Kwanzaa, Day Six, Imani

Here we are on the last day of Kwanzaa, Imani (ee-MAH-nee) or faith: to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Our seventh symbol: Zawadi or gifts
When we celebrate Imani on the seventh day of Kwanzaa, we give meaningful zawadi (gifts) to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement, and success. We exchange the gifts with members of our immediate family, especially the children, to promote or reward accomplishments and commitments kept, as well as with our guests. Handmade gifts are encouraged to promote self-determination, purpose, and creativity and to avoid the chaos of shopping and conspicuous consumption during the December holiday season. A family may spend the year making kinaras or may create cards, dolls, or mkekas to give to their guests. those symbols that can be made, should be made. The giving of gifts during Kwanzaa should be affordable and of an educational or artistic nature. Accepting a gift implies a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift; it obliges the recipient to follow the training of the host. The gift cements social relationships, allowing the receiver to share the duties and the rights of a family member. Accepting a gift makes the receiver part of the family and promotes Umoja.

One final link to coloring pages.

And here is a yummy recipe to end our week with:

Caramelized Ripe Plantains

Plantains turn up everywhere in West African cooking. They’re nibbled as street snacks, pounded into mashes and FOOFOOS, added to soups and stews, and served as dessert.

Plantains are used at virtually every stage of their maturing process. The green ones are peeled, sliced, and deep-fried as chips. The ripe yellow ones are used as a starch to accompany main dishes, and the superripe black ones in which the starch has turned to sugar appear as desserts. This is one way to serve plantain that appeals to everyone.

4 ripe plantains
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon sugar

Peel the plantains and slice them into l/2-inch rounds. Heat the butter to foaming in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the plantain slices to the butter and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they are lightly browned and slightly caramelized. Sprinkle the plantain slices with the sugar, allow the sugar to caramelize slightly, then remove the plantains from the skillet. Serve warm.

These plantain slices are also particularly good when served over vanilla ice cream, topped with the caramelized butter from the pan.

May your year be a good one.

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