Munchie Monday: Quick and Easy Cassava Flour Tortillas

It pleases me when I make something that is universally enjoyed.  This time it was cassava flour tortillas.

These are pretty quick and easy to make.  The hardest thing is finding the cassava flour.  And the arrowroot flour...


Cassava Tortillas

3/4 cup cassava flour
3 Tablespoons arrowroot flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons avocado oil...or use a solid shortening
1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons warm-ish water

Start your skillet heating, preferably a cast iron skillet heating on medium heat.  After ten minutes raise to medium-high heat when you are almost ready to cook the tortillas.

In a large bowl mix the flours and salt.  Add the oil and stir well with a wooden spoon. If using solid shortening, use your hands to blend together.  Add the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a ball... it forms really quickly.

Divide into 8 pieces and roll into balls.

You can almost see the tortilla press under the waxed paper.

Place a large piece of waxed paper in your nice new cast iron tortilla press, or place between two sheets of waxed paper and roll out, but not too thin.  Experience will teach you how thin to roll.

Place one at at time on the hot skillet.  Cook 15-30 seconds, until "bubbles" form on top.  Flip over for another 15-30 seconds.

Enjoy as soon as you like.  Yes, they are flexible.  I don't know if they would still be flexible tomorrow because each time I have made them they have been wolfed down in about 5 minutes flat!

Family Photo Friday

Here is a sweet-to-me photo I would like to share:

If I have already posted it,  sorry, but it makes me happy to see this photo which was taken in the living room at Riverbow sometime in late 1951 or early 1951.

Grant Lester Matthew Corwin holding Everett Roland Corwin, me, Barbara Read McIntosh Neill Corwin, and Grant Lester Corwin II.

Another Happy Spring Flower Display

We were visiting a sister in our ward and found these lovely encouraging spring flowers in her front yard.  She has a tiny yard but it is all beautiful.

My thought is that these are grape hyacinths, but I am not certain.  Either way,  they are so sweet and spring-y.

Pink!

We are having the most glorious spring-blossoming trees. I don't know what they are by they are so uplifting.

Their ruffles are so sweet and remind me of old-timey ladies' skirts.

Munchie Monday: Plant-Based Sausage and Bacon!

For years we have occasionally purchased plant-based sausages and one time we bought some fakin bakin which was really really nasty.  That has all changed now!

Julie Hasson has written a book called Vegan Diner.  She also has a website.  I have watched her on YouTube for years off and on.  On Thursday I learned about the book and ordered it.  On Friday it arrived.  Yesterday and today I have made two things:  the country sausages and the smokey soy curls.  They are both delicious!

The sausages ready to steam

The sausage uses vital wheat gluten plus chick pea flour which I made in the Vitamix.  You add spices then shape and steam for 30 minutes.  Delicious!

The sausages here are ready to eat. 

The bacon is made with Soy Curls from Butler Foods.  They are fabulous for all kinds of things.

Here are the Soy Curls ready to "fry" in the cast iron pan.

Here is the bacon ready to eat with maple glaze.

Both of these items are so good it is tempting to just gobble them up.  I will see what the blood sugar and scales tell me tomorrow about how likely that is to happen...

Food Friday: Resurrection Rolls

Our daughter mentioned Resurrection Rolls the other day.  I had heard of them but had forgotten about them.  This seems like a meaningful Easter treat.

There is a story that goes with these rolls if you want to make them with your children or grandchildren.  Read down a ways in this post from YummyHealthyEasy blog to teach the children about the true meaning of Easter. 

The ingredients are simple:

Crescent Roll tube
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar
Water or melted butter
Lined baking sheet

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Open crescent rolls and lay out on baking sheet.

Dip large marshmallow in water or melted butter then roll the marshmallow in a bowl of cinnamon sugar. I used 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon that I stirred up very well.

Place the marshmallow in the large end of one crescent roll and start rolling towards the pointed end, being sure to completely enclose the marshmallow in the dough.  PINCH THE DOUGH AROUND THE MARSHMALLOW VERY VERY WELL!  Otherwise it will certainly spew out and be unsightly.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.  I only baked for 12 minutes but think it would have been better to cook longer to give a sturdier roll.  Or perhaps a burned roll...

The first time I made them I used elderly mini-marshmallows that were all stuck together, thinking it would give the same effect as one large marshmallow.  Not.  Don't do it.  I am tossing the rest of the bag tomorrow. I feel the need to watch the bag a few more times to get it into my head that it was a bad idea to use something that already was a losing proposition...

So, these are unsightly on the pan but hopefully when they are cool they will firm up and not be so nasty looking.  We are going to use them as part of a devotional thought at the mission office today.  We will see how THAT goes.

