Bahama Mama's Cooking is as inviting as the beautiful islands and people which inspired it. Capt. Jan Robinson's passion for the Bahamas began in 1979 as she sailed through the islands each year enroute from North Carolina to the Virgin Islands.

Consisting of more than 700 islands and about 2,000 cays, the nation of the Bahamas is spread out over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean with some islands located as close as 50 miles east of Florida.

On his first trip to the New World in 1492 Christopher Columbus landed on one of the islands - although historians still dispute which island. Columbus was astonished by the sea life and recorded its wonder in his log book. "There are fish here so unlike ours, that it is a marvel. No man would not wonder at them or be anything but delighted to see them. "Today, the Bahamas are a popular tourist destination with travelers from North and South America, Europe and the Far East. With the recent explosion of cruise ships and charter yacht traffic, Bahamian cuisine is being tasted and appreciated by an ever-increasing number of visitors. The islands of the Bahamas are mostly flat and the soil is shallow and rocky, yet wonderfully fertile. For hundreds of years, Bahamians have grown many exotic fruits and vegetables.

The sea harvest of the Bahamas abounds with conch, crayfish, crab, rock lobster, hog snapper, grouper, yellow tail and whelk.

Traditional Bahamian cooking is imaginative and creative, following a "make do with what you've got" cooking style. Bahama Mama's Cooking offers something to suit all tastes. There are wonderful blends of spices in delicious breads, vegetarian meals, side dishes, salads, appetizers, meats, beverages, soups and desserts. And, they are simple to prepare.

Bahama Mama's Cooking is the first in a new series of cookbooks from Ship to Shore Inc, featuring exotic and traditional recipes from tropical islands. As we continue to promote the cooking of the islands, it is our hope that we will share with you the joy and good times that went into the preparation of these meals.