Rich didn't get to take tomorrow off, because of necessary meetings, but was able to get Thursday off, though he still had to do work at home, not only Thursday, but Friday and Saturday, though he still had his four day weekend to "rest." He didn't really rest, because he worked on the air conditioners, planted in the garden, and worked on his CFII renewal, however, he got to do so on his own schedule. Because of a lot of the responsibilities we had to the airshow, we ended up pushing our end of schoolyear work to this week, so we are finishing up our school term this past week. We will take a break to just rest and read, and then we will pick up some science and history and a little math for the summer.

It is another scorcher this week, so again we are trying to eat cool things or things that can be grilled, cooked in the pressure or slow cooker, made ahead, or made quickly. Some of the meals from last week have been moved because of this. Our whole week is supposed to be in the 100˚ - 115˚ range. We are also getting one and a quarter beef delivered this week, which means we are rearranging freezers (at least that is cold work) and eating as much as we can from our freezers.

We still have quite a lot of asparagus, so we are eating a bit of that. There was no time for pickling, between the airshow and the ballet recital. The girls' recital (sans audience) went well, and all the dancers worked so hard. We are immensely proud of them. However, we are hoping that these next couple weeks of rest, even in the heat, will help get us moving for summer fun and projects. This weekend, some newer, but dear, friends are coming into town, and we are planning on spending a bit of time with them. Their kids are friends with ours, and haven't seen each other since the middle of April.

We are still making meals that are safe for Jerome, so if you have allergies and need ideas, I hope that helps. If you have ideas for us, please share them! We are also keeping the Wednesday and Friday abstinent fasts, though not perfectly strictly. Also, if you didn't see my announcement, please note that I am working through the comments of the last year and a half, now that I know they are there.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs (Scrambled Chickpeas for Jerome), Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives, Rustic Bread (Gluten-free for Jerome), Green Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Gluten-Free Blackberry Cobbler with Whipped Cream (Coconut Cream for Jerome)
• Monday - Feast of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons
  Breakfast: Ham with Potatoes O'Brien, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Pork and Lamb Chops, Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday - Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam (Coconut Yogurt for Jerome), Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Greek Lamb Ribs, Loaded Vegetable Pasta Salad, Sorbet
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Apple-Coconut Breakfast Bowl with Honey Peanut Butter, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Raclette with Potatoes and Toast (Gluten-Free for Jerome), Chopped Salad, Fruit
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Salad, Fruit
• Friday
  Breakfast: Labneh (Faux Cream Cheese for Jerome) with Tomatoes, Radishes, Dill and Olive Oil, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Tuna Pasta Salad (Gluten-free pasta for Jerome), Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Maple Syrup (Gluten-free Pancakes for Jerome), Bacon, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Sausages and Burgers, Coleslaw, Pickles, Chips, Ice Cream

Labels: Blog Info, Church Year, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Menu Plans, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:40 AM 0 comments

Please accept my apologies. Some of those were questions, and I am working to answer those notes first. I will try to answer all of them, however. Also, I think I have made sure that I will actually get my notifications from now on - Google actually turned it off and removed my e-mail address, even though that is the address I use to log in and I asked for notification (and used to get them for each and every one without ever turning it off myself).

Labels: Blog Info

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 3:00 PM 0 comments

We had a successful and fun airshow this weekend. However, it began with a terrible tragedy. The airshow was helping give a local motorcycle racer a platform and place to make an attempt at a Guinness World Record breaking jump. On his first practice jump, he fell short and was thrown off of his motorcycle, with his helmet flying off, and ultimately died. This was all in front of the public, and most of his family. Our youngest two daughters were directly on the frontline with me watching as it happened, four of our children were working at the airshow when it happened and saw from a distance, and Alexander was at his job on the field, so heard the news, but didn't see it. Rich, of course, had to be on the spot to take care of what they could and to keep everything else running in the meantime. Please pray for everyone. Please pray for Rich, who had to keep the whole airshow running all weekend while still processing what happened. Pray for Alex Harvill and his family. I will never forget his mother's screams, his wife and brother's sobbing, and his two little children who no longer have a father here, one of whom was an infant and will never know his father. What a sad Father's Day for their family today. Please also pray for Mariam and Nejat, who saw it happen live, and know that he died, but so far don't seem to connect the two, and haven't yet realized that they watched a man die on Thursday. I pray they don't ever make that connection. As soon as I saw it happen, and saw his helmet fly off, I put the girls back into our hatchback where they couldn't see the family's rush to him and grief, where they couldn't see the ambulance and EMTs at work, nor the life flight helicopter. We simply sat together and prayed. When Elijah and Jerome got off their traffic directing shift, they came to us and I had them sit and pray with their sisters, as well.

