It’s celebration time again! Has it really been 50 years already since we gained our independence? I am beyond excited. Why? Independence Day and the festivities seems to bring unity to the entire country!  What’s even better, is that the Olympics has added the cherry on the top. I congratulate all the athletes who represented Jamaica. Job well Done!!!!!!!!!!!
Unless it relates to cooking, I never watch any kind of sports. I am not the least bit intrigued.  However, I don’t know what has gotten into me lately, but I am so engulfed into the Olympics, and is rooting and cheering on my Jamaican athletes as if I knew them on a first name basis.

Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce is my She-ro. I really enjoy listening to her story, recapping the events of her mother confronting a man, with a machete, who made sexual advances towards her. That’s a mother’s love! She was ready to “chop up him claat!” for her child. After watching her victorious win, it really motivated me. With my hectic schedule, I had ceased from engaging in any form of  exercise for a while. The only exercise I managed to squeeze into my schedule were physical activities which included house driven chores: cooking, cleaning, gardening and screaming at my kids (lungs need exercise too ya know). And whenever I clean, I tear the entire house apart.  Well, I got up out of the house with the intention to get fit. I’m eating and living healthier, so I really need to buckle up and get my blood pumping… and I did! So far…so good.

To show my patriotism to my homeland, I decided to prepare a callaloo sandwich, and not just a blah sandwich. I had to be creative and stick with the colors of the Jamaican flag. So I amped it up and took it to another level. I really wowed myself on this one. In addition to the callaloo, I added okras, black beans, yellow bell peppers, corn, golden grape tomatoes and served it on a rosemary sea salt focaccia bread. Outstanding!

My eldest son, Robert kept coming back for seconds and kept chanting, “I don’t eat veggies on its own, but it’s good. You know me mom, my sandwiches have to have meat.” As I sat there looking at him, in my mind, I was  saying, “there is no meat, this is so vegetarian, but you keep coming back.”  He was about to devour the entire callaloo sandwich, I had to secure the last slice for my grandma. She on the other hand is another story. She goes, “Denise, yu know what dis need? Some saltfish. It taste good though.”  (My grandma, and close relatives call me Denise, and so does everyone in my neighborhood of Tivoli Gardens. Everyone else refers to the name that is on my birth certificate, Angeline). I must be the only person on this planet who doesn’t enjoy salted fish in callaloo.

Now you can make this sandwich, using your favorite bread and create it to your heart’s content. I love crusty, crunchy breads, especially when they are toasty and warm.  It make me feel…..emancipated….and independent enough to put the entire callaloo sandwich in my mouth and savor each and every bite. I still have a pot full of this awesome dish that I created in honor of the Jamaican flag. I already know what I will be pairing the left overs with…and it ain’t boiled green bananas…so guess again!