Fresh Pico De Gallo Salsa
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove
1 lime, juiced
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Mince the clove of garlic and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the salt, use the flat side of your knife until it turns into a paste. Mix together all the ingredients, let sit for 15 minutes for the flavors to marinate. Serve on tacos, with chips, etc. Enjoy!!
Bean Dip & Guacamole
Bean Dip
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons chile powder
2 tsps salt
3 tablespoons oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons lime juice
4 cups pinto beans, cooked and drained
In a pan heat the oil over medium heat add the onions and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and chile powder and cook for one more minute. Add the beans, 1/2 cup of water, and salt and cook for 3 more minutes. Blend with an immersion blender or mash with a potato masher for a chunkier dip. Enjoy!!
Guacamole
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
3 large avocados
4 tablespoons lime juice
Salt to taste
Mash all ingredients together and salt to taste. Garnish with cilantro, Enjoy!!
Maple Tajin Trail Mix
1 cup sunflower seeds, raw & unsalted
1 cup raw pepitas
1 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tsp Tajin (Mexican chile lime seasoning) or chile powder
3 tablespoons coconut oil
Salt to taste
In a large nonstick pan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the sunflower seeds, pepitas, 1/2 a tsp of Tajin, and a pinch of salt, cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly or until lightly browned. Add in the honey and maple and cook for 1 minute. Spread onto a plate and let cool for 10 minutes. Break into small pieces, add in the remaining Tajin, cranberries, and salt to taste. Store in an airtight container or a mason jar. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
You can also add other nuts, seeds, and dried fruit to this mix like pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, dried cherries, dried apples, parched corn, walnuts, etc
You can purchase Tajin at most Mexican markets and in some grocery stores with the Mexican food.
If you do not have Tajin you can use chile powder instead or whatever seasoning you would like.
Strawberry And Amaranth Corn Mush
4 cups water
2 cups corn meal
1/2 cup amaranth
3 cups strawberries
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tablespoons maple syrup + more for serving
In saucepan mix the strawberries, vanilla, and maple, cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. In a large saucepan boil 4 cups of water, add the amaranth and whisk the corn meal in with 1/2 cup increments. Cook over medium for 5-6 minutes (it will be very thick) stirring very frequently. Add in the strawberry mixture. Stir until combined, cover and let sit for 10 minutes. Serve with maple to taste, Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
Let this set in a in a pie pan for a few hours or overnight and slice into mush bites for a delicious snack or a simple dessert!
You can also make this with other fruits!
I used frozen strawberries, but fresh or frozen work.
Turkey Meatballs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 a small onion, chopped finely
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
1/2 cup cornmeal
Olive oil for frying
In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients except the oil with a spoon or your hands. Grease your hands with oil and roll 2 tablespoons of the mixture to form balls. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over med-low heat. Fry the balls until brown on the outside and the center is cooked through. Enjoy!
Cooks Notes
I would suggest cutting one of them open or using a meat thermometer to ensure they are fully cooked.
Squash Bread with Cranberries
3 1/2 cups flour + 3 tablespoons
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 tsps baking soda
2 tsps cinnamon powder
1 1/2 tsps salt
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
2 cups pumpkin or squash puree
2/3 cup almond milk
1 cup vegetable oil + more for greasing the pans
3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
In a small bowl mix together the cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons of flour.
Grease three 9×5 loaf pans and flour with the cocoa and flour mixture.
In a large bowl mix together the eggs, almond milk, pumpkin, sugar, oil, and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground clove. Mix in the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until smooth. Fold in the cranberries. Divide the batter evenly into the three pans and bake for 65 minutes of until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool fully before removing from the pans, Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
You can also add other dried fruit like raisins, dried figs, dried apples, etc or chopped nuts.
I add the cocoa powder to the flour so that it doesn’t leave a white cast on the outside of the loaf.
This batter can also be used to make muffins.
This a amazing if you add dark chocolate chips!
Lemon Corn Meal Cookies
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup corn meal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and corn meal.
In the bowl of a stand mixer beat together the butter and sugar on med-high speed until light and airy (about 4 minutes) scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add the lemon zest, eggs, and vanilla extract and beat for another 3 minutes. Add in the flour and mix on low speed until smooth. Scoop 2 tablespoons of the onto a lined baking sheet 3 inches apart. Bake for 12 minutes until almost firm, let them cool on the baking sheet until firm (about 2 minutes), finish cooling on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar or eat them plain, Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
These cookies spread quite a bit so make sure to leave enough room in between them before baking.
