copyright 1994 by Connie Vines. "A Taste of American Culture"
(material can not be reproduced or posted to other Internet sites without the permission of the author).
Since toaster-pastries,
microwave ovens, and snack foods were not an option in centuries past. What might have Tay eaten during a family
meal, or as a snack?
Do you see this snack on a grocery shelf today?
Would you like to try a new ‘food’?
So what exactly was a ‘taste treat’ in Apacharia in 1880?
APACHE ACORN SOUP
3 lbs. rabbit/deer (or stew beef)
1 c. ground acorn meal
1 tsp. salt
2 qt. water
Cover the meat with water and bring to boil in a heavy
pot. Simmer until done; add seasoning (I suggest adding chilies) simmer until
done as the meat cooks tender. Remove
meat and chop on a flat stone until it splits in shreds. The meat broth
continues to cook vigorously while the meat and acorn meal are mixed
together. Apaches stress their food is
always well done; no instant cooking.
Broth, meat and meal simmer together until the broth bubbles creamy
white with yellow flecks, pleasantly acorn scented and flavored.
APACHE BREAD
1 c. white cornmeal ½
tsp. red pepper
1 c. yellow cornmeal 1
c. boiling water
1 tsp. salt ½
c. meat drippings (substitute bacon)
Green cornhusks.
Mix dry ingredients, add boiling water and bacon drippings. Form into small rolls and wrap in green corn
husks. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour
(vs. a covered skillet over a campfire).
Makes 12 individual breads.
***
The following recipe is my personal favorite. I served this fry bread at the Title V and
Red Nations Pow-wows. In addition, I
operated the fry bread booth the four years, as co-chair member P.A.C. Committee
that I organized and facilitated Native American Day, middle school level, for San
Bernardino County, California.
Students will only participate in prep and final
presentation.
Adults ONLY will be working with the hot oil required during the frying
of the bread dough.
GILA RIVER FRY BREAD
Never prepare fry bread in advance. The only way to enjoy it is sizzling hot from
the skillet. We like to drizzle its
crusty golden skin with honey or dust it with powdered sugar for breakfast or
serve plan as an addition to a soup or stew meal. This hot fry bread also provides the
foundation for a ‘Navajo Taco’.
2 ¼ c. flour 3
Tbsp. solid vegetable shortening
2 tsp. baking powder about
¾ c. warm water
1 tsp. salt fat
or oil for frying
Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in 1 tablespoon of shortening. Melt and cool remaining 2 tablespoons of
shortening and set aside. Add just
enough water to flour mixture so dough holds together and can be handled
easily. Knead on a lightly floured board
until smooth (30 seconds), adding only enough flour to work the dough.
Form dough into smooth 2-inch balls. Brush each ball with cooled shortening and
let stand 45 minutes. On a lightly
floured surface, with the heel of your hand, flatten each ball out into a round
circle about 6 inches in diameter.
In a deep skillet or deep fryer, heat fat to 360 degrees.
Ease dough into deep fat. Dough will bob to the surface. Cook until dough is a light brown (45 to 60
seconds). Turn and cook on the other side (45 to 60 seconds). Remove from fat
immediately and drain on paper towels.
Makes 6 individual breads.
(For a modern short cut used canned refrigerated biscuits. Just poke a small hole in the center to avoid
hot splattering of oil.)
Expedition Food
(Traditional)
Dried venison/rabbit/small bird parched corn
Dried berries: blueberries, elderberries sweet syrup (from native
plant)
Blackberries (whatever is available)
All ingredients were pounded together with a stone wrapped
in rawhide. The pounded ingredients were carried in a bag or gourd.
This food was eaten sparingly with water (when readily
available).
Reservation Macaroni and Cheese
(Modern)
Government issued:
Macaroni White
flour
Cheese Salt
Powdered Milk
Cook up 3 cups macaroon in pan. Mix 4 cups milk from the powder and
heat. Add about 2 ½ cups of cheese and
stir until it melts. Mix in some flour
with a little water to make paste. Thicken cheese mixture with pasta and add
drained macaroni. Salt. Pure into a dish
and bake in an oven until it firms up.
Are you a culinary daredevil?
This would require a trek to the Pacific Northwest, but my
friend and mentor, Jacques Condor (Maka-Tai-Meh), says this is the taste of his
childhood.
Jellied Moose Nose
1 upper jawbone of moose 1
onion, sliced
1 tsp. salt 1
clove of garlic
¼ c. vinegar ½
tsp. pepper
Cut the upper jawbone of the moose below the eyes. Place
in a large kettle of scalding water for 45 minutes. Remove and chill in cold
water. Pull out all the hairs; these will have loosened by boiling and should
come out easily (like plucking a chicken/ duck / turkey—yes, I have personal
experience). Wash thoroughly until no hairs remain.
Place the nose in a kettle and cover with fresh
water. Add onion, garlic, spices and
vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce
heat and simmer until the meat is tender. Let cool overnight in the liquid.
When cool, take the meat out of the broth and remove and discard the bones and
cartilage. You will have two types of
meat. White meat from the bulb of the
nose and think strips of dark meat from along the bones and jowls.
Slice the meat thinly and alternate layers of white meat
and dark meat in a loaf pan. Reheat the
broth to boiling, then pour the broth over the meat in the loaf pan. Let cool
until jelly has set. Slice and serve
cold.
Native
American Customs and Beliefs
As a tradition, foods are acquired with reverence and
attention to its importance in the balance of nature. Each animal, fish or plant has unique
qualities and powers and are considered a relative to all life. When these things are eaten, worn or used,
these qualities become part of the person utilizing them. Every utensil, weapon and tool are channels
of spirit energy, this energy may be positive or negative, which can be passed
to foods and material goods. The attitude of the person preparing the food is
extremely important. A happy, peaceful
cook prepares healthy food, while anger or negative feelings can cause inferior
foods of illness.
Harmony with nature is always important. Food is stirred in a clockwise direction, as
it is the direction in which water flows. To flow with nature is to survive.
Survival also means all life, plant and animal, should be regarded as sacred.
