Customer Reviews

American Indian Food and Lore

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I've had this book in my library since it was first published. Carolyn herself autographed it for me in '82. In all the moves and changes over the years, I could never justify getting rid of it. It's the best, most usable book on desert edibles I've ever read or owned.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Cactus and cactuslike plants - agave, barrel, cholla, etc.

2. Nuts and seeds - acorn, grass seed, jojoba, etc.

3. Grapes, berries and cherries - chokecherry, wild currant, etc.

4. Foods of the marsh and mesa - buffalo gourd, cattail, cota, etc.

5. greens - Rocky Mountain Beeweed, Canaigre, Curly dock, etc.

6. Agriculture - beans, chili, corn, etc.

Let's take a look at page 10, Cholla. Wonderful, detailed illustration - if you can't find the plant by these pictures, you're not trying. Common name, scientific names, habitat and description. First Para.:

"Indians sometimes called early spring - March - 'the cactus moon' because food was scarce, and this plant was often the only available vegetable food." Etc.

Next page, she spells out how to harvest and clean the buds for food. Cholla buds - basic preparation. Next recipe: cholla buds and squash.

One of my favorite recipe in the book is Prickly Pear jelly - oh, yum!!!

This is the book for anyone who doesn't know a wild grape from a hackberry. It even has a recipe for Dandelion Wine. It's a wonderful blend of desert culture and how-tos. How can you go wrong with that?

My old, tattered book is filled with specimens from my own desert excursions. It's been dog-eared, noted, dirtied and loved. It will be one book I'll never give up.

I was given this book as a gift in 1993 and since then I have given it to several Native American women as a gift and all were VERY impressed. It truly gives honor to all Native Women and the traditions and culture that makes them so rich and alive. AHO!