Chef Selwyn’s Recipes: What Does H20 Mean To You?

Wikipedia describes water as a chemical substance with the formula H20.  Its molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.  Water is the most essential element to life on Earth!

Why am I talking about H20?  Last week I did a cooking demo with Adam Giambrone, the Chair for TTC.  Danielle, our photographer, offered him bottled water.  His reaction stunned me.  “I would much prefer tap water,” he said.  Being a local celebrity, I assumed he couldn’t drink anything but Evian, Perrier etc.  Having been blessed to work around celebrities from all walks of life, I get to see how finicky they get about their favourite beverage.

As a kid growing up, my Mother used to do some shopping in Haiti and Caracas.  What I remember most about her trip was not what she brought back for us, but what she took; Mom always brought her own boiled water.  I often thought back then, “Poor people, they don’t even have water to drink!”

Today I am a big connoisseur of the H20. It’s my favourite beverage.  I drink it morning, noon and night consuming 10 – 12 glasses per day.  I drink it bottled, tap, mineral, hot, cold and yes, coconut water!  I am always tempted to try the local water whenever I travel. Water tastes different!  From developed countries, Third World regions to small towns.

Mr. Giambrone claims tap water is more vigorously tested; less chance of being contaminated.  As a politician he should know.  Which brings us to the question; do you care about your water consumption, quality, and safety or how our actions affect the future generations?

As a teenager, one of my experiments was trying to turn sea water into fresh water; let’s just say it involved electricity, some fuse blowing and my Mom not too happy.  Reflecting on this topic I now realize that being a water bearer I am destined to like all things water. When I am agitated, need inspiration or even to pray for guidance, my solace is to find a large body of water.  It not only nourishes me but feeds my soul, body and mind.

So I ask the question? What does H20 mean to YOU!

A Little laughter:

 

Heavy Prescription 

A man goes to his doctor because he hasn’t been feeling well. The doctor examines him, leaves the room and comes back with three different bottles of pills.

The doctor says, “Take the green pill with a big glass of water when you get up. Take the blue pill with a big glass of water after lunch. Then, just before going to bed, take the red pill with another big glass of water.”

Alarmed at the amount of medicine he has been given to take, the man stammers, “Jeez, Doc, exactly what is my problem?”

The doctor says, “You’re not drinking enough water.”

 

Golden Punch

What You Need:  

4 maraschino cherries

1 orange, sliced thin

1 lemon, sliced thin

1 lime, sliced thin

2 3/4 C of water, divided

1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed

1 (12 oz.) can frozen pineapple orange concentrate, thawed

2 liters ginger ale, chilled

How to Make It: 

Place the cherries, orange slices, lemon slices and lime slices into a ring mold.

Pour the water into the mold and freeze until solid.

Pour the remaining water into a punch bowl.

Stir in the lemonade, limeade and pineapple orange concentrates until well blended.

Pour the ginger ale into the punch.

Unmold the fruit ice ring and place fruit side up into the punch.

Makes 21 servings

This pretty and tasty punch will be a perfect addition to your Christmas buffet table.  Pineapple rings may also be added to the ring mold if you like.

Selwyn Richards is an award-winning master chef. He is also the President and Executive Chef at The Art of Catering Inc. and is the author of “The Art of Cooking: Soul of The Caribbean”. Chef Selwyn can be reached at: selwyn@theartofcatering.com or by phone — (905) 619-1059.