Savoring Winter's January Days, Tiramisu and Homemade Tortillas

What is it about the long winter days of January that call me into the kitchen? I do find something quite comforting about spending time in the kitchen, baking and cooking up wonderful things for my family to enjoy.  

Recently I enjoyed an outing with some of my dear friends to a local Greek restaurant.  It was a lovely way to spend a drizzly, rainy day in January.  

If you are a local to the Post Falls area, most likely you will recognize this restaurant for its incredibly good food... that is FULL of garlic! Oh yes, this restaurant specializes in all things garlic... and they have a reputation in the community for their amazing food! 

All of us ordered something different, and then shared a "taste" with the rest of the group, which was so fun!  I ordered the Traditional Gyro with their signature fries and pasta salad.  Oh my... soo soo good! In fact, even after sharing a "taste" with  my friends, I still couldn't eat it all, and brought some home for lunch the next day!

But perhaps the real reason for my excitement eating at this restaurant was their amazing
Tiramisu and Baklava.  

Oh this tiramisu was so good, and there were no leftovers to take home... ha!
Coffee and chocolate are decadent dessert companions! 

Now, has anyone else ever experienced your phone "listening" to you? Well, my phone must have heard us discussing tiramisu and upon arriving back at home, what did I find but an advertisement for a recipe for tiramisu from one of my favorite online video cooks, Natasha's Kitchen. (https://natashaskitchen.com/tiramisu-recipe/)  Well, this was ONE time that I was glad to follow the link, and thought, why not?  So I found the ladyfingers at my local grocery store and I followed the wonderful video directions to making this amazing dessert. 

Every bite was delicious! 

I made my tiramisu without alcohol, using espresso coffee and real vanilla extract.  If you love a light dreamy, coffee-flavored dessert with overtones of chocolate... then my friend, this is the dessert you must try! {smiles} And it really is very easy to make, worth the time! 

Homemade Tortillas... another project in the kitchen. These are so easy to make ahead, and there is no comparison to the taste as compared to store bought.  Truly, these are amazingly easy to make... just mix the dough in your mixer, roll into small balls, flatten, and let rest for a couple of hours.  Then roll out and cook in a dry hot skillet... you might not ever buy store-bought again! 

Each one takes just a few minutes to cook, and the results are light and airy tortillas. 

Truly so yummy... and taco night will never be the same again.  I'll share the recipe below. 

HOMEMADE TORTILLAS

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup oil

1 cup warm water

Mix dry ingredients well. Combine oil and warm water, pour slowly into flour mixture, stirring constantly until dough forms.  Continue kneading until dough pulls away from sides and is soft and supple.  Let dough rest a few minutes, then form into 16 balls.  Press balls to flatten, and let rest on plate for at least 15 minutes, and up to 2 hours.  When ready to cook, heat skillet (I use iron) over medium heat. On lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a tortilla shape, place tortilla in dry hot skillet and cook for about 1 minute, or until there are small bubbles seen, and the bottom has light brown spots, flip tortilla and cook an additional minute or so until lightly browned. Remove to a warming plate.  Repeat with remaining balls, and serve hot... drizzled with honey and butter... they are a yummy sweet treat too! 

I found a good recipe here almost identical to mine, if you'd like more in-depth instructions.

With all the time I've spent in the kitchen... it is a good thing my dogs and I are walking 5+ miles each day, rain, shine, snow or rain!  The dogs don't read the weather reports, and I guess I don't pay much attention to them either, as they are usually... inconsistently right... or wrong {smiles} 

Most of you know how much I love to cross-country ski in my back acreage each winter, but this winter, snowfall has been so light, that hasn't been possible. 
So our walks each day are the highlight of our days.  

Since we built the roof over our home, we have a huge covered area now, and the chickens have taken up residence here during the day.... I wouldn't mind their presence, if it wasn't for the little "presents" they leave behind, ha! 

The skies have offered up some glorious sights as we walk...
how grateful I am for each and every beautiful scene before me as I walk! 

This beautiful old red barn fills my heart with pitter-patters of delight each time I walk by! 

Returning home one evening right at sunset after a day of town errands,
this beautiful sunset greeted us as we got closer to home. 

We have had a very mild winter here so far, and spring doesn't seem that far away.  It is time for me to start my tomato and pepper seedlings in February, and I can hardly believe that time is upon us already!  Since winter has been a bit of a disappointment this year, I am very much looking forward to the blooms of spring that as soon as we get through February, will be here to enjoy.  

Below is a special scripture that has comforted me many times, and I pray it brings comfort and joy to your hearts today... no matter the difficult circumstance of life we face... the Lord's promises remain... and as the Creator of this earth, of  you and me, our hope in Him remains steadfast regardless of the circumstances of life around us. 

Isaiah 51:11-16
11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, 
and come with singing unto Zion; 
and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: 
they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: 
who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, 
and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, 
that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; 
and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, 
as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?

14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, 
and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: 
The Lord of hosts is his name.

16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, 
and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, 
that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, 
and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

Yes! He has put His words in our mouth to speak His praises, and He has covered us in the shadow of His hand.  We are His people, and in Him we trust!  

If you have a minute, please write and share with me what you have been doing to pass the long winter days of January and what scriptures have blessed your heart during this season. 

Sharing love and the Lord's richest blessings to all of you, my precious readers!