Today I was pondering some of our favorite, quick and easy recipes and would like to share them with you. Cortney and I are always looking for quick and easy foods to make for our dinner(lunch). Today we brought up a jar of canned pinto beans, quickly emptied the content into a small sauce pot, added some salt, pepper and garlic powder, 1 Tbsp. lard and began mashing with a potato masher, while heating on a cool spot on the wood cook stove. This all finished and simmering, we then mixed up the makings of whole wheat tortillas. Our meal planned is simple bean and cheese burritos. Tortillas Makes: 5-8 tortillas 2c. flour( I use 1c, whole wheat and 1 c. unbleached white) 1/2 tsp salt 1/4c. lard( softened) 1/2c. water( you may find with whole wheat it may take 3/4 c.) Mix in given order, cutting in the lard to the flour mixture before adding the water.Let sit( covered) for 5 minutes. Break dough into equal sized ball and roll out thin. Preheat a skillet, wiped with lard, until warm, not hot. Place tortillas in pan, when side down is lightly browned( in areas) then flip until opposite side is equally brown. Serve warm, refrigerate or freeze for later use. These freeze well for later use and you reheat by simply placing on a warm griddle. They have kept for us in the frig. for several weeks, but truly they don't last that long around here! The kids always loved them spread with peanutbutter and honey, then rolled up. We also serve these as a dessert snack, by spreading butter on a warmed shell and sprinkling with cinnamin and sugar, then roll up, sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted choc. and enjoy. Baking powder biscuits Makes: 8-10 biscuits 3-4 c. flour( I substitute in 1 to 1-1/2 c. whole wheat flour) 4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 1/2 c. olive oil( any oil you use is fine)+ an added 3-4Tbsp for pan 1 to1-1/2c. milk( I often substitute in buttermilk or sour milk) Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together. Add beaten egg, oil and milk. Mix thoroughly until dough is wet but not sticky, do NOT over mix. Preheat oven to 400F and add 3-4 Tbsp of oil to pan and preheat pan as well( don't overheat and burn the oil).Place dough onto a well floured counter top/ board. Tap down with hands to 1/2" thickness( again do NOT overwork the dough). Cut. Now retrieve pan from oven and dip topside into hot oil before placing biscuit into pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown on top. These are both easy recipes for an easy accompanying side dish or as a meal in itself( IE: Biscuits for breakfast, biscuits with sausage gravy, bean burritos, enchiladas, quesadia (sp?), and even tortilla chips( when fried in oil) It can be from scratch and still be easy. More to come......