I've got about 5 lbs. of shucked blue maize (did I mention I kind of have a farm in Africa...). I'm thinking about blue corn tortillas and realize I need to cook it with an alkaline first, and found this helpful recipe:
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Homemade-640/make-masa-nixtamal.aspx
however, it seemed strange to me that it has you grind the corn wet? Anyone with any experience on this? I asked the Mexican moms at school, but they all sort of looked embarrassed and told me their mothers know how. Besides, with that much of it, I was thinking I'd like to save some for later...
I figure I might also make pozole too, so any recipe selections are welcome as well. And, finally, the kid is doing a unit on Native Americans at school and they're having a pow wow party. Any good thoughts for something to make with some of my blue corn for a bunch of second graders that would have Native American roots? corn cakes, I suppose...but wouldn't it be nice to do something a bit more exciting?
9 Comments
I'm thinking some Blue Cornmeal Muffins with Dulce De Leche: http://foododelmundo.com/2010/09/08/blue-cornmuffins-with-dulce-de-leche/ or a grander version from Sky High Cakes Blue Cornmeal Cake: http://foododelmundo.com/2010/01/17/blue-cornmeal-cake/
Good Luck - be sure to let us know how the grinding turns out.
~Mary
Never even thought to look in McGee for this!
Won't do popcorn, as susan says, all popcorn looks white once it's popped, so why bother? Thinking about trying this for the school event:
http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipeid=112
and maybe serving slices with a sweet pumpkin relish/jam so I get all "three sisters" in.
The corn was grown for me in Swaziland. I have a homestead there from my Peace Corps days (92-94). I had brought a packet of seed back from the US a few years ago, grew a few stocks in my garden in Joburg and then took the ears to them for seed. Maize is the staple crop in most of Southern Africa, but mostly hybrid white. It's all what you would call in the US, field corn, ie. starchy rather than sweet. Mostly, they grind it and make a stiff porridge which is served with everything: meat, beans, vegetables, etc. Traditional food in this region has none of the interest and excitement of west africa...
OK, so pozole and tortillas, here I come!
I know there is commercially available blue corn for popping (which looks white when popped), but I think it is a different variety. And also FYI, popcorn was known by the ancient Americans.
I'd love to hear how this all ends up. ...and was the corn grown locally (to you)?
Hope this answers at least some of your questions.
If you dry mill you could make grits, cornmeal or corn flour instead. Maybe make some blue corn pancakes for the kids.
for teh adults!