Arizona Chickens

[ca]

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Interesting. Did not know that cooked doves look like mashed potatoes and taste like greenbeans! That could be the new protein source for vegetarians

(just kidding!)

 

[5pinkarrows]

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Only every day! I sooooo feel your pain.

 

[Tanichca]

Oooh Oooh Ooh broody silkie! And Mom says i can put some eggs under her!!! Is there anyone here who has bantam phoenixes? I dont want to ship from Missouri!

 

[NoSkiveez]

Rufus - did you mean people who eats lots of nopalitas are prone to the disease Lupus? My husbands adopted mother was raised on nopals and beans and rice. She died in 92 from complications of Lupus. I had not heard of a connection like that before. But it would make sense, here the hispanic community is plagued with Lupus. I've never seen so much of it.

 

[squeakyballs]

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I think we have previously discussed nopales on this thread. They are delicious, especially when sauteed with pork. They used to be in all of the old Mexican barrios. Sometimes, you can see where the buildings have been knocked down, but the the rows of nopales that defined the yard are still there. They come back.

When they bud out, the new leaves called las pencas are young and tender. These are the ones that are eatable. Scrape them down and dice them up. Then saute them in a little oil. I like bacon grease, but that is now frowned upon. A lot of gooey juice will come out as you cook them. When that pretty much goes away, they are done.

When cutting the pencas, handle the plant with old newspaper. The tiny thorns are a pain. If you get some in your hand, rub your hand through your hair, that takes them out. But I don't have any hair left; I am pretty much bald, so I just roll masking tape over my hands. That lifts them out.

The fruit is called las tunas. They are great for making jam. We used to eat them also, but be aware of the spines. They also have seeds in them like unto a large watermelon seed.

The Indians used to use the tunas to make a liquor. It was called tulapai, which is like something the Mexicans make called tisquine. Remember, it used to be a crime and a mortal sin to sell liquor to Indians. Well, they made plenty of it themselves.

It not only made them drunk, it made they crazy. When they started drinking it, it was time to leave. Don't mess with that stuff.

Anyway, nopales and pinto beans are what kept us alive. What I find disturbing is that areas that relied heavily upon nopales also seem to be areas that have lupus clusters. I am afraid it might be the oxalic acid in them.

Rufus

Your posts are always so interesting, thank you for sharing!

 

[rufus]

The incidence of lupus in our community seems to coincide with the the eating of nopales. It could be merely coincidental. However, people that live in areas without nopales seem to be free or less afflicted with the disease. Maybe they just haven't developed it yet. Does moving to Minneapolis improve your chances? I don't know.

I do know that the disease seems to surface in clusters. Is it environmental or genetic? I don't know. However, it is one of those things that hangs back in my mind bothering me.

Diabetes is another one of those problems. I sure wish my folks had fooled around with someone with better genetics.

Rufus

 

[squeakyballs]

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That silkie is adorable! Cool pic, too!

 

[squeakyballs]

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I messaged you, and, that was your 2000th post! You're addicted!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

2001 Space Odyssey.

 

[squeakyballs]

You're a dork. Now you have to think of something for 2002.