Video Quito and the Andes

This is Fred's first video of our trip

Video From Hacienda Manteles and Cotopaxi

The begining is the charming bed and breakfast we stayed in, followed by our morning hike the next day.  This will always be the "drink the tea" hotel for me.  The manager was convinced if I downed two cups of his tea I would feel all better :)

Zipline Games fro Ecuador

This was right before I puked all over the Amazon Jungle.  A great time, but not the best place to feel dizzy and disoriented!

Whole Chickens

If you buy those pre-made whole chickens from the grocery store, you should stop immediately and make your own.  They are so easy and cheap and you can season them however you want.  Plus you know it hasn't been sitting in Vons for the past hour.  Sometimes I find pre-made ones to be way too dry and once mine was underdone (ick!)

Making a whole chicken may seem like an overwhelming task, but it is so easy!  Anyone can do it.  First take the chicken out of the bag and reach into the cavity and pull out whatever is in there.  Some people use these pieces to make things but I throw them away, wastefull, I know.  Then shove some things into that cavity to make your chicken super juicy.  Today I put 1 1/2 lemons in mine (cut into quarters) and about 3 cloves of garlic cut up.  You just throw this stuff away so it doesn't matter how you chop it.  

I squeezed the other half of the lemon on top and then sprinkled some yummy garlic salt, pepper, and crushed rosemary.  I put a little butter on top and popped it into the oven at 375 for about an hour an 45 minutes.  You need a meat thermometer for this.  After an hour find the coolest part of the chicken.  Leave your thermometer in there until the chicken reaches 160 degrees. If it starts to turn too dark cover it with foil. Then remove the chicken from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes or so.  During this time it will continue to cook.  I let mine reach 165.  Too hot and it isn't as good and too cold and germs may get you.  

Then you are left with a delicious, fresh, juicy chicken.  At the grocery store I go to you can buy whole chickens for 99 cents a pound no sale, no coupons.  This lasts us three dinners.  Chicken with rice and veggies the first night, chicken caesar salad wraps the second night, and chicken noodle soup the third night.

Ecuador Photo Book- A Gate 1 Trip

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Homemade Flour Tortillas

Nothing better than starting your Sunday morning with some homemade tortillas filled with scrambled eggs and black beans before heading to church.  I am always amazed at how delicious homemade tortillas are AND how much better they are than their store bought counterparts.   Start by making your dough.  You want it to be well mixed and not too sticky.  Always add more flour:

Put some flour on you work surface and roll out the tortillas.  You can make 12 with this recipe if you roll them thin, but I like mine nice and thick so I make about 8.

Then fry them up in some butter until golden brown.  I like mine to be thick and soft so they fold nicely.

Serve with scrambled eggs, black beans, and salsa!  yum! 

The Recipe:

4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp butter or lard
1 1/2 cups water

Mix it all together.  divide into 12 balls and cook on a skillet or frying pan until golden on each side.  It you want super thin tortillas, divide into 24 balls.  super thick, divide into 8 balls.
 

Happy Valentine's Day Wreath

I love the whimsical new wreaths my Mom and I made for Valentine's Day this year.  Our house was feeling a bit bland after taking down all of the Christmas stuff.  Just a simple slip knot tulle wreath in various shades of grey (oops, I mean pink) completed with little hearts with our names on it.  

Is January 14th too early to put up Valentine's Day stuff?