Blue Corn Pancakes

1 cup blue corn meal
(course grind gives the best texture)

¼ to ½ cup unbleached, whole wheat or wheatless flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

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1 cup milk or more for desired consistency
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. In another mixing bowl blend together the milk & egg mixture, add desired fruits then pour into the dry ingredients. Cook on a griddle with melted butter at 300 degrees. Serve with fresh fruit and pure maple syrup. At times we’ll add a bit of natural Prickly Pear Cactus syrup to the maple. Makes 12 medium Pancakes.

Our favorite fruits to add directly into the batter are:

• Bananas and/or chopped peaches (they ensure your pancakes remain moist)
• Blueberries or raspberries
• Fresh Pomegranate seeds as garnish add a festive & juicy crunch and goes well with the Prickly Pear Cactus syrup

Malpais Cookies

1 1/4 cups butter

2 cups unbleached flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon soda

2 eggs salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup oat bran

3/4 cup cocoa

1/2 cup rolled barley

chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Drop onto cookie sheet and bake at 350. Remove from oven when still soft, but not glossy. Store in airtight container as soon as cooled. Over-baking or leaving out in our dry New Mexico air will make these delectable, chewy morsels hard as the malpais itself and are then delicious coffee dippers!

Hummingbird Nectar

4 cups water

1 cup granulated sugar

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In medium saucepan bring the water to a boil

Add the cup of sugar and stir

Bring the nectar back to a boil for 1 minute to dissolve the sugar and help rid of any impurities

Cool the nectar to a pleasantly warm temperature before filling your freshly washed feeder

• There is no need to add unhealthy food coloring ~ red on the feeder will attract these unique birds.
• Use only granulated white sugar. Raw or brown sugar will readily mold which can be fatal to our jeweled friends.
• Keep your feeders clean and free of pests such as ants. Using an ant guard above the feeder works quite well.

Preparing Our Hummingbirds For Their Great Southern Migration

Our Broad-tails are the first to arrive back here to their summer home in April when the feeders will still freeze at night, and all four species begin to leave in early September when the feeders will start to freeze again.

*We have found that by gradually reducing the amount of sugar in the nectar to simulate the natural waning of the Penstemons, Delphinums, Salvias, and other tubular flowers in early fall will encourage our hummingbirds to think about heading south while still providing needed nourishment for northern birds to “tank-up” on their way passing through.