The airshow itself went off really well and was a fun time for everyone. It was wonderful to have something resembling normal again, to see people's faces and to see their smiles as they left, as Rich said. The pilots and demonstrators did an amazing job, and all went off pretty much as it was supposed to do. I am so thankful for that. The weather was hot and sunny, but not as hot as the one was two years ago. Although, I still got a little sunburned on my shoulders, which was a bit of a surprise for me. Now, we are on to dress rehearsal and ballet recital. Rich has taken Friday and next Monday off to recouperate, so we are also praying for no work emergencies that require him to head back then. We are holding him a little tighter on this Father's Day.

This week is supposed to be a scorcher again. It is projected to be in the mid to upper 90s most of the week, and then go back toward the 100s on the weekend. My meal plans are going to reflect that, because I just don't want to be eating lots of hot foods, or cooking in a hot kitchen for a lot of the week. My plan is to make salads and quick pastas and such, or to make meals that can be cooked in the morning earlier in the day or the day before, and heated quickly for dinner. We are still making meals that are safe for Jerome, so if you have allergies and need ideas, I hope that helps. If you have ideas for us, please share them! We are also keeping the Wednesday and Friday abstinent fasts.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs (Scrambled Chickpeas for Jerome), Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Fruit
• Monday
  Breakfast: Ham and Vegetable Hash, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta Primavera Salad with Chopped Salami and Mustard Vinaigrette (Gluten-free Pasta for Jerome), Fruit Plate
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Alban, Protomartyr of England
  Breakfast: Asparagus and Goat Cheese Frittatas (Asparagus, Ham and Potato Hash for Jerome), Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Italian Sausage Skillet (using wine instead of beer), Rice, Green Salad with Marinated Asparagus
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta (Gluten-free/dairy-free for Jerome), Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday - Feast of Saint John the Forerunner
  Breakfast: Apple-Coconut Breakfast Bowl with Honey Peanut Butter, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad, Steam Sautéed Asparagus and Garlic (using oil rather than butter), Fruit
• Friday
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam (Coconut Yogurt for Jerome), Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Shrimp with Parsley and Lemon, Vegetable Skewers, Red Potato Salad
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Maple Syrup (Gluten-free Pancakes for Jerome), Bacon, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Not Texas Chili with Chopped Onions, Chopped Jalapeños and Sour Cream (a dairy free herbed cream "cheese" for Jerome), Gluten-free Vegan Cornbread

Labels: Church Year, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:33 AM 0 comments

It is Rich's and Dominic's birthday today. Dominic is 21 years old and Rich is 51. Dominic is still growing into the man he will be, but he is off to a great start.

Rich, though, is such a great example to him, and is the best man we know. He is a man of integrity, compassion, and kindness. He is a man of faith, love, and optimism. It's been a while since I have done this for him, but it has been an extraordinarily challenging week, so here are:

