Exotic Mayan Stew

Get your can opener ready, this is a quick and easy soup that is a staple for those cold dreary days when you don't feel like cooking. This recipe started from one on the back of a can of Westbrae Organic Soybeans. Not for company, but perfect for family meals. Serve with nice bread or crackers & cheese. There will be leftovers.

2 Tbs olive oil
2 medium onions - diced
2 medium bell peppers - diced
2-3 jalapenos - diced
1 28 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
2 15 oz cans soybeans - undrained (Westbrae, of course)
1 28 oz can hominy (golden or white) - undrained
3 Tbs chili powder
1 T crushed red peppers (optional)
generous grinding of toasted cumin seeds
generous grinding of black peppercorns
1 T oregano (optional)
1 tsp salt
2 cups water
2 - 4oz cans diced green chilies (optional)

Heat oil in large stockpot and saute onions and peppers until tender.
Add everything else and simmer 10 minutes or more - depending on how soon you need to eat.
Add cans of green chilies at the end.

Southern Corn Bread

We made this for Christmas / New Years this year. This was based on a recipe by Andrea Meyers. It was quite tasty, The cornmeal was a mixture of very fine and coarsely ground corn.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cup cornmeal Bloody Butcher corn meal from Tierra
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1-1/4 cups buttermilk 
4 tablespoons vegetable oil (or bacon drippings if you happen to have any)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.

2. Stir together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in mixing bowl. Add the beaten eggs and the buttermilk, stirring just until all the dry ingredients are wet. Do not over mix.

3. Add vegetable oil to a 9-10 inch cast iron skillet and place in the hot oven for 3 to 4 minutes. You want the skillet hot, but you don’t want the oil to start smoking.

4. Remove hot pan from oven. Make sure that the pan is thoroughly coated with the oil, bottom and sides, then pour the excess oil into the batter and stir. Pour batter into the hot pan.

5. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.