Acorn Brownies, Say What?!
Acorn Brownies, Say What?!
By Vince Medina
Like many California Indians, I get that craving every so often for acorn, yuukiš we call it in Chochenyo Ohlone. The craving, once it sets in, doesn’t relent until I taste the acorn on my tongue. I think of my ancestors, and all the love and admiration they had for this little protein-packed nut. I think about how the acorn gave us life, how we have a word just for the boiling sound the acorn makes when it’s being heated in a basket, poppoppop! However, for many urban Indians, acorn flour can be a rarity to get ahold of. Once I get it though, I always like to make something new. Last night, I made my first attempt at acorn brownies, and I must say the recipe was simple, fun, and satisfying. It’s that mixture of traditional and modern that embodies my reality, and I would guess many other California Indian folks’ realities too.
Have some fun making these simple brownies, and make them your own. Add nuts, different chocolate, or maybe a big scoop of ice cream and some iced yerba buena tea on the side for a perfect springtime treat!
Acorn Brownies
Ingredients
1/2 cup of acorn flour; leached
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of melted butter
2 cups of sugar
4 ounces of baking chocolate, bitter
2 eggs
pinch of salt
optional: nuts to add to mix
Directions
1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2) In a large saucepan, heat butter and chocolate together until both are melted together, turn heat off once melted entirely.
3) Add acorn flour, whole wheat flour, eggs, salt, sugar, and optional nuts to butter and chocolate. Mix throughly.
4) On a well-greased baking sheet add brownie mixture.
5) Bake for 30 minutes.
6) Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into squares and enjoy!
