What about the Natives?
In 1492, Columbus sailed the Oceans blue. This mnemonic device is embedded in most of our heads. But, was it really such a great thing? For Europe, it certainly made a difference. But, for the planet and the people living in the new world, not so much. Of course, there are people who feel that mentioning this is tantamount to re-writing history, and an affront to our society. Quite to the contrary, it puts history back in context and removes the deification of players like Columbus. While his explorations were, indeed, epic, there’s a whole dark, disturbing, political side to his accomplishments. Today, many celebrate Columbus day, while an increasing number of people celebrate Native American day. We know about the European contribution to the world. But, what about the natives?
It’s important to note that Columbus never even stepped foot on North America, where the United states are today. He “discovered” the islands of what we now know as the Bahamas. And, he had no idea where he was. He reported being beyond the Ganges (India). He had no idea how far beyond he actually was. And, his reason for going was to establish trade routes with India. But, he made a political move instead. Instead of trading with the inhabitants, he found them unaccustomed to and unprepared for armed conflict, prompting the idea to claim the lands for his benefactors: the King and Queen of Spain. His letter to them read: “all of which I took possession for our Highnesses, with proclaiming heralds and flying royal standards, and no one objecting”.
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Did anyone stop to ask What about the Natives?
No one objecting is the key phrase. Europe was a conglomerate of monarchs and elites subjugating the peasants and warring with other monarchies for dominance at the time. Building empires by force was the default. When Columbus discovered Islanders who never encountered aggression, he did what any European of the time would do, instead of respecting their sovereignty, he usurped them without them even knowing what was going on. And, he and his crew enacted further barbarity on these people he deemed savages by enslaving and doing unconscionable things to them (including slavery and rape). They could do this because they were “Christians” and God was on their side. What makes this even worse, is that they were sent there as diplomats to negotiate with the locals. But, when they realized these were peaceable people, their version of diplomacy opened the door for the conquistadors.
And, what Columbus did is tame in comparison to what followed over the next 5 centuries. Starting with the Treaty of Tordesillas signed in 1494, the two major countries of Spain and Portugal divided up the “New world” between them. Then came the “explorers” like Cortez, pizarro, Ponce De Leon, Balboa, and Soto who destroyed civilizations such as the Aztecs and Incas to claim land and impose rule in the names of their rulers. And, it gets worse from there. The pope gave his blessing to the expansion in the name of God. So, the natives who had their own belief system were viewed as less than human. Their subjugation and decimation was all in the furtherance of a combination of religious ideology and Empirical wishes of privileged elites.
Then came FOMO
The fear of missing out amongst other European rulers further spread this fervor for world domination. England, France, and the Slavic nations took notice of what Spain and Portugal did, and wanted in on the game as well. While most of the Spanish invasion centered on Central and South America. These leaders saw opportunity to the north. Emboldened by these lands occupied by “godless savages” who put up little to no resistance, They discovered that claiming their piece of the “new world” was a simple task, far easier than waging war against a neighbor. Plus, the bounty of raw materials in the Americas enriched all of Europe (except for the working class).
And, the exploitation and wholesale collection of land and beings didn’t stop at America. Over the centuries, the European powers found themselves embroiled in local struggles, so they got together to focus their aggression on other lands across the globe. Europe is a relatively small continent. So, they decided to divide up the continents of Africa and Asia as well. There are still remnants of European colonization throughout the world in places like India, Hong Kong, Vietnam and more. The fact that I’m writing this in English is testament to the power of colonization and the reach of the European empires that Columbus unleashed on the world. The question of what about the Natives never entered the equation, beside how easily they will succumb.
Never mind the natives
The Sex Pistols released a seminal Album: “Never Mind the Bullocks” in 1977. It questions the ruling class and the lot of the rest of us, especially in Songs Like Anarchy and God Save the Queen. And, it turns the mindset of the rulers on it’s head. We can be sure that when asked “What about the natives?”, those elites’ response was Never mind them. They’ll comply or die. The callousness, vanity, and total disregard for all living things was, and remains evident to this day. Thanks to some re-visiting of history, though, we can see what occurred objectively. Notice, I said revisit, not revision. There’s a big difference. The facts are all still intact. The world we live in is a product of empirical ambition. While there are many good things that came from it, the disregard for life and acceptance of others was and is evident.
In order to grow as a species, we need to come to grips with the atrocities of the past and reconcile them. As we speak, a juggernaut of technological advances continues, with little regard for those caught in its wake. Today, it’s the replacement of humanity with AI. But, technology in all its forms has been on a self destructing trajectory since Columbus came here. The technology of guns and weaponry changed the face of North and South America. Evolving maps changed transportation. Buildings, plastics, Fuel oil, and more have completely, and irrevocably, changed the physical landscape of the world, without regard for any being living on the lands previously. To point these things out is to be a filthy tree hugging hippy. And, if you question the government, you’re just a punk. Unless it’s just one sided politicking.