NOTE TO SELF:  It would probably be better to make homemade crescent rolls dough to make these.  Ersatz crescent rolls really are not very good.   I have not made these rolls but I plan to once I get off the relatively serious flour fast.  (It is not really a totally serious flour fast because when I have tummy troubles and can't eat anything else, a couple of soda crackers can help a little bit...)

If you make these Resurrection Rolls with or for your family, I hope you like them.  A dear friend introduced me to them back in 1972 but she used rolled out dinner roll dough she had made and she did not call them Resurrection Rolls.  Her large family LOVED them.

He is Risen

Easter Presentation 2019

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will be performing an Easter Presentation on Saturday night, April 20 at 7:30 PM  Mountain Time that will stream live.  It will also be available on BYU TV on Easter at 6:00 PM Mountain Time.

THIS LINK HAS ALL THE INFORMATION.ABOUT VIEWING.  

Because of Him

So many of life's challenges can be made better, or overcome entirely because of Him.

This Easter season as we deal with our many struggles, perhaps we can turn to Him for consolation.  This short video may help.  Just click on the link under the text above.

Holy Week

Holy Week is a wondrous time of year.  It has the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. 

Sunday past was Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of the Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. 

On Monday he cleansed the temple.

Tuesday and Wednesday he taught in Jerusalem. 

Thursday was the Passover and His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

On Friday was His trial, His cruel crucification, and His burial in the tomb. 

On Saturday His body lay in the tomb while His spirit ministered to those in the spirit world. 

On Sunday was His appearance as a Resurrected Being to many.

Not everyone believed the witnesses of His resurrection. 

Thomas is notable because of his disbelief.  Here is a short video about Thomas. 

In John 20:29 the Savior says to Thomas:  "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Unlike Thomas,  I have not seen Jesus but I have seen how He affects people who believe.  I have not walked with Him, but I believe those people who did walk with Him.  I have not touched the wounds in His side, but I believe those who did touch His wounds.  I have wanted to know these things. I have prayed to know if these things are true.  I have received a personal witness, a warm feeling is my heart as I have prayed to know...and now I, too, believe that He did in fact walk this earth,  teach the people, pay the price for my sins and weakness in Gethsemane and on Golgotha, and that He was resurrected and by so doing has taken the sting of death away from all of us. 

One day we, too, will be resurrected, and can live eternally with Him if we keep His commandments, follow in His footsteps, and participate in the saving ordinances by those who have the authority to perform them.  These things I truly believe.

Easter brings such joy to my heart as I ponder these things.  You can have that same peace and joy.  It is a real blessing to attend Church on Easter Sunday.

 If you do not have a church to attend, you are welcome to attend our church for an hour of uplift and inspiration.  If you do not know where one is to be found go to:  www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org .   

About halfway down the page click on:
"Find A Meetinghouse".  Enter your address in the Search box and you will find the closest one to you. 

 You are most welcome to attend on Easter and every other Sunday, too.

Munchie Monday: A Crazy Pie, Quick and Easy

We were to bring the dessert to the Senior Family Home Evening.  One of the elders really enjoys pie so I thought pie was the thing.  We went to Costco and picked up one of their very nice cherry pies.  When I was at Grocery Outlet I found some nifty frozen tiny chocolate eclairs that I also picked up...bad idea to go shopping when you are hungry and tired.  Self control is hard to come by at times like that.

Well, Dear One thought I should make a pie myself. I thought I would make a Toll House Pie, but I did not bring our Cuisinart food processor with us to Oregon which is how I always make pie crust, and the stores I was in did not have pie crust available SO, I used something different:  Texas Biscuits in a Tube!

After opening the tube I smushed them all into a deep-dish pie plate then made the Toll House Pie filling, put it into the pie plate and baked at 325 degrees F. for one hour.  It probably needed another 5 minutes, but still, it was okay.  Several of the Seniors had a small piece, which is all you really want as it is so rich.

Toll House Pie Filling

Beat 3/4 cup softened butter (no substitute) with 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar.  When nice and light and well whipped, add 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate chips that I purchased in the bulk bins at Winco to melt to make Easter treats...probably won't happen), and 1 cup chopped pecans.  Another kind of nuts will work.  Usually I use walnuts to assist in brain function...!  Stir together until there is no flour showing then put on the crust, whatever crust you are using, and put in the oven to bake. When nicely bake, place on a cooling rack until ready to eat.  DON"T eat it right out of the oven unless you want a severely burned mouth...

