Homemade Flour Tortillas with Lard ~ From Pile to File ~ Fire Powder

I mentioned a while back that I would try another tortilla recipe, but this time I used lard.  I forgot I even had the recipe until I was looking for my whole wheat pancake recipe one day.  Tip:  Tortilla presses are more for corn tortillas (or masa), so you'll need a rolling pin for this recipe.

This recipe got all thumbs up from the family.  The tortillas are softer and we all like these better than the tortillas I have been making with organic canola oil.

Gifted ~ Homemade Crushed Red Pepper Flakes ~ Hot Banana Pepper Relish ~ Dehydrated Tabasco Peppers

It was a day to label all those jars and find a place to store them for winter.  In doing so, I found a pint of last years green tomato salsa.  I cooked a small amount of corn off the cob, and black beans, mixed those in with a bit of our hot salsa and the green tomato salsa and boom - a cold meal was made.  If you call it a meal.  It was a back up for the two coming home from a very hot day.

Latest berry picking.  Looks like a snack vs. freezing it.  Or into a smoothie.

Hubby brought home a loot of peppers, given to him from a co-worker.

I was tickled pink to get them too.  I was so, so happy to receive the generous gifts - hot banana, chili, jalapeno, and tabasco peppers.  And one single habanero.

Here's what I made:

Fire powder.

Fire powder is a mix of hot peppers that we simply use to flavor just about anything.  The habanero went into the fire powder, along with a few of every hot pepper.

To make them, simply slice hot peppers, place them with seeds on parchment paper lined dehydrator trays.  Dehydrate per your unit's instructions.

Allow to cool.  I like to grind the peppers first, then toss in the loose seeds (or grind up everything) to have whole seeds in the mix.  Store in an air tight container.  Your dehydrator instruction book may also instructions for this, as well as many dehydrator books available today.

I use the same process of dehydrating and grinding, to make crushed red pepper flakes with the chili peppers.


Dehydrated the tabasco peppers, and ground them into a powder.  I can add water to make tabasco "sauce" or simply use it as is.  No canning or freezing required.

I canned hot banana pepper relish, using the hot banana peppers, some of the jalapenos, and our home grown green bell peppers.

Chili ~ Homesteader Variety

I got up yesterday morning and fell in love with the giant snowflakes.  I was inspired to cook dinner for once.  I love cooking, so this is a huge step forward in recovery.  The girls cooked the last two nights.

This is not your regular chili.  To get this pot of awesome delicious-ness going, I went into my "pretend root cellar" and got a few sweet potatoes (so thankful we still have some, and in edible condition). 

The garage is too cold to store my potatoes.  I put a card table up in my utility room (which has a doorway directly across from the side door we go out of most often).  The heat is never on in that room, so it stays cool (unless we hit below zero and then I turn on the heat to prevent frozen pipes).  Sadly, it was not the best way to store my red potatoes.  When I got home from the hospital, I saw they all had long "eyes" on them.  Back in November, the temperature was not cold enough in that room.

Recipe Requests

There were a few requests interested in the recipe for the breakfast casserole.  The recipe is online from AllRecipes (Easy Broccoli-Cheese Casserole).  I simply used organic ingredients, and added 1 tsp. homemade garlic powder and a 1/4 tsp. homemade fire powder to add flavor.  In all honesty, I think this recipe would make a great side dish as well for family get togethers.  I like this one particularly because it uses less eggs.  

As for the family's recipe for Hot Cranberry Punch.  I have the recipe on my blog - HERE.  It's been a tradition in our family for years and years, and my youngest daughter wanted to have some with her cookies I baked (and wanted to learn how to make it).  It was sort of something to take her mind to a peaceful place I think, and I was thrilled she wanted to make it herself.

How to make Fire Powder:
Dehydrate a mix of hot peppers according to your dehydrator instruction book.  Grind the dried peppers in a coffee grinder.  Store in an airtight spice jar.  Add to anything to spice up a recipe.

