Homemade Soft Flour Tortillas

Here's a little story of my meal plans when I try to plan too far ahead. I finished grocery shopping on Friday with my weekend menu in mind. Sunday afternoon, I started to make chicken and noodles when I realized I wasn't really hungry for that anymore. I was hungry for chicken tacos, so I decided to make chicken tacos.
I had just finished boiling my chicken so I poured the chicken stock into quart jars and put it in the refrigerator. I shredded the chicken and let it cool in the refrigerator. Then I started getting the rest of the ingredients ready for chicken tacos. I discovered I was out of soft tortillas and salsa. At this point it crossed my mind to give up and go back to the chicken and noodles idea because I did not feel like going back to the store again, but I was not going to give up! So I decided to make homemade tortillas, grab a few tomatoes and peppers from the garden and make some salsa. Luckily I always keep shallots on hand and I had cilantro from the farmer's market, I was ready to make salsa! Then disaster nearly happened - I suddenly remembered that I had thrown my electric griddle away a couple of weeks ago. Something scary with the wiring was happening and I decided we didn't really need a fire.... so off it went! And since I am also trying to decrease the number of small appliances around here, I decided to use my lefse griddle and it worked perfectly! You can also use a skillet.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sea salt

6 T cold butter cut into small pieces (you can use lard or shortening also)

1 cup warm water

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients together except the water with a pastry cutter, blending them together like a pie crust. 
• Start adding the water and mix with a wooden spoon or your hands (it's sticky). 
• After all of the water has been added, knead the dough with your hands to form the dough into a smooth ball. 
• Place the dough into an oiled bowl and cover for 30 minutes (so the dough can rest).
• Knead the dough again for a couple of minutes and separate the dough into small balls, I made about 16 balls.
• Place the balls back into the bowl, cover and let them rest another 15-20 minutes.
• I sprinkled some flour onto my counter top and began rolling the dough flat with a rolling pin.
• Tips on rolling - roll in different directions, keep rolling because you want your tortillas thin. My clue was when I could see my counter top through the dough, they were rolled enough. It takes a few to get this figured out.
• Preheat your griddle or skillet to 350F and place tortilla on the griddle.
• Flip the tortilla when bubbles are forming on the top.
• They only take about a minute per tortilla.
• I stacked mine in a clean dish towel and kept them covered until I served them.
• I stored the rest in an airtight container. They kept about 3 days.

These were amazing, no more store bought tortillas! Enjoy!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Chicken Cacciatore

 

I have been having so much fun going to the Farmer's Markets and picking out fresh fruits and veggies on the weekends. Last weekend I bought the most delicious berries, they were huge! I also bought some other things and decided to make my version of Chicken Cacciatore. This is one of those, "throw in what veggies you like add a few seasonings and it's done!"   Plus I feel like it's pretty healthy with all those vegetables!               

Here's what you need:  

• 3 boneless skinless thighs, or 2 large breasts, cut up or left whole
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 medium onion, I like the sweet yellow ones
• 1 c chicken stock or broth
• 1 14oz can diced tomatoes, or you can use fresh, I just like to use the ones in the can with the liquid because they are already ripe and cut up 
• 1/2 pound of penne pasta, or what you like OR you can omit the pasta
• optional seasonings to taste, red pepper flakes, celery salt, salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, oregano

I start by cutting the chicken up into pieces and cooking in a little olive oil. While the chicken is cooking, chop the veggies, into chunks. Then add the broth, tomatoes with the juice, veggies and pasta into the same skillet as the chicken, along with seasonings you like. Cook until the pasta and vegetables done.
***If you want to hurry it along, you can boil pasta water and partially cook the pasta while the chicken is cooking, then add to the mixture. Sometimes I do it that way, but you have to be careful not to overcook the pasta, it will cook in the liquid with the chicken and vegetables too.
Bon Appétit!
~Simply Angie

Vanilla Almonds

I got this recipe a couple years ago from the Kelsey's Essentials on the cooking channel. I have made it for gifts, it also makes a yummy sweet and crunchy treat to have around. They are easy to make and it makes 4 cups, so it makes quite a bit. Especially if you divide it up and put it in those cute little cello bags with a ribbon.
Here's what you need:

• 4 cups almonds, I usually buy them either at Costco or in the bulk food section at the grocery store where they are cheaper. You can get roasted, salted or unsalted. I get half of each unless one of them is on sale, then I buy the cheap ones.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, store bought or make your own homemade vanilla extract
• 1 egg white beaten
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Beat the egg white with the vanilla extract, add the almonds and stir to coat. Combine the sugar, salt, and cinnamon with mixture. Place in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-25 minutes. I always mix them around a little about halfway through baking. Remove and cool on wax paper. They will get more flavorful and crunchy as they cool.
~Simply Angie

Cleaning Your Wood Floor

Searching, searching, searching...for a good way to clean wood floors. After 4 years of carpet in our home, my husband took out the carpet and installed wood floors due to my not so subtle hints about my carpet "phobia" issues. The wood floor was not a problem because my husband and son-in-law are both carpenters, however this also means that my options for cleaning the wood floors are limited. No machines, no excess water, no fancy equipment, nothing with pads and liquids squirting out the ends, I did try a chemically infused mop type device a few times (icky!!), so the search went on and on.
And being true to what I already knew was the best way to clean my floors, just as in the "old days" and keeping it simple, we ended up with a hands and knees approach (thankfully most of the time my husband or daughter do this for me). In the beginning we used vinegar and water, it works pretty well but it is now my second choice.

I found the ultimate product! You may already know that my sister and I love Dr. Bronner's products, well let me tell you about Sal Suds. It's the best! It is my first choice for the wood floors, counter tops, laundry, fruits, veggies, windows and more!! For the wood floors, I mix 1-2 Tablespoons of Sal Suds per 4 gallons of warm water. Don't use more! No streaks and a beautiful finish on the floor. For an added touch or for a quick clean-up, I use this recipe from Lisa Bronner's web site. Here is the link to her web site and a very helpful Sal Suds Cheat Sheet.

Wood Floor Spray: 
2 tsp olive oil
20 drops essential oil, I used lemon
1/4 cup white vinegar
Mix the above ingredients in a large spray bottle then fill rest of spray bottle with water, then spray on your clean wood floor and use a microfiber or cotton cloth to shine. Shake the mixture each time before using it.

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi