Life Off Grid -Meal Prepping - DITL

I decided to try my hand at corn tortillas using Maseca instant corn masa flour. I tried regular corn flour a couple of times, but I just couldn't get the consistency right. Let's just say that the chickens really enjoyed the treat. 

This stuff is the bomb! It was so easy and fast that I had to ask for help from Number One Husband. He prepared the meat and toppings while I grilled the tortillas. Once he was finished, he was able to lend a hand pressing out the tortillas. 

I chose Maseca as one of our grocery items
on our No-Spend Challenge. I'm really glad 
that I did.

Yields up to 7.2 pounds of homemade tortillas for $3.98.

The results were perfect and much better than storebought corn tortillas. 
They were soft and supple with an outstanding fresh flavor. In addition,
there are no unwanted ingredients in them. 

My Central Coast Woodworks Tortilla press has been an indispensable
kitchen tool. Tortilla Press 

I topped mine with a few Pickled Mexican Carrots that I can up when 
I have extra carrots that I need to use up. Pickled Mexican Carrots

Yummy!

I have plenty of tortillas left over to make enchiladas or more tacos. I made a pot of pinto beans in my pressure cooker and rice in my Saratoga Jack's thermal cooker. Check out my posts here: Saratoga Jack's Thermal Cooker I like to use the thermal cooker for rice. Each grain is individual and not soggy. So, bean and cheese enchiladas with Spanish rice is on the menu. I make my own homemade enchilada sauce. This is the recipe that I like to use: The Best Enchilada Sauce

We have been enjoying breakfast cookies Ultimate Breakfast Cookies This time I used nuts, seeds and cacao nibs with just a few dark chocolate chips per Number One Husband's request. We have had a couple of cooler days, so I baked the last of the frozen cookie dough and a couple of loaves of bread. 

We had a few while they were still hot. Storing cookies in half gallon Mason jars are
a great way to keep them fresh. 

I bake bread late in the evening while the windows are open to keep the house cool. The bread takes several hours to cool off, so I have to wait to put up the loaves. The crust would dry out if I waited until morning. 

It's that time of the year when I have to keep one of the loaves I bake in the refrigerator. Last week, I lost half a loaf because it molded. It is also time to bake three loaves instead of two to reduce how much I need to use the oven. It's just too hot to bake. I will freeze the extra loaf. 

I have started using my solar ovens recently.  Sun Oven Unfortunately, the wind has been fierce for the last week, and it has been somewhat cloudy. If at all possible, I use my solar ovens. Using them helps to keep the house cool and reduces our propane bill. 

I meal prepped Mexican Pinto Bean soup this evening to cook in the sun oven tomorrow. I found the recipe here: Mexican Pinto Bean Soup I just love Calvin and Marie from Southern Country Living on YouTube. They are so sweet. This stuff is really good with cornbread. I think I will bake a small pan in my other sun oven while the soup is cooking. Tomorrow is not supposed to be windy or cloudy. I will put both of them on in the morning and let the sun do its thing. It is really cool to be able to use the sun for cooking and electricity. 

I used the dry beans that I cooked earlier. 

I also had some vegetables already chopped in the refrigerator, so I made some egg fried rice. I used the rice that I cooked earlier. I'm getting a jump start preparing for the Sabbath and the next few days of meals. 

I put together the ingredients for Number One Husband to cook his breakfast in the morning. I dislike cooking and eating and smelling breakfast. All he has to do is throw his hashbrowns and meat in pans and toast his bread. I usually clean-up afterwards, but it is a fair tradeoff. 

I froze the extra rice and beans to use at a later date. It is convenient to pull out a bag of this and that from the freezer and put together a quick meal. I know that I have the next four or five-days' worth of meals ready to go plus meals in the freezer. Meal prepping works great for me.  

I did my laundry a day early too. I had extra items to wash this week. They dried in record time due to the wind. I've done a bunch of dishes today. The chickens are happy campers when they have vegetable scraps. I have a nice bowl waiting for them for the morning. 

Well, it's getting late. I think I will veg for the rest of the evening. I slept in, so I had lots of extra energy to get things done. I took my time and did these things throughout the day. I'm sure that I accomplished other things too that I do out of habit, but I didn't share them. I enjoy doing things that help my family live this lifestyle that we have chosen to live. 

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith