Love Good Tamales

 

While living in the tiny village of Pescadero about an hour south of Cabo San Lucas, I learned the secrets to a simple yet astounding dish. In search of a healthy and portable lunch to prepare for my daughter whose local Mexican school closed for a two hour mid-day lunch/siesta, I discovered Tamales. These are naturally gluten free, vegetarian friendly, soul-satisfying treats. We actually bought our first batch at a Bodega in San Diego just as we were about to cross the border into Baja. We loved them so much, that when we got halfway down the peninsula and stopped in a little town called Guerrero Negro, we bought our second batch from a kind woman in a white truck/cafe in the middle of that desert terrain. By the time we reached our destination in Baja Sur, my daughter had grown quite fond of Tamales and I knew that I would have to master them myself. The traditional Mexican way of preparing them involves a lot of lard, meat stock and  greasy stuffing. I decided that I would find a way to make them as authentic as possible while substituing for all the unhealthy ingredients. I went to the local library in Todos Santos and checked out a few cookbooks, asked for tips around the neighborhood and stocked up on Masa Harina, a lime treated corn flour. For my first homemade batch of Tamales, I only made a dozen mini-sized, which proved to be a big mistake. They turned out so good that we had to bid over the few delicious little gems. From then on, I made them almost daily and in large batches. Oh, what glorious days those were... I know, let's make some today! Firstly, a high quality Masa Harina is essential. 

I love to use the Bob’s Red Mill brand.

To this I add Napa Valley Organic Olive Oil in lieu of lard, 

some sea salt and pure water. As stuffing, Organic black beans are a great vegetarian option. 

And Raw Goat Milk Cheddar is a wonderful easily digestible option to regular cheese.

You can add it to the filling with the black beans or wait and slice some on top of the finished Tamale, like I do. 

The finished parcel is wrapped in corn husks and then steamed for an hour or so.

They are best eaten with Organic Salsa and chopped Cilantro.

The finished product was, again, so well liked that I could barely get in this picture before the last one was eaten!

With all due respect to the traditional recipe, there is really no need for all the unhealthy fat and meat to make good Tamales. The simple way is always the best in my book and most definitely, the most optimal for our health.

Love Pepper Soup

Cooking traditional dishes from around the world can be a great way to spice up your food repertoire. While living in Nigeria, I came to love one of the most notable national dishes, Pepper Soup. My particular favorite is Ukodo or Fish Pepper Soup from the Urhobo people of the southern Delta region. For years, I have tried to make an honest version of this time honored meal and have only come close of late, due to the pressures of my daughter’s maturing palate. She knows what true Ukodo tastes like and will not settle for less. When made correctly this soup is like an elixir of pure passion. It is a hot, spicy, rich, bountiful broth filled with delicious and healthy surprises. I found a local Nigerian market that sells the authentic Pepper Soup spices and without knowing the names of the actual ingredients  (something similar to cloves, juniper seeds or nutmeg, perhaps), I can only rely on the proprietor’s word and of course, my olfactory memory. 

I have been to the village in Warri where the spices come from, watched my sister-in-law grind them to a powder in a wintery Paris kitchen and spent many a humid Sunday in Lagos waiting for the sweet smelling Pepper Soup to finish cooking. I feel like I know this scent, like a favorite perfume. Then, there is the Egusi, a pumpkin seed-like gem that is ground and added to impart a luscious texture and nutty flavor to the broth. I found some packaged at the same shop. 

Lots of fresh hot pepper, a whole red snapper to add flavor and substance and finally plantain or yam are all included to make one of the most stunning, nutritious and tasty one pot meals on the planet. Oh, and don't let me forget the Palm Oil. This, you add as a sort of condiment to be eaten with the yam and plantain on the side. The organic, wild-crafted type by Jungle Products is very, very good for your skin, as well, and has all manner of healing properties.

This soup will cure any cold, revive any blah mood, and delight all the senses in your body. It is most certainly a charmed dish. Food for the Gods. 

The Pepper Soup really influenced my state of mind and I started to grow nostalgic about Nigeria and its unique comforts. I needed to explore a bit more into the lovely things that I remember about my time spent there. So, I went out and bought these.

When we were living on Ikoyi in Lagos, there was a wonderful Mango tree on the grounds. The workers would dine on these delicious fruits daily and so we would have to be vigilant about asking for some samples, of our own, to enjoy. The process of retrieving these gems involved a very long stick and a shaking of the tree or simply being patient until some did fall naturally. The Organic Mangoes from the Korean market, though delightful, failed to fulfill my Naija craving. I was no longer hungry, but still craved a visceral connection. Hence, I decided to make my own small batch of  Dudu Osun or Black Soap with rosemary, clove and orange peel. I even added a little cayenne pepper in honor of the Pepper Soup. 

 

The soap came out amazing and very medicinal. I showered with it and finally experienced the - wrapped up in the humid air of Lagos - feeling I was looking for. Cayenne is actually very good for the skin and hair. Of course, it tingles a little but this is only because it is getting rid of unwanted bacteria. I couldn’t resist naming these bars, Pepper Soap! I would love to give one away for you to try. Just send me a note about your favorite healthy traditional dish and I’ll send you a bar of soap.

Weaving Love Baskets

I love to travel and when I do, I look for natural handmade local items that reflect the spirit of the place and people. One of my favorite things over the years to collect is baskets. They are so simple and functional, yet portray a tidy picture of days of work, sweat and meticulous attention to detail put in by, most often, the local women. Basket weaving is an age old craft that for me is elevated to an art form by so many talented artisans around the world who work with simple natural materials like bamboo and grass and utilize their humble hands to create something beautiful. Here are a few of my favorites. This one first, from Mallorca, Spain is by far my most treasured basket. It has become a functional piece of art for me and I have used it so often, that it can no longer carry much, cracked and split as it is. I love it still. 