Feel free to add different flavorings into the cookies, I think gingerbread spice, almond, or cardamom would be delicious!
You can make these gluten free but I wouldn’t use corn meal in place of the flour, I would recommend using gluten free all purpose or rice flour, etc. If you use corn meal they will be very dense.
If you want more of a bit to the cookies you can use a rougher corn meal like polenta or grits.
Corn Bread Muffins
1 cup flour
1 cup corn meal
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter or oil
1 1/3 cups almond milk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease with oil.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, corn meal, salt, and baking powder. Mix in the milk, eggs, and maple syrup and combine. Add in the melted butter and whisk until smooth. Scoop the batter into the muffin tin (makes about 16 muffins) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool, Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
This recipe was inspired by Deborah Madison’s cookbook “The New Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone”.
The corn meal I used was the Oneo White Corn Meal from The Cultural Conservancy!
Let the muffins cool before trying to remove them from the wrapper because when they’re warm they stick.
Venison Roast and Gravy
Roast
4 lb venison roast
10 carrots
2 leeks, sliced thin
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 lemon, juiced
2 tsps dried thyme
2 sprigs rosemary
10 garlic cloves, smashed
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
Gravy
1/3 cup flour
1 onion, diced
Roast
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
In a large roasting pan place the roast, and lay the leeks and carrots around. Pour in the chicken stock. Cut 10 slits in the roast with a small paring knife, stick the garlic and rosemary into the slits. Sprinkle with the, lemon juice, olive oil, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and thyme.
Cover with tin foil and place in the oven. Roast until internal temperature is 135 degrees F (ours took about 2 -2 1/2 hours) , remove the foil and turn up the oven to 450 degrees F and roast for another 20-30 minutes (the internal temp should be about 145-150 degrees F). Remove from the oven and transfer the roast, leeks, and carrots to a serving platter, cover in foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
Gravy
Pour the remaining juice from the pan into a large clear container (I used a quart mason jar) and let settle for 3 minutes. Pour off the fat on the top into a pot, add the onion, and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes. While the onions are cooking dilute the remaining roast juice with 4 cups of water. Once the onions are cooked add the flour and cook over medium for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the juices in small additions and until it’s all gone and let thicken for 3 minutes. Finish the roast with the butter. Slice the roast and serve with the gravy, leeks, and carrots, Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
I used the backstrap of the deer, which is a very nice cut of the deer to cook with, as it is very tender.
If you don’t have access to venison you can definitely use beef, lamb, or pork.
Make sure you have a accurate meat thermometer so you don’t over or under cook the roast.
Just a quick tip, if your roast is frozen it takes at least 2 days to fully thaw in the refrigerator.
You can make the gravy with finely ground corn meal as opposed to flour.
Spiced Squash Waffles
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups squash, roasted and mashed
1 1/4 cups almond milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 oil + more for cooking
2 tsps vanilla
2 cups flour
3 tsps cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 ground cloves
4 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Heat waffle iron
In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and set aside. Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until stiff with an electric mixer. Whisk together the egg yolks, squash, almond milk, vanilla, oil, and maple syrup. Mix the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until smooth. Fold in the egg whites. Grease your waffle iron and scoop some batter into the iron. Cook until golden brown and cooked through. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
I served these with yogurt, maple syrup, and hazelnuts!
I have a mini waffle maker so that’s what I used but you could use any sized waffle iron.
You could also use this batter to make pancakes if you don’t have a waffle iron.
I whip my egg whites but that is totally optional; I think it makes them more fluffy.
Avocado Hominy Salsa
3 cups hominy, drained and rinsed
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lime, juiced
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp sugar or honey
1 tsp chile powder
2 tsp cumin, ground
2 avocados, diced
In a large bowl mix together everything until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Delicious with tortilla chips, on tacos, burritos, beans and rice, etc. Enjoy!