Random Tidbits

After trying to convince our youngest daughter to go back to bed, she was on the bus to school, only to text and asked to be picked up.  She slept the entire day yesterday, and I whipped up a batch of homemade ginger-ale for her.  

And speaking of whipping up a recipe.  I made the homemade make up remover wipes - water, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and virgin coconut oil.  The recipe is in this book:

I will be back with an update, after the girls give them a whirl.   I sure hope they work.  Buying "organic" ones from the store is robbing my wallet.

Update:  11/7/2017 - these wipes starting growing mold on them yesterday.  So saddened, as these really worked, and I had hoped to cut down my costs for the girls.  I can't add an essential oil, as they are used over your eyes, and I can't put them in the fridge either.  They were tossed out.
 

The kale is growing like wild fire.  I am super happy too.  So is my swiss chard.  They survive a hard freeze, and the best part of this colder weather?  No bugs, so there is more to eat and stock up with.

I decided to put some of the kale into the crocky too - Lentil Barley Soup (recipe from the book above, and thank you Mama Pea for the book suggestion).  A wholesome meal packed with warmth and nutrients. 

I added a finely diced habanero for heat and health as well.    I didn't have a leek, so I used chopped green onion and one shallot.  I still didn't have a lot of spice to the pot, so I ended up adding some "fire powder" and red pepper flakes.  Fire powder is just a mess of hot peppers dehydrated and ground up (at the end of the season).


Apparently Lagom (Swedish) is the new Hygge (Danish).  I just read an article on it, and I pretty much try to live that way - living life to the fullest, staying spontaneous,  trying new things, yet being responsible.


I've been using simply borax to scrub my toilets.  We have a septic system, so I have to be careful of what I use.  I just read a blog (Hibiscus House) that suggested you use baking soda, white vinegar and tea tree oil.  I did some more research, and from what I found, it's also septic safe. I gave it a try, and it works great.  

Send good thoughts and prayers my way.  I'm writing a short story for a contest.  A contest is always a shot in a million, but I love writing too.  There is a pay out for the winners too.

I'm making progress on the mug sets.  They are looking pretty good so far.  I need to crochet the straps on next. 

Happiness is when I find another pint of homemade granola in the cupboard.  I love it on my yogurt.

Fire Powder and Ramblings

My hot pepper plants still give-ith.  If there is such a word.  This mess was ground up and put on parchment paper in the dehydrator.  Once dry, it will be ground into, what I call, Fire Powder.

I haven't had time to pull anything else from the garden.  Now we are dodging rainfall for the entire week.

I attempted to get my to-do list tackled, but it rolled over into today.  I did however, remember to drain a jar of homemade vanilla extract I had sitting on my counter for a few days.

Last weekend I bought the Sunday paper.  I haven't read a local newspaper in a long, long, long time.  The comics were the only good thing in it.  I remember as a kid we'd take silly puddy and press it onto the comics.  Dad would save the comics for wrapping paper.  Oh the good ol' days.

Tuesday Tidbits ~ Dehydrating Hot Peppers ~ Ground Fire Powder ~ Using the Last of the Garden Hot Peppers

 I'll admit, the cooler weather has been nice lately.  We've had to turn a few heaters on too.  The rain is moving in, and for several days.  

If you blinked, you would have literally missed this beautiful sky Monday morning.  It was there one minute, and gone the next.  I was lucky to get the camera in time.

Wash, slice and dehydrate the mix of garden hot peppers.  Keep those seeds for more heat in the "fire powder."  I used my mats to keep those seeds.  In the past, I used parchment paper.

Dehydrate according to you dehydrator instructions.  I have a small coffee grinder I used for grinding herbs, and I when these are dry, I grind them up, and pour them into a recycled spice jar and label.

It's a great way to use up all those leftover hot peppers in your garden.  You could freeze them too, but I find that drying them and grinding them, makes a nice spice flavor to add to meals.

Ground Cayenne

(dehydrate for 6-10 hours at 125°F, then grind into powder using a coffee grinder)

I finally got the dehydrated cayenne peppers ground into powder.  I believe I used my last spice jar, but I'm already set with homemade "fire powder"  (random mix of dehydrated hot peppers and ground into powder).  Look at that beautiful bold color next to the expensive organic store bought color.  

