Stitches Thru Time: New Mexican food

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Traditional New Mexican Biscochitos

The official State cookie of my home state of New Mexico is Biscochitos, a delightful cookie featuring a blend of anise, cinnamon, and sugar. Here is a recipe passed down from my mother.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 1/4 cups of shortening

4 cups of flour

1-2 eggs

2 tsp anise seeds

1 tsp anise extract

2 tsps baking powder

Up to 1/4 cup of brandy or sweet wine - enough to mix to proper consistency for rolling and cutting

Blend shortening and sugar. Add in egg and mix for about 10 minutes. Add flour and baking powder and spices, mixing until you have a stiff dough.

Roll to desired thickness and cut in shapes. A fleur-de-lis is traditional. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake 15-20 minutes, depending on how thick you roll the cookies, until just browning on the edges.

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo de mi familia en Neuvo Mexico para todos!

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

New Mexican Sopapillas

Nothing says New Mexican food like sopapillas. When Bonny, the main character in my romance, Land of My Dreams, describes this delight to Kieran, a Scottish sheep farmer, he says, "From the look on your face, it must compare to ambrosia." And to me, it is. Nothing like filling one of these delightful, pillow-like delicacies with honey to top off a meal of enchiladas. Enjoy!

4 cups of flour
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp shortening
1 pkg dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
¼ cup scalded milk

Scald milk and set aside to cool. Combine dry ingredients and cut in the shortening.

Dissolve yeast in warm water and add to milk, which has cooled to room temperature.

Make a well in the center of dry ingredients, add liquids, and work into dough. Knead dough 15-20 times and set aside approximately 10 minutes.

Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness or thinner. Cut in squares or triangles.

Fry in melted shortening or hot oil at 420 degrees until brown. Fry only a few at a time so oil stays hot. If the oil is hot enough, they will puff almost immediately, resembling golden-brown pillows, hollow on the inside.

Serve warm. The traditional New Mexican way is to bite off one corner and fill with honey.

Don't forget to get your name in the drawing for Cloaked in Love by Elaine Manders! Winner announced in the Weekly Windup on August 1st! Check out all of our great prizes on The Prizes Galore page!

About Norma:

A life-long New Mexican, Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.