SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST

• The southwest is the region of the U.S. That borders Mexico
• Those states are Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona
• New Mexico has some of the oldest european settlements

EXPLORATION & SETTLEMENT

• Spanish explorers were the first to settle in the southwest
• The were searching for the seven cities of gold
• They settled in their headquarters of Mexico City

CORN & INDIAN TRIAD

• The southwest Native Americans lived in permanent villages
• There, they grew maize, beans, squash, and more
• Their maize was soaked in lye, causing it to swell

CHILLIES & RISTRAS

• Chilies were brought back to Europe by Columbus
• Columbus thought they were wonderful
• They are excellent sources of vitamins A & C
• Ristras are hung from peoples' homes

PIÑON NUTS

• They were used to make pastries
• Pinon nuts came from Natuve Americans
• They are an ingredient in empanaditas

FRY BREAD & SOPAPILLAS

• Fry bread was common at Indian Pow-Wows
• They weren't a part of the Native American diet until the Spaniards brought them
• Fry bread was refined to make sopapillas

TORTILLAS

• Tortillas are one of two basic southwestern foods
• They have influnenced the dishes of the southwest
• Maize tortillas provide calcium but wheat ones do not

FRIJOLES

• Frijoles are beans
• Mexicans eat then up to three times a day
• They are often eaten cooked, with tortillas, or refried

TAMALES

• Tamales translates to bundles
• They are a popular use of corn husks
• Some southwestern people turn them into a casserole

AVOCADO

• They are sometimes called alligator pears
• They are a fruit with dark thick skin and a green inside
• They are commonly made into guacamole

PRICKLY PEAR

• They are the fruit of a cactus
• They are very sweet and can be eaten raw
• Depending on the ripeness, it can be syrupy

TACO

• Tacos are a very common food
• The are made of tortillas and fillings
• They are usually filled with ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, and more

ENCHILADA

• Enchiladas are filled tortillas
• They are filled eith ground beef, onions, cheese, and more
• They are served alone or alongside something else

BURRITO

• Burritos are enchiladas but filled with other things
• They are again tortillas but are filled with potatoes
• They are also filled with beans

CHIMICHANGA

• Chimichangas are spicy beef filled tortillas
• They are deep fried
• Unlike the others, they are mainly spicy beef

COWBOYS & CHUCKWAGONS

• Cowboys were the first to explore the southwest
• They stored all of their food in a chuckwagon
• They cooked their food in Dutch Ovens

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