Grandma's Tortillas and DIY Night at My Little Mud House

Monday, February 23, 2015



I've been teaching myself to make tortillas.  Red alert:  This is not a healthy recipe.

I'm about 30 years late learning and I'm sure mom is breathing a heavenly sigh of relief that its better late than never.  These homemade tortillas are wonderful for fajitas and a great match with posole or green chile stew.

Ingredients:
3 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Heaping Tsp of Salt
6 Tbsp Lard *gasp*  (or 1/3 Cup of Vegetable Oil)
3/4 Cup Warm Water

Equipment
Bowl
Rolling Pin
Griddle (English for what my grandmother called a "comal")
Two tender loving hands

How to Make them:



Start with the 3 cups of flour in a medium-size bowl



Add the 2 tsp of baking powder.



Throw in the heaping tsp of salt and then grab a whisk and mix it all together.



Next add -brace yourself- 6 tablespoons of lard.  Trust me that lard makes the best tortillas.  (If you're absolutely, positively resistant to using lard, you can substitute the lard for 1/3 cup of vegetable oil.)



Here's where things really start to get interesting.  Roll up your sleeves (up to your arm pits actually, if you're me) and dig in - gently combining the lard with the flour mixture until fairly well combined.  The mix will almost resemble a crumbly starchy mix.



Now you'll want to S-L-O-W-L-Y add 3/4 cup of warm water, mixing as you go.



Keeping that carefree, easy-does-it-NESS about you, combine just until the dough starts to form one beautiful soft mass.  Now cover the dough and let sit 10-15 minutes because it needs to rest from all of that kneading.  In the meantime, turn your stove on to heat your comal over medium heat.



After the dough looks rested, (just kidding).  After the dough has rested its 10-15 minute spell, pull a fist-sized piece of dough from the bowl and form a nice sphere like this one.  (Try not to over-handle the dough or you'll have tough, chewy tortillas.)  When forming your little roundness, don't worry too much about the shape.  If you're like me, it won't stay round during the rolling out process any way.  But one can hope.



This tortilla didn't turn out too badly shaped - mine mostly resemble the shape of Africa.  Anyhoo, start by rolling the dough out nice and easy. (You can use flour on your work surface if your dough starts to stick to your counter.)  Usually the lard prevents them from sticking too much.



Throw your rolled out tortilla on the heated comal and let it cook on that side for about 5 minutes.



Then flip it over and let it cook another 5 minutes on the other side.  (Note: Don't overcook them or they'll become brittle like crackers. Ask me how I know.)

Keep your cooked tortillas covered in a tea towel or tortilla warmer to keep them. Depending on the size of your tortillas, this recipe will yield approximately 10-12 tortillas.  Butter up your tortillas and enjoy.


One more thing to cover in this post ...

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This week happening in my Corrales kitchen! DIY Night With Friends

This Friday night I'm hosting a friends get together for some do-it-yourself in the kitchen fun.  My friend Edee will be bringing peppermint brownies and we'll be making homemade lavender and rosemary bath salts for soaking, an orange moisturizing sugar scrub and a lemon/peppermint foot salve. My other friend Carol is coming to do some massage work on our hands.  Mmmmm. Yummy.

Clear your calendar this Friday night (2/27) and bring a friend if you like.


We'll start with drinks and then I'll open my kitchen at 6:30p for a little crazy, friends making, DIY fun.  Please RSVP at this link and bring (1) 4oz glass jar and (2) 8 oz glass jars.  Both with lids.  We'll provide the rest.  If you absolutely can't locate any jars, come anyway.  We're bound to have extras.

There's no charge to hang out with us, but we'll need you to RSVP ahead of time at this link so we can make sure and have enough salts and salve making goodness on hand:

http://goo.gl/forms/rUZAoYJjTW

Deadline to RSVP is Thursday 2/26 noon.  All attendees will receive an email from me with my exact home address so you can map it out ahead of time.

~Charlene

PS:  Not local to the Albuquerque/Corrales area?  Starting in March, we'll be hosting live classes on line.  You'll be able to join us from your kitchen, real time, for some interactive DIY fun.  The classes will be free and we'll mail you your class ingredients ahead of time.  How's that for a great night in?  Stay tuned for more info.  (I recommend subscribing to my blog here above on the right to ensure you don't miss the details..)


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What's the last movie you saw?

Where's your favorite place to buy groceries?

What's the best memory you have of your grandmother?




