The New Southwest Cookbook

The New Southwest Cookbook
Carolyn Niethammer
Rio Nuevo Publishing
ISBN: 1-887896-78-3
Cook Book, Southwest
Reviewed by Pamela Crossland

Carolyn Niethammer has gathered some of the most interesting, unique recipes I have seen in quite some time. She believes in "fusion style food - the bringing together of ingredients and methods from different cultures." These recipes represent her theory admirably. In addition, they are uncomplicated and most cooks will find the directions easy to follow.
Each recipe has an introduction, offering tidbits about the origin of the recipe. Periodically throughout the book, Niethammer has special sections on various topics such as pecans, corn, beans, tomatillos, and chiles. In particular, the Scoville Scale, which determines the heat index of various types of chiles was very helpful to me in particular as I was brought up in the Southwest and what I consider mild can be quite hot to someone not used to spicey foods. She also makes note to the reader that chili, spelled with an i, refers to the dish made with meat, chile, ending in e, refers to the spice
Recipes that deserve special notice are Decadent French Toast from the Big Yellow Inn Bed and Breakfast, in Cedar City, Utah(simple to make and sure to impress your in laws); Chili con Queso from La Postade, Mesilla, New Mexico; Monte Vista Tortilla Soup from Monte Vista Fire Station in Albuquerque, and Broccoli-Mushroom Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing from Four and Twenty Blackbirds in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I'm eager to try several other recipes but will wait till prickly pears and nopales come into season in late spring.
The flavors are wonderful and different, a true blending of cultures which represents the best of the Southwest. Buy this book and try the recipes - there is a great resource listing in the back of the book if certain ingredients aren't readily available at your grocers. You'll come away knowing that Taco Bell and Taco Villa are just fast food joints, they don't carry the true flavors of the Southwest.