Making Your Own Sweet Potato Tortillas

 

Last week I tried a recipe for sweet potato tortillas.  The ingredients are simple: baked sweet potatoes, flour, and salt.  I used one cup of each, with a half teaspoon of salt.

The dough came out a beautiful pastel peach color, and it felt elastic, even though there is no yeast in the recipe.  I patted small ball of the dough onto my floured cutting board. Using a dry cast iron skillet, I cooked the flat bread up quickly.

I was thrilled with the result!  I layered  the above quesadilla with grated Tillamook cheddar cheese.  They keep well in the fridge.    I cut the recipe in half.  You can use two cups and of flour, sweet potatoes, and a full teaspoon of salt if you have more mouths to feed.

Let me know if you try them.  Some people use spelt flour.  I just scooped out what I had on hand.  They are fantastic!  My gluten free neighbor turned me on to them.  

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Reaping the Rewards of Growing Fruit

 

This week I will continue to harvest Meyer Lemons, Blood Oranges, and Ruby Red Grapefruit.  Citrus trees take many years to mature and produce fruit.  Once they hit a certain level, their production power is amazing!  I am able to share the sun ripened fruit with several of my neighbors.  The rain we are receiving right now from the lates atmospheric river will greatly help next year's harvest.  It is also plumping up the citrus that are still hanging on the trees.  I like to wait for the rain, and let it do its job.  

I am growing mostly fruit right now.  I used to plant and harvest more vegetables like artichokes, lettuce, mesclun greens, and potatoes.  Since I receive so many of them from the co-op, I really don't need to grow my own at this point.  I may plant a few favorites in the spring, like zucchini and pumpkins.  I focus mainly on fruit, since it is more expensive in the stores.  I studied the prices in the produce section of our local mountain market yesterday.  It was shocking.  I felt sorry for an elderly man with just a few items in his basket.  It made me realize how important it is to be able to feed yourself.    

It is very rewarding to produce food in your front and backyard.  Building the soil, composting the fruit and vegetable scraps, and spreading straw mulch have made it much easier.  So has the plentiful rain.

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Vegetables For Breakfast in California

 

This morning I boiled some green beans on the stove in a small amount of salted water.  After draining them in a colander, I swirled them in their original pot in a small amount of Danish Creamery butter, and pressed a clove of fresh garlic over the surface.  The warmth of the saucepan will melt the butter.

Sunchokes are a vegetable that I was recently introduced to through our local farmers.  I expected them to taste like artichokes, of which I am a huge fan.  Instead, they remind me of homemade potato chips with a sunflower flavor. They are addictive!  I couldn’t wait to make them again.

Shaped like a bulb, they resemble  ginger.  I sliced them width-wise,  thinly, and baked them in olive oil, seasoning them with salt and pepper.  They cook very quickly, and make a delicious side dish to any meal.  I enjoyed  them last night, for dinner, with spicy chicken wings and a vegetable salad.

What do you eat for breakfast?

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Downtown Disneyland Yesterday

 

I drove down to Anaheim, California yesterday, to meet up with an old friend from my dancing days.  We toured with the Broadway show, “My One and Only” together.  She was staying at The Holiday Inn.  I was able to book a room there at the last minute and join her.

We took a beautiful stroll to Downtown Disneyland, and enjoyed a delicious meal outdoors.  I splurged on a rich, bacon cheeseburger.  My friend savored a delightful salad with teriyaki chicken.  It was very relaxed outside, and we sat at the bar.  The tiki lights gave it a fire-lit atmosphere.  

I ran into another lovely performer from MGM in the hotel lobby.  She was our leading lady in the show, EFX, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.  Michael Crawford was the star.  He selected me to be her understudy.  We both got chills upon seeing each other again.  It was such a special surprise.

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A Winter Wonderland in California

 

Hello from snowy California!  I’m sorry I have not been able to answer all of the latest comments.  I have been busy shoveling!  I will respond in the next couple of days.  Heating the cabin with wood takes a lot of time and energy.  I appreciate all of you reading the blog, and I love hearing from you.

As you may have read, we have been experiencing atmospheric rivers in California.  They are amazing and powerful.    I have had many friends call to check on me.  It’s been so much fun to catch up with them.  We received about a foot of rain, and then all of this gorgeous snow.  It just sparkles…

My body is very sore and tired from digging out the cars, and clearing the deck.  We have more snow on the way.  It is lovely to sit by the fire, enjoy a tuna casserole, and sip a cup of rose hips tea.  I wish I could post videos here, because I made a beautiful one during the snowstorm.

How is the weather where you are?

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No Frills Grocery Stores Save Money in Retirement

 

The other day I realized that I needed to buy another package of butter before the upcoming rain and snow in California.  I also had run out of fresh cilantro.  I stopped by our local market.up  A box with  four cubes of Danish Creamery butter was priced at $8.99.  Cilantro was $1.79 a bunch.  I was glad that was all I needed.  You will pay much more for food in a resort town or village.  However, the convenience is excellent, especially when it’s snowing.

I do most of my shopping in the city  at Aldi.  I love the simplicity and low prices there. I stock up on necessities, and transport the food in reusable bags up to the cabin.  This week  I baked an apple crisp, reheated taco leftovers, and made rose hips tea with honey.  Making a family sized casserole, and enjoying single portions of it works for me.  It’s inexpensive, healthy and convenient.

The glamorous grocery stores in LA have Starbucks coffee shops, fancy displays, and everything you could possibly need.  You pay for all of that, though.  Shopping at the discount stores saves me nearly fifty percent.  Over time, this really adds up, since food to prepare at home is a need for all of us.

Where do you buy your groceries?

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