51 Fabulous Facts about Rich
• 1. He is a man of deep faith. If he believes something, he truly tries to live it the best he can, and exercise its principles in his life.
• 2. He takes correction without too much complaint or protest. He has taught me how to humbly acknowledge a fault and truly be sorry for it.
• 3. He loves without reserve. He is never stingy with his love.
• 4. He encourages me and believes I can do anything.
• 5. But he also corrects me and helps me improve.
• 6. When he has to correct me or anyone else, he is careful to do so kindly and out of love. There is never a doubt that he is doing so from any other motivation.
• 7. He still looks at me like I am the only person in the room.
• 8. He makes sure that everyone who hears of me hears how wonderful I am.
• 9. He has prioritized his family to such an extent that he has given up even some of his most cherished childhood and adult dreams, without once resenting us for it. I remember once, at a work conference of his, when I wasn't getting to see much of him because of the events and so on, he dropped going to an optional part of it that he had been looking forward to. In one of the sessions he attended, they were asked what their priorities were in life and if their calendars and schedules reflected that. He surprised me by coming up to the hotel room, when I thought he would be on a bus tour somewhere, and when I asked why answered that he always said that his priority was me and our children, and if he couldn't give up one thing to have some time with me, then he couldn't say that and mean it.
• 10. He will go without a great many things he needs to make sure our children and I have things we want.
• 11. He is not too proud to do any work that will serve his family.
• 12. After more than 26 years together and over 24 years of marriage, he still can give me shivers up and down my spine.
• 13. He has never stopped flirting with me.
• 14. He has set an example of fidelity, love, and friendship in marriage for both our sons and daughters.
• 15. He is obedient to Church authority and teaching and sets that example for me and our children.
• 16. Even though he acts like he is not, he is generous. Just this past week, I had brought him lunch at work because he left it at home, and a man who happened to be at the airport asked if he could get him lunch. So Rich gave him the lunch I brought. This is just one of the thousands of examples I could give. When there was someone camping on airport grounds, he didn't call the police, he sat and talked with the man about how he ended up there, gave him some food, and some ideas on how to get somewhere else. He did tell him that he couldn't just live there, but not until after he had shaken hands, made friends, gotten to know him a little, shared his story, and asked if he could help and pray with him. Likewise, he has had people come to his office in bad shape, and he is compassionate and listens. One comes to him every now and then when he either has a low point or a breakthrough. It has been years since they ever had any work together at all. He saw a family down on their luck in town, living in an RV in a parking lot who needed gas money and more. He got them the gas, helped them get some food, and gave them my phone number (he thought it might be a little less intimidating to talk to his wife, and for them to know he had a wife and family), and invited them to dinner at our house, even offering for them to park at our home, if they needed it.
• 17. He truly believes in unity. When we pray about Church unity, he isn't just saying the words. He checks how he discusses differences with people, and truly seeks to find peace and unity, without compromising what he knows to be true. This includes visiting missionaries from other sects. He makes sure he reads back what he understands of their faith to make sure he isn't misrepresenting it to himself or others, and asks them to correct him where he is wrong.
• 18. He fights fairly, almost all of the time.
• 19. When we argue or disagree, he is quick to reconcile and apologize.
• 20. He is the kind of man who buys me flowers for special occasions, and also for no occasion. He knows that I am not a dozen roses type, though, and goes in to the cooler at the florist's to pick out each and every arrangement himself.
• 21. He treasures our children and wants what is best for them. He is proud of their achievements and supports them.
• 22. He is an excellent provider, never expecting me to pay my "fair share," and working hard to make sure that not only what we need is covered, but nearly all that we want.
• 23. He values traveling with me and tries to make sure our kids can travel with us as much as possible.
• 24. He expects to have a good time wherever we go and does; he is not overly critical.
• 25. He is fun to be around, even when we are doing nothing special. Just shopping at the grocery store or hardware store becomes a date when we are together.
• 26. He will dance with me wherever we might be, including the grocery and hardware stores.
• 27. He laughs at my very hard to understand jokes. He says that he just arranges it all in his mind so it will make sense, and then laughs.
• 28. He is extremely funny and makes all of us laugh all the time.
• 29. He holds my hand or touches me wherever we are.
• 30. He is unfailingly faithful with his heart, mind, and eyes. He has never wanted our children to catch him checking out some other woman. They have grown up with the assumption of fidelity, that it is the norm, and that it isn't too hard for us mere mortals.
• 31. He has taught our sons to be men of faith and constancy. He is willing to turn off movies, shows, turn away from images, stop listening to stories that will not help him do this, and they have grown up seeing that.
• 32. He eschews anything that smacks of deceit or secrecy. He had some more private photos of me on his phone that he didn't want to show up when he was scrolling by for work projects, and was looking for a way to keep them hidden, but the only apps he could find to do so all had advertising about how you could hide this from your wife/girlfriend/etc. and he refused to put anything on his phone that would encourage the kind of thinking that a man should hide something from his wife.
• 33. He confides in me and seeks my counsel.
• 34. He never asks me what I have done all day, and truly believes that my work is valuable, regardless of whether or not it is paid or even if it is completed each day.
• 35. He has taught our daughters that male leadership is generous and self sacrificing, so they will expect that in their own husbands.
• 36. He made a goal to make it to our 75th wedding anniversary, so he is just over his half-life, he says.
• 37. No matter how tired he is or how late it is, he makes sure he takes the time and attention to truly listen to me or the kids.
• 38. He is honestly interested in other people and things. He will talk with interest about other people, their work, their hobbies, their interests, and he makes people feel heard and valued when he does it.
• 39. He is at least as handsome as he was when he first asked me to dance almost 27 years
• 40. He still finds me beautiful and looks at me like I am the most desirable woman in the world.
• 41. Even though he works many hours in each week, he is always willing to cheerfullly help at home.
• 42. He is quick to see beauty and share it with me.
• 43. He is an excellent father and is the kind of father I wish I had had in my life as I was growing up.
• 44. He is not too cool to be openly affectionate and admiring of me. He never puts up a pretense.
• 45. He is a hard worker and is incapable of doing a job half way. Sometimes this is frustrating when I just want him finished and available, but it has served us well and serves his work well.
• 46. He always gives people the benefit of the doubt, even to his own detriment.
• 47. He anticipates what others need and tries to provide it as best he can.
• 48. He is a man of great emotional depth. He is not afraid of expressing his thoughts and feelings
• 49. He is a great eater! He loves food and always eats what I make appreciatively. Even when the meal is not his favorite, he eats it with gratitude and has set an example of gratitude and adventure for our kids.
• 50. He stands firm in defense of our family, even if it means standing up to others, even if they are family, too. He is all in on our family and leads it with me as a true partner in marriage, as the heads of our domestic church.
• 51. He strives to be and is a good man. He inspires others to goodness and is always willing to listen or talk to anyone who is struggling or who can help him be better.

