One of the great benefits of food is that it gives us a window into a world of other cultures and history. Recently I read a Facebook post about a delicious Lamb and Corn Dumpling Stew. I messaged back to request the recipe, but I never heard back. So I turned to the great God, Google. My search came up with many recipes titled, “Navajo Lamb and Corn Dumpling Stew”. Hmm, I thought – when did the Navajo start eating lamb? First, I went to my walking encyclopedia Dan, whose quick answer was, “when the Spaniards came” and “that I should research it”. This caused me to have a grade school flashback, but back to the computer I went. Clicking through pages of interesting information, I uncovered that the Navajo are related to the Athabaskans of Canada, that they ventured to the Southwest after the 1300s, that the Pueblos introduced them to farming and that when the Spaniards came (1500s) they influenced them with their domesticated livestock. But I’m guessing that before they hung up their hunting and gathering ways, there was many a buffalo stew prepared. Below is my rendition of Navajo Buffalo and Corn Dumpling Stew. It is a lighter take on a traditional hearty stew, and it’s oh so good. A new favorite at the O’Brien’s. Hope you enjoy it too. Cheers!