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What is Nixtamalization? Masienda Heirloom Corn Tortillas and Ancient Traditions

By Latina Weekly

We recently discovered Masienda Tortillas at a local Whole Foods store.  After trying many brands of tortillas, both here in the United States and in Mexico, we’re always searching for great tortillas. Personally, the corn tortilla is our favorite. Corn is the perfect ingredient for tortillas. Corn is considered a whole grain; gluten-free, it’s naturally higher in fiber and lower in fat, compared with flour tortillas. A corn tortilla begins with masa or the dough base created from stone-ground corn or maize.

Maize is related to the grass family of plants Poaceae. Unlike the popular American version of corn (sweet corn, corn on the cob etc), Maize is a cereal grain and has been harvested by humans as long as 10,000 years ago. It has a wide range of uses including (but not limited to):

  • Culinary applications : cornmeal, masa, corn oil, popcorn, corn flour
  • Animal feed
  • Biofuels – ethanol to power cars and machinery
  • Alcoholic beverages, including whisky and bourbon

As for the actual origins of corn, this remains a topic open to debate, although significant progress has been made in terms of its genetic origins. Originally believed to fave arisen in southern Mexico, it is now believed corn originated in South America. The Maya and Olmec cultivated corn and processed it via nixtamalization. Nixtamalization is a process by which corn is soaked and cooked in limewater or some alkaline solution. The corn is then washed and hulled (hulling is the removal of the leafy covering). Nixtamalization is important as it removes aflatoxins, enables easier grinding, increases its nutritional value as well as improving the overall taste. The chemical alterations in masa are what allow it to be made into a dough. Calcium present in lime allows cross-linking of proteins and other molecules. Without nixtamalization, untreated ground maize cannot form tortillas. Nixtamalization is essential. 


Masienda brand tortillas use nixtamalization, the traditional method. But they also only use THREE ingredients — corn, water and lime. The creators of Masienda tortillas believe “tortillas are broken” and contain too many added ingredients. Masienda is a harkening back to tradition, creating tortillas with heirloom stone-ground corn from Oaxaca Mexico. After watching the company’s videos (available on You Tube), there was a clear message:

  • Corn can be sustainably grown
  • Naturally gluten-free
  • Corn is non-GMO – GMO products are illegal to grow in Mexico
  • Their product is fresh pressed
  • They only use 3 ingredients – all natural

After purchasing a bag of Masienda tortillas, we used them to create a chipotle vegetarian bean taco with organic cilantro.

The tortilla needed to be warmed, but was very delicious once heated.

The tortilla maintained its integrity and did not fall apart. It was fresh and low in fat. It even had a little calcium (remember the lime and nixtamalization was used to create the masa). Very authentic taste. Will definitely purchase again. 

Highlights from Saks IT List Townhouse with Amex & Harper’s Bazaar

By Latina Weekly

Highlights from Saks IT List Townhouse in partnership with American Express and Harper’s BAZAAR — an exciting space with infinity mirrors and multiple levels featuring unique themed room designs. Please see below for the event description & details.

From the ticket website at Eventbrite:

“Don’t miss your chance to visit the season’s hottest destination to see and be seen this fashion week: The Saks IT List Townhouse, in partnership with American Express and Harper’s BAZAAR. Find yourself immersed in different rooms of fashion, accessories, and style as you discover the Saks IT List trends of the season brought to life. Card Members will also have exclusive access to shop the newest accessories and latest fashions featured throughout the experiential townhouse including bold plaids, Wild West looks, statement outerwear, and the very best of what can be found on the runways.
Location: 80 Washington Place, New York, NY (Between 6th Avenue and Washington Square West in Greenwich Village)
Hours: Friday September 7th, 10am – 8pm EST; Saturday 8th, 10am – 8pm EST; Sunday 9th, 10am – 4pm EST; Monday September 10th; 10am – 4pm EST
Access Policy: Access to The Saks IT List Townhouse in partnership with American Express and Harper’s BAZAAR will be based on venue capacity, event pre-registration, and Card Member priority access. Priority VIP access will be granted to Platinum Card® and Centurion® Members, SaksFirst Credit Card Members (each Card Member will be allowed up to three guests at the time of admission and a physical card must be presented) and pre-registered Eventbrite ticketholders on a first come, first served basis, when capacity allows during the published operating hours. Please note that the venue may be closed for private events and a separate ticket or invitation will be required for entry. This venue is not wheelchair accessible.

Product Purchase Policy: Product purchases at The Saks IT List Townhouse must be paid for exclusively with an American Express® Card or SaksFirst Credit Card. No returns or exchanges may be made at The Saks IT List Townhouse. Returns or exchanges can be made at a Saks Fifth Avenue retail store, subject to Saks Fifth Avenue’s standard return and exchange policy. For full SaksFirst Credit Card terms and conditions, visit www.saksfirst.com.”