What about the Natives and what they had to offer?
In recent years, some people have taken notice of what Imperialism wrought on the world, and the hand that religion and nationalism played in decimating ancient cultures. Not to say that some of the people killed in expansionism were saints or innocent themselves. It’s the superiority of the the conquerors, and the generations that followed that resulted in death and destruction in the name of Christianity that is the problem. Christ taught that all beings are equal in the eye of god. So, to say you’re helping people who don’t have your perspective are inferior is anathema to the ethos of Christ’s teachings. But, that’s nothing new. The church itself, in all it’s various sects has strayed from the true teachings of the bible.
Many of the people subjugated to the imperial expansion are more Christian than most Christians. A common theme in Native Culture in the Americas is a reverence for all living things. a lot of the tribes were nomadic, meaning they didn’t claim land as theirs. They were stewards of the land, while they were here. Conversely, Europeans laid claim. Remember Columbus letter: “all of which I took possession for our Highnesses, with proclaiming heralds and flying royal standards, and no one objecting”. This is our land. You can’t be here, despite being here for years. The people indigenous to these lands didn’t horde or lay claim to things the way their conquerors did. And, The Europeans did see these as conquering, despite “no one objecting“. It’s tantamount to sending an army to conquer a nursery school. And, it was genocide.
Give thanks
The Indigenous people gave thanks for what they had, even thanking the animals and crops they ate. Today, Americans waste about 1/3 of the food we buy. That’s no way to give thanks for what we have. Yet, we claim that Thanksgiving is one of our most sacred holidays. But, who do we have to thank for Thanksgiving: you’ve got it, the indigenous people. And, the thanks we gave them? Disease, wars, the stealing of their land, the loss of their cultural identity, and the eradication of millions of people. This isn’t ancient history. The pope recently visited Canada to apologize for the church’s role in forcing native people into religious schools where they underwent unconscionable treatment resulting in mental anguish and thousands of dead children. These “schools” were only shut down in the 1990’s. And, some still actually exist today.
Despite claims that Vikings and others “discovered” America before Columbus, his discovery was far more. By “claiming” the lands, he started this disregard by answering our key question with the exact same question: What about the natives? It’s all in the inflection. We asked what about THE natives? He asked, what ABOUT the natives? They aren’t fighting. They don’t even know how to. They didn’t fight because they never needed to. Even after Columbus showed how cruel Europeans could be, there were still a lot of indigenous people with that same mentality. When the Pilgrims came to New England nearly 130 years later, the local tribes welcomed them and helped them survive. Within a couple generations, they faced near extinction at the hands of their new “friends”.
We can’t change history
Columbus was one man with a commission from some powerful, rich, people. Although, If it hadn’t been him, it could have been another European. And, the result would probably be the same. He didn’t come up with the round world theory. But, he did what any European with Ambition would have done at the time: Take whatever wasn’t “protected”. One of the ironies of Columbus is that he was Italian, but did this work for Spain. Yet, Italians still praise him as their own “Saint”. The Church only refused naming him a saint because he never married the mother of his child. Yet, there are still descendants living noble lives to this day. And, Europeans have their way of life across most of the globe thanks to his “quick thinking” in seizing the land, providing a precedent for those who followed to do the same.
So, no, we can’t change history, especially something as monumental as this. Let’s say you go back in a time machine and stop Columbus. Then, we would have someone like Vasco Da Gama or Pedro Alvarez Cabral (who accidentally landed in Brazil) instead. Good luck naming a city or country after them. And, don’t forget Amerigo Vespucci, who followed Columbus to the new world. His name was put on the lands after he waged a campaign to convince people this was, indeed, a new land, not part of the Indies. So, today, we have a conflicted holiday. Columbus opened the world to new possibilities. he was the catalyst for what is, objectively, a pretty impressive world. But, no accomplishment is 100% good. And, the destruction of entire civilizations is part of the downside.
What about the natives on this day?
So, today, let’s have a realistic commemoration. And, to do so, we offer these recipes highlighting some ingredients that indigenous people would rely on, and that they introduced to the old world. Don’t forget, despite the Irish saga, potatoes weren’t in Europe until after Columbus came here. And, remember, as you eat, try to give thanks, not to the God of Columbus, but to the animals and plants who died for your nourishment. Remember the people who were here before Columbus. They didn’t put up a fight because they had the freedom and liberties we claim we protect. They didn’t have armies and weaponry because they didn’t live with constant threat and danger. The Europeans brought that, along with disease, destruction, and paranoia.
