[Aztlan] Squash

[Nick Hopkins]

Dick (et al.)-- Squash is an essential part of the "Mesoamerican  
triad/triumvirate/trinity" (corn, beans, squash) because of the way  
it complements the other two, in the fields as well as  
nutritionally.  In the fields, corn stalks support bean vines, squash  
spreads out along the ground to shade out weeds.  In the diet, the  
starches of maize are complemented by the protein of beans, and the  
squashes add critical amino acids to make this a complete balanced  
diet.  Throw in some chiles for vitamins, and Bob's your uncle (I  
threw that in so that maybe someone would explain to me what it means!).

In addition, squash, like maize, has the advantage of producing  
edible parts all through the growing season, not just at the final  
harvest.  For maize, you can eat the emerging baby ears, the  
"roasting ear" with soft kernels, or use the hardened kernels of the  
mature, dry ear.  Different recipes pertain to each of these stages  
of production.  For squash, you can eat the growing tips of the plant  
(steamed, a real delicacy, like asparagus), the flowers (in soups and  
stews, or cooked in sauces for tacos), or the fruit (and, for some  
varieties, the dried seeds).  So you can eat fresh parts for at least  
half the year and dried seeds the other half.

And you don't necessarily need a huge amount of seeds, since a major  
use is as a thickener for sauces, a handful at a time (e.g., my  
destined-to-be-famous "Bachelor's green mole"; Herdez salsa verde  
cooked in a little oil, thickened with ground squash seeds, thinned  
with chicken broth, and reduced to the right thickness; heat and  
serve over pieces of factory roasted chicken; measures on request, if  
you're one of those cooks that has to have measures).

Of course people were eating a great variety of plants other than  
those grown in the milpa (and still do).  Especially important are  
all the greens gathered in the forests and fields, as well as  
mushrooms and other fungi.  And there is always the house garden...   
Anyway, there is plenty of variety available in the environment, and  
add in seasonal variation (and special feast days) and it doesn't get  
boring.

Nick Hopkins