I have been making these tortillas for a few months now, and I LOVE them!  They are so soft and chewy, and they store well in the fridge.  I usually start them the night before, and finish them up the next day.

I hope you enjoy them too!

Soaked Whole Wheat Tortillas

Print this recipe!

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup warm water

1/2 cup kefir or yogurt

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, water, kefir and melted coconut oil.  Stir well to combine.  You should have a soft dough.  Cover bowl with a towel and let sit at room temperature overnight, or at least 12 hours.

After it has been sitting a while, the flour will soak in more, and it will become smooth.

The next day, mix in the baking powder and salt.  I just place it in the dough and knead it to mix in.

Divide the dough into the number of tortillas you want to make, depending on size.  I usually make about 12-14 medium size tortillas.

Preheat a skillet over medium high heat.  I use our cast iron skillet.  Roll out the dough your desired shape.

Cook for about 30 seconds on each side. Continue rolling out and cooking the tortillas until they are all cooked.

Store in an airtight container, and they will keep a couple weeks in the fridge, or freeze for longer term storage!

My favorite way to use these tortillas is in a quesadilla!  It is the perfect snack when I come home from work at the end of the day, and is my “go to” snack.  I warm it up in our cast iron skillet, add some sliced cheese and then fold over.  This time, I put some salsa in there as well.  Delicious!

It is healthier and less processed than buying tortillas, and I know all the ingredients that are in it.  Win win!

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What exactly is a cheese cave?

A cave is usually a cool place with a consistent humidity.  It is a good place to store cheese, and have it age properly.  Your “cheese cave” can be anywhere in your house where you can keep the temp and humidity controlled.  Even with limited resources, you have options on how to store the cheese that you took the time to make yourself!

The things you want to keep in mind are that you want:

1.  The temperature should be controlled and on the cool side (35-50 degrees F)

2.  Moisture (aka humidity) should be as high as you can get it – preferably 80-90% humidity)

3.  Fresh circulating air

What are my options?

1.  You can use part of your existing fridge

However, a fridge is going to be a little cooler than the optimal temperature for aging cheese.  Also, as I’m sure you know, a fridge does not have fresh air circulating, and has the tendency to suck out the moisture of everything, which is why you cover your food, and don’t just leave it on the shelf unprotected.  If the moisture gets sucked out of your cheese, you are just going to be left with a hard brick. 

You could place the cheese in an airtight container, and place a wet towel in the container to help with the moisture.  I didn’t choose this option, because at any time I might have 6-10 different cheeses aging, and I just don’t have room in my fridge for that!

2.  You can re-use an old fridge (if you have one available)

You would then have the space to lay our the cheese, and you can control the humidity by placing a pan of water in the bottom shelf of the fridge.  You still would be kind of guessing how much humidity IS actually in the fridge, unless you had a hygometer, and you could adjust the temperature lower than a normal fridge would be to control the temperature.

I didn’t have an extra fridge lying around that I wasn’t using, and I didn’t have the funds to go get one just for cheesemaking, so I didn’t choose this option either.

3.  Find a cold space in your house (cellar or crawl space)

This is the option I chose!  We have a crawl space under our house that is used mainly for storage.  It isn’t pretty, but there was space, and I really didn’t have any other options!

It basically it a whole in our closet floor that leads to the space under the house.  My husband installed some stairs to make it easier to get down, and lights to make it easier to see!

This is what it looks like going back up.

We put some shelves down there, and I just put the cheese directly on the shelf.

I always put a note with the cheese so that I know what kind of cheese it is, when it was made, and when it will be ready to eat!

We keep a thermometer down there so I can keep an eye on the temperature.  It varies, depending on the temperature outside.  Only one time that I am aware of did the temperature down there go below freezing, so I am ok with that.

One thing I do not measure is the humidity.  I live in one of the most driest environments where our humidity hardly gets above 10%.  And I’m ok with that!  My cheese probably isn’t as moist as someone who controls the humidity, but it still tastes good!  I think one rule of cheesemaking that I would want to pass on is that it is ok if it isn’t perfect!  My cheese is just for my own use, and I might take it over to a friend’s house, or to work.  If you don’t have the perfect environment, that doesn’t mean you still can’t make a yummy and delicious cheese.

