Flour (bakwezhigan bebinezid)

Anishinaabe Word of The Day

Flour (bakwezhigan bebinezid)

Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures. Corn flour has been important in Mesoamerican cuisine since ancient times and remains a staple in the Americas. Rye flour is a constituent of bread in both Central Europe and Northern Europe.

Cereal flour consists either of the endosperm, germ, and bran together (whole-grain flour) or of the endosperm alone (refined flour). Meal is either differentiable from flour as having slightly coarser particle size (degree of comminution)^{[further explanation needed]} or is synonymous with flour; the word is used both ways. For example, the word cornmeal often connotes a grittier texture whereas corn flour connotes fine powder, although there is no codified dividing line.

The CDC has cautioned not to eat raw flour doughs or batters. Raw flour can contain bacteria like E. coli and needs to be cooked like other foods.^[1]

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Anishinaabe Stories or Other Interesting Facts!

Source:https://burtlakeband.org/

The story of fry bread is deeply tied to the heritage and traditions of the Ojibwe and Odawa, also called the Anishinaabe. It’s more than just a tasty dish; it’s a symbol of survival and cultural strength.

Ojibwe fry bread is a cherished staple made from simple ingredients like flour, water, salt, and sometimes baking powder. It’s fried until it’s crispy on the outside and soft inside, versatile enough to be enjoyed in many ways, from savory meals to sweet treats.

But fry bread’s history is about more than food. It goes back to a tough time in Native American history when the U.S. government displaced indigenous people from their lands and put them in reservations. This forced change disrupted their traditional food practices, and they had to make do with government rations—often just processed flour, lard, and non-perishable items.