Sourdough Tortillas

Recently it dawned on me that sprouted grain tortillas were too heavy on our food budget ($4 for 6) and they didn't taste all that good really. I wanted a tortilla recipe that would keep to the nourishing traditions theme of our diet by soaking and fermenting the grain. Here's a recipe I worked out ...

Ingredients:

3 cups of whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 Tbsp oil
1 1/4 cups boiling water
2 Tbsp yogurt or sourdough starter

Combine the flour, salt and baking soda in a large bowl and sift well. In the meantime bring the water to a boil. Mix oil in by hand until the mixture looks like course crumbs. Add boiling water and stir until just barely mixed. Allow the mixture to cool until you can handle it. Add yogurt to mixture. Kneed dough until soft but not sticky.

Form dough into golf ball sized balls. Place them on a platter and cover. Leave in a warm place for 12-24 hours.

When you're ready to cook them, roll them out thinly with a rolling pin on a floured surface. Cook on a dry skillet over medium high heat for about 30 seconds on each side. The rolling out bit takes some practice so don't worry if you screw it up a bit at first keep going it will fall into place, I promise!

Serve warm. Store them in an air tight container along with a damp cloth to keep them moist. They keep in the fridge for a while, well over a week!

We eat them on our taco Tuesday dinner. You can fry the extra up in coconut oil and dust with powdered sugar for a nice dessert!

Saint Patrick's Day Blessings and Shepherd's Pie Recipe!

 

Felted Shamrocks made by the kiddos

 

"May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand." Irish Author Unknown

Today is the feast day of Saint Patrick, a public holiday in Ireland and an internationally recognized day of Irish pride!

Saint Patrick was the son of a deacon who was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. In a dream God told Patrick when and how to evade his captors.

I am thankful today for dreams sent by God...

Upon returning to his native Roman Brittain Saint Patrick became a priest. He returned years later to Ireland as a bishop and was well known for converting the Irish natives from there polytheistic faith to Christianity. He is held in high esteem among Irish Christians to this day.

Saint Patrick used the shamrock to symbolize the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This is most likely why Saint Patrick is credited with driving all the snakes out of Ireland since the snake is a well known symbol of paganism.

"May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore." - St. Patrick 

 St. Patrick's Day 2010

 Family Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

1 Onion, chopped

3 cups of chopped carrots and peas

2 cups chopped broccoli and kale (or other spring garden greens)

2 lbs of potatoes

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup of broth

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Ready made, soaked, biscuit dough from this recipe

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Chopped the potatoes and bring them to a boil in a large pot. Boil them for about 20 minutes. While they are boiling combine onion, carrots, peas, broccoli and kale in a pan along with the Worcestershire sauce and broth. Cook on medium heat until tender. 

Line a buttered baking dish with the biscuit dough.On top of the dough evenly spread out your veggies. Take the potatoes off the stove, strain and mash them along with the butter, add salt. Spread the mashed potatoes over the veggie mix. Place in the oven at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until brown on top.

"May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go, and guide you in whatever you do and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always."  Unknown Irish Author

Have a happy day!

The Best Ideas the Scriptures Give Us On Being Neighborly

 

On our way to run some errands today we had to stop and fill up our gas tank. We've all been hearing about as well as experiencing the increased prices at the pumps. It struck me how things are changing in our world everyday and how we will have to rely on our local communities for survival.


This brought me to the thought of our blog feature here at Wise and Glorious Purpose - talk to you neighbor Tuesdays. I realized that I hadn't done a TTYNT post in while in part because our only neighbors abandoned their home (kinda weird, I know) and since no one else has moved in, I've been neighborless for about four months.


But wait, am I really neighborless?


Of course not! I live in a town of 5,000 people, I have LOTS of neighbors! So I got excited about looking at my community not through the often times jaded view of a long time resident but through a fresh view of love and tolerance.


So I got out my scriptures to see what they have to say about neighborliness.


Boy, do the scriptures have something to say! A scripture search for the word "neighbor" returned 178 hits on the LDS scriptures site!


I think our Heavenly Father may have a thing or two to say on the matter!


So here is my list of the top best ideas scriptures gives us on being neighborly


Don't Want What They Have


This is a hard one. We humans don't just do this with our neighbors but we tend to do this with EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. I know I am super guilty of coveting. On a recent trip, with a stay in a hotel, I watched a home improvement show on the TV. They had glamorous designers coming in making over people's homes and by the time I got back to my home I felt terrible about where I lived! It looked like such a dump compared to the those TV houses!