Wild Rice Stuffed Squash
3 cups wild rice
2 cups whole dried cranberries
1 winter squash, cut in half, seeded, and roasted
1 tablespoon salt
2 tsp pepper
5 tablespoons oil
Vinaigrette
½ cup olive oil
½ cup maple vinegar or apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
4 tablespoons chokecherry syrup
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large pot add the wild rice and 6 cups of water, cover and cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil then reduce the heat to low and cook until all the water is gone and the rice is tender. Add the dried cranberries, 3 tablespoons of oil, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and cover and set aside.
In a mason jar combine all the vinaigrette ingredients and shake until smooth and blended.
Take each squash half and scrape and mash into the bottom, season each half with ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil per half.
Fill both halves of squash with the wild rice, drizzle with vinaigrette and serve. Enjoy!
Cooks Notes
Use a winter squash that has a pretty hard, thick skin so it does not collapse. I used an heirloom Tesuque Pueblo Winter Squash that my family grew this season. Other winter squash varieties that work well for this are acorn squash, sugar pumpkins, and Delicata squash. I roasted the squash at 350F facedown in a shallow pan with a bit of water to keep the flesh moist.
Feel free to add different seasoning to the rice!
If you don’t have wild rice you can also use white or brown rice.
This is delicious when topped with toasted pepitas!
Homemade Red Chile
3 guajillo chiles, dried
3 pasilla chiles, dried
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
Cut a slit in the side of the chile with a paring knife, remove seeds, stem and veins. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Flatten out the dry chiles as well as you can on the heat, press down on the open chiles and leave for a few seconds. Toast the chiles on both sides; but don’t let burn. Place chiles in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes until the chiles have become soft and plump. Reserve the soaking water, remove the chiles and place in a blender. Add garlic, salt, and 1 1/2 cups soaking water (taste the soaking water first if it tastes bitter just use plain water). Puree for 2 minutes, until the sauce is smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Pour sauce through a sieve into a skillet, add the olive oil. Bring to simmer and reduce heat to maintain the simmer, cook for 10 minutes or as long as needed to thicken the sauce. Enjoy!
Cooks Notes
The flavor of the dried chiles leaves a nice smoky flavor for this red chile sauce. This is a delightful compliment for the tamale recipe posted below. This also makes a wonderful enchilada sauce.
Always wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after touching chiles, don’t rub your face with chile on your hands.
You can add a few of the chile seeds when you blend if you want more heat.
I keep the seasoning pretty simple but feel free to change it up!
If you make any of these recipes post a picture on social media with the hashtag #nativehearth
Tamales
1 1/3 cup pork lard or vegetable shortening, room temperature
2 tsp salt
11/2 tsp baking powder
4 cups fresh coarse ground corn masa or 3 ½ cups dried masa harina mixed with 2 ¼ cups hot water ( we use a estrella mill to grind our fresh masa, see cook’s notes for videos)
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
2 1/2 to 3 cups filling filling, such as beans, shredded chicken, squash, cheese, pork, beef, sauteed vegetables, green or red chile, etc
Cleaned corn husks
With an electric mixer on med-high speed, beat lard/shortening, salt, and baking powder until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Continue beating as you add the masa, reduce the speed to med-low and add the stock. Continue beating for another 1-2 minutes or so. Let sit at room temperature for about an hour. Soak corn husks for 20-30 minutes in warm water until soft and tear some of the smaller husks into thin strips to use as ties. Place a steaming basket or metal colander in a pot filled with 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Place a large spoonful of the masa dough and spread on the husk, put about 1 tablespoon of filling on top of the dough. Wrap the sides in so that the filling is completely covered in the dough and wrap the bottom and top up to form a little bundle and tie with 2 thin strips to keep it closed. Put the tamales into the steamer so they are standing up and cover, steam for 35-45 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!
Cooks Notes
Use big corn husks so you do not have any leaking
You can buy corn husks at Mexican markets or use the corn husks if you grow corn
Make sure your filling is not too wet or your tamales will leak
Delicious when served with grated cheese, lime, cilantro, or chile! We also love to make a homemade red chili sauce!
