to network in an official capacity, representing Occasions by Gilly Ann & Bakers & Decorators Network (click on links for those encounters)

 On both days we only had 2 hours to spare. So we went quickly down the uniquely named aisles of the National Arena, stopping for samples of export- ready Jamaican products. 

Expo Jamaica did 3 main things for me: 

1. It gave identity to Jamaican products/brands that we so easily overlook on the supermarket shelves;
2. It made visible, products we never knew either existed or was produced by local companies;
3. It gave us PRIDE & CONFIDENCE to BUY Jamaica, BUILD Jamaica

INTERACTIVE

Jamaica Yellow Pages promoted their new Text service 4Yellow. I tested the service and it is really convenient.

Mr. Smoochies! Jamaica Biscuit Company Ltd.
Smoochies cream cookies.

Meet Captain I CAN. This transformer character is here to destroy the negatives! Very interactive. My son was soooo intrigued, he got the message - NEVER QUIT, NEVER GIVE UP...I CAN!

Caribbean Cream Ltd. unveiled the New look for Kremi Ice Cream.
Same great taste, new vibrant look and of course a
 whole line of unique Jamaican flavours.

It's a giant Juici Patti. everyone wanted a bite!

 

ENTERTAINING

These infamous Clowns  just know how to get me to spend my money.
They are everywhere.

The Beast, Yohan Blake WATA Ambassador. Help Support YBafraid Foundation

Can you tell we had FUN? Went to get refreshed and saw Dutty Berry, WATA Brand Ambassador.

   EDUCATIONAL

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica displayed this banner- The Smokers Body.
Perfect opportunity to teach my children - No to Smoking!

Disappointment came too, No Dolphins? Don't worry, Dolphin Cove and many Hotels, Resorts & Tours are participating in the Experience Jamaica Promotions

 We had a SWEET EXPERIENCE at EXPO JAMAICA 2014!

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Homemade Self rising flour

Have you ever gone to the kitchen, grab a recipe and realize it calls for that one ingredient that you don't have?..Oh great! Yep, happens to me a lot of times. Something simple as self rising flour... who buys that on a regular trip to the supermarket? Not even I do when I buy stuff to bake.

But we have an idea of what makes self rising flour different from all purpose flour, right? It has a raising agent...Baking Powder. Most Jamaicans are familiar with baking powder because it is the secret to those soft, round, big fried dumpling that we can't live without. Fried dumplings with liver, corned beef, ackee & saltfish or callaloo...(mouth watering) you know what I'm talking about. Some of us embrace being modern and enjoy the "instant" products, that we either buy self rising flour or the conveniently packaged Johnny Cake/ Fried dumpling mix  that Grace & J.F Mills package for us...guilty !

Back to baking. So if you find yourself in the tight spot of having no self rising flour, like I did, here is a recipe to make your own

Self rising Flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in an airtight container & shake. Store in container and use as directed by the recipe. There you have it Self rising flour.


Refer to this recipe anytime.  Happy Baking!

Gillian M. White

I'm Blogging!!!

So  I decided to start a blog. This for me is scary!  I am passionate about cake baking and decorating, but to express this passion in writing may not be easy. Oh well, there comes a time in life when you must venture into new waters; fortunately I can swim.

My aim is to embark on recipe testing and product reviews.  There are thousands of recipes online and in books that you and I have never attempted to make for many reasons. Either the ingredients are not available in Jamaica or too expensive, or you  just didn't have the time. 

Well, if you share the same passion, would you journey with me?......... Great ! 

My Bucket List

To get started, I have been inspired by many great Cake bloggers and I have created a Bucket List of 5 recipes that intrigue me.  Here it is:

Mug Cakes  (Mug Cakes by Leslie Bilderback)


1)Classic Yellow Mug Cake

Teri Lyn Fisher

2) Red Velvet Mug Cake

Teri Lyn Fisher


3) Gluten Free Cocoa-Banana Mug Cake
Teri Lyn Fisher


4) Banana Nut Muffin (Sally' Baking Addiction)




5) Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies (Sally's Baking Addiction)



 Over the next couple of weeks or so, I will follow the recipes and recreate these sweet items. You will know how they turned out.
What recipe will you try next? Please share with me and Keep in the mix!

Sweetly yours,
Gillian M. White
Occassions by Gilly Ann
GO! Cakes