with the Dominican Republic to its east.
Though it’s still recovering from a 2010 earthquake,
many of Haiti’s landmarks
dating to the early 19th century remain intact.
These include Citadelle la Ferrière, a mountaintop fortress,
and the nearby ruins of Sans-Souci Palace,
the baroque former royal home of King Henry I.
OCTOBER
this exceptional debut novel captures a sparkling new voice
and irrepressible heroine
in a story sure to thrill fans of Nicola Yoon and Ibi Zoboi!
Alaine Beauparlant has heard about Haiti all her life…
But the stories were always passed down from her dad—and her mom, when she wasn’t too busy with her high-profile newscaster gig. But when Alaine’s life goes a bit sideways, it’s time to finally visit Haiti herself.
What she learns about Haiti’s proud history as the world’s first black republic (with its even prouder people) is one thing, but what she learns about her own family is another. Suddenly, the secrets Alaine’s mom has been keeping, including a family curse that has spanned generations, can no longer be avoided.
It’s a lot to handle, without even mentioning that Alaine is also working for her aunt’s nonprofit, which sends underprivileged kids to school and boasts one annoyingly charming intern
LIBRARY STACK of my HAITI BOOKS
PICTURE BOOKS of HAITI
COFFEE
BREAD Haitian Beignets
How To Make Haitian Beignets
Equally festive during the holiday season as they are during Carnival season, these delicious Haitian beignets may have a different look and taste, but they’re just as delectable.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Haitian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 20 Beignets
Author Savory Thoughts
Equipment
- Large Frying Pan
Ingredients
- 3 Mashed Bananas
- 1 ⅓ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ½ Tsp. Baking Soda
- ¼ Tsp. Granulated Sugar Plus more for dusting
- 2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
- ½ Tsp. Ground Nutmeg
- 1 Can Carnation Milk (12 Fl. Oz.) Or Water
- 1 Egg
- ½ Tsp. Almond Extract
- ¼ Tsp. Kosher Salt
- ½ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon Optional
Instructions
- Mash the bananas with a fork (or food processor). Next add in the sugar, milk, eggs, salt, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon, vanilla and almond extract. Continue to mix well. Then fold in the all-purpose flour.
- In a large frying pan add in 2 cups of oil. Bring the temperature to no more than 350°F (Adjust the temperature as needed but do not lower it under 325°F).Use a ice cream scoop to add in the batter in batches. Fry for 2 minutes per side. Then remove from the frying pan and set aside on a paper toweled plate. Allow to cool and enjoy with dusted sugar on top.
RICE
Instant Pot Haitian-Style White Rice
Learn how to cook Haitian-style white rice in the instant pot perfectly each time. So delicious and soft.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Haitian, International
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 6 People
Calories 126kcal
Author Savory Thoughts
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Jasmine Rice Washed / Rinsed
- ⅓ Cup Onion Diced
- 1 Tsp. Garlic Cloves Minced
- 2 Tbsp. Oil Olive oil is okay to use
- 3 Cups Water
- 1 ½ Tsp. Kosher Salt Or to taste
- ½ Tsp. Black Pepper Or to taste
Instructions
- Wash and rince the rice. Set aside.
- On the Instant Pot, click on the sautee button and adjust the time 30 minutes. Add the oil and add the onions and garlic when the oil becomes hot.
- Add the rice. Mix well. Then add the water, season with salt and pepper.
- Place the lid on the pot and turn the knob to sealing. Click on cancel, then press the rice button. Click on rice again so that the light is on the more button. The time should show 15 minutes.
- Quick release, fluff with a fork. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Cooking Recipe Notes: Wash the rice until the water runs clear.
Haiti is currently at the breaking point as economy tanks and violence soars and cholera is also rising……..
Vodou developed among Afro-Haitian communities amid the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 19th centuries. Its structure arose from the blending of the traditional religions of those enslaved West and Central Africans, among them Yoruba, Fon, and Kongo, who had been brought to the island of Hispaniola.
For many in the West, Voodoo invokes images of animal sacrifices, magical dolls and chanted spells.
But Voodoo – as practiced in Haiti and by the black diaspora in the United States, South America and Africa – is a religion based on ancestral spirits and patron saints.
Known as “Vodou” in Haiti, the religion has also served as a form of resistance against the French colonial empire.
And unlike many mainstream representations around magic and rituals, scholars have shown how Voodoo serves as a form of health care system by providing religious healing.
The Black Religion That’s Been Maligned for Centuries
Vodou has been condemned for much of its history. But some Haitian Americans are reclaiming the narrative through their own journeys with spirituality. June 29, 2022
Vodou is a religion freighted with mischaracterizations, down to its very name, which is frequently styled incorrectlyas “voodoo.” Among practitioners, the word is considered a pejorative. (Indeed, 10 years ago, after a petition by Vodou scholars and leaders, the Library of Congress adapted the spelling to Vodou.) The ancient, nature-based religion also has suffered from untrue stereotypes in popular culture involving zombies and dangerous spells. For centuries Haitians have practiced Vodou as a holistic way of life, brought to Haiti from West Africa by enslaved people. Vodou is at the core of Haitian identity.
Voodoo has been a powerful force in the lives of innumerable people of African descent, both positively and negatively. One of its largest groups of adherents resides in Haiti, where Voodoo is practiced by close to 5 million people, which accounts for nearly half of the population.
Fascinating people and place. I cannot wait to learn more.