We attended the event, the townhouse was beautiful. Staged as an interactive surreal platform for shoppers (see above), the venue offered an immersive experience plus a coupon for any purchase above $300 USD. The townhouse itself made the visit enjoyable. Located in Greenwich Village at 80 Washington Place, the home has historic significance — John Philip Sousa once resided there. How easy it is to miss this fact! But it’s written on a small plaque which also states the home was built in 1852 and is of the “Greek Revival Style of the period.”  In case you forgot (I did), John Philip Sousa was an American composer who wrote the official National March of The United States called “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”  You can listen to the official march on YouTube at this link— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mRn9chmRAY. Sousa’s grandparents reportedly fled from Portugal to Spain during the Peninsular War in 1822. His father, John Antonio Sousa, immigrated to the United States, married and had ten children [Source: your island routes.com]. Born in November 1854, John Philip Sousa was John Antonio’s first born son. At the young age of thirteen, he joined the US where he enlisted in the Marine Band [Source: www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org]. The Greenwich village townhouse where he once resided recently underwent a complete interior renovation and placed on the market; an online video reveals many designer upgrades and luxuries.

On Being American – What Is Enough ?

By Latina Weekly

 

I recently discovered Project Enye, a multi-platform media team committed to telling the stories of first generation Latinos with parents from Spanish speaking countries. Project Enye founder Denise Soler Cox aims to empower first-generation U.S. Latinos and raise awareness on issues surrounding Latino identity. One of her blog posts entitled “Am I Latina Enough?” addresses the inner conflict faced by Latinas as they become more Amercian culturally while struggling for acceptance in their local communities. Immigrant communities often are comprised of individuals belonging to different races, cultures and economic circumstances. On top of that, there are differences in terms of stages of assimilation — first, second, and third generation, citizen versus non-citizen, ability to speak different languages (or not).  What might superficially appear to be a cohesive community [Read more…] about On Being American – What Is Enough ?

Where To Find – The Best Store-Bought Corn Tortillas

By Latina Weekly

 

While there’s nothing quite like fresh home-made corn tortillas, they aren’t always readily available to consumers.  Store-bought tortillas are a quick solution and when fresh and made correctly, can provide a reasonable substitute. They can also be very disappointing if not properly crafted or left on the shelf for too long. We recently compared two brands found at our local store — Guerrero and Vista Hermosa with very different results.  Let’s begin our comparison with the Guerrero brand of tortillas. [Read more…] about Where To Find – The Best Store-Bought Corn Tortillas

Art on Paper by E2 Boldly Challenges Preconceptions

By Latina Weekly

Diversity in revisionist works of art received an innovative new interpretation at this year’s Art on Paper in New York City. Photographic duo E2 presented several works designed to challenge the mind – modern reinterpretations of old master paintings replaced with new subject representations of race, sexual orientation, gender and age. Upon first glance the viewer is presented with a well-known work of art with unknown subjects. Challenging stereotypes & preconceptions, each work obliges the visitor to re-examine their preconceptions of classic beauty in the framework setting of iconic art. Are the subjects still as beautiful (or more) than the original ? Do we accept the artists re-interpretation or dismiss it? Are we open minded enough to be able to appreciate a classic work of art, even if it doesn’t conform to fixed expectations? These are the questions one must consider not only when evaluating art but in our everyday lives. How free are our minds & can we truly live without prejudice? Or are we programmed to reject anything outside our comfort zone… It’s this kind of reaction that inspires great art. It challenges the mind, individual preconceptions and a greater sense of the world we inhabit.

The E2 duo – Kleinveld and Julien – have entitled their latest work as “In Empathy We Trust.” The collaboration started in 2010 when artist and phographer Elizabeth Kleinveld teamed up with artist Epaul Julien. Their collaboration inspired several revisionist Art History works by artists such as van Etc, Raphael, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Whistler and others. Describing their work fails to do it justice, the only way to fully appreciate it is to see it for oneself.

Art on Paper is an international art fair held each spring featuring the world’s best and iconic paper-based art. General Admission tickets are available to the public. More information is available at : thepaperfair.com/ny

Travel, Food & (how to avoid a) $10,000 Fine

By Latina Weekly

Latin American cuisine is as diverse as the countries and continents from which it originates. Whether it’s a Peruvian ceviche freshly harvested from the Pacific Ocean or hearty corn tortillas created from corn cultivated by the Aztecs, Latin American food is incredibly diverse & delicious. Originallly, much of it would now be called “local food”  created from ingredients farmed nearby. More recently, Latin American cuisine has been influenced by European, African, Asian as well Caribbean traditions. One of the more popular influences has been the introduction of cured meats, primarily from Spain. Spanish charcuterie was inspired by the French version and continues today along with celebrated Charcuterie Masters & contests around the world. Examples of Spanish charcuterie include Chorizo, Butifarra, Jamon Iberico, Morcilla, Fuet, Jamon Serrano, and other varieties of ham & sausage. A little bit of trivia – Jamon Iberico was previously banned in the United States and it was illegal to import it from Spain (this ban was eventually lifted). The reason for the ban was due to agricultural and health concerns, including an outbreak of African Swine fever. Furthermore, it is still illegal [Read more…] about Travel, Food & (how to avoid a) $10,000 Fine