Mother Love

Our weekend was a pretty normal and low-key one, and we looked at ourselves over breakfast on Saturday morning trying to remember what it actually felt like to have a free Saturday. We love our little peach business, but it’s also a challenge to keep up with all the housework and yard work (please don’t come by my house today and look at the unmowed lawn and weedy flowerbeds) that we typically spend our Saturdays doing. We just have to get creative with catching up with those chores when we can! Till then, I try not to feel too embarrassed about our home and property looking like it came out of the pages of a redneck magazine.

My poor little garden is growing things, but it looks a little unkempt (because, uh, it is). The tomatoes are taking over everything, and my basil plants are thriving, and we have a few little bell peppers popping out. It’s terribly exciting to see some gardening success, but I’m learning that I am just not a gardener. Taking care of my garden is usually at the bottom of my to-do list everyday, which means with my work schedule, it often doesn’t get done. As sad as it is, it’s just not something I particularly enjoy doing. I would much rather spend my time in the kitchen cooking food than outside growing food. But all in all, I am glad that we put in a few things and can reap the benefits of some home-grown produce and herbs.

Speaking of cooking food, I was so thrilled to cook up some OKRA for us on Saturday night! Okra isn’t grown in New York (that i’ve found), and when I spotted some in a little international food market that we were browsing in last week, I grabbed a bag full. I make it the way my grand mom taught me, and simply blanched the whole pod in boiling water for a few minutes, until they are bright green. Such a fresh taste of the south.

And some links:

– Bananas are my friend.

– Clearly I’m not alone.

– Emotional eating =’s good.

– Strangers who care make a big difference.

– Hello yummy bread.

– Inspirational company + LEGWARMERS.

– Haha, true.

– Pretty black dress.

– Things to do when facing things.

Have a super week, y’all!

What about you: what was your weekend like?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I’m starting a new series on this blog, and it’s going to be fun.

I am not a big do-it-yourselfer kind of person. I don’t do a lot of crafty things or repurposing or artsy projects. I don’t sew or make jewelry or build furniture or find a lot of neat things at thrift stores or yard sales to repaint and reuse. I wish I was more like that to be honest, and I’m always slightly envious of my friends who create their homes out of all this stuff that they’ve either made themselves or redone themselves. Or those who have wardrobes stuffed full of homemade scarves or tank tops from old t shirts or dresses they designed and sewed.

But I’m just not like that. I’ve do a few such things here and there, but I usually have more ideas than I do the energy or talent to actually do them. I guess I just get bored with doing that kind of thing….and I’ve learned to just stop collecting things with the intent to really do something with them this time. It just doesn’t happen. Sad, but true.

The one place that I am a big do-it-yourselfer is the kitchen. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the kitchen is my happy place. I love the days that I have time to try something new or create something new in the kitchen. Keep me out of the craft room, but give me the kitchen any day!

I’m a big fan of Michael Pollan and his books (this and this) were huge influences in my transition to real food cooking and eating. I love how he summarizes his thoughts on the subject: eat food, not too much, mostly plants. Not just plants, but mostly plants. Michael Pollan is also a huge advocate for home cooking, and would say that actually the best thing you can do for your health is to cook your own food.

Don’t mind if I do, hehe.

So this series will highlight some of my every day kitchen staples and dishes I like to prepare or keep on hand.

We’ll start with something I like to always have around for a quick lunch wrap or supper tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas: tortillas! Tortillas are one of the most genius foods that come from the Latin culture. So versatile! So handy! So budget friendly! I make a big batch of these and keep them in the freezer, and all it takes is a quick fifteen second defrost in the microwave to have a homemade tortilla wrap ready for whatever tasty fillings you want to stuff inside. And honestly, the homemade taste way better than the store bought.

Tortillas do require a little work and mess and flour dust, but once you get in the groove, you can whip them out in no time. I’m thinking of investing in a tortilla press at some point, because I see myself making these for the rest of my days, and a press would really help expedite the process. But in the meantime, we’ll do it the old fashioned way, and I’m here to show you how.

Flour Tortillas

3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup warm water

Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a stand mixer bowl. Attach dough hook to mixer, add oil and water with mixer running at medium speed. Mix for one minute, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. When mixture comes together and begins to form a ball, decrease speed to low. Mix for an additional minute, or until dough is smooth.

Transfer the dough onto a well-floured surface. Divide the dough into fourteen equal portions and form each portion into a ball. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow to rest for fifteen minutes.

Once the dough has rested, heat a large pan (cast iron, preferably) over medium heat.

This is where you have to get creative if you don’t have a tortilla press. My method is to take the ball of dough and place it on a clean plastic baggie. I then lay another plastic baggie on top of the dough. Put the plastic baggies on the floor and place something heavy (i use an old wooden cutting board) on top. Step on it. Yes, seriously. This will save you a ton of time with rolling out the dough. Peel the now-flattened-and-circular dough from the plastic baggies, and use a rolling pin to continue rolling out the tortilla on a well-floured surface. (i like to roll mine to about an eight or nine inch circle, but you can adjust that based on your preference)

Place the tortilla onto heated pan and allow to cook for only about fifteen to twenty seconds. Flip, and cook for another ten to fifteen seconds. Cooking time will vary based on your pan and heat, but you want the tortilla to be only slightly cooked and not browned or crispy. Remove from the pan and stack on a plate. Allow to cool completely before storing in the refrigerator or freezer.

Enjoy!

What about you: are you a diy-er type person? Do you enjoy crafts, or gardening, or sewing, or kitchen?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!