Nixtamal for Tamales, Tortillas and Hominy

Do you enjoy the freshest ingredients possible? Then you will want to try making your own fresh Nixtamal . Don't let the unusual name scare you. It is actually just dried corn that is cooked and soaked in lime to soften it enough to remove the skins and hulls. Then it is used as hominy or ground and used as a dough. It is actually very easy to do, but the lime is sometimes difficult to find. Of course, try your local Hispanic market for "Cal" or look near the pickling supplies at your local grocer for "pickling lime" or "calcium hydroxide." Once you get that out of the way, it's easy to make your own fresh hominy or masa dough. Try it and you'll taste the difference.

_{Ground Nixtamal (c)2005 Chelsie Kenyon licensed to About.com}

Virtual Cookie Exchange- Our Guide to Busy Cooks has a great recipe to share with us for Caramel Sandwich Cookies. Icing made with browned butter and sugar and then sandwiched between two golden brown-sugar cookies.