2 Things to Make Your Week: DIY Carpet Freshener & Asian Crunch Salad

Thursday, February 19, 2015



The weather has been great here in my little piece of New Mexico and spring brings feelings of lighter, fresher food and every woman's all time favorite - spring cleaning.

I know I've mentioned my love for vacuuming so this next DIY recipe just seems like a natural for me.  Plus, I like choices and this one leaves plenty of choices depending on the oils in your stash.

DIY Carpet Freshener (works great for mattresses and car mats too!)

You'll Need:

1-2 Cups of Baking Soda
doTerra Essential oils of your choice
A mason jar with lid
OR large spice shaker container you can reuse (the kind you purchase your spices in at Costco)



Note: I like to mix my oils in about 15 minutes prior to vacuuming.  I don't recommend adding the oils more than a day ahead since you want the most smell for the most fresh!



Here's another idea I saw on line using a smaller mason jar.  You'll just need to poke holes in the lid (or punch them if you have a punch tool that punches through metal).  If you're vacuuming a smaller area like your car or a few kitchen mats, this size will work fine.



To make your freshener mix, mix 1 cup of baking soda with 15-20 drops of your favorite doTerra Essential Oil.  (Try a combination like Essential Orange and Peppermint for the car or Purify for your mattresses.)  Then grab a taco while the oil seeps deep into the soda for 15 minutes or so.


The combinations for terrific smelling carpets are endless....

Some of my doTerra essential oil favorites for freshening things up are:
Wintergreen and Wild Orange
Cinnamon and Wild Orange (for the car)
Lemon (for my mattress)
Lemongrass
Lemon and Lavender (for my mattress)
Peppermint and Wild Orange

Now that you've carefully mixed your favorite essential oils and the baking soda, wipe the cheese from your mouth and sprinkle your carpets, your cat's favorite chair (and your mattresses if it's linen wash day) with this non-toxic, lovely smelling mix. I recommend leaving the freshener on your to-be-vacuumed surfaces at least 15 minutes.



Now vacuum.  Viola!  Your world smells nothing short of amazing and you aren't filling your lungs with a boat load of synthetic chemicals including phthalates which have been linked to cancer, birth defects and disrupting the body's endocrine system, to name a few.

Speaking of amazing... I made this salad last week and it was such a hit, that I made it again this week.  If you're looking for fresh and healthier, try it!  I'm calling it Asian Crunch.  If you live in the Albuquerque area, our local Flying Star restaurant has a similar salad - although my family swears my recipe is superior to their version.

Asian Crunch Salad

You'll need for the salad:
1 medium Asian cabbage head (also known as savoy cabbage), quartered and then sliced thin
3 green onions chopped
1 bag matchstick carrots (about 2 cups) (I like my salad super crunchy!)
1 red bell pepper diced
1 cup of slivered almonds (lightly toasted in the oven)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 8 oz can of mandarin oranges (optional)


For the marinade/dressing:
1 Cup Soy Vey Vari Vari Terikyaki marinade
(If you don't have Soy Vey, mix 3/4 Cup soy sauce, 3 tbsp canola oil, 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds, 3 tsp sesame oil and 1 tbsp brown sugar)
2 Tsp of grated ginger
3 green onions
2 tsp Sriracha sauce

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts



If you have the Veri Veri Soy Vey, add the last 3 ingredients of the marinade to it.



If you don't have Veri Veri Soy Vey, measure out the 3/4 Cup soy sauce, 3 tbsp canola oil, 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds, 3 tsp sesame oil and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Add the ginger, onions and sriracha sauce.  Wisk it good and set aside.


Sorry about the blurrry chicken.  One hand on the knife with chicken juice (ewww) and the other hand holding the camera...  Anyhoo, dice yo' chicken.



Pour half of the marinade from the bowl into a separate container and refrigerate. Add the chicken to the remaining marinade.  Let the goodness marinade together for 4-6 hours - and as long as a day ahead if convenient.




Now take all the produce for the salad and chop it, dice it, smell it and throw it all together like this.


Once it's all in there and you mix it up, it should look like this.

When you're about 30 minutes from dinner time, throw the chicken in a pan and cook until nice and yummy.  (Discard any extra marinade from the chicken before cooking.)



Add your cooked chicken, toasted almonds and reserved dressing/marinade to the salad and stir it all together.  And if you're really good at following directions, it will look something like this.  Delicious!  (PS:  You can add the mandarins individually to each plate right before you eat - otherwise they get crushed.)