I’m all about using what you have and making it work.  I’m proud of my cheese area because it does just that!

View all my cheesemaking posts here!

The post Cheesemaking: The Cheese Cave appeared first on The Healthy Beehive.

I do love the winter, but there is something about spring coming that is so fresh and enlightening!  Living at 9000 feet elevation has its challenges, but I love being outside and gardening! It may be May, but Mother Nature sure has some other ideas!  We have had more April/May snow storms this year than I can remember for a long time!  I was planning on getting out this weekend and rototilling the garden to prepare for spring, but then this happened…

This was a very wet snow – it was almost like shoveling water!  The water is good for the plants, so I am not complaining.  It has been in the 50s during the day, which feels a lot warmer than that when you  are at such a high elevation!

However, there are still some preparations you can make for spring while there is snow on the ground!  I decided to tackle some pruning. Pruning is something I always either put off, or forget to do.  This winter, our pine trees got sunburnt.  Have you ever heard of anything like this?!?  This is a new one for me!  I think the reflection of the snow from the harsh sun just got to them.

We planted these 3 trees last year.  Our garden is on the other side of the fence, so the point was for the trees to shade the garden from the sun.  I guess I didn’t realize what the sun would do to them!  I have seen other trees around our neighborhood with the same problem, so I know it is not just us.

Why Prune

1.  To remove dead branches or areas of the tree

2.  To encourage new growth and the overall health of the plant.  In young trees, pruning can be helpful to promote bushier trees.

3.  To shape the plant

For this post, I am focusing on our pine trees.

How to Prune

Avoid the pruning the main branch of the tree or plant (the trunk).  This will only encourage the tree to grow multiple trunks, which will confuse the tree, and then the multiple trunks will be competing for water.

Did you know if you leave a branch without needles, new needles will not grow on that branch?  If you have to prune back past the needles, remove it back to the trunk, which is what I did.

DO NOT “top” pine trees.  This is when you cut off all branches above a certain height.  This will expose the tree to disease, and quite honestly, I think it would look rather ugly!

The type of pruning I am focusing on is removal pruning – removing dead or damaged branches.  You want to cut back side branches to the trunk of the tree.  These trees are still relatively small, so the branches aren’t that large or heavy.  Removal pruning will not impact the height of the tree, just the width.  If a branch is dead or diseased, it isn’t going to grow anyways, so it is better for the tree to remove  it.

The best time to prune is early spring, around the time of the last frost, where the “wound” can still heal when the tree goes through its growing spurt in the spring.  For me, that is right about now.

I’m hoping that by taking good care of these trees, new branches will start growing to take the place of these that I am pruning with healthy, green needles!

Duluth Trading Company sent me these overalls and vest to try, and I love them!  I never really was an overall type of a person, but they are so comfortable!  They are 70% cotton and 30% nylon, but they are SO soft!  You can wear them as pants, or roll up to capri length, and there are so many pockets!  They also have knee pad pouches, so you can put in knee pads if you want.  That will be really convenient for planting seeds and bulbs!

The vest is mesh in the back so it does not get too hot.  And while I was outside working on these trees, the sun was intense!!!  I also love all the pockets, so I can carry everything I need with me to the garden.  It always seems like I am making so many trips back and forth to the house because I can’t carry everything, but not any longer! I also love that the collar can stay up against your neck, so you don’t get sunburn on your neck.

Sammy almost fit in my pocket!

I also LOVE this buff!  It is 95% UV resistant, and so cute!  It is 100% polyester, so it is slides on my head really easy, and you can wear it a ton of ways.  I usually just put my hair up in a ponytail, but I hate sun burning the top of my head (and my neck!)  Ouch!

I wore it as a headband, and then tried it as a do-rag, and finally tied it in a knot in the back. 

And now for the giveaway!  Duluth Trading Company is offering a $50 gift card that you can use to purchase an item of your choice!  Giveaway ends on 5/10/2013 at 11:59pm Eastern.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Duluth Trading Company is offering free shipping now through June 30, 2013, for my readers. Just enter code “T13PRCG” (Note: $50 minimum order. Minimum order applies to total before tax, shipping or gift card purchases. Valid for US shipping only, on standard delivery.)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post A guide to pruning pine trees and a giveaway! #SummerSolved appeared first on The Healthy Beehive.

