1 dictionary of mexican cookin
1 (this is part 1 of 6)
Directions
====================================================== ==== GLOSSARY
OF INGREDIENTS OF MEXICAN AND SOUTHWESTERN COOKING
======================================================= === ACHIOTE
SEED: The dried reddish seeds of the annatto tree give food a bright
orange-yellow tint when they are cooked first in hot fat; then, the
seeds themselves are discarded. Sometimes they are ground to a
powder and stirred into such foods as butter for color. They impart a
flavor that is gentle and hard to describe; like that of saffron, it
has an earthy quality.
ADOBO: A piquant sauce of tomato, vinegar and spices.
ANISE SEED: This small, elongated seed tastes sharply of licorice.
ATOLE BLUE CORNMEAL: This is blue corn that has been dried,
roasted, and ground specifically to be used in make ATOLE, a cornmeal
gruel.
Blue corn, unlike ordinary field corn, is always dried and ground
before use. Cornmeal, blue, yellow, or white, can be used as a
thickener.
AVOCADO: This fruit is ripe when the flesh under the leathery skin
yields to light pressure. A hard avocado will ripen if left at room
temperature for two or three days. The Haas or California type is
smaller and darker green than the emerald type grown in Florida, and
some say it is more flavorful as well. Keep avocado flesh from
discoloring by brushing it with lemon juice as it is peeled.
BEANS: It takes time to prepare dried beans, but the result is a
tender bean that is still firm. Canned beans are sometimes mushy,
but they are convenient to keep on hand and are packed in liquid that
adds flavor to many recipes. Dried beans keep almost indefinitely.
Before cooking dried beans, rinse them well and pick them over for
stones or inferior beans.
TYPES OF BEANS:
BLACK BEANS: (frijoles negros, turtle beans) though small, have a
hearty flavor. South American cooking makes great use of them.
With their dramatic dark purple-blue color, they lend themselves
nicely to garnishes.
BLACK-EYED PEAS: (cowpeas) are the seeds of the cowpea, an annual
vine. They are tan with a blackish stain, hence "black-eyed".
GARBANZO BEANS: (chickpeas) are Spanish in origin. These rounded
beige beans have a nutty flavor.
NORTHERN BEANS: are white, relatively large and mild.
PINTO BEANS: (frijoles) are charmingly speckled with brown on a
pale or pinkish background.
RED BEANS: are favorites in the southern states. Pinto beans may
be substituted.
BUFFALO: This commercially raised red meat is lower in cholesterol
and fat than beef. Unlike beef, it isn't marbled with fat.
Accustomed as we are today to tender cuts of meat, buffalo is best
enjoyed ground rather than steaks.
CAPERS: These are the pickled, green buds from the prickly caper
bush. They are somewhat smaller than raisins and are bottled in brine.
CAYENNE: See Chile.
CHAYOTE: (christophine, mirliton, vegetable pear): Related to gourds,
chayote squash have none of their brilliant decoration.
Light green skin encases firm flesh of an even paler green. Chayote
may be baked, steamed, stuffed and sauteed. A 1 lb Chayote makes a
nice serving for two or three people.
CHEESE: Traditional Mexican cheeses were mad with goat's or sheep's
milk. The following cheeses are used in this style of cooking: TYPES
OF CHEESE:
CHEDDAR: is a mild firm cheese of English origin that becomes more
sharp with age. It melts beautifully.
CHIHUAHUA: (Asadero Or Oaxaca) is white, creamy and tangy.
Sometimes it is sold braided. Mozzarella or Monterey Jack may be
substituted.
CO-JACK: is an American invention. Block cheese marbled with
Colby and Monterey Jack.
COLBY: is a slightly sharp cheese with a flavor similar to that of
Cheddar. This American cheese has a rather soft open texture.
MONTERY JACK: is a mild cheese usually sold in blocks. It
softens at room temperature.
QUESO ANEJO: is an aged, hard grating cheese. It ranges from pale
cream to white in color and is quite salty. Romano or Parmesan
may be substituted.
QUESO FRESCO: (Ranchero seco) can be compared to a very salty
farmer's cheese. A reasonable substitute for this crumbly cheese
is Feta Cheese.
SIERRA: is another rather dry sharp cheese that grates easily.
Romano or Parmesan may be substituted.
Servings: 1 servings
Mexican Cooking Tips (1 Of 6) Recipe brought to you by Recipe Ideas
Categories: Mexican
The History of Recipes
Food historians have proved the existence of recipes way back into ancient history, in fact as far back into recorded history as early Egypt, and potentially, even further back. In practice though, generally, these ancient records were just simple pictorial recipes for meal preparation.
Fascinatingly, the most ancient recipe found, according to experts is a collection of tablets in the Sumerian language which describe the preparation of bread which is then used to make a drink, quite possibly a form of beer as it is recorded as making people feel blissful. Progressing into The time of the romans 25BC a man called Apicius compiled some documents showing how to cook the recipes enjoyed by wealthy Romans. In his publication, Apicius recounts how the meals were separated into appetizers, main meal and desserts, something that is very familiar to us today. He also describes how the Romans used many spices and herbs, including some that we all recognise such as basil, mint and parsley. Over the next few centuries, the wealthy families of Europe strove to serve the most extravagent meals, and as a result the best chefs and their collection of recipes became highly prized. Notwithstanding that, it was during the 19th century that fine cooking and recipe publications reached a high level of popularity. The Famous Mrs Isabella Beeton in the UK, and the equally well-known Fannie Merritt Farmer in the US, devoted their lives to collecting, testing, and recording recipes for their fellow cooks to enjoy. By the arrival of the twentieth century, recipe books were greatly in demand mostly as a result of increased literacy, people having increased leisure time and disposable income. The introduction of television brought us TV chefs and the demand for the accompanying recipe books. And that neatly brings us to the present day and the invention of computers and the internet, permitting everybody to access thousands of recipes like the ones you can find on this recipe site. |
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