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Quote:
Understanding Molasses
Do you know the difference between types of molasses? We often hear the term "blackstrap molasses," but what does that mean?
The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane, the amount of sugar extracted, and the method of extraction. There are three major types of molasses: unsulphured, sulphured and blackstrap.
Unsulphured molasses is the finest quality. It is made from the juice of sun-ripened cane and the juice is clarified and concentrated.
Sulphured molasses is made from green sugar cane that has not matured long enough and treated with sulphur fumes during the sugar extracting process. Molasses from the first boiling is the finest grade because only a small amount of sugar has been removed. The second boil molasses takes on a darker color, is less sweet and has a more pronounced flavor.
Blackstrap molasses is from the third boil and only has a commercial value in the manufacture of cattle feed and other industrial uses.
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Edited by Shell Marr (04/10/07 08:51 AM)
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Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
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They are very similar to bananas, but generally different cultivars. Which means, scientifically, they are the same plant, but slightly different. As bananas and plantains are grown via cuttings - they are nearly identical to their mother plant, so any variation in the mother will be continued down the line. http://www.chow.com/ingredients/4
When I was in Peace Corps, we ate these ALOT. Boiled, green plantains are similar to potatoes, only they don't taste as good and are harder going down, which explains the high level of oil used in their consumption. They are often found in dishes like sancocho (a chunky stew) along with chicken, bread fruit, beans... But, at least in my area, generally served with oil, rice and beans.
The best way that my neighbors would make it, and not very often, was as tostones and mangu. Mangu http://tinyurl.com/3akcw7 is really pretty tasty, well, at least compared to regular plantaines. Tostones http://tinyurl.com/2lguwf
are great and were the local version of french fries - yummy with catsup.
They also ate boiled green bananas, though those weren't as "good" as the plantaines and they also ate the ripe plantaines, but not as often. Probably because they ate them before they would get ripe.
All that said, they are still much better than cassava/mantioc/yuca (all the same thing) which I also ate in great abundance while there. Yuca (local word for it - or as I called it, "yucky") is another starchy potatoe like root crop with an added bonus of being vaguely sticky...
All of this is an aquired taste and while I can eat it all, and did so for a couple of years, it's not something I go out of my way to buy. Though, I do have cravings for tostones on occasion...
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Oh, yes.... my EX was Cuban and his father used to make Tostones all the time..... this was pre-IBS (or knowing that it what it was anyway).... but being fried (twice) I stay away from them now. I really like Yuca Root..... as long as they have some kind of flavorfull broth or safe sauce on them.... they are really good...and totally IBS safe.
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Ah... it would be the flavorful sauce that is the key ingredient to making them taste good. I never had that luxury and managed to eat them with oil and if I was lucky, a small bit of a fried egg. I was in the Dominican Republic, so similar in cuisine to the Cubans. And, while I know that Cuban and Dominican food can be quite tasty (habichuelas con dulce (sweet beans that are generally served on Good Friday) are amazing) the vast majority of what I ate was rather, ok, really bland. My neighbors were POOR and cooking was a matter of nessisity and not one of elegance.
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I totally understand.... my EX's father was poor as well... and would only cook a big flavorful meal about once every 3 months or so...but it was a big family gathering when he did. Otherwise it was bland (sp?) and would use things like onion, garlic, & vinegar to bring flavor, that was one cheap ways. I was blessed to have it when I did....and do miss it.
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