Homemade Deer Sausage

When I discovered this area, it was as if I had been called, as if everything was a dream, but only subconsciously remembered. I wanted to live and learn and grow here, and simply absorb the wisdom that comes from all the cliffs and rock.

The mountain valley Gallina is a single pocket of fertility in midfield semi-desert of most of New Mexico. It is a haven of that used to supply all its population needs, and still does to a degree at a higher level if the rangers do not catch you.

It is rich, beautiful National Forest and BLM lands everywhere, as throughout the state. However, rural residents of New Mexico are generally below the poverty line, while a few generations ago, all needs have been provided by the earth, and hard work.

However, the valley is blessed with several Gallina River Watershed precious lock of the village in a stream acequias (a-ie nodes) to support the green hills and fields of the village.

Our niche in the Valley of northern New Mexico Gallina is a life apart, literally. The nearest Wal-Mart is an hour and a half drive one way. It is also our nearest pharmacy. A two-hour drive you will reach the nearest hospital or doctor decent, or a developer or a Sears furniture store, or a photo or film. A bank is a circumference of 200 miles.

There is no telephone companies, Hobby Lobby or drive in fast food restaurants in Gallina and surrounding villages. In fact, there are only two places of business in these villages. But there is no shortage of churches and liquor stores.

Many women we do our own barbecue sauce, spaghetti, etc., and can it as well as wild fruit orchard and our vegetables. I've never tasted a fruit sweeter than wild plums and apples businesses in the village, or local choke cherry jelly. The wild asparagus fields are a closely guarded treasure.

Residents do not run to the store or drive-through to grab something for dinner. Almost every day, the beans are cooking under pressure and red or green chili on the table next to the fresh tortillas steam.

Most cooking is done from scratch. One day I ran out of the dried bread crumbs I had to do for a dinner of wild turkey stuffing and a friend sent me a bag she had on hand. Not only had she dried herself, but it started with homemade scones, she made each week. His house is the best tasting bread crumbs and the best texture of any dressing I've ever done.

fresh goat's milk is abundant, many still make cheese and butter. Most of us killing and plucking our own poultry, our arms bloodied help our families slaughter goats, pigs, cows, deer and elk. We slice the layer of fat outside the pigs for chicharrones, making our own bacon when we fry. We treasure of the heart and liver, some even to save the hides for tanning.

We use everything we can. If you see a deer or elk coat rack wood in someone's house, they did not order it from a catalog Cabala, they recovered from their source of meat. We build hornos Adobe and harvest corn for drying in the chicos to do with the vegetables to preserve for the winter, and bake the bread the most delicious. And the blood from the cut of pork sausage makes the traditional, which means black (blood) sausage.

Hidden in the mountains are the toughest, tenderest, the most generous and competent women I have ever known, but economically disadvantaged. Life is tough for everyone. The unemployment rate is close to ninety percent.

The best paid jobs are logging, which is dangerous, seasonal, and only for very healthy and young. Even married men must travel far to find jobs in logging. Some are lucky enough to be breeders, with the family.