Here at Savor the Southwest our full motto is: appreciating, nurturing, and using the products of the Earth and the Southwest. You don’t have to live in the Southwest to enjoy our site!
We are a diverse group of individuals with a wide range of cooking, foraging and preserving food knowledge. All of us try to live in an earth-friendly, sustainable fashion. All of our writers live or have lived side by side with Native peoples, and have learned ancient ways of using the bounty of the region.
About Our Food
Some of us have food sensitivities, plus some downright allergies! This just means that we often offer gluten-free options, plus many suggestions for substitutions.
Much of our cooking is not what some people think of as the traditional Southwestern-style. People moved to this area from all over this earth. Historically a number of Chinese workers helped build the railroads, and a number of them settled across the West, bringing some of their unique flavors to our region, like jujube fruit. We also have Basque, Croatian, German, Italian Piedmont, and so many other flavors and heritages in our region.
And food does not have to be loaded with peppery heat. Two of our writers believe it shouldn’t hurt to eat. That said – we do include ways to use chilitepin (the hottest pepper there is and native to Sonoran Desert canyons)!
We Believe in Science
Articles are researched and where possible, links to latest health information is included.
Please sign up for our free Substack and email newsletter so you can get recipes, tips, and cool information about living lightly on this Earth, and on the Southwest desert land. There is a link somewhere on this page.
Do You Have to Know How to Cook to use the site?
NO!
Do You Have to Want to Learn How to Cook?
Maybe not.
A great deal of what we do is not “cooking” in the sense of spending hours in the kitchen, making massive 7 course meals. Like you, we are busy people.
We have a number of quick to make filling and nutritious meals. Not only meals, we have muffins and cakes you can simply make in the microwave – like in the cover image! (One Minute Mesquite Muffin)
Uncle Smokey has repeatedly stated that he does not like to wash dishes. And nor do the rest of us.
Thus we have a number of one pot meals. If you live alone and really want to avoid dishes – you can eat these tight out of the pot.
Quick Meals are Not Instant
Taking some time to make a tasty meal, and then sitting and taking the time to savor that tasty meal – many people today have not learned how to do this (many but not all – don’t start trolling us). And I say learned – because it is not the instant gratification which most folks today seem to want. Some need to learn to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Savor the Moment
Part of what we hope to share is how to take time and to savor the moment. Yes, even cutting onions. My Dad’s father was the designated onion cutter in Grandmas kitchen because, as he said, “It helps clear the … sinuses.” (Actually he would say “snot locker” and pull out his handkerchief to help finish clearing the locker). When I cut onions I think of them in their kitchen. Not everyone has family memories of cooking. Point is – time to start some!
Learn to Make Real Food
The point is we hope to help you learn to make real food – none of that “I opened a can of XYZ brand of refried beans.” Although that is a better option than “I went to XYZ fast food place and forked over a ton of money.”
Learn to Eat Local
The Southwest is a land that has a wealth of food available. As Dr. Soule shared in her post about Father Kino, in the late 1600’s this was a land that supported large tribal groups. One estimate says that the population numbered in the tens of thousands.
Mind you, the Southwest could not feed the eight or nine million people currently here without trucked in food supplies. If you really want to live green and eat local, you should consider growing and using the native Southwestern plants we discuss in our posts on foraging. If not for your entire diet – at least for a portion of it.
Here’s The Cookbook!
May we suggest our dandy little cookbook? Using Honey in New and Savory Ways offers 36 pages of tips for using honey in your cooking, as well as in all manner of dishes.
We hope you will help support some local Southwest folks!
From the review:
“Honey is for more than desserts and this book can help! Using honey in cooking savory dishes helps engage all your taste buds and adds a layer of added flavor to everyday dishes – plus holiday fare.”
Beekeeper? We offer volume discounts – because if you sell honey in local markets you might want to offer some of these books as well.
Legal Note
© Article copyright Savor the Southwest. All rights reserved. You must ask permission to republish an entire blog post or article. Okay to use a short excerpt but you must give proper credit. You must include a link back to the original post on our site. No stealing photos.
Disclaimer
The authors of this website have researched the edibility of the materials we discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The authors on this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.
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