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.
Bear and I. Quiet in the cold, clear morning. In moonlight.
This morning out with Bear, the full moon was still hours away from setting. There is a day old skiff of new snow making the dark o’clock outings not quite so dark.
This photo…I couldn’t see those colors. I was trying to capture the moon lighting up the mare’s tail clouds above it.
I increased the exposure in post processing and I have no idea if those colors are actual refraction of moonlight in atmosopheric moisture or if they are some sort of chromatic aberration of the camera lens. Per the weather information, it is foggy in Kalispell so there may be enough moisture to allow a kind of “rainbow”…I just don’t know.
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.