Videos my mom made on how to make hominy for the masa and how to grind it for the tamale dough:
Corn washing
Corn grinding
Wild Rice And Cranberry Corn Cakes With Maple Cream
Corn Cakes
2 cups corn meal
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup wild rice, cooked
1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups water, milk or dairy free milk
3-4 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
1/2 cup oil or melted butter, plus more for cooking
Maple Cream
3/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons honey
2 tsp unflavored gelatin, plus 1 tablespoon of water
3/4 cup water
Pinch of salt
Directions
Corn Cakes
In a medium sized bowl mix together the corn meal, salt and baking powder and set aside. In a large measuring cup or bowl whisk together the eggs, milk or water, honey and oil. Pour the wet mixture into the dry bowl and mix together until no clumps remain, mix in the wild rice and cranberries. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and grease with oil or butter, once the pan is hot place 1/4 spoonfuls of the corn cake batter. Once the corn cakes are brown on one side and start to dry out around the edges It will take 1-3 minutes flip them with a spatula and cook until brown on the other side, place on a plate to cool.
Maple Cream
In a small bowl combine the gelatin and and 1 tablespoon of water and set aside. Heat 1/2 a cup of water in a small pan and melt in the gelatin. In a blender, blend together the honey and the maple until pale, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the melted gelatin in a steady stream until well combined and frothy. Pour the cream into a bowl and place it into the freezer until set about 30-45 minutes (it should feel like jello). When the cream mixture has set place it back into the blender and the remaining 1/4 cup of water and blend until thick and creamy. If you want to store it place it in a zip top bag or an air tight container and place it in the fridge (when you want to use it place it in the blender and add more water and blend)
Garnish your corn cakes with maple cream, wild rice, dried cranberries, etc. Enjoy!
Cooks Notes
If you want you can make these vegan by substituting the eggs for sweet potato.
These corn cakes are dairy, gluten and refined sugar free.
The cakes are pretty hearty and dense if you want to make them lighter you can add flour and corn meal.
This recipe makes about 15-16 cakes
If you make these corn cakes or any of my other recipes post a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #nativehearth
I like these with maple syrup and chokecherry syrup
Zucchini Fritters
2 cups zucchini, grated
1/2 cup cornmeal or flour
2 eggs
1/4 Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsp basil, chopped
Olive oil
Salt to taste
Add the grated zucchini to a colander and sprinkle with salt and let drain. Rinse and allow to dry. Place the grated zucchini in a large bowl and add the eggs, cornmeal or flour, Parmesan cheese, basil and a sprinkle of salt. Heat olive oil in a cast iron frying pan and pan fry 1/4 cupfuls until golden or 1-2 minutes on both sides. Pat any excess oil off with a paper towel or let drain on paper bag. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
Feel free to substitute the basil for other herbs or seasonings!
If you want you can also add other grated veggies, such as carrots potatoes and more.
Sunflower Seed and Blueberry Thumbprint Cookies
1 cup sunflower seeds, plus more for topping
1 cup corn meal
1 cup gluten free all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
5 Tbsp granulated maple sugar, plus more for topping
2/3 cup maple syrup
3 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup sweet potatoes, cooked, peeled and pureed
About 30 (or more as needed) blueberries fresh or frozen
In a food processor blend together the corn meal, sunflower seeds, salt, baking powder, baking soda and granulated maple sugar until it is the texture of sand (about 5-7 mins) then add the gluten free all-purpose flour, sweet potato, coconut oil and maple syrup and pulse until smooth. Refrigerate for about 25 min, Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet parchment paper and grease your hand with oil, after the dough has set, roll out tablespoon sized balls and place on the lined baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart. Flatten the balls with your fingers our the greased back of a spoon and sprinkle with a little bit of maple sugar and sunflower seeds, take one blueberry and press it into the center of the cookie. Bake for 12-15 mins or until golden brown, remove from the oven and let cool on the sheet for 15 mins before removing. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
These cookies are gluten free, vegan and refined sugar free!
If you want you can substitute the gluten free all-purpose flour for just more corn meal; but the cookies will be more dense.
I used blueberries but feel free to change it up and use other berries and fruits, like raspberries, apples, cherries, or even a fruit jam or fruit preserve!
Lilac Infused Vinegar
1 1/2 – 2 cups lilac blossoms, de-stemmed and rinsed
1 – 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
Tightly pack the lilac blossoms into a pint sized mason jar, cover them with the vinegar and tightly screw on the lid. Store the infusing vinegar in a dark, cool place for about 2-3 weeks, shaking every day to release the flavor from the lilac flowers. After infused strain out the flowers threw a fine mesh strainer or a cheesecloth. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
You can use what ever flowers or herbs you want to make infused vinegar!