As with most things in life, things are rarely simple. Europeans brought technology and a new kind of civilization to the New world. But, they tried to erase the variety of cultures, insight, and respect for the planet that the natives embodied. We should try to remember, respect, and incorporate that ethos into our lives. We can start by being thankful for the bounty we have, and try not to waste and destroy things just because we can. Our food offerings today include utilizing parts of plants that may be forgotten, to minimize waste. So, to that end, here are your recipes.
Tempura fried squash blossoms
Ingredients
- 12 each Squash Blossoms (Flower from zucchini)
- 1/2 Cup Diced sweet onion
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
- 2 Cups Diced Lion's mane Mushrooms
- 2 Cups Fresh Pea Shoots, chopped fine
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Basil
- 1/4 Cup Mascarpone Cheese
- 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella
- olive oil for cooking
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 12 oz Beer
- 1 Cup Flour
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Saute Onion and Garlic in olive oil until softened. Then add a little more oil and add the mushrooms. Saute until soft. Then add in the pea shoots and cook until soft as well. Fold in the basil and season with salt and pepper.
- Mix the cheeses in a bowl and fold in the vegetable mix.
- Remove the stamens from the flowers. And carefully fill the flowers with the stuffing.
- Whisk the egg, and add in the beer, then flour to make the tempura batter. Season with salt and pepper.
- heat oil to fry on the stove or in a fryer to about 350 degrees. Dip the stuffed flowers into the batter and gently place in the hot oil. Cook until the batter is evenly browned and crisp. Serve immediately.
Notes
Truffled Potage Parmentier
Ingredients
- 2 Lb Peeled and quartered Yukon Gold Potatoes
- 1 Quart Chopped fresh Leeks
- 2 Tbsp Chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup Brandy or cognac
- 2 quart Vegetable stock
- 1 pint Heavy Cream
- 1 stick Butter unsalted
- 2 Tbsp Truffle Peelings
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Truffle oil to drizzle
- Chopped chives and herbs to garnish
- 1/4 cup julienne leeks
- 1/2 cup flour seasoned with salt, pepper, sage, thyme
- Oil to fry the leeks
Instructions
- Heat Butter in a heavy stock pot over medium high heat. Add in the leeks and stir. Add the potatoes and continue stirring. Add the Thyme, Then add the brandy. Burn off the alcohol from the brandy. Then add the stock. Bring to a boil, then trim the heat to a simmer. Simmer until the potatoes are soft and breaking apart. Add cream and truffle shavings and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Puree the soup either in a blender or using a stick blender in the pot. Make sure it is super smooth. Season the soup and keep warm.
- Heat some oil for frying the leeks for garnish. Toss the julienne leeks in seasoned flour and fry until golden brown.
- Bowl the soup, drizzle with truffle oil and chive oil if you want a color contrast. Garnish with chopped herbs and crispy fried leeks.
Zucchini Sweet Potato Latke
Ingredients
- 2 cup Zucchini, seeds removed and shredded
- 2 cup shredded peeled sweet potato
- 1/4 cup chopped chives or scallions
- 1 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup AP flour
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 2 Tbsp Maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- Butter or oil to cook the latkes in
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Creme fraiche to garnish
- More herbs and/or green onion to garnish
Instructions
- Shred the zucchini and sweet potato. Press through a fin strainer or cheese cloth to remove excess moisture.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk an egg until well beaten, add in the sour cream and mix well. Then fold in the rest of the ingredients except for garnishes and mix well. If it is still to moist, add a little more flour. The mixture should hold together, but not be too runny. At the same time, you don't want it too stiff or it will come out dry on the palate.
- Heat oil or butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Scoop the mixture into the oil and press down to flatten. For an appetizer, make them about quarter to half dollar size. If you want to serve as an entree or side dish, make them about 3 to 4 inches. Sear about 1 to 3 minutes per side until they have a golden brown crust and are cooked through. If you make them larger, you may want to brown them in the pan and finish in an oven.
- Serve them hot with a dolop of creme fraiche and herb garnish. You can also top with ratatouille, a vegetable or meat stew, or seafood. Experiment and enjoy.
Coffee Rubbed Roast Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 1 Each Boneless Turkey Breast About 3 to 4 Lb
- 1/2 Cup Fresh Ground Coffee, Grind fine in a coffee grinder
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Ground Cumin
- 2 Tbsp Ground Mustard Powder
- 1 Tbsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tbsp garlic Powder
- 2 Tbsp Ground Paprika
- 1 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Cup Olive Oil
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients together to make a rub.
- Rub the spice mix evenly all over the turkey breast. Set it up in a roasting pan with a rack to allow juices to drain. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. This gives time for the rub flavors to penetrate the meat. Take out of refrigeration 30 minutes before you plan to cook it.
