Who would have thought a little bit of corn flour and water could be such a big deal?
I've been trying for the last few weeks to make my own corn tortilla's with no success! It's been very frustrating!
So I read a few blogs, visited a few cooking web sites, read recipes and figured no problem I could figure this out....lol....it's not that easy!
Now I have to preface this with the knowledge that it takes a lot longer to grind popcorn than beans or rice. So the grinding process to get 3 cups of corn meal took a few days. So when I finally got enough corn ground I was very eager to make a tortilla.
My first try I ground popcorn seeds added water pressed them with a flat cooking pan. It fell apart before I ever got to the stove. And I mean disintegrated as soon as I removed the plastic wrap. No go
So back to the mill (a few days later) to run the corn through it two more times. It looked pretty fine to me so I tried again. Pretty much a repeat of the first experiment only this time it looked like a tortilla but just fell apart. Again I was using a pan to press.
Now as I type this I realize I should have taken pictures of my kitchen and the tortilla tries before and after each try and you'd know why I waited a few days in between tries :-) Corn tends to travel and I found that I had to deep clean my kitchen each time....ah the joys of a learning process...
Now I have a cast iron tortilla press so I decided to try again, my hope revived with a new kitchen tool.:-)
#3 We ground the corn more and got an even finer grind. It was very pretty corn flour but apparently not fine enough! It too fell apart! Uuuggghhh will this never work! It can't be this hard. People make tortilla's in the woods with rocks!
#4 Same day as #3 only this time I broke open a bag of Maseca corn flour for tortilla's. It made my fine grind look like corn meal. The stuff is like the finest powder known to man. I can't believe how incredibly soft and fine it is. Then the light bulb turns on and I understand my failure to make the last ones work. You have to use corn that is basically powder to make tortillas. So try number 4 goes much smoother...a little water...a little oil, a little hand mixing, a cast iron pan that is hot but not to hot....and I have beautiful, yummy tortillas that the kids line up to eat!
Success finally! Even if the corn was not from my mill....now I know what I need to do to make tortillas. So back to the grind (literally) to see how many times through the mill it takes to make corn flour that fine.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Laundry Day
I have discovered I love consistency in chores. This has been big change for me as I tend to go with the flow and do things as they need to be done :-)
Thursday's in our house is laundry and clean the up-stairs. I really like Thursday's! There is something about getting to clean my own room that I love. Clean sheets, vacuuming, cleaning my bathroom and closet. There is something wonderful about order.
Now for you this may just be the way you live but for me this was revolutionary. I have always been a fly by the seat of your pants girl. Doing thing when they needed to be done or when I had time. But I don't know many people who says "Oh I have a couple of minutes I think I'll clean my room." Not in my house anyway.
But over the last year I have discovered that I truly enjoy order and the tidiness that comes with consistency in chores. I also have found that with a plan everything get's done. This is not rocket science and I've "known" of this for years but putting it into practice is another issue.
With a family of 7 there seems to be a lot of stuff around so I've spend the last few months purging our house of unwanted or unneeded items. We've been to the dump 2 times in the last month as part of the purge, countless items to the consignment stores or goodwill, and have given other items away to friends or family. It feels so good.
Now I just need a bunch of bins to store the stuff we're keeping in and everything will have a home. :-)
Also last night was big for me, I unpacked all but one box that was sitting in my room. We have been in this house for a year now and I've been looking at these boxes of "stuff" the whole time as they are in our master bedroom. I've been dreading it! They are boxes with stuff from the last 15 years....2 garbage bags later I only have one box left! Yippee me! Now that last box will be emptied next Thursday when I deep clean my room again.
I don't know about you but I always thought I couldn't get rid of anything or that I just couldn't keep my house that clean. (Sterile yes, tidy no) I don't know if it's age, having 5 kids, or just living in a very functional home that has shown me that I can do those things. And I actually like it. There is peace in having a tidy home.
I'm loving learning as I go. I hope your learning amazing things too....
Thursday's in our house is laundry and clean the up-stairs. I really like Thursday's! There is something about getting to clean my own room that I love. Clean sheets, vacuuming, cleaning my bathroom and closet. There is something wonderful about order.
Now for you this may just be the way you live but for me this was revolutionary. I have always been a fly by the seat of your pants girl. Doing thing when they needed to be done or when I had time. But I don't know many people who says "Oh I have a couple of minutes I think I'll clean my room." Not in my house anyway.
But over the last year I have discovered that I truly enjoy order and the tidiness that comes with consistency in chores. I also have found that with a plan everything get's done. This is not rocket science and I've "known" of this for years but putting it into practice is another issue.
With a family of 7 there seems to be a lot of stuff around so I've spend the last few months purging our house of unwanted or unneeded items. We've been to the dump 2 times in the last month as part of the purge, countless items to the consignment stores or goodwill, and have given other items away to friends or family. It feels so good.