Maple Orange Cake
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 oranges
2 large eggs
3 Tbsp maple syrup
2 Tbsp granulated maple sugar
1/2 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp orange juice
Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 12×7 inch brownie pan
In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and set aside. In a large measuring cup mix together the juice of 2 oranges and the zest of 1/2 an orange, then add the eggs, maple syrup and vanilla extract. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the cane sugar, granulated maple sugar and the olive oil until well combined, then add the wet mixture and stir until combined, then fold in the dry mixture until the batter is smooth. Pour into the pan and bake for 30-35 mins or until golden brown.
Glaze
Combine the powdered sugar, orange juice and vanilla extract and mix until smooth, then drizzle it on the cake and enjoy!
Cooks Notes
You can swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten free all-purpose flour.
If you don’t have granulated maple sugar feel free to just add more maple syrup or cane sugar!
Winter Squash Raviolis with Brown Butter and Sage Sauce
Filling
1 medium onion, diced
4 cups winter squash, cooked and pureed
4 Tbsps olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sauce
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2-3 Tbsps sage, minced
Pasta Dough
4 Tbsps olive
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups semolina pasta flour
4 Tbsps water
1 tsp salt
Combine semolina and salt, add beaten eggs, water and oil. Mix to make a stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes or until dough is elastic. Wrap dough in towel or place in plastic bag and let rest for 20 minutes.
Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat, once the oil is hot add the onions and saute for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Add the winter squash and season with salt and pepper as needed. Cook the filling for 4-7 minutes or until the squash is fully heated.
In a small saucepan over med-low heat melt the butter for 5-7 minutes or until the butter is light brown. Add the sage to the butter 1 minute before taking it off the heat, to allow the sage to cook and infuse into the brown butter.
Start boiling a large pot of salted water over high heat.
After the pasta dough has rested, lightly flour a clean flat surface and roll out the dough into a thin sheet using a pasta roller or a french rolling pin. Cut out circles out of the dough using a 3 ½ inch biscuit cutter.
To assemble the raviolis place 1-1½ tsps of the filling into the center of a pasta circle fold over into a half moon and crimp with a wet fork. Place 10-12 raviolis into the pot of boiling water and cook 3-5 minutes or until they float to the surface of the water.
Place the raviolis onto a sheet pan in a warm oven until ready to serve. Right before serving toss in the brown butter and sage sauce you can also top these with grated parmesan cheese and toasted sunflower seeds. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
I used Buffalo Creek Winter Squash to make these raviolis! But other winter squash like butternut would also work!
To roll out the pasta dough I used the Atlas Pasta Machine
Homemade Vanilla Extract
10-15 vanilla beans
1 1/2 cups vodka
Break the vanilla beans into 1 inch pieces lengthwise. Add the vanilla beans into a pint sized mason jar, pour the vodka over the vanilla beans in the jar and tightly screw on the lid. Let the extract sit in a cool dark place for 4-5 weeks to infuse, making sure to shake the jar daily. After the extract is done infusing, strain it through a cheesecloth, muslin cloth or a coffee filter. After the vanilla extract is strained pour it into a clean jar and store in a cool dark place. Enjoy using homemade vanilla extract in cakes, cookies, cupcakes, ice creams or even perfume!
Cooks Notes
If you don’t have vodka, you can use bourbon, brandy or rum
It is very important that you let the vanilla extract sit for at least 1 month.
Blue Corn Pancakes With Pomegranates and Persimmons
1 cup blue corn meal
1 cup Bluebird flour or all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp sunflower seed oil, plus more for cooking
1 1/2 cups almond milk
3 large eggs
Pinch of salt, to taste
Maple syrup, for drizzling
Chokecherry syrup, for drizzling (optional)
1 pomegranate, seeded
2-3 Fuyu persimmons, thinly sliced
In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, sunflower seed oil and almond milk until combined. To the wet mixture, add the flour, blue corn meal, baking powder, cinnamon powder and salt and mix until combined and no lumps remain. Heat a skillet or cast iron griddle over med-low heat and coat with a thin layer of sunflower seed oil. When the sunflower seed oil is hot use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop the pancake batter onto the skillet or griddle. When the pancakes start to dry out and bubble around the edges it means they are ready to flip. Cook the pancakes on both sides (they should be golden brown on both sides)! Serve with a couple slices of persimmon a scoop of pomegranate seeds and a drizzle of maple syrup and chokecherry syrup. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
You can use whatever fruit is seasonal to your area berries, apples peaches, pears,etc! You can also make a fruit compote out of frozen or fresh fruit!
