In Honor of Your Honour Sotomayor - Huitlacoche.
We call it corn smut. We cut it off and it ruined a good ear of corn. As a Mexican dish, it is a Delicacy! Sotomayor is most definitely to be confirmed as a Supreme Court Judge. So, huitlacoche for Sotomayor!
According to wikipedia -
‘Corn smut is a disease of maize caused by the pathogenic plant fungus Ustilago maydis… Considered a pest in most of the United States, smut feeds off the corn plant and decreases the yield.’
We traditionally looked at it as poisonous because it destroyed the crop. Now, we are given a different perspective on how to view corn smut:
‘huitlacoche …, a Nahuatl word reportedly meaning raven’s excrement. It is considered a delicacy, even being preserved and sold for a higher price than corn….In the mid-1990s, due to demand created by high-end restaurants, Pennsylvania and Florida farms were allowed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to intentionally infect corn with huitlacoche.…Moreover, in 1989 the James Beard Foundation held a high-profile huitlacoche dinner. This dinner famously tried to get Americans to eat more of it by renaming it the Mexican truffle.’ wikipedia
For a link to a recipe and how to use them click here.
It doesn’t sound that bad. If I had a chance to try it I probably would. But I wouldn’t grow corn for the smut. AND finally, if you feel you need to bring a blight to a perfectly good crop and effect them all for years to come, this is a GREAT use for it!
August 8th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Get a better grip on geography. Puerto Rico IS NOT THE SAME AS Mexico. Never was, never will.
If you want a Puerto Rican cuisine, go for Morcilla or Mofongo. I can heartly recommend the Mofongo.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
My response to huitlacoche is the same as I had to Sotomayor….Yuck!
August 11th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Geography wasn’t the point. You’re supposed to try ‘NEW’ things just because they’re new! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Then try Mofongo.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Where are you going to find Mofongo in South Dakota? If it’s got some heat to it I’ll probably like it!
Morcilla doesn’t look too bad. But I’m not going to hunt for food unless I get my own T.V. show or I know I like it!
August 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I’ve been searching the web and I didn’t find any Puerto Rican restaurant in SD.
You can, however, take it as an excuse to vacation on PR
(added bonus: you don’t need a passport to enter Puerto Rico).
August 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am
But I might needone to get back!