Today was a beautiful day and I crammed a quick run into my afternoon.



Not a super long run, but enough fresh air to bring myself back into the indoors with a new attitude.

That was pretty much today for me.

Enjoy some crunchy salad, a good smelling bed and the rest of your week.

~Charlene

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What's the best dish on your menu this week?

Do you garden?

What's your favorite oldies song?













Feelin Racy? DIY Chocolate Mint "Love Butter"

Wednesday, February 11, 2015


This week some friends and I got together in my kitchen for a little fun and A LOT of Love Butter!  Love Butter is a fantastic substitute for over the counter personal lubricants.

Wow.  It's feeling a little warm in here. *blush*  No time to be shy.  Grab a snack and keep reading.


If you're starting to feel flushed, hang in there because things are just starting to HEAT UP! Things are also about to get super comical.

(The DIY video further on below has some good laughs.)

To make (1) 8oz jar of Love Butter for your love muffin, you'll need:

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil
1/2 Cup Cocoa Butter
4 Drops of DoTerra Peppermint Oil (tingley cool sensation)
  OR
4 Drops of DoTerra Cinnamon Oil (for a warming sensation)
3-4 TSP Raw Honey (I used white clover honey which is AMAZING!)

and

Wax Paper (to make for easy clean up!)
1 8oz canning jar with lid

You can purchase coconut oil, and cocoa butter at your local health nut store.



Start by measuring the coconut oil and cocoa butter.


Then, in a double boiling pan, gently heat the cocoa butter and coconut oil using about 1" of water in the lower pot with the oil and butter in the upper pot.  Stir gently until the mixture becomes liquid form.  Then add your 3-4 tsp. of honey (optional add if you want your love butter to taste yummy).

Transfer the Love Butter liquid into a bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.

Add your DoTerra essential oil.  (Normally I would have added step by step photos, but my two sidekicks got WAAAY ahead of me here.)

Mix all the ingredients well and place the Love Butter mixture in the fridge for 1 hour to cool further.  Fix yourself a sandwich.



After your Love Butter has cooled for one hour, remove from the fridge and beat on high with an electric mixture. Say hi to my friend, Edee.  Isn't she cute? Eat some chips.


Continue to beat until your arm falls off or your Love Butter is a thick whipped-cream consistency.  Whichever comes first.


Here we are, Edee and I, proud of our skills in the kitchen.  If anything, this article will serve as almost-certain embarrassment for my kids.  Pass the bean dip, please.


Now spoon your luscious, lovingly made Love Butter into your 8oz jar.


Make sure to store it in the refrigerator.  Your Love Butter has a shelf life of up to 6 mos.

Here's the video if you'd like to laugh along with us and see the recipe being prepared first hand:


I hope you'll have as much fun as we did.  Gather some gals around your kitchen and whip up some of your own Love Butter with your DoTerra Essential Oils. Not only does Love Butta make a great gift for your romantic partner, but it also makes a swell gift for a new bride and groom!

Need DoTerra Essential Oils?  Get them here.

Enjoy.

Charlene

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Did it snow in your neck of the woods this past week?

What is the last fast food restaurant you ate at?


I'd love to hear from you.  Leave a comment below.


Sniffle, Sneeze, Wipe.. Is It The Flu or Our Daughter's Wedding Engagement? Or Both?

Tuesday, February 10, 2015


The sneezing, coughing and congestion is going around and our house was no exception.  After trying these protocols suggested by a friend,  I did a little research on my own and doled oils out to my family like it was Christmas giving. Speaking of joy, our daughter Abby was proposed to this past weekend - grab some popcorn and tissue and read on...

First things first -

Here are some great oil recipes that worked wonders for us and helped us to avoid highly sought after waiting room waits and subsequent expensive antibiotics.

For cough,  alleluiah!  You know the cough that nothing over the counter seems to help?  This works every time:


Now, if you're wheezing or have a fever, you might have pneumonia or some other serious medical condition.  In that case, please see your doctor.

For chest congestion, whip some of this up.  It's easy and so yummy you'll want to slather it all over your body.  Just don't slather it on the cat, your neighbor or your neighbor's cat.  That would be weird.



1.  In a saucepan, I heat the coconut oil (or almond oil) and beeswax together just until the beeswax melts.

Now easy does it here - you don't want to fire up the stove burner a full blazing! A gentle heat until the mixture is melty goodness will do. Think gentle as in purring kitten.  (If your an I-want-it-now gal like I am, you can melt the mixture right in your glass jar directly in the microwave on low.)  At a gentle purrrrrfectly low setting....

