Shereen Codner, consumer services officer at Grace, Kennedy. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
AS A young teacher trainee at Shortwood Teachers' College in Kingston, 28-year-old Shereen Codner really had the arts as her choice of subject areas (course option) but fate stepped in and closed that door, opening another much more tantalising one.
"I wanted to do social studies and history but that option was full so I chose home economics instead," she remembers.
After working in the classroom for a year, she took a summer job at Grace Kitchens in June 2001, and has since been part of the creative team behind the recipes, and on the spot dishes which delight television audiences across Jamaica every week.
A TOUGH JOB
It was a choice that would take her all over the island on a weekly basis, meeting and dealing with a range of personalities, and situations. But she has not been fazed.
On Thursday, she was busy making coffee sauce to go with a large cornmeal pudding cooling on a stand nearby. On a large table behind her a ham, baked and dressed for sampling showed evidence of a flurried evening in the kitchen.
It's been tough with an average 20 visits per month in addition to in-house duties but there are no regrets here.
"So far it's been very exciting, full of adventure but overall very nice." Her job, she says, involves dealing with customers' suggestions and complaints, preparing samples in-house, doing product sampling, and comparing various products to gauge Grace, Ken-nedy's edge on the food market.
FOOD PHILOSOPHY
Any meal you prepare and present should be attractive and appetising, as they say 'easy on the eyes, and the palate'.
FAVOURITE RECIPE
Chicken Lollipop, that's my favourite creation and probably the one most persons here associate with me.
CHICKEN LOLLYPOP WITH GRACE JERK BARBECUE SAUCE
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Baking Time: 20-30 minutes
Ingredients
450 grams chicken wings
1 large onion (chopped)
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp. Grace Vegetable Oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup Grace Barbecue Sauce
METHOD
1. Clean and cut chicken wings at the joint.
2. Blend onion, garlic, and Grace Vegetable Oil to make paste.
3. Use the bigger part of the chicken wings. Using a sharp knife to cut a ring around the lower end and pull the flesh towards the upper section. Season with blended seasoning, salt and black pepper.
4. Place the chicken on a greased baking tray and brush on Grace Jerk Barbecue Sauce.
5. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350ºF or until golden brown.
