Curtis, author of Santa Fe School of Cooking Cookbook
and founder of the school, teams with daughter Nicole in this instructive and appetizing look at New Mexican cuisine. Drawing on recipes from the school, the pair pay proper homage to the chili, which features prominently in most recipes. They provide a list of their favorite types of chilis, introducing readers to the spicy, orange aji amarillo; the woodsy, dark red cascabel; and the sweet, smoked monta. Recipes for rice and salsa abound, but poultry, seafood, beef and pork dishes are also prevalent. Recipes range from classics, like the Spanish Tortilla, to the unusual, such as Stuffed Squash Blossoms with Fresh Tomato Sauce. New Mexican twists add flair to mundane dishes such as Southwestern Caesar Salad, which includes red chile croutons, and Dixon Apple Pie Tamales. The authors also offer helpful techniques for assembling tamales, making sopaipillas (light, fluffy fried dough) and working with nopales (cactus paddles). Throughout, they explore related topics such as "wildcrafting," New Mexican wines and Mexican vanilla. Particularly useful is the section listing sources for unusual and hard-to-find southwestern ingredients. Color photos. (May)