2.  Remove pan from heat (or jar from microwave) and allow the mixture to cool (about 5-8 minutes).  This keeps excessive heat from damaging the oils you're about to add.

3.  Add your DoTerra oils.  (Pour into your glass jar if needed.)  Now do a lap dance.  Just kidding. I don't know where that came from.  This recipe is super easy and you know everything that's in it.  Pretty spectacular.

Has anyone ever told you how beautiful your ears are? You can't help it if they're beautiful. Here's a goodie for keeping them healthy:


Why didn't anyone tell me about this tip before? Try it. It works for us.

Btw, you can get all of your oils at wholesale cost by purchasing an enrollment kit.  There's no commitment to ever buy or sell, and DoTerra knows once you get these oils in your hot little mitts, you'll love them.  In exchange, they're gonna give you a lifetime wholesale cost at 25% off.

Get the low down on the break down here.  If you're wondering why(?) DoTerra, watch this info here. DoTerra is a no-brainer in my genius, heavily-weighted opinion.

Now on to a feel-good, love story in honor of Valentine's Day.  Our daughter was engaged over the weekend.  I thought I would share our special moment with you.  Grab tissue, popcorn and a husband or wife if you have one.  If not, find a furry, purring cat.  Now pet that cat lovingly and watch on:



Enjoy your week.
~Charlene

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What's the most romantic thing that has ever happened to you?
Are you currently using DoTerra's oily goodness?
What are your Valentine plans?

I'd love to hear from you.  Leave a comment below.


DoTerra DIY Cuticle Cream: Yes please!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015


I spent yesterday cleaning my house from top to bottom.  Nothing says hit the sack better than fresh clean sheets.


And I wasn't the only one excited about it.   PS:  If you don't have a one-eyed dog in your bed to snuggle with, well you should. TMI alert: Honey lost her right eye back in December to a foster dog attack, but she's still cute even when she's running into the furniture.  

Having recently retired, I've started to take back ownership of some of my previously hired out chores.  If I haven't mentioned yet, I LOVE cleaning. 
If you can't say anything nice...  But I also occasionally enjoy Raspberry Jello with Dog the Bounty Hunter.  Well, not him himself. Ewww.  Nevermind.



I've started a regular cleaning schedule on Mondays, after everyone's left the house. Not everyone is crazy about the whirling sound of the vacuum.  I don't even want to try to understand it.

All the cleaning causes me to have dry hands syndrome.  It comes with constantly wiping up, wiping down, wiping all around.  I'm getting a weird visual on that too.  


To combat my scaly, dry, enthusiastically ever-peeling cuticles,  I've adopted this cuticle cream recipe from DoTerra as a fun DIY.  It calls for beeswax and shea butter.  Btw, beeswax and shea butter are two staples to have on hand along with your DoTerra oils because they're called for in a whole lotta great recipes. Plus, these two ingredients can make life very interesting.


To start, you're gonna need this stuff.  This recipe is easy peasy.  (You can find Fractionated Coconut oil here.) And if you follow the instructions here for wholesale, you'll get it at 25% off

Find a small container to put your oh-so glorious cuticle cream in, plus one for a friend.  (A tiny plastic snack-size storage container will work nicely.) Actually, get together with your BFF and make the cream together.  With wine.  And recorded episodes of Housewives.  Don't forget to buy your oils here first or you'll be drunk and watching a lot of botoxed faces with no cuticle cream to slather with.  Oy vey!

Then, do this:

1. In a pyrex 2 Cup measuring cup (or other glass container), combine the shea butter, beeswax and fractionated coconut oil.  Now place it in 1-1.5 inches of boiling, scald-your-tongue-hot water. Thank you DoTerra for this lovely photo. And the next one and the next one.



2. Stir it around until the whole thing melts.  If you use a popsicle stick to stir your newly made brew, it'll make for waaay easy clean up.


3. Slather some oil all over your body and then pour yourself more wine.   Now add what's left of your DoTerra oils to your just-melted goodness. (7 drops of lavender or 7 drops of myrrh.)


4.  Put the wine glass down, wipe your mouth with your sleeve and with the help of your friend, pour the mixture into your tiny storage container.  Let cool for 2-3 hours to solidify.  Have more wine.


Enjoy.

~Charlene


What's your favorite tv-watching guilty pleasure?

Do you have a pet that does crazy things?