Food Friday: Plantain Tortillas

Recently I have been trying harder to eat whole-food plant-based things.  Sister C told us about some plantain tortillas her daughter makes for a grandson who has many food allergies.  I had to go out and do a few errands (going to the post office to pay the overage on a missionary letter, go to AAA, and since AAA is right next to Winco....) so I picked up three plantains.  Knowing nothing about them, I did not know if they were ripe or not.  I still don't but I made these tortillas when we got home after make a grilled cheese sandwich for Dear One who almost certainly would not be interested in the tortillas.

This is the recipe which Sister C's daughter sent us.

1 pound plantains, peeled and chopped

1/3 cup avocado oil

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

Put all ingredients in a Vitamix or food processor and grind on low for a minute or two then raise the speed to high.  You want a VERY smooth dough apparently. I think it was a total of two minutes when I shut off the Vitamix.

plantain dough ready to go

Using a 3 Tablespoon portion scoop, I made 6 piles on each of two cookie sheets with Silpat mats on them.  I spread them out to about 6 inches across then cooked them in a 400 degree F. oven for 10 minutes, then 15 more minutes (this was the first pan because I wanted to get going on eating them). 

By the time the 15 minutes was ready to go, I put the second pan in the oven.  After that 15 minutes, I took the first pan out of the oven.  Sadly, I did not set the timer again and answered the phone which was Sister J.  We had a wonderful talk.  When I remembered the second pan of tortillas, well, can I say they were over-cooked?

Cooked just about right

By this time I was ready to eat.  The over-cooked one that was the most colorful I decided to try.  Amazingly, it was not too bad.  I would not give it to Dear One, but I did not mind it at all.  I had a second one with refried black beans and pepper jack cheese on it.  It was so good that I had another one.  And another.  

A snick over-cooked but still tasty

Don't think blood sugar or scales will be thanking me in the morning, but they were not bad.  At all.

So I asked Dear One if he wanted a plantain tortilla with refried beans and cheese on it.  He shook his head.  Well, I do NOT like to take no for an answer so I put one on a plate, shredded pepper jack cheese on it, put it in the microwave for 30 seconds then handed it to him on the couch.  He wanted to know what it was so I told him...pepper jack cheese.  When I got back to the living room, the plate was empty!!!  I asked about it and he said it was not bad.  High praise indeed!

Candy Dish on Mission Counter: Multi-colored Carrots!

After nearly two years with a candy dish on the counter in front of me,  I have changed the contents to multi-colored carrots for this Easter season.  We have purple, yellow, white, and orange.  You can find little ones at Whole Foods but today I went to Winco and fresh organic full-sized carrots had just come in.  The kind produce clerk went into the back and brought me out a bag.  After a few minutes of peeling and cutting, here they are!

Yellow carrots, white carrots, and orange carrots

Here you can see the purple carrots which have a yellow center. 

This is the current candy bowl which is more like a plate but so very cute, in my opinion.

Wouldn't it be great if I knew how to plate the pictures in a pleasing pattern?!

Lilacs: Next Iteration

Well I worked on the lilacs some more.  They are still pretty nasty but I am learning what not to do!  Fun, either way!

With results like this, you know I am going to keep going to see if I can save this painting...however, it will be a while, maybe months, before I get back to it.

Apple Pie Energy Bites

These energy bites are pretty good.  I made them mostly in the Vitamix.

Toast 1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, and 1/4 cup old-fashioned oatmeal in the oven at 350 degrees F. until they are barely lightly browned, around ten minutes but watch them carefully.  You may be tempted to skip this step, but that is not a good idea.  The flavor is remarkably improved.

In food processor or Vitamix, chop 3/4 cup dried apple slices that have been cut up somewhat, and 1/2 cup pitted dates.  I used Medjool dates.  Pulse until pretty finely chopped.

Add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice or nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon salt plus the nuts and oatmeal and pulse some more until you like the texture.

Put into a bowl then use a  small portion scoop if you want, or take a teaspoon of the "dough" and roll into a ball and place on a cookie sheet.

If you want to be fancy, immediately roll each ball in flaked coconut.  They are good without the coconut, though.  I made a double batch.

The ones I made should have been pulsed more to make them smoother, but still, they worked and were mostly eaten.

Munchie Monday: Nori Burrito!

Sometimes one is just too tired to make anything fancy, but one still needs to eat at least something.  That was today for me.

We had a packet of Nori on the shelf that still has several months until expiration/best-by date.  There was some rice in the refrigerator and I had just steamed some broccoli.  I had also made some chipotle sauce which was really yummy, even though I dropped a second chipotle pepper into the bowl instead of just the one that was recommended.

Here is what I did:

Placed one sheet of nori on the counter.  (It was a square possibly 7-8 inches across)

Sprinkled on a little rice...maybe a tablespoon, but possibly a little more.