Now I just need a bunch of bins to store the stuff we're keeping in and everything will have a home. :-)
Also last night was big for me, I unpacked all but one box that was sitting in my room. We have been in this house for a year now and I've been looking at these boxes of "stuff" the whole time as they are in our master bedroom. I've been dreading it! They are boxes with stuff from the last 15 years....2 garbage bags later I only have one box left! Yippee me! Now that last box will be emptied next Thursday when I deep clean my room again.
I don't know about you but I always thought I couldn't get rid of anything or that I just couldn't keep my house that clean. (Sterile yes, tidy no) I don't know if it's age, having 5 kids, or just living in a very functional home that has shown me that I can do those things. And I actually like it. There is peace in having a tidy home.
I'm loving learning as I go. I hope your learning amazing things too....
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Little Heathens
I would like to take a moment to introduce you to one of my favorite authors Mildred Armstrong Kalish.
She is the author of the book "Little Heathens - Hard times and high spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Great Depression" it is a treasury of American history. I've looked long and hard for a book that covers a time not talked about by our Grand parents or Great Grand parents. But a time that we could learn so much from.
Mildred goes by the name Millie Kalish and I think she too is a treasure. Honestly I've read and reread many of her passages because they are full of life wisdom and history that we need to know and understand. As I recently contacted her I'll share my email with you.
That in a nut shell is what I think of her book.
My kids have loved the passages I've read to them...especially the Halloween Outhouse tipping. I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in how to live life with less and be content. To work and play hard and to understand a generation that has had such an effect on us today. We have so much to learn from them.
Millie was 5 years old when the story begins as her life changed radically. She became aware of the Great Depression not understanding what it was when she was 6. But she saw the effect it was having on her family and those around her. "Little Heathens" is her contribution to history as she writes first hand of the life and times of the Great Depression.
Some of my favorite parts have been stories of what it took to cook a meal, the planning, preparations. That the preparations for Thanksgiving began months before. How to make marmalade with only one orange but using carrots. Farm Food, chores, wash day, and life as the seasons changed. The importance of family and building character.
It is a book that is rich to read. I hope you get the chance, you'll have a hard time putting it down :-)
http://www.little-heathens.com/index.html
She is the author of the book "Little Heathens - Hard times and high spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Great Depression" it is a treasury of American history. I've looked long and hard for a book that covers a time not talked about by our Grand parents or Great Grand parents. But a time that we could learn so much from.
Mildred goes by the name Millie Kalish and I think she too is a treasure. Honestly I've read and reread many of her passages because they are full of life wisdom and history that we need to know and understand. As I recently contacted her I'll share my email with you.
Thank you for writing such a wonderful, useful and encouraging book! I have been searching for a book just like yours and have been delighted to read it. I have laughed, cried, shared your stories, and underlined your recipes. I can't wait to make marsh-mellows .
What started my search for how to live a simpler life has been spurred by our current economic times. Your book entails things that have been lost to the later generations but will be needed again. And they are the things I have always been drawn to. The space to reply is limited so I just wanted to say "Thank You". Your book has been a blessing to me and to those I have shared it with.
Sincerely
That in a nut shell is what I think of her book.
My kids have loved the passages I've read to them...especially the Halloween Outhouse tipping. I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in how to live life with less and be content. To work and play hard and to understand a generation that has had such an effect on us today. We have so much to learn from them.
Millie was 5 years old when the story begins as her life changed radically. She became aware of the Great Depression not understanding what it was when she was 6. But she saw the effect it was having on her family and those around her. "Little Heathens" is her contribution to history as she writes first hand of the life and times of the Great Depression.
Some of my favorite parts have been stories of what it took to cook a meal, the planning, preparations. That the preparations for Thanksgiving began months before. How to make marmalade with only one orange but using carrots. Farm Food, chores, wash day, and life as the seasons changed. The importance of family and building character.
It is a book that is rich to read. I hope you get the chance, you'll have a hard time putting it down :-)
http://www.little-heathens.com/index.html
So much going on with Pinto Beans!
It's been a while since I've last written and for good reason....I've been learning.
It takes time to learn some things and trial and error is all part of the process. I won't be able to share everything in one blog session so I'm hoping to share with you what I have been learning over the next few entries.
I'm going to start with one of my new adventures in cooking!
I'm talking about Pinto bean fudge and Pinto bean chocolate cake! Yup you read it right pinto beans and chocolate. They are a pairing I will never part. There is something about the pinto beans that totally bring out the richness of real cocoa that is like no other. Now since chocolate and I are such good friends I was excited to try something new that I could consider "good" or at least better for me than the traditional recipes.