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." - Exodus 20:17

Yikes! It's time to be thankful for what I have and not what someone else might have! Striving for what's across the fence is an endless and futile battle.

•  Be Responsible With Other People's Things
  
  Oh my goodness, how many times have I done this? I am awful at returning books I have borrowed. I swear some books on my shelf I borrowed 10 years ago, yet there they sit. Oh, and I have two baking dishes that should have gone back to friends years ago *sigh*
  
  It's a common idea but one that could probably use some freshening up in all our eyes. Don't break or lose things you borrow form your neighbor, and for Heaven's sake, at least give them back and pay for any damage.
  
  
  

  "If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt restore that which thou hast borrowed; and if thou canst not repay then go straightway and tell thy neighbor, lest he condemn thee." - D and C 136:35

  
  
  
•   Forgive Your Neighbor When He Doesn't Return Your Things

So those friends who lent me the pots and the books - I hope they forgive me. What about you? Take a moment and think about forgiveness that you need. Now shouldn't we extend that same kindness to others? Is not any different when the shoes on the other foot. I know it's hard. I really want to hold things against people. It feels "fair" in my mind but the scriptures say it is the Lord's release.

"And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord’s release." -Deuteronomy 15:2

•  Love Thy Neighbor
  
  Probably one of the most classic lines form the Bible yet probably the one least followed is "love thy neighbor as thy self." You know why? 'Cos it's hard! Have you tried? Have you really tried loving your neighbor as yourself? I know I have put passionate thought and effort into it in the past and lasted all of seconds before the effort was simply too great.
  
  But we should never stop trying! We can't be perfect, God knows this, but he expects us to try, to really try. So meditate on this every now and again. Practice just loving your neighbor. You don't have do anything, just love them and see what a difference it makes!
  
  

  "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Matthew 22:39

  
  What is your favorite scripture on neighborliness? 
  
  
  
  
  

Nourishing Travel Food

Our train lunch on our way to the park.

My family and I spent last week at Disneyland! I love Disneyland! It really is the happiest place on earth - for almost everything. The unhappy part of a Disney trip? The food.

You betcha, it's the bottom of the barrel. I do applaud Disney for kicking out McDonalds and for offering "healthy" options such as kids meals with milk, string cheese, yogurt and whole grain gold fish crackers but like a lot of Americans, Disney has no clue what is actually food, let a lone health food.

The easiest option is to bring most of your own food to the park, but as us real foodists know it can be really hard to find self stable real food. Here are some of my best tips.

Bring a small cooler

Depending on your circumstances and how you arrived at the park (car, train, bus, plane, etc) your best bet for healthy food is to bring a small cooler with you.

But wait, lugging a cooler around Disneyland? For sure not, right? I mean how would that be practical?

Well, depending on your budget for the park (which may stretch further when you're bringing your own food) you may want to choose to rent a locker on main street USA. A small purse or back pack can easily hold food for a few hours. Return to your locker two or three times during the day to restock on meals and snacks. A small cooler can be packed neatly under a stroller too and brought around the park if you're traveling with a young baby. Even the Disney rental strollers have enough storage underneath for a small cooler.

The best meals and snacks to pack in that cooler? Here are some ideas:

- Slices of raw cheese
- Hard boiled eggs
- Smoked salmon
- Kefir or yogurt
- Kombocha or Kavaas
- Sprouts
- Whole milk
- Slices of roast beef
- Chicken salad
- Cucumbers and cream cheese

Pack It

If the cooler option doesn't work, or in conjunction to the cooler option, try these short-term, self stable foods.

- Crispy nuts 
- Sprouted bread, tortillas, or English muffins 
- Homemade sough dough bread 
- Dried fruit
- Dry seaweed
- Canned Dolmas 
- Soaked oatmeal bars
-  Apples, oranges, pears, tangerines, bananas, etc
- Olives (the fancy kind in the glass jar)
- Butter (keeps for a few days in moderate weather, just pack it tightly and remember napkins!) 
- All natural beef or turkey jerky


My Park Recommendations  

These place may not be perfect food but they are the best I found around the park. Feel free to comment with your own suggestions.

- The Best Western Stovall Inn. The continental breakfast left a lot to be desired but they did have oatmeal (you could soak a day ahead of time in your room, after your first day if you brought yogurt) and they also had hard boiled eggs (but they are behind the counter, you have to ask). Bonus points; they are located within walking distance form the park, nice clean rooms and the price is very reasonable.

- Coco's located right next to Best Western Stovall Inn had organic selections, decent prices and real butter!

- Clam chowder bread bowl is one of my favorite things to eat in the park, located in New Orleans Square.

