Childhood food memories are special. As the founder of Optimist Made, I found it fitting that the first food feature come from my mother and the island of Jamaica. She raised me to be a confident, vibrant, honest and dynamic woman, which is exactly what you will get from her specialty dishes that hail from her Jamiacan upbringing. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did growing up! irie!
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
2017 Fieldhouse Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino County, California
Ingredient List
1 small chicken or 4 boneless chicken breasts cut into pieces 1 tablespoon Jerk seasoning (paste or powder) purchased from supermarket
1/4 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup cooking oil (for browning chicken)
Cooking Directions
1. Wash chicken and pat dry
2. Cut chicken into large chunks
3. Season with all ingredients above
4. Brown chicken lightly in oil
5. Place browned chicken in baking dish, cover and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees
Glazed Salmon
2018 Inizi Hi-Jump Rose, Mendocino County, California
Ingredient List
Two 4-6 oz salmon steaks (skinned)
2 tablespoons thick-cut orange marmalade
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon yellow or Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking Directions
1. Rinse salmon and pat dry
2. Mix together all ingredients above and rub on both sides of salmon
3. Broil in oven for 10 minutes (turning after 5 minutes) or until golden brown to your liking
4. May also cook on grill and pan cook on top of stove (uncovered)
Salmon with chopped Spinach
2018 Dove Hunt Dog Chardonnay, Mendocino County, California
Ingredient List
Two salmon steaks (skin on)
8 oz chopped spinach
¼ cup heavy cream
¼ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon mustard
Cooking Directions
1. Mix together all ingredients above
2. Place salmon in pan (skin side down). You can also cook in oven. Cover before cooking.
3. Place chopped washed spinach on top of salmon
4. Pour mixture above over the spinach and salmon.
5. If using oven, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. If using stove top, cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.
