How about a trip to Negril December 2010 for the Reggae Marathon?

Its cold and the forecast calls for more snow in Southern Ontario.  What a perfect time to share with you our plans for traveling to Negril, Jamaica in December 2010 for the Reggae Marathon.  Tough to train in the snow, but great to visualize the beach in Negril.

If you decide to go this December, either to run the Reggae Marathon or just for vacation, you can expect to stay in Negril on the Beach at a lovely gem-of-a resort, the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.  This is the picture of the Negril beach from the front of the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.

Of course it is an all-inclusive resort with rooms in small, intimate buildings scattered throughout the resort property.  Pool...Negril Beach...tough decision!

The Grand Pineapple is located about 3/4 of a mile from the start/finish line of the Reggae Marathon.  You will enjoy the unique experience of heading to the start line in the pitch black warm tropical night with the other runners.  And the plunge into the Caribbean Sea after is indescribable.  That and the Red Stripe.

Since this is early in the year, we have managed to secure great prices for the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.  If we commit by end-of-March, the price will be hard to beat for a 5 day run vacation in Negril (you depart Toronto Dec 2 and return Dec 7).  You arrive on Thursday evening, have a day on Friday to get ready for the Reggae Marathon on Saturday then have 3 days of fun on the Beach after.  Let me correct that...5 days of fun and frivolity...this is Jamaica after all and we are in Negril!

Please send an email to chris.morales@bell.net if you are interested in getting more information about this trip to Negril for the Reggae Marathon.  I'll let you know all the booking details at that time.

And remember, this is all for a good cause:  fund raising for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  You can check out our personal donation page at the link above.

Negril in December to run in the Reggae Marathon...what a great way to end the year!

morales B cause 2010 fund raising: $20,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario

February is Heart Month! It kicks off today.

Today Sally and I are also announcing our 2010 fund raising campaign, "morales B cause".  We are walking/riding/running to raise $20,000 for the Heart & Stroke foundation of Ontario.  Sally and I are attending the kickoff event for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario in Richmond Hill tonight. 
Last year we had a blast raising money for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  In just over two and a half months we raised $5,000.  And we survived the Reggae Marathon in Negril to do it! 

We thought long and hard about what to do to top that in 2010.  Personal experiences on both sides of our family guided our decision to raise $20,000 this year for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  Sally's older brother, Jules Puodziukas was only 59 when he suffered a major stroke and passed away just over 5 years ago.  And my Father, after years of fighting health complications, passed away in 2008 after he suffered a major heart attack. 

There is so much each of us can do to do to help fight heart and stroke...Sally and I are doing our part one step at a time.  Our plan in 2010 is to walk, ride and run in a number of events throughout the year, starting with a walking event this spring and ending with the Reggae Marathon in Negril in December 2010.  And yes, the popular Paintball fundraiser at Wasaga Beach Paintball Adventure will be back bigger and better as well.

You can help with your donations.  Please join us:

1. Follow us on this blog.  On the right side of the page you will see a box where you can subscribe via email.  We do not share your email information.  Updates on how and what we are up to will be posted on this blog.
2. Follow us on facebook.  We have set up a fan page to spread the word:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/morales-B-cause/256403003370?ref=ts
3. NEW THIS YEAR!  Donate on-line securely with your credit card by clicking the link below. It takes you directly to our morales b cause Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario donation page  http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=269328&lis=0&kntae269328=1E7A35E360FD449FB50EE14576EF2901&supId=281071959

Sally and I will be announcing our first event shortly.  It will be a walking event in the spring.  Sally made me promise that I would actually walk with her...that will be a first.

Please join us one step at a time this year to raise funds to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario...

Ackee and saltfish to celebrate the NFL's New Orleans Saints beating the Vikings on Sunday

When the New Orleans Saints roll over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL game this Sunday, I'll celebrate with Red Stripe and Ackee and Saltfish.  Here is the recipe if you want to celebrate the Saints win with me:  This delicious and vibrant meal is Jamaica's national dish and is often referred to as Jamaica's version of North America's omelette.  And yes, Jamaican's love the NFL! 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cans of ackee
• 6 slices of bacon diced
• 1 onion diced
• 2 green onion diced
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper chopped 
• 2 branches of fresh thyme 
• 2 cups saltfish (boiled down) 
• 2 tbsp oil for frying
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Put oil in a non stick pan or pot and add onion, pepper and green onion and saute over medium heat.
• Slice bacon into 1/2" pieces. Fry separately, drain on paper towel.
• Add ackee and bacon and mix around.
• Then, add thyme, cover, reduce heat to low-medium and let simmer for 15 minutes.
• Then, add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy.

Can be served with sliced avocado and Festival.

Credit for this recipe goes to my son, Court who originally posted this last year.  Thanks Court.

Enjoy the New Orleans Saints over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL game this Sunday.  I will.

And in the NFL's AFC game, the New York Jets will sink the Indianapolis Colts. 

New Orleans Saints vs the New York Jets in the Superbowl.  What shall I prepare for that football match up?

Until next time...

Making Jerk Pork this week to beat the winter blues...and enjoy the NFL playoffs

Court started it!  Here is our latest adaptation being prepared just in time for the NFL playoffs this weekend.  Go Dallas!

At the family Christmas dinner a couple of weeks ago (how time flies) one of our dishes was a favourite, Jamaican Jerk Pork.  Delicious.  You can never have enough...especially when its snowed here every day since then.

We dug up the recipe posted by Court some time ago. Then went shopping at Costco for a suitable 'hunk of pork:  found a 10+ lb pork shoulder, bone in.  On the way home, we picked up a couple of bottles of Presidents Choice Jerk Sauce from Loblaws.  Couldn't find our favourite brand, Walkers Wood so that had to do.

We 'enhanced' the recipe by dicing up some regular and green onions and adding to the Jerk Sauce.  We let that sit for about 1/2 hour.

Then we attacked the pork shoulder.  With a really sharp heavy duty knife, we cut off approximately 5 'hunks' of pork around 2 lbs each and put them in large, sealable plastic freezer bags.  Then we added the liquid marinade.  Mmmmmm...the smell was delicious!

We sealed the bags and have them marinating.  We plan to leave them for 3 days before cooking.  For that, we plan to follow Court's method:  400 degree oven, meat on rack inside a large baking pan, water below, for 45 minutes until done. 

Results just in time for the Saturday night playoff game this weekend.  Go Dallas!

Until next time...