Dishing Out Thanksgiving With a Cultural Flair

Traditional Thanksgiving meal
Credit: Country Living 

We’re all familiar with the “Thanksgiving aroma.” Yeah! You know the strong whiff of the oven baked turkey, sweet ham, candied yams intertwined with the gooiest macaroni and cheese, creamy mash potatoes merged with the velvety smooth gravy, collard greens, hearty stuffing and cranberry sauce chilling on the side. 

Particularly in my family, the smell of Thanksgiving is a combo of Jamaican traditional and American tradition dishes trying to find a happy medium. Trust me when I say, it’s the smell of curry chicken, barbeque chicken, curry goat, rice and peas, plain white rice, mash potatoes, jerk pork, macaroni and cheese, a secret recipe fruit punch that somehow changes ever year made of every juice in the pantry and Publix ginger ale, and fried escovitch fish. Oh did I miss anything? How could I forget the turkey?

To an extent we all celebrate Thanksgiving differently within our own family and friends. Michelle Provenzano is a student at the University of Florida who is looking forward to her split Thanksgiving dinner with her father and grandmother. However, her Thanksgiving dinner is usually spent at her Italian grandmother’s house where traditional turkey, mash, stuffing and cranberries are all on the menu. She says her typical Italian grandmother will always throw in an Italian twist where marinara meatballs and chicken parmesan is essential to the Thanksgiving table.

Have you ever tried adding a twist to your Thanksgiving dinner? Or consider celebrating the holiday by emerging yourself in another’s culture? Maybe this year’s thanksgiving could be Italian, Chines or Greece themed.

In addition, eating healthy this Thanksgiving won’t hurt. Gabrielle Peterson has some healthy recipes on her blog. After all that festive eating, traditional or non-tradition, bloggers Jessica Barreto and Raphael Pires has some great tips on what to eat post all the holiday festivities. 

Who is Peta?

Hello there,

My name is Peta-Gay Sheerwood, and I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, soulful music, exploring significant weather events and the ever-changing world of journalism.

Me at a local restaurant in Paris, France

I believe my adoration for all of the above was formulated during many of my childhood experiences. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. It was there I discovered my interest in Hurricanes, as tropical weather would pour torrential rain over South Florida. Living in South Florida, I was able to emerge myself in different cultures, which is almost inevitable.  It is really hard getting around not eating Bahamian conch salads, Haitian griot (fried pork) and diri ak djon djon (mushroom rice and peas), and the never ending list of Latin American foods.

Coursing through my narrow veins, there is a blood full rich and vibrant culture. My family’s heritage is rooted deeply in Jamaica, out of many one people.  There was never a day I would walk in from school and not hear the soulful reggae music of Beres Hammond, Dennis Brown, and Bob Marley just to name a few.

Now, I am a senior at the University of Florida studying Telecommunication with a Minor in Geography. I am grateful for the experiences and I’ve had during the course of my college career.  They have served as fostering professional opportunities and were more than resume filler. From serving as a reporter, forecaster to a camera operator, there is no way I would have ever wanted to spend my time at UF.

When I am not lurking around UF studying, you can find me exploring life’s discoveries through another culture in this world so magnificent of people from many backgrounds.  

Lights Lights and more Lights - Diwali

Lights, prosperity, fine silk and sweet tasty foods all screams what Hindus celebrate, Diwali. 

Diwali is better known as the Indian Festival of Lights. The celebration only happens once a year. Diwali began today, October 23. The celebration will not be complete without families worshiping at a temple as flowers fill the streets and homes. At night the streets across India are filled with sparkles, firecrackers and a view of lights that will illuminate anyone’s heart.

Want to celebrate at home? Emerge yourself in another culture. Check out Sruthi’s Kitchen Double Chocolate Karanji recipe.

Beyoncé, Bangs and Beauty

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has done it again.

This is not the first time the multi-award winning pop star artist is on top of the charts. In fact, Beyoncé is ranked #1 on the Teen Pop Artist list. However, as of today, the trending topic is not on her secret video album she dropped or the infamous "On The Run Tour" with her hubby rapper Jay-Z. Nonetheless, it is simply on her newest hairstyle. Her oh-so-short bangs!

For one, Beyoncé is a classically undefined woman by her music and ability to inspire many cultures, women and fans all around the world. In the fierce diva's newest album she outlines the issues women face culturally.

In her song, “Pretty Hurts,” from her latest self-titled album, she sings about the universal desires of women attempting to achieve prettiness. The artist expresses, “we try to fix something that you can’t fix, which is a soul that needs a surgery.”

Once again, I question: what is the true definition of beauty? Is beauty defined by a woman’s hair? Is it defined by what others think? Rather, it is defined by the way you carry yourself as a woman with respect, dignity and class. It is confidence embraced.

What’s your definition? I want to know. Please share below.

Relaxation Island

From sandy Hellshire Beach to the reggae beats pumping in Ochio Rios, Jamaica is a county of true relaxation.

For Oshene Sharpe, the last time she traveled to Jamaica was in 2008. She says she will never forget the moments she would walk to the beach.

“The people are very warm and nice, the fresh breeze, variety of food. I just love the atmosphere in general. Extremely laid back environment."

Everyone who travels to the island has a strong memory of how sweet Jamaica is.

Lisa Wilmot says her visit was refreshing and anticipates her next visit.

“I remember standing on my grandfather's porch in the country looking out into the open field. Deep green trees and the sun shining so brightly. It was breathtaking. Dunn's River Falls fresh cold water running on the rocks and hitting my body was very refreshing. The mountains were cool and the breeze was nice and calm.”

Check out this music video “Sweet Jamaican” by Jamaican artist Mr. Vegas ft. Shaggy and Josey Wales. The artistes express just how sweet the island.

         

Hispanic Heritage Month

The United States is a nation strong and rich of the hispanic culture.

This video expresses the voice of those living in the emerging nation of latin beauty.

Hispanic heritage month begins September 15th and ends October 15th.
 

Don’t Make Me Think - Book Review

The growth of technology has enhanced the way we disseminate information daily.

In result, our social culture has morphed into devices that limit face-to-face interactions, letters in the mail and the millennial generation enable to functional without social networking sites. However, this is nothing new to us. In the palms of our two hands, we embrace a world of information. When it comes to information, nearly no one wants to sit and ponder ways to access it. Or worst, wait a good five seconds for a page to load it’s content. When a consumer of the web wants information and mobility, they want it now.

 

According to the book "Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited – A Common Sense Approach to Web," thinking is over rated for those using the Internet, including myself. 

“All kinds of things on a web page can make us think unnecessarily.” 

However, this book focuses on how to allow consumers to use the web without using a depth of knowledge to do so.  

Through research, the book suggests consumers of technology do not like to read. That's why it's important for web designers to cultivate a product where information is easy accessible. It may include easy access to finding more information or booking a plane ticket. The general audience wants accessible information at their finger tips in a timely and effective manner.

The book makes reference our changing culture and ways designers strategically design webpages. The consumer should have easy access to material online where the web page distinguish itself from other web pages but doesn’t completely deviate from the standard webpage where someone is unable to maneuver the site. Indeed, adding creative visuals is the key to setting webpages apart.  

As far as a disorganized cluttered webpage, that is a recipe for the viewer to click the infamous “X” in the corner of the screen and log off. To engage the consumer, according to the book, short paragraphs, bullet list and highlighted terms are all great ways to keep your consumer’s attention on websites. 

The way our social culture access information on webpages is important when it comes to the initial stages of a website. In the coming years, I can’t wait to see how technology is going to continue enhancing the way we perceive the world on the web as an ever-evolving culture.