If you have or can’t find blue corn meal you can use any other color of corn meal or any other kind of flour wheat, rice, oat, quinoa, etc.
Feel free to replace the Bluebird or all-purpose flour with gluten free all-purpose flour!
Fresh Pumpkin Pie
Crust
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup cold butter
3-5 tablespoons ice water, as needed
Filling
Sugar pumpkin or any winter squash of choice
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup backed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Directions For Crust
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour and salt in bowl, then cut in the butter using your fingers, two knives a pastry cutter or a food processor, until it resembles coarse meal. In a large bowl lightly stir in the water a tablespoon at a time until you can bring the dough together to form a ball. If crumbs remain on the bottom, add a few drops of water so that can pull them together as well. Shape the dough into a disk and roll it out into a circle 1/8 inch thick. If the dough is to warm and sticky, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 15 minutes the roll out. Line a 9 inch pie pan with the dough and set aside.
Directions For Filling
Cut open your pumpkin or squash and scoop out the seeds and the stringy insides and cut into chunks. Add your pumpkin or squash to a pan and add a little bit of water to the bottom of the pan and place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees until fork tender. After the pumpkin or squash has cooled to room temperature, scoop it out of the skin and in to a bowl. Mash your pumpkin or squash with a fork or a potato masher or puree in a food processor (you will need 2 cups of mashed pumpkin or squash for this recipe). In a large bowl, beat the pumpkin or squash with the milk, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt with an electric mixer or an immersion blender. Mix well. Pour the the mixture into your prepared pie crust. Bake for 35-40 min or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean. Top with whipped cream, ice cream or just eat it plain and enjoy!
Cooks Notes
In this recipe I used Buffalo Creek winter squash!
This wonderful crust recipe came from Deborah Madison’s cookbook ” The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone“
Atole
2 cups water
Cold water (as needed)
1/2 cup roasted cornmeal
Salt (to taste)
Boil water in a saucepan. Place cornmeal in a cup and add a small amount of cold water, slowly mixing until there are no clumps. Slowly pour into boiling water while stirring constantly. Add salt if desired. The mixture can also be made thicker and used as a cereal.
Cooks Notes
Feel free to play with the amount of water to get the desired thickness you want!
If you want to check out the book I got this recipe from, called “The Pueblo Food Experience” by Roxanne Swentzell and Patricia M. Perea If you want to learn more about Atole and its history check out my blog post!
Wild Rice And Roasted Squash Pilaf
4 cups cooked wild rice
3 cups roasted winter squash
1 1/2 cups sunflower sprouts
1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 maple vinegar
1/2 cup sunflower seed oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/4 cup chokecherry syrup
Sea salt to taste
In a large mixing bowl, add the roasted squash and mash with a fork until smooth. Add the wild rice and mix until combined and set aside. In a mason jar add the apple cider vinegar, maple vinegar, sunflower seed oil, chokecherry syrup, maple syrup and a pinch of sea salt and shake until combined. Add the chokecherry vinaigrette to the wild rice and squash mixture to taste, and serve topped with the sunflower sprouts and pumpkin seeds. Enjoy!!
Cooks Notes
If you cannot find chokecherry syrup feel free to use any kind of fruit preserve.
Do you want try some amazing indigenous science? Learn how to make your own maple vinegar by clicking this link!!! Make sure to scroll to the bottom of their page to find the recipe for maple vinegar!!
Blue Corn Mush
1 1/2 cups blue corn meal
3 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup fresh fruit, chopped
Pinch of sea salt
Pure maple syrup to taste
In a medium sized pot bring 3 1/2 cups of water to a boil with a pinch of sea salt. Once the water has come to a boil mix in 1/2 of corn meal at a time until there is no corn corn meal remaining and stir constantly for 5-10 min until cooked. Top with fresh fruit and maple syrup
Cooks Notes
If you cannot find blue corn meal then feel free to use any other color corn meal.
Use what ever fruit is seasonal.
Wild Rice And Kale Salad
Native Hearth 