I am totally a hair tie type of a person.  My hair is thin, and not super long, but every.day I wake up and pretty much put it in a ponytail. (My husband calls it ponytail mode…)  Even at work, I pretty much wear it up all the time!  I constantly have a hair rubber band around my wrist.  I had seen different bloggers that sold Lilla Rose products, and I finally decided to try them out!  I love my hair rubber bands, but sometimes I just want my hair to look prettier, or have something nice to put in my hair if I have a special occasion to go to.

The flexi clip is an alternative for a rubber band, or a claw like clip.  It comes in 7 different sizes for people with all thickness and length of hair.  The one I am wearing above is the small size.  I don’t have to wear a rubber band with it, and all my hair stays in.  Yay!  There are also so many designs and colors to pick from!  The flexi is made from piano wire, and has 3 notches on the back that keep it secure.  Also, I really like that the pin on the back is connected to the clip, so you never have to worry about losing it!

I also do this fun little twist sometimes for something different and to get my hair off my neck

The mini flexi is perfect for me to put some of my hair up, and leave some down.

There are many different options to chose from:  the flexi’s, bobby pins, hair sticks (which are just like the pencils I used to put in my hair as a kid – lol), and o-rings, which are in a circle shape to go around a ponytail – just to name a few!

I also really love the hair bands.  They are adjustable, so a little kid could wear them, or you can adjust to your size of head.  The band is super soft, so it will never hurt behind your ears like other headbands.

Plus I love the multicolored beads on this one!

Lilla Rose has some great videos here showing different ways you can style your hair with their products, so definitely check them out!

If you need help with sizing of the clips, check out this webpage, or contact Anjanette directly!  I really love having some options to style my hair, and I love the quality of this jewelry, and how beautiful it is!

Anjanette has graciously offered to giveaway one free Lilla Rose item valued at up to $16!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:  Giveaway is sponsored by Independent Consultant Anjanette Barr.  I was sent a flexi clip to review for free, and all other items were purchased with my own money.

The post Lilla Rose Hair Jewelry – Review and Giveaway! appeared first on The Healthy Beehive.

This month for the Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned Jess from Flying on Jess Fuel.

Jess has a very cute blog.  Her husband is a Navy pilot, and her blog is sharing their love of cooking and eating!  I found so many fun recipes I wanted to make, but settled on her Quinoa Breakfast Cookies.  She, like me, has a love of quinoa, and I thought these would be fun to make!

These cookies use quinoa flour, and I used my method of toasting the quinoa, and then grinding into a flour.  Quinoa flour can be so expensive, but it is really easy to make if you have some quinoa in your pantry!  Plus, I think toasting it brings out the nuttiness in the quinoa, as quinoa flour can be a little … earthy. 

I also added a tropical flair to these cookies by adding in some dried pineapple with the coconut.  I love how these turned out!  Perfect for an afternoon snack!

Tropical Quinoa Cookies

Print this recipe!

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup organic cane sugar

2 tbsp orange juice

2 large eggs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup quinoa, toasted, and ground into flour (approximately 3/4 cup ground quinoa flour)

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1/2 cup dried pineapple, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the quinoa in a oven proof bowl or pan, and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes.  Once toasted, remove from the oven and let cool.

Once the quinoa is cool, grind it into flour using a coffee grinder or blender.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer.  Once combined, add in the orange juice, eggs and applesauce.  Mix to combine.

Add in the quinoa flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Mix well to combine.  Slowly add in the oats while the mixer is running.  Once all the oats are incorporated, add in the coconut and chopped dried pineapple.  Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray.  Form the dough into cookies – about 2 tbsp each.  Roll into a ball, and then flattened with the palm of your hand.

Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees F.  Let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

I loved this cookies!  They aren’t super sweet, and the pineapple really gave them a fun texture and taste!  Thanks Jess!

Check out all the other SRC posts!

The post {Secret Recipe Club} Tropical Quinoa Cookies appeared first on The Healthy Beehive.