Raising the Bar: Goal Getter Live Series Goes Culinary

American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer Thomas Keller said it best when he said: “A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” Since the JMMB Goal Getter Series has gone live, following the lockdown from the global pandemic, many have tuned in with bated breath to find out what hot topic would be explored. With the season already blazing, the company decided to turn up the heat in the kitchen and raised the bar with a spirited happy hour. The evening’s proceedings dubbed “Cocktails, Mocktails and Meal Ideas to Beat the Heat’ kicked off with the vibe-master and moderator, Kerry-Ann Stimpson, JMMB Group chief marketing officer. Virtual audience members were encouraged to mix, shake, and taste in the comfort of their homes.

The cook-off aspect featured Cortia Bingham-Mckenzie, who has been gaining traction during COVID-19 quarantine as Chef Bingy. The entrepreneur shared about her journey into business, speaking on the highs and lows of her life. She also spilled the beans on the inspiration behind her new venture and the creation of a health-inspired salad.

Providing 80 per cent lean and clean with 20 per cent comfort, the motivational speaker-turned-chef admitted that the slower pace gave her an opportunity to unearth one of her hidden talents and birth a dream of hers: to uplift persons with her tasty dishes. Her empowerment mantra surrounds eating better to look and feel better about yourself. For demonstration purposes, she combined a mix of fresh fruits and vegetables with unconventional items like Parmesan cheese and honey, confessing that she has a sweet tooth so she fuses the two worlds to enjoy both healthy and sweet.

Happy Hour Accepted

After that healthy spin, J. Wray & Nephew Academy lead Sharmon Hinds-Smith took over with the ultimate happy hour, expertly creating delightful cocktails and mocktails with fruity favourites like mango, otaheite apple, pineapple, and coconut water. Hinds-Smith gave pointers during her demonstration on how to convert your mocktails into a cocktail, with varying spirits, noting that creating cocktails can be a fun experience whether it’s for a lyme or a family affair, inclusive of mocktails for the children. She prepared tasty cocktails like Stormy Valley, Golden Mojito, 8-Year-Old Epic; and mocktails – Cucumber Mint Fresher, Mango Coco Loco, and Fizzy Fruit Smash.

For your indulging pleasure, Food has provided quick and easy recipes from Chef Bingy and Sharmon Hinds-Smith just for you.

Chef Bingy’s Healthy-ish Salad

Ingredients

2 bunches of kale

4 slices of diced pineapples

8 seedless grapes

3 slices of wedged melon

A handful of walnuts

red kidney beans (used as desired)

green peas (used as desired)

3tbsp of Parmesan cheese

2 cubes of feta cheese

1tsp honey

1 lime

A pinch of cayenne pepper

½tsp apple cider vinegar

1 honey-roasted chicken breast

garlic-roasted croutons (add to taste)

2 cups of purple cabbage (used as desired)

½ pound grated carrots

6 slices of cucumber

1 medium tomato

Directions: Wash kale in salt water then chop finely then place in a salad bowl. Sprinkle kale with lemon and dust with Parmesan cheese. Combine all other ingredients in a salad bowl to your liking. Top with mango dressing.

Directions for mango dressing: Purée mangoes with half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and a teaspoon of honey.

Estate Daiquiri

Ingredients

2oz Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

1oz lime juice

1oz simple syrup

Ice

Directions: Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake until tin frosts. Serve in chilled coupe glass.

Golden Mojito

Ingredients

2oz Appleton Estate Signature Blend

6 mint leaves

½ lime

2tsp granulated sugar

Crushed ice

Soda water to fill

Directions: Add mint, lime, and sugar to a Rock glass. Muddle together for about 60 seconds. Add crushed ice then Appleton Estate Signature Blend. Stir until chilled. Top off with soda water.

Mango Coco Loco

Ingredients

1 slice ripe mango

¼ cup coconut jelly

2tsp lime juice

Coconut water to fill

Directions: Add mango, coconut jelly, and lime juice to a Rock glass. Add coconut water. Add two cubes of ice and stir until chilled. Garnish with a mango slice and lime wheel.

*Add two ounces of Coco Mania to turn your mocktail into a cocktail.

Mocktails

Cucumber Mint Refresher

Ingredients

3 slices cucumber

6 mint leaves

2tsp granulated sugar

½ lime

Crushed ice

Sprite/7UP to fill

Directions: In a highball glass,muddle together mint, lime,and sugar. Add cucumber slices. Fill with crushed ice. Add Sprite/7UP. Garnish with mint sprig and cucumber wheel.

*Add 1 ounce of Wray Rum to make it a cocktail.

Fizzy Fruit Smash

Ingredients

2 watermelon balls

2 otaheite apple slices

2 pineapple points

Ice

Sprite/7Up to fill

Directions: Add fruit to the highball glass. Lightly muddle to release juices. Add ice then Sprite or 7UP. Garnish with fruits on a skewer.

*Add 2 ounces of Skyy Vodka to make it a cocktail.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com