- preheat Oven to 450
- Roast the Turkey breast 30 minutes at the high temperature. Then turn the temp down to 325. Finish Roasting until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. This will vary depending on the weight and thickness of the breast. On average, it should be about 20 minutes per pound. So, check it after about and hour and give more time if necessary. Also, if the skin begins to get darker than you like, baste with some of the juices dripping to the bottom of the pan or cover with parchment paper and foil If you cover directly with foil, the foil may stick to the meat and become black and pitted. Not pleasant.
- When it reaches 165, remove from the oven and let it rest 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. You can use the drippings to make a gravy by adding to a pot with more turkey or chicken broth, some seasoning and thicken with either a roux or cornstarch slurry.
Herb Seared Monkfish with White Wine, Leek, and Bacon Beurre Blanc accompanied by Cauliflower and Golden Potato Puree, and Lemon Scented Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients
- 2 Lb Monkfish Filet
- 1 cup Chopped fresh herbs, Parsley, dill, chive, Basil, Thyme
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 cup Jullienne fresh leeks
- 1 Cup White Wine
- 1/4 cup diced raw bacon Use Slab bacon if available or thick cut
- 1/4 cup Chicken Broth or fish stock
- 1/4 Lb Sweet Unsalted butter cut into slices
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 whole lemon, Just the juice
- For the Cauliflower Potato Puree
- 4 Cups Raw cauliflower cut into smaller florets so the moisture can cook out.
- 2 Cups Raw peeled potato, preferably golden
- 4 Tbsp Sweet unsalted butter
- Sea salt and Ground white pepper to taste, plus oil to coat cauliflower
- For Brussel Sprouts
- 1 Lb Brussel Spouts, trim bottoms and split in 1/2
- Oil to saute
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/4 cup Lemon juice
- A little water if needed
- salt and pepper to taste
- Garnish the plate with lemons and herbs
Instructions
- Trim the tough skin and membrane from the monkfish and cut into 4 equal portions. If you can get your fishmonger to do this for you, even better.
- Combine, the garlic, herbs, and a little salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Toss the fish in the herb mixture to coat evenly.
- Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat. Put in a good amount of olive oil. Place the fish in the pan when hot. Sear one side until lightly browned, then turn over and sear the other for about a minute.
- Transfer the fish to a flat pan sprayed with pan spray, place in 350 degree oven to finish, about 10 minutes. You can check the temperature with a meat thermometer. It should be 145 to 155 degrees.
- Start the sauce before putting the fish in the oven and make it while the fish is roasting. You can use the same pan as the fish if there aren't too many stray herbs that will burn in the pan. Or you can wipe it out and start fresh.
- Heat a saute pan and add in the bacon pieces, render until it becomes brown and the fat is liquid. Drain off some of the fat if it looks like too much. Add in the leeks and stir occasionally. Cook until they become translucent. Then add the wine and cook it down by 1/2 volume. Add in the stock and reduce that by 1/2. Before you serve, whisk in the butter a little at a time so it blends in, but doesn't separate. It will create a creamy sauce. You don't want it to melt and separate.
- Continue whisking and add in the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Make the sauce as close to service as possible. If you try to reheat it could "break" and separate into liquid and melted butter. This is why the butter is added last (with the seasoning and lemon juice).
- For the Puree: Boil potatoes in lightly salted water.
- When they are fully boiled, soft to the touch, but not falling apart, strain them.
- Toss the cauliflower in a little oil, salt, and pepper and roast in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. They should be soft to the touch.
- Put the cauliflower into a food processor while still hot. Puree until smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally. Add in the potatoes and follow the same procedure. Be careful how long you puree for. The potatoes can become gummy.
- With the machine running, add in the butter, continue pureeing. Add in salt and pepper to finish and transfer to a bowl (or pan if it needs to be reheated) and test to make sure the seasoning is good and it's not too thin.
- For the brussel sprouts, heat oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add in the brussels and allow them to get some color on one side, Then toss or stir to get color on both sides. Stir often to keep from over cooking. They should still be firm. Add sugar and stir. Allow the sugar to melt. Then add the lemon juice and cook down. If the brussels are still undercooked you may add a little water. The liquid should be mostly gone except for a light glaze. Add salt and pepper. Stir that in.
- To Plate: Spoon the Cauliflower puree unto the plate and drag it a bit to make a trough to put the fish on. Alternatively, you could mound the puree to give the dish height. Place the fish atop the puree. Arrange the Brussels around the puree. Spoon the sauce over the fish and then garnish with lemons and herbs or microgreens. Enjoy with a lighter ale, like Harp or Smithwicks or a nice white wine.