A taste of Pitcairn written by Meralda Warren and Randy Key 12 January 2023

Wut a way all yorli and a very Happy New Year to all.

Our Christmas went off well 2022 even though we now have no children on Pitcairn as our last 3 girls head to New Zealand for school starting soon in Palmerston North New Zealand.

Our Christmas ever was celebrated with singing Christmas carols under the trees around the tables and ended up with refreshments after. Yummy.

My Rolls which are a Pitcairn Breadsticks that is irresistible to munch on so someone told me.

3 types off flour sifted and baking in Lalas Kitchen was full on as not only was I getting Rolls made for the after carols singing, but I was also making enough to fill bags of it for most people on the Island.

Christmas day started by getting the pineapples ready and on the boil to make the traditional Pitcairn pineapple duff.

Fresh Pineapples were peeled but first, taking off the thorny head in my big, calloused hands and ouch if the thorns pricked me but as the sweet smell

permeated the kitchen, it’s worth the thorns and rough skin of the Pitcairn Pineapples as I chopped them into small cubes and taking the heart out.

That heart is the tasty bit, and we love munching on those.

Kneading Pineapple Duff is what I do frequently for public dinners and being Christmas, having Duff on the table is a great feeling seeing folks enjoy a slab smothered in Butter or Margarine.

Others made Christmas Dinner special too with a few traditional dishes like Sweet tatie philhi. (Sweet potato philhi) which is very fine grated sweet Potato grated on a traditional slab of Pitcairn rock fashioned into a grater. The grated sweet potatos are then put in Banana leaf and baked.

The guys set the BBQ up and although before the traditional meat on Pitcairn used to be cooked goat, with the import of meat from New Zealand the goat meat has lost its status on the dinner table and the local chicken is free to run around and NZ bought chicken was on the menu as well as a Turkey roasted by Olive. We were all at the square exchanging hugs and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas as the guys had the BBQ fired up and the aroma drifted past. Beef steaks were cooked to what folks prefer. Medium or well done.

There were heaps of salads, chips, Potato salad Green Plun philhi as well as sweet Tatie philhi and then dessert to follow with cakes, cheesecakes and eclairs. Far too much food.

We had family at the almost end of the year dinner together at Jayden and brother Kimora’s place. They have taken their boat out night fishing and caught some tuna and a wahoo. Oh, they were so good at making raw fish we call it or like the Tahitians. It was marinated in Pitcairn lemon and lime then coconut cream from many fresh coconuts una (grated) and squeezed over with tomatoes, cucumber and other salad goodies added. No fishy smell or taste in this dish.

They had fried fish as well and Kimi had made some Fish balls, which he had minced with plenty onions and curry powder added. He then formed them into little balls and dropped them in boiling water cooking them well then draining it and fried to just brown the outside leaving it moist in the middle.

Again, not that smelly fishy taste but delicious. Wrapped in Lalas home grown lettuce leaves was delicious.

Time sped by too fast and soon we were cooking for another event as Torika turned 21 on the 10^th.

Another big dinner was cooked mainly by Randy. We all chipped in so the table had plenty leftovers.

Silverside beef, fried chicken, sausages, salads, tatie Philhi and of course Lalas duff, Olives Bread and the list goes on as cakes and eclairs and Lalas hot chocolate pudding was there.

The weather is hot here from 20c early early morning to 35c. Getting behind a shrub cutter was needed to work of some of the delicious weckle we have been eating.

Having an abundance of food here makes me think of the past and if our Tapunas haven’t had to work so hard to provide food for the table. Even if they can do what today our young lads can do. Going out in an hour and catch enough fish for the community plus the cats and 2 dogs. Will their ancestors still be living here on Pitcairn instead of in NZ, Australia, USA or even Norfolk Island? We who live here are thankful we have plenty to share as well.

The chickens, Cats and two dogs eat well too.

On my website you can find I have started putting up recipes as my cookbook, A taste of Pitcairn sold out many times and I haven’t renewed it as now adays people look online for recipes. Its www.maimitihaven.com and let me know what you think of the site. Sanks fer me.