- Tomorrow land has a semi real food Pizza place and Frontierland features a somewhat decent Mexican eatery. Do not go to Village House for pizza, they have changed their recipe and it is nasty!

- Outside of Jungle Cruise (as well as some other spots) you can find a stand loaded with expensive fresh fruit! 

- Tomorrowland pavilion features a chicken salad. 

And just remember, you're on vacation and a churro or two wont kill you! : D

Our Valentine's Day Post!

Valentine's day or rather Saint Valentine's day is a very old holiday with a very fuzzy history. The day is named for one of the early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established in 500 AD. There were actually several early Christian martyrs with the name Valentine but it is believed the Valentine's day is name primarily for Saint Valentine of Terni.

Modern legend has it that on the night before Valentine was to be executed, he wrote a card addressed to a young girl identified on the card as his "beloved." His beloved was the jailer's daughter whom he had befriended and healed. It was a note that read "From your Valentine." Hence the first Valentine's day card. Of course whether or not this legend is true is up for debate but it makes a fun story, huh?

Today we lavish gifts on each other (or at least we are "suppose" to) in order to celebrate this holiday. I shy away from the commercial aspect and like to celebrate a more down-home, an inexpensive version of this cute holiday which really livens things up between Christmas and Spring.

Here are some thoughts on ways to celebrate the holiday...

Re-stuff the Stuffed Animal

If your family or loved one is a fan of the stuffed animal on Valentine's day try checking your local thrift shop which usually will have a large variety of stuffed bears with hearts and the like, around this time or year. Pick out a cuddly guy, take him home and wash him. Then cut open the back and take out about half of the stuffing and fill with dried herbs. Some ideas include lavender for relaxation, peppermint for those prone to headaches, chamomile for those who are restless, and rose petals for hyper children.

Every year instead of buying a new cuddly friend, wash and re-stuff the original one. It will come to be a lovely family or couple tradition year after year!

Homemade Candy

Decorate a reusable box, such as as cereal box or a tea box. Fill it up with some homemade goodies for your favorite person. Here are some links to my favorite, easy, healthy recipes.

Nut Butter Cups

Basic Honey Taffy

Chocolate Covered Strawberries


Always Say "Yes"

Ladies have you ever considered making a vow to always say "yes" to your hubby when he wants to be intimate? It can be a really rewarding experience for you both! I strongly encourage you to give a secret gift of always saying "yes" this year and see how fun it can be!

On that theme there is a great post over here called 12 Ways to Love Your Hubby Without Saying a Word. I highly recommend it! She has wonderful ideas!


Commit Yourself to Loving Expression and to Show Yourself Love All Year Long!

Surround yourself with things which are pretty, lively and wholesome. Make a commitment to yourself this year that you will be kind, generous, and loving. That you will treat your body as a temple, that you will respect yourself as well as others and that you will stay away from things which are gross, degrading, harmful and unhealthy.

Praise God

I love my husband, my children, my parents, my siblings, etc. and I love God most of all! Remember to show God how much you love Him by praying to Him often and telling Him how thankful you are for all your blessings! Even if you think you don't have much you have something! A warm, dry, place to sleep, food in your belly, clothes on your back, a good nights rest - all examples of God's love for you! I testify to you that you are a beloved son or daughter of our Heavenly Parents and They love you!

Oh, just go and hug someone! And have a Happy Valentines day!

Life's Simple Pleasures

 

 

Luminate, "Come Home"

I'm pretty much obsessed with this song right now. I love the lyrics, it's one of the best love songs for Valentine's Day, reminding me of the love of our Heavenly Father.

Luminate, "Come Home"

You're best friends with the word regret
You're afraid that your life's been wasted
So why hope if it's only gonna let you down
You don't think people really change
That you’re a mess and you'll always be the same
And you doubt if you'll ever get it turned around

So (I know) you've been running, searching for something
But you're looking in a place you don't belong
It's never too late, you can't outrun grace
No, Mercy doesn't care what you've done
So Come Home (Oh Oh, Oh Oh)
So Come Home (Oh Oh, Oh Oh)

You can try to fix your broken empire
And put bricks on a cracked foundation
But you'd be building castles on the sand
There's power in the blood of Jesus
Your Father's screaming, "Just come home!"
He's reaching out His hands

From the shadows, From the wrong roads
From the darkness, From the unknown
To redemption, Something beautiful
To a new love, To new Home


Written by Samuel Hancock and Ben Glover
(C) 2010 Birdwing Music / Ariose Music / 9T One Songs (Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) (ASCAP)