There have been 4-5 shipments of Mom's free 14 meals (via Fed Exp).  Non of which actually made it to her house.  There is another shipment that is due to arrive today.  

I have felt my uppity self lately.  Not sure if it's what's going on with our world, or the added stress and overwhelming race to get so many things done before winter. I'm just not feeling my motivated, good mood self.

Beautiful Sunrise ~ Fire Powder ~ Thyme

Yesterday's start of the sunrise.  Too beautiful to not take a few photos.  I was taking Romeo out, who was fired up with energy from the frost on the ground.  He wasn't sure what to do about it, ha ha!

First thing I had to do in the morning?  More dishes.  I literally made a mess of them, but after taking down all the laundry off the line, we were all pooped the night prior.  

Our 20 year-old came out for a visit.  I fed her leftover homemade enchiladas, spanish rice and hot taco dip (which she loved).

I finally got the hot peppers ground into fire powder.  I didn't have time the other day with all the other work.  I'm just glad I got my glady bulbs out of the ground, but the potatoes remain.  They may be there all winter depending on our weather. 

Some Christmas presents arrived.  I will thank my husband for buying these for me for an early Christmas present (he he).  Thank you Amazon.😊

Buttermilk waffles and sausage patties are breakfast goodies this week.  Haven't made them in a while.

Homemade Taco Dry Mix was restocked.  Love this stuff.

I sure hope the chimney sweep arrives Saturday, it'll be down to 25°F Friday night and we can't burn 24 hours prior to them coming.  They say we may hit single digits (sigh) next week too.  I'm glad I remember to buy a few new ice scrapers for the vehicles.

( I love my small batch dehydrator.  I filled it to the top)
My indoor thyme plant is doing so well, I snipped some and got it into the dehydrator.  I wish I had some oregano seeds to start an indoor plant for that too.  Both did terrible in the herb garden this year, but happy to stock up on thyme.

Face it.  We all have a cupboard where stuff falls out.  Or you did. 

Before

After (aside from the bowls on the rack on the left of it).  We can now find the lids, ha ha!  I also re-homed the serving trays.  We only use them for get togethers.  Fixed that problem with a set of organizers, under $15.00.  I also re-organized a drawer next to this one.

Update on the hot pepper jelly - Hubby's co-workers raved about it.  It's a keeper recipe and I cannot wait to plant next spring, so the weather Gods better be nice next year.

Fire Powder ~ How I Make It ~ Tidbits

 You can dehydrate the last handful of hot peppers in any form, but I place them in my food processor and grind them up to small bits.

(dehydrated in the photo)

I then spread them out on parchment paper and dehydrate in my dehydrator.  If you have an air fryer, most have a dehydrate option.

When they are all dried, I put them in a coffee bean grinder (used only for grinding dehydrated items), and grind into a powder.  I store in an air tight spice jar.

Add the ground powder to any recipe to add flavor.  I use it a lot in our breakfast casseroles/frittatas and scrambles.

Yes there are Christmas towels in there😂

I fear for our world we now live in.  More and more people we know are sick with covid.  It's spreading like wild fire in our area.  A co-worker of my husband's could use prayers.  He is the same age as me, and was moved to a different hospital with covid.  Both of his lungs collapsed.  His name is Lauren (not sure if I'm spelling it correct).  We last saw him in 2020.  

How I Grind My Dried Hot Peppers ~ Garlic Honey ~ Winter Medicinal Preparedness ~ New Meat Source

I forgot to load the photos yesterday, on how I grind my dehydrated hot peppers.  I also use this method for grinding other dried foods, like garlic powder or onion powder.

I have an electric coffee grinder that I specifically use for this purpose.  The inner piece is removeable, making it easy to wash for the next use, and the cord winds up, and is stored in the lower inside of it.

I use mini funnels to pour the ground hot peppers into a spice jar or recycled glass jar.  The color and flavor of our "Fire Powder" varies due to the mix of hot peppers.