Spooned on 2-3 tablespoons of steamed broccoli.

Added a rounded teaspoon of chipotle sauce.

Folded it up more or less like a burrito. 

Ate it for lunch.

Really yummy. I will make another one.  Or two. 

Dear One was not interested. I have recently chosen never to be offended if he does not choose to eat the good food I make for him.   More for me!

Family Photo Friday: Nannie and the Older Grandchildren

This picture makes me so happy!  Nannie (Julia Emily Burbank McIntosh, born 1864) is holding my older brother, Lester.  To her right are my girl cousin, J and my boy cousin, L.  To her right are my two boy cousins C. and D. who is the wonderful kind man who gave me this picture. I really appreciate having it.  He is my oldest cousin on my mother's side of the family.

If you look closely at the picture, you will see where my cowlicks come from!

Gelli Printing Fun!

When we first arrived here in Oregon I got the bug to do some gelli printing to make into greeting cards.  As it turned out, I never got to it.  Until now!  I had purchased a 5 by 7 gelli plate at Blick's art store.  It was still in great shape after lying unused for almost two years.

With the old acrylic paint a very nice lady named Anna on Freecycle gave me, I finally gave it a try.  Being more or less a patriotic person, I decided to use the red, white, and blue paint.  Well, there was also brown, plus a bold yellow, but I stuck with red, white, and blue.

The way you do this form of art is to put a few drops of paint on the gelli plate then use a roller to spread the paint over the plate.  When it is covered the way you like, lay a piece of paper over the gelli plate and carefully smooth the paper over the paint and rub well so the paint will adhere to the paper.  Lift the paper and set it to dry.

Almost always after the first print, you can make a "ghost print", or two.  Lay another piece of paper over the top of the gelli plate and rub very very well over the whole plate then lift off this print.

You never know what you are going to get from a print with this method of printing.  I LOVE this print.  It was the third print of the first paint application.  I call it "Cardinals in Winter" because it reminds me of the cardinals in the bush outside my mother-in-law's house in Barre, Vermont.  She called her cardinal Pierre.

Midnight Painting: Watercolor Background for Lilacs

The other night I could not sleep for anything.  Finally I got up and began working on a lilac bouquet.  This is just the background.  Maybe some time soon I will get to the rest of the flowers. 

Hopefully it will look like something after a lot more work.  As I look at it in the clear light of day it looks rather wretched.  Well, it IS just the background.  I will try not to do negative self-talk about it.

The Gatepost at Greenbrier

Saturday was a glorious day!  Truly glorious.  Bright sunshine, a few pure white cumulous clouds on the horizon.  Sixty-five degrees.  It was a perfect day for a walk.  Since I needed to work on the Oregon Trail newsletter, I took my walking sticks from the trunk of the car and walked to the office. 

After more than an hour working I decide to take my stroller for the walk home.  As I came up Walker Road I stopped for a moment to look at the beautiful jonquils, daffodils, and pansies that greeted me as I came to the Greenbrier gate post. There were also some very fragrant hyacinths which smiled at me. It was a very welcoming sight for me.  I love flowers, especially spring ones which give new hope for another year.

Munchie Monday: Quick and Easy Crockpot Vegetable Soup

Last week I made some Crockpot Vegetable Soup to see if it was good enough to put in the Oregon Trail, the mission newsletter I edit each month. I thought it was fabulous soup.  I have not tried it out on Dear One yet, but that will come.

Quick and Easy Crockpot Vegetable Soup
3 potatoes, scrubbed and diced
1 large onion, finely diced
2 16-ounce bags frozen vegetables of your preference, thawed somewhat
2 15-ounce or 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, including juice
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon coarse salt or 3/4 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 quart vegetable broth

In the bowl of a 6-quart crockpot put the diced potatoes and onions in the bottom of the crockpot bowl.
Add the frozen vegetables, chopping any large pieces to about dice-sized.
Add the bay leaves and sprinkle on the spices.
 Pour the vegetable broth and canned tomatoes and juice over the top then stir well with a wooden spoon.
Cook on Low from 5-6 hours.
Taste to adjust seasoning. Add whatever you need!

This made about 3 quarts of soup.

This is what I told the missionaries to do in the Oregon Trail.  As it turned out, since the frozen vegetable were not very much thawed, the potatoes were not ready when I checked it at 4 1/2 hours.  Since I was edgy to have some for supper, I turned the temperature up to High then cooked 2 more hours.  The potatoes were then soft and the soup tasted good.

The next time I make the soup, I will probably only put in 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and let people who like it with a little more kick to add more at the table.

Sorry about no photo.  It was put away too fast!