2 Replies to “Petrified Forest – Part 6 (A Long Walk)”

  1. Amazing! What a great comic!

    Here’s the Indian Taco recipe I found on the trip-

    “The Navajo fry bread evolved in the mid-19th century. In 1863, approximately 8,000 Navajo’s spent 4 years imprisoned at Ft. Sumner, NM and were given little more than white flour and lard to eat. American Scout Kit Carson and his troops drove the Navajo (Dine) people from their land by destroying their means of survival. Kit Carson and his troops killed livestock, poisoned water wells, burned crops, and destroyed shelters that belonged to the Navajo. Kit Carson and his troops then gathered thousands of starving Navajo women and children. They were sent on a 300 mile walk from AZ to Ft. Sumner and Bosque Redondo, NM, which later became known as the “Long Walk”, one of the saddest events in Navajo and U. S. history.
    As time went by, the U.S. government provided those on the reservation with wheat flour as part of a commodities program. Lard and wheat flour became the main ingredients in the making of Navajo fry bread. The Navajo women had to make the best of what was often considered poor quality rations in concentration camps and the varying availability of government issued commodities.
    Frying was new to Navajo’s because they hunted game that was lean and made bread in mud ovens. Iron pots were introduced to the Navajo’s and thus created fry bread. As with many cultures around the world, Native Americans have an all purpose flat bread that is a staple in their cuisine. Fry bread is considered a food of inter-tribal unity and is made at all Indian Pow-wow’s. The dough is a variation of that used for flour tortillas, consisting of flour, shortening, salt, water, and baking powder. Navajo fry bread is a tradition in Navajo land (Dinetah).
    If you ever become a visitor to a Navajo family or gathering and you are offered fry bread or other traditional food, please take it. Even if you have eaten a short while ago, this is to show respect to the family that offered you their hospitality. The family that is offering their food to you put great thought and love into their work. They want you to be happy with a full tummy and safe journey down the road of life.

    THIS IS OUR WORLD’S FAMOUS FRY BREAD, ALSO MADE FROM SCRATCH.
    5 – CUPS OF FLOUR
    2 – TBSP OF BAKING POWDER
    2 – TSP OF SALT
    2 – CUPS OF LUKEWARM WATER (NOT HOT, IT WILL BURN YOUR HAND. NOT COLD, IT WILL HARDEN YOUR DOUGH)
    MIX ALL DRY INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A LARGE MIXING BOWL. SLOWLY ADD WATER. KNEAD YOUR DOUGH TILL IT BECOMES NICE AND FLUFFY.
    NOW YOU ARE READY TO MAKE FRY BREAD! TO FRY YOUR BREAD:
    1- CAST IRON SKILLET
    1.5 – CUPS OF OIL (YOUR CHOICE, CORN, CANOLA OR 10W30)
    TURN UP HEAT ON OIL. BE CAREFUL!
    PUT A PINCH OF DOUGH IN THE HOT GREASE AND IF IT SINKS, IT IS STILL COLD. IF IT RISES, IT IS READY.
    NOW THAT YOU ARE AN EXPERT, LET’S MAKE A TACO!!
    1-FRY BREAD
    1- SCOOP OF CHILI CON CARNE
    ADD THE FOLLOWING AS YOUR BASE – CHOPPED LETTUCE, DICED TOMATOES AND ONIONS AND GRATED CHEESE.
    CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW FAMOUS!!!

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