 I mentioned making a new "medicinal" and here it is . . .

Garlic Honey.  You fill your jar about halfway with cloves of garlic (instructions say add how many you want on most that I have read), fill the jar with raw honey and cap it.  You have to burp the jar daily for about 2 weeks.  Some instructions say to flip the jar each day to coat the garlic with the honey.  

Need a boost?  Take some honey.  Feeling sick?  Eat the garlic.

I'll let you know if this was worth making or not.  Raw honey is not cheap around here.  Have you made and utilized garlic honey?  I would love to hear your feedback on it.  I'm late on getting winter medicinals made, but back at it now.

Speaking of medicine and illnesses, we did have covid.  We are finally back to feeling somewhat "normal."  There were employees going to work with covid, and not staying home, so the spread continued after my husband stayed home.  I guess these people were not showing many signs, but enough to know they should have stayed home.

Moving on to some chit chat . . .

We discovered a butcher with non-gmo/free range/no antibiotics within a 2 1/2 hour drive from our homestead.  We picked up a turkey tenderloin, 1 # sausage, 1 # ground beef, and a slice of smoked ham.   

We have already tasted the turkey and it was delicious!  We are talking a real turkey tenderloin.  Not that stuff at the grocery store they pump with sodium. 

We have also tried the sausage.  It does contain brown sugar, but it is not anywhere as sweet as what you buy in grocery stores, and it tastes almost like they smoked the meat for it.  We have also now tried the ground beef by grilling burgers.  The ham will be part of today's breakfast.  We will be taking a cooler back before winter, and stocking up.  

It's a small locally owned business in the Amish community.  They only accept cash/check, and are closed on Sunday.  We are looking forward to a trip to re-stock now.  We may try other cuts of their meats as well.  They do cut their bacon thick, which we are not a fan of (thick cut), but we my try it after another trip there.

From "Stash to Trash" ~ Corn Chili Bake

I'm progressing at working on that pile of recipes to try.  It's hard to keep up it with it.  I still like my usual from "garden to table" recipes, like the one we recently enjoyed - boiled cabbage with potatoes and added cooked sausage.  It was so nice to enjoy something straight out of the garden.

The next recipe to try ~ Corn Chili Bake.  It came from Nourish and Heal magazine (2014).  I of course looked online to see if it was posted on their site, but I could not locate it.  So, I am posting it here with by adapting organic ingredients (and beef vs. ground turkey).  You can get all of the vegetables and black beans from a garden.  And you can also make your own fire-roasted tomatoes.  I had dehydrated cayenne peppers and had my own homemade powder on hand.

Ham Soup ~ Yarn Keys

These cold frigid days remind me why I stocked up.  No one needs to be out in these temperatures.  

Our leftovers are dwindling down to a few pieces of pie, ham, BBQ green beans, etc.  I whipped up a crock pot of ham soup, using celery cubes I froze, onion, home canned tomato soup (vs. tomato juice), some frozen garden tomatoes, carrots, dehydrated mushrooms, chili powder, fire powder etc.  It's deliciously spicy and just what will warm me up even today.  

I never had time to try both roll recipes, so I may take some time in the next few weeks to try them.  Maybe today, if I get done with chores early.  

Yesterday I had a good amount of chores and made homemade yogurt.

My main barn door is froze shut, but I can gain access to my ladies and gent via another door.  I am rotating a watering unit daily as it freezes solid at night.  I know they make electric ones, but I prefer this way.  Our electric is the highest in the area.

I finally broke down and purchased some yarn keys.  After trying to find the same color of a yarn (to duplicate a scarf), I decided I better start keeping track of brand/color better.  I have yet to find the yarn I want, but I am now more organized.  This brand is made in America.

You clip your yarn label in the slot, and hook it to your yarn.  Knit Picks has them, called "Yarn Valet Keys."  I will probably need a few more.

Speaking of organized, I have purged a few tops that are too big and I started purging costume jewelry.  One daughter is delighted to gain new clothing and accessories.

I'll be back soon with the punch recipe.  Stay warm!