And Pinto beans are full of all sorts of wonderful things....fiber, protein, and vitamins. And they are the perfect consistency when ground to a powder that I've been able to use it cup for cup instead of wheat flour. (We use as little wheat in our family as possible due to cross contamination issues) I'll cover the fun of grinding your own flours in another entry!
Ok so pinto beans are such a versatile bean. I'm the first to admit that I only thought they were good for refried beans and chili.... oh how I have been missing out. There is a whole world of Pinto bean recipes that show how versatile this little bean is.
Cakes
Burgers
Fudge
Chili's
Many Mexican dishes
Bread
Soups
Stews
and so on.....
I've gotten a lot of my recipes from Healthy Harvest owner Jan LeBaron
This recipe is from her cook book "Jan's Fabulous Food Storage Recipes"
With her permission, here is her Pinto Bean Fudge recipe. It didn't last long at our house!
Pinto Bean Fudge
1 cup cooked soft pinto beans (drained and mashed)
1/4 cup milk (can be powdered milk)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2/3 cup baker's cocoa (I used dark chocolate)
1/4 cup water
6 Tablespoons butter
5 cups powdered sugar
Nuts, chopped (optional)
In a large bowl stir beans and milk together, adding enough milk to resemble mashed potatoes; stir in vanilla. Add chocolate and butter and stir in bean mixture, 1/4 cup water, stir until nice and smooth. Gradually stir in powdered sugar. Knead with hands to get it well blended.
Spread into lightly buttered 9 inch baking dish or form into 1 1/2 inch rolls. Chill 1-2 hours.
We ate it with a spoon after 2 hours...no complaints here! But if you let it sit overnight it set's a little more and I think it's even richer tasting. You can only have a little at a time as it's so rich!
Thank you Jan for this!
The Chocolate Cake recipe was from the Country Living Mill web site. It's listed as a whole wheat recipe but I changed it to Pinto Beans. Super Yummy!
3 cups Pinto Bean flour
5 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups cold water
Stir the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add the liquid ingredients and beat until almost smooth. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 30- 45 minutes
It takes time to learn some things and trial and error is all part of the process. I won't be able to share everything in one blog session so I'm hoping to share with you what I have been learning over the next few entries.
I'm going to start with one of my new adventures in cooking!
Pinto Beans and Chocolate.
Not something we would usually pair together but once you try it you can't go back :-)I'm talking about Pinto bean fudge and Pinto bean chocolate cake! Yup you read it right pinto beans and chocolate. They are a pairing I will never part. There is something about the pinto beans that totally bring out the richness of real cocoa that is like no other. Now since chocolate and I are such good friends I was excited to try something new that I could consider "good" or at least better for me than the traditional recipes.
And Pinto beans are full of all sorts of wonderful things....fiber, protein, and vitamins. And they are the perfect consistency when ground to a powder that I've been able to use it cup for cup instead of wheat flour. (We use as little wheat in our family as possible due to cross contamination issues) I'll cover the fun of grinding your own flours in another entry!
Ok so pinto beans are such a versatile bean. I'm the first to admit that I only thought they were good for refried beans and chili.... oh how I have been missing out. There is a whole world of Pinto bean recipes that show how versatile this little bean is.
Cakes
Burgers
Fudge
Chili's
Many Mexican dishes
Bread
Soups
Stews
and so on.....
I've gotten a lot of my recipes from Healthy Harvest owner Jan LeBaron
This recipe is from her cook book "Jan's Fabulous Food Storage Recipes"
With her permission, here is her Pinto Bean Fudge recipe. It didn't last long at our house!
Pinto Bean Fudge
1 cup cooked soft pinto beans (drained and mashed)
1/4 cup milk (can be powdered milk)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2/3 cup baker's cocoa (I used dark chocolate)
1/4 cup water
6 Tablespoons butter
5 cups powdered sugar
Nuts, chopped (optional)
In a large bowl stir beans and milk together, adding enough milk to resemble mashed potatoes; stir in vanilla. Add chocolate and butter and stir in bean mixture, 1/4 cup water, stir until nice and smooth. Gradually stir in powdered sugar. Knead with hands to get it well blended.
Spread into lightly buttered 9 inch baking dish or form into 1 1/2 inch rolls. Chill 1-2 hours.
We ate it with a spoon after 2 hours...no complaints here! But if you let it sit overnight it set's a little more and I think it's even richer tasting. You can only have a little at a time as it's so rich!
Thank you Jan for this!
The Chocolate Cake recipe was from the Country Living Mill web site. It's listed as a whole wheat recipe but I changed it to Pinto Beans. Super Yummy!
Chocolate Cake
3 cups Pinto Bean flour
5 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups cold water
Stir the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add the liquid ingredients and beat until almost smooth. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 30- 45 minutes
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