Soup Joumou - Haiti Observer Blog

This must be stopped and it must be done sooner rather than later. We must keep the integrity of the Haitian Pumpkin Soup, better known as Soup Joumou or Haitian Independence soup. Let me be direct, Haitian Soup Joumou must be made with beef and not chicken. The rich beef and bone marrow, was missing. Call a soup made with Chicken anything you want, but please don't call it Soup Joumou.

I have noticed a recent trend to move to a Soup Joumou made of Chicken and not beef as it is supposed to be. You might say that "Roland Mache Frite Anpil Kay Moun" or " Roland go out a lot to eat in people's houses". I don't care. However, last January, I was invited to eat my Soup Joumou in 5 homes, mainly Haitian friends and family members. I have got to tell you I was disappointed. Three of those houses served me the Soup Joumou made with chicken and not beef. I was so disappointed to the point I almost left without eating the Soup. Reasoning finally wan and I decided to take it home so that I could eat them during the week.

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Queens Kitchen Fire Kills three Haitians. On New Year's Eve 2014, at approximately 11:45 pm, a fire started at Le Frak City apartments in Queens. When firefighters arrived, the blaze was already out of control. Reinforcements were called, and a total of 105 firefighters fought the fire. On the ninth floor, firefighters beat back flames and thick, heavy smoke to access apartment 9C. Inside they encountered heavy smoke in the hallway, leading to the back bedrooms. There they found two of the victims, Louise Jean-Charles, 59, and husband, Napoleon Michel, 69. The third victim was discovered jammed between the front door and a wall, Nadia Donnay, 37. All three were pronounced dead at Elmhurst General and Forest Hills Long Island hospitals.

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Haitian independence day became fatal to a Haitian family in New York. A deadly fire broke out on December 31, 2014 at 11:45 p.m. on the ninth floor of an 18-story apartment building in Queens as the family was cooking their traditional Soup Joumou. According to the report, the fire started from the stove in the kitchen and quickly spread to the bedrooms, where two of the victims were discovered

Fifty nine year old Louise Jean-Charles, along with her husband Napoleon Michel who was 69 and 37-year-old Nadia Donnay were killed as a result of the fire. The report indicated that 150 firefighters responded to the fire and several were treated for injuries

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Not only is Soup Joumou, or squash soup a tasty Caribbean dish, it's a symbol of Haitian liberation. During the reign of the French, Haitians were forbidden the dish as it was considered too elevated for slaves. As a commemoration of Haitian freedom, since 1804, Haitians, who enjoy the soup at their leisure year-round, have Squash Soup on the 1st of January as a rule.

What you will need:
• 1 lb of fresh Caribbean pumpkin or a 12 oz pack of frozen squash (butternut squash is a suitable substitute)
• 8 cups of water
• 1 lb of cubed soup meat (beef, chicken, etc.)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 lb soup bone (optional)
• 1 sprig of fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 stalk of celery, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 potatoes, cubed
• 1 chayote, cubed (optional)
• 1/4 of a small cabbage, chopped coarsely
• 1 diced turnip
• 2 sliced carrots
• 2 leeks cut into 1/2 inch pieces (whites only, optional)
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper
• 1/4 lb spaghetti, broken into pieces
• 1 tbsp. of lime juice or vinegar

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As a reminder, Independence day in Haiti is an important holiday. we are fortunate to celebrate two important events on this day: On January 1, Haitians all over the world celebrate both New Year's Day and Independence Day.

This little nation made history on January 1, 1804 by becoming the first Black Country to gain its independence. At the same time we change the name of the country back to its original name "Ayiti", name given by the original inhabitants and before Christopher Columbus so called discovered the Island in 1492. At that point the island was named "Hispaniola"

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