Prior to 1875, during short 2-3 day cow hunts in South Texas, the only food carried was cornbread and dried beef in saddle pockets or in fiber morrals slung on the saddle horn, in saddle bags, or in a wallet tied behind the saddle. Later, on longer hunts, brush-poppers carried only the bare necessities packed on horses and mules. They would establish a base camp near some cowpens or corrals, water, and wood, and the usual camp fare was pan de campo, jerky, beans, and corn meal. Corn was mostly in the form of baked or fried corn cakes called “bastimientos” or “panochitas de masa” that kept a long time. These are still very common on ranches in the Northern Mexican state of Coahuila. A recipe for Vaqueros Fried Corn Bread is as follows: Mix 1.5 cups yellow cornmeal, .5 cup all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, .75 tablespoon salt, .75 cup melted lard, and 1 cup milk with enough water to make a batter in a mixing bowl. Spoon enough batter to form a small 3-4 inch cake into a hot CI skillet containing 1 - 2 tablespoons hot, melted lard; fry until brown and turn, frying the flip side until done; serves 12 - 13....enjoy with Brer Rabbit syrup....
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:07:27 +0000
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