Molasses and the Spanish American War

Vitamin rich chocolate molasses smoothie, this and other recipes below

As part of our series on Hispanic History Month,,we turn to the Caribbean basin. During the Spanish American War, the U.S. military invaded and seized Puerto Rico in 1898, forcing upon the island commonwealth status with the United States. As a result of U.S. colonialism, less expensively produced Puerto Rican molasses flooded U.S. markets after 1898. Thus after 1898 Puerto Rico became an important agro-industrial producer for markets in the United States. Puerto Rican molasses essentially tasted the same as U.S. produced black strap molasses in Louisiana in other parts of the South and it was less expensive to purchase for North American consumers. Sugar is full of empty calories while molasses is rich in minerals and vitamins. For instance, two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses provides 13.3% of the daily recommended value for iron, 14.0% of the daily recommended value for copper, 18.0% of the daily recommended value for manganese, and 9.7% of the daily recommended value for potassium. Molasses is also high in calcium, a necessity for strong bones and teeth, blood clotting, and the transmission of nerve impulses to and from the brain. Calcium also removes toxins from the colon, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer. Molasses is an excellent source of copper which helps in the healthy development of bone and connective tissue. Manganese-rich molasses is essential to the healthy functioning of the nervous system and contains potassium that assists in proper muscle contraction and nerve transmission. Finally, molasses is rich in vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6, and vitamin E. Here is a related recipe.

Chocolate Molasses Smoothie

Ingredients
2 cups vanilla soy milk

2 tsp tablespoon coco or carob powder

1 scoop protein powder

1 diced frozen banana

3 tablespoon blackstrap molasses or sweeten to taste

2 tablespoon ground flax seeds 
Method 

Blend all the ingredients on high speed until smooth. Serves 2

Hispanic History Month Series with Recipes: http://www.foodasalens.com/search?q=Hispanic+History+Month

Molasses and Atlantic Foodways Series: http://www.foodasalens.com/search?q=molasses+recipes