Have you ever eaten a delicious dish with a double meaning that makes you swear? As a stand-alone term, Jerk refers to how meat is seasoned, smoked, and grilled. Jerk is “one of the enduring legacies of the fusion of African and Taíno cultures in Jamaica.” The Taíno, an Arawak people, were members of the Caribbean’s Indigenous population and were the first to call the island Xaymaca. History aside, I can’t wait to eat some delicious, hot, smoky, flavorful island food with a pineapple mango relish, sauted cabbage, and Jamaican rice and peas (it's beans and not peas, but that's what they say). Need I say more :).

The pineapple mango relish and cabbage side aren't shown in the picture.

Ingredients: Chicken thighs (bone in and skin on), tamari, lime, ginger, scotch bonnet pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, thyme, scallion, plantain, canola oil I Cabbage, bell pepper, canola oil, salt I Long grain rice, butter cloves, onion, allspice, kidney beans, coconut milk I Fruit chow: Pineapple, mango puree, cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, salt, pepper.

Beef Stroganoff is named after the Russian -general and diplomat Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, this dish has a controversial origin story. It essentially combines French cuisine flavors (mustard) and techniques with the classic richness of Russian cuisine, aka sour cream and onions. This dish earned a grand culinary prize in 1891. Enjoy Stroganoff with an apple, cabbage, and cucumber salad.

Ingredients: Beef hanger steak, canola oil, onion, mushroom, butter, flour, beef broth, dijon mustard, sour cream, salt, pepper, and canola oil I Pasta: Fettuccine, salt, water I Salad: Green apple, red cabbage, cucumber, sauerkraut, dill, scallion, white vinegar, salt, olive oil.