Who has a February birthday?


I LOVE comments. Leave some love for me in the comments box below.


Superbowl is the only *holiday* where I don't gain 5lbs (& 6 Surprise Uses for Melaleuca)

Sunday, February 1, 2015


I don't watch football.  And I know it's unAmerican.  I've tried to watch it, but there are too many things to keep track of - all going on at the same time. Yardage and downs and safeties.  Forget it. I've got too many things going on here in my house already - why would I voluntarily subject myself to more?

Okay.  Well maybe if I were smart, I would.  I hear there is incredible food at super bowl parties.

Instead of watching football and eating, I headed outside to soak up some sun on with a run.


It was glorious!  Thank you, Lord that I have legs that can move me!


Check out my 70's style Ray Bans.  They look a little like Blublockers, don't they?  (If you were born pre-1990, this means nothing to you.) One thing I've learned about running gear - it has to be comfy - and these old sunglasses are super.


Here's my Nike+ photo collage with ma mileage!  Woot! Woot!  It's like proof, that when I come off exhausted delerium, I can look at and know that I really did it.  One run at a time.

One hour prior, what I really wanted to do was lay down on the couch and watch recorded episodes of My Big Fat Fabulous Life.  It's the funniest, most inspiring show airing right now and I love it.  Do you know how long it's been since I laid down on the couch?  So long I can't even remember, come to think of it.  I'm adding it my bucket list for 2015.  Baby steps past my OCD, constant multitasking, neurotica!

Tomorrow is Monday and I'm so excited to stay home and clean my house.  I love cleaning.  Another component of my OCDnessssss.  I get asked a lot about what I could possibly be cleaning since I had just cleaned the day before and the day before that....

Speaking of cleaning ... are you using DoTerra's Melaleuca yet?  DoTerra is known for it's quality and purity when it comes to essential oils.  DoTerra means you know you're always getting the purest, therapeutic quality when it comes to essential oil products.

DoTerra's Melaleuca  (also known as tea tree oil) is known for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-social properties.  Which works perfectly, because Melaleuca works terrific without friends or as a component in blends.



CLEAR SKIN REGIMEN

For clearer skin, add Melaleuca to your cleansing routine.  Just add 1 or 2 drops in the palm of your hand to your cleanser.

After you've cleansed your skin, follow with this skin clearing toner:

In a small glass bottle (found in your local health food store), mix
1 part apple cider vinegar with
1 part distilled water and
3-4 Drops of Melaleuca

This toner helps balance the natural pH level of your skin.  Apply the toner to your face using a cotton ball, taking care not to get the toner into your eyes.  Let absorb into your skin for 10 minutes.  Do not rinse.

Finally, moisturize afterward with Melaleuca and Argan oil for a fantastic moisturizer.  If you have skin younger than 35, lucky you.   umm... errrr.  If you have younger skin younger than 35, you can substitute Argan oil for Doterra's Fractionated Coconut Oil (which is the liquid version of coconut oil vs the solid). Btw, Argan oil can be purchased at your local health nut food store.




You can also apply Melaleuca directly on a breakout, but I don't recommend this full strength method on larger areas.



There are slews of uses for DoTerra's Melaleuca oil, and here are 6 more of my favorites:

Cold Sores: Dab a small amount (diluted at a 1:1 ratio, with coconut, jojoba or almond oil depending on your sensitivity) over the sore.

Ear ache/ear pain:  Drop 2-3 drops of Melaleuca on a cotton ball and place the cotton ball in the ear.  Do not drop oil directly into the ear canal.

Canker Sores: Dab directly onto the sore.  Repeat 3-4 times daily after food and drink.

Infected Wounds:  Dilute 1 drop of Melaleuca with 1 cup of water and rinse the infected area.

Lice:  Mix 2 oz. of olive oil with 20 drops of Melaleuca.  Divide hair into sections applying the oil mixture to scalp with cotton balls and combing with a fine tooth comb.  Be sure to get as close to the scalp as possible.  Follow with a good shampoo.  Mix 10 drops of water to 1 oz of vodka and spray into hair to avoid re-infestation.  Repeat oiling, combing, washing and spraying a second time if needed.

Shingles:  Mix 1/2 oz (15 mL.) of coconut oil to to 15 drops of Melaleuca. Massage mixture over the body. Massage into the soles of the feet for immune stimulation to prevent future outbreaks.

I hope you've enjoyed this post.  I love comments and I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Leave some love for me in a comment below.

~Charlene