11 days of sxm: Johnny Cakes

Let’s settle the ‘controversy’ before we even begin. It’s Johnny Cakes. Not bakes or whatever else you might call it. You are currently in Saint Martin territory… It’s Johnny Cakes.

​ It’s Day 10 of 11 Days of SXM and if you haven’t figured it out by now, today’s recipe is Johnny Cakes. Now, this specific recipe is special to my heart as it’s based on my grandmothers, the late Dame Thelma Gumbs, recipe. This what I grew up eating at least 5 times a week. Every Saturday she would make a big batch of dough and send home to her adult children. If you ever had a Johnny Cake from the Muzik Box booth at the carnival village, this is the recipe. Ever had a Johnny Cake from under the tamarind tree on Backstreet, this is the recipe. This is the Johnny cakes I grew up on and something I miss dearly. Enough of me sobbing over Johnny Cakes, let’s get to the recipe.

Wa yuh need: 
If you feeding the crowd:

• 5lbs of flour (Robin Hood of course)
• ½ can of baking powder 
• A pinch of salt 
• A little sugar 
• 1 lb Crisco 
• Water. 

If you feeding yuhself: 

• 3 cups of flour 
• ¼ cup of baking powder 
• A pinch of salt 
• 2 tablespoons of sugar 
• ½ cup Crisco 
• Water 

How to do di  ting: 

1. Whisk together all the dry ingredients. Rub in Crisco into flour mixture until breadcrumb-like consistency. 
2. Slowly add water and knead until it forms a ball. Allow the dough to rest for about 15 minutes, then divide into sections and roll into small balls. 
3. Rest the dough for at least 10 minutes. Flatten and shape into discs. 
4. Either fry in hot oil or bake at 350 degrees until golden. Then nyam (I recommend with gouda cheese). 

Tomorrow is the last day of 11 days of sxm and of course Saint Martin’s Day. Hopefully, you have what you need for some Johnny Cakes tomorrow, and if not, hurry run to the store quick quick. I want to give a shoutout to my parents for helping with this recipe. The pictures are courtesy of the fresh batch of Johnny Cakes my father made and measurements by my mother! 

See you tomorrow!