Gleefully, I found this near replica in a Senegalese shop in Adams Morgan Washington, D.C. Amazing how close to Spain, Senegal seems when you look at how similar these two woven bags are.

In Ochos Rios, Jamaica, I stumbled upon this gem at a Dunn’s River Falls curious shop. I love the detail of the Jamaican flag colors weaved in. And the lid just adds a lovely special touch.

 

Against all odds, I carried this stunner in my luggage all the way back from Lagos, Nigeria. I saw it on the road during a typical Lagos go-slow, but by the time I could get the sellers attention, the traffic had sped up again. I searched for days for the same traveling salesman and happily found him outside of the popular Chocolate Royale Restaurant.

This one, too, is from the Senegalese shop and when I couldn’t decide between it and the aforementioned one, I opted for both. They are both handmade by the Wolof weavers of Dakar with the local ubiquitous palm fronds.

This handy one is from Ghana. A gift from a dear friend.

Amazed I was, to find this blue version of my beloved baskets in Paris near Montmartre. The Cameroonian vendor refused to barter with me in the old style and stood firm on its 40euro price tag. He reasoned that I had probably seen lots of baskets but never a bleu one. And of this, he was right.

This I found at a local second hand store in Sausalito, California, so I can only imagine its roots. Lovely, it is, still.

I love this bamboo steamer form Pearl River Mart on Canal St. NYC. It is by far the most used of all my “baskets” as it is a weekly steamer of my daughter’s favorite Tamales, a Mexican delicacy that I will devote ample time to in another post. 

And this one, courtesy of a Miami rummage sale, is clearly a modern interpretation of this old world craft. I bought it for its relationship to the others and how it embraces their structure and style, if not their purity.

As you can see, it is very similar to this traditional one that I found in Muleje, Baja.

Further down in Todos Santos, Mexico, I had the luck of discovering this wooden version of the classic, which fits loosely in the basket category. I adore it all the same. Handmade and still smelling of the recycled wood that was used to carve it, it holds some of my most beloved possessions.

And once again, in Lagos, this time at the hands of an intrepid basket seller in front of The American International School where I taught for a short time, I found this beauty.

 

I am sure that these treasures are what inspire my crochet designs, since I do not yet know how to weave, I take out my love for baskets on my colorful yarn. With it I make my own version of these humble, yet practical works of art.

Natural Living

It is equally as vital to use all natural products on your body and in your daily life as it is to eat pure whole food. Our skin absorbs whatever we put on it and unseen substances from our environment are very much incorporated into our body structure. There are many products that we use daily and have been using for years that may be undermining our vitality. We brush our teeth every morning and evening and the contents of the toothpaste we use may hinder our oral health. If you are using standard brands, try Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, which has none of the sugar or artificial colors found in most.

Deodorant is not often considered for its healthful ingredients, but for its ability to stop odor. Our sweat glands are a necessary part of our eliminative organs and they, well...need to sweat. To block them with heavy chemical laden deodorants is to block toxins being released from our body. This causes a buildup of material that wants to leave the body, but can’t. The solution is an all natural deodorant that neutralizes the bacteria after it is released, instead of plugging up our pores so it can’t flow out. Crystal deodorants are amazing in their efficacy and last for a year! They are made of natural mineral crystals which ensure that you will stay fresh and clean without compromising your bodily health.

If you do dye your hair, the chemicals, namely ammonia, go directly into your scalp through your pores and are not welcomed by your body. Henna, of course, is a natural non-toxic dye that can be used to create subtle highlights and is very conditioning for your hair. 

And there is a wonderful all natural hair dye that works incredibly well without any harsh ingredients. Naturtint by Green Technologies. It is pure, smells nice and once you use it, you will not again subject your hair and scalp to the typical brands on the market.

The dandruff and breakage that unbalanced body states cause are often combated with even more harsh anti- dandruff shampoos and sprays that block and clog pores more. I love this pure, natural and sweet scented Shea Moisture spray for alleviating dry scalp. It has absolutely nothing artificial in it.

When washing our little one’s hair, bathing and moisturizing them, we are not simply cleaning their outer bodies. Whatever additives, preservatives and chemicals in the product we're using will seep inside them and either strengthen their little bodies or disrupt them. Here is a wonderful set of child-friendly bath care products made by Earth Friendly Baby.

In the kitchen, dishwashing can be made much more healthful for the environment and your skin. Stop using toxic liquid made with low grade materials and enjoy the natural scent of pure dishwashing liquid. It really does make the whole experience more enjoyable and you feel better about what’s going down your drain and into the water source. I absolutely love this Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid.

In the laundry, the same holds true. We don’t often think that the detergent we use to do laundry leaves a chemical residue in our clothes, gets on our skin and then becomes lodged in our body. These chemicals disrupt the natural hormonal balance within us. That strong detergent smell of our clothes can be replaced by the mild, natural scent of pure laundry detergent. And once again, our water source will thank us. I like the laundry wash by Ecover.

Spring is in the air and summer is on the horizon and this means the bugs will be coming out to enjoy as well.  Spraying hormone altering toxins to get rid of them, however, defeats the purpose. These chemicals are worse than the bugs and hardly keep them away for long. I have found this natural bug spray to be so effective, it's as if the critters get the healing message and retreat. Say hello to, Aunt B's Bug Spray! Or you can make your own with essential oils of lemongrass, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, witch hazel, peppermint and lavender, diluted in almond oil.