Kila in Winter
Bear and I made a quick trip to Kila this morning to collect Bob’s insulin from Calm Veterinary. Winter Storm Warning and Watch is in effect and they are promising snow. There were squalls here and there and in Kila, next to Smith Lake, beautiful hoar frost.
Even the dry weeds have beauty when decorated with the heavy frost.
We walked on the “Rails to Trails” walk along the lake and Smith Valley.
The palette of the landscape was soft and pale, especially compared to Kila in Summer.
At sunrise
Tortillas v2.0 with a side of bacon
For years…up until several months ago, I have been making bacon in the micowave between sheets of paper towell. But after my dive into the benefits of fresh lard and then an accidental finding of a recipe for “bacon fat tortillas”…
Bacon is now fried in a cast iron skillet and the rendered fat, aka bacon grease is saved!
The entire tortilla recipe has evolved as well. Although Tortillas v1.0 were very good, there was a bit of an odd taste and they were a little puffier/heavier than I wanted.
The new recipe – which I make into 6-8 tortillas: (NO baking powder!!)
160 grams all purpose flour (Wheat Montana White) approx 1 cups
50 grams white whole wheat flour (King Arthur White whole wheat) approx 1/2 cup
3 T bacon fat, fresh lard or other fat…canola oil for example
1/2 (scant) tsp sea salt
1/2 cup very hot water
Mix all, knead lightly. Let rest for 20 minutes. Divide into 6 or 8 balls. Flatten and cook in dry cast iron comal or skillet.
The other improvement is the find of a pastry cloth and rolling pin cover…JUST like my Mama has! She has had her cloth and cover for probably 50 years – I never knew anything else to make pie crusts on. But I could never find one until several weeks ago…on Amazon. Mahhvelous!!!
Beautiful, light and pliable tortillas.
Meanwhile, my faithful companions lent their moral support…
…from the comfort of their beds.
Saturday chores
Huh…
Another photo that looks very un-January-ish.
Earlier in the week, after 3 days in the upper 40’s, including 1 day that set a new record high, eclipsing a record that has stood since 1903!!! – I went up on the roof with the blower and cleared the pine needles.
Blowing pine needles off the roof is usually a Spring chore and a late Spring chore at that. Both the roof and the needles need to be on the dry side, else they just stick.
Today, although it was more normal on the temperature scale at 35F, since there was no snow and all those needles off the roof, went to live with those on the ground…and since Bear and I were outside anyway, I decided to rake the worst of them up and cart them off into the woods…hopefully far enough into the woods that they don’t blow back in the yard in a Spring windstorm.
Meanwhile, Bear explored…
And just enjoyed.
The other reason we were outside is that the motorhome was running and its generator was running…my normal, every 3 week startup and battery check. All is A-ok with Wild Thing!
With chores complete, we adjourned to the sunroom and relaxed in an indoor way. Saturday chores.