Labels: Birthday, Family



// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 4:17 PM 0 comments

It is another busy week here. We have the airshow, which will keep all of us busy. It has been keeping Rich late at work for the last couple weeks, and we are looking forward to having him home more after next week. He even took a couple days off to work and rest here. Several of our kids will be volunteering at the show, like they did last time, and we are going as a family to watch and enjoy it. It is also both Rich and Dominic's birthday this week, and it will be busy with work and airshow activities, but we are hoping to take a break and celebrate with them that night.

Next week is going to be pretty busy, too, with dress rehearsals and a recital. I cannot wait until we can rest a little. I've been tired depressed.

We are trying the chicken fried steak next week. There were a ton of leftovers in the fridge, and we had a lot less energy than needed. Friday was the last asparagus run of the season, and we have something like 60 pounds of asparagus, so we are eating with just about every meal. It's going to be a fairly warm week, so we are doing a lot of meals that can be made early in the day or in the pressure cooker or crock pot and things like salads. We are still making meals that are safe for Jerome, so if you have allergies and need ideas, I hope that helps. If you have ideas for us, please share them! We are also keeping the Wednesday and Friday abstinent fasts.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Leftovers from Taquitos (Leftovers turned into a Hash for Jerome), Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Braised Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic, Roasted Asparagus, Salad, Fruit Plate, Gluten-Free Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting
• Monday
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad, Steam Sautéed Asparagus and Garlic (using oil rather than butter), Fruit
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Asparagus and Goat Cheese Frittatas (Asparagus, Ham and Potato Hash for Jerome), Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives, Rustic Bread (Gluten-free for Jerome), Roasted Asparagus
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Chopped Asparagus and Chickpea Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Apple-Coconut Breakfast Bowl with Honey Peanut Butter, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Baked Chicken, Asparagus and Rice, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Potato Vegetable Hash, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta (Gluten-free/dairy-free for Jerome), Green Salad, Cherry Almoond Polenta Cake, Ice Cream
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese (Scrambled Chickpeas for Jerome), Bacon, , Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Italian Beef Sandwiches (using gluten-free bread for Jerome), Roasted Asparagus, Fruit Plate

Labels: Birthday, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:16 AM 0 comments

My socks are finished, though they still need to be blocked, and I am pretty close to finished with my trio of mittens. That picture shows where I was yesterday. Can you see that the shared mitten is kind of heart shaped? Albeit with some aortas coming off of the top, but how else can you wear it as a mitten?

Aside from making some more real progress on Desert Queen (it helps when my husband is working late and asking for my editing skills; it gives me more reading time), I also picked up X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft but Can Still Keep Everything from Sucking. It is hilarious, and as wry, ironic, and scathing as my generation is. There are some minor quibbles I have with the author, but overall, I think he makes a good argument, and does so in a funny way. Rich asked me when the whatever generation started worrying about itself as a generation, and I said that I think it was when the next generation got attention. We were fine being ignored if we were no longer doing that kind of thing, but it got to be a sticking point when the kids after us weren't. Also, we kind of like being ignored, so we can complain about it a little. Anyway, if you are Gen X, you probably will enjoy the book, if you aren't, you might still find it funny.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Books, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:24 AM 0 comments

This is another western, and relatively modern, feast, but again, one we adore. It is the celebration of the Real Presence of the Body of Christ in the world. There was no procession with the monstrance and canopy today, but that is one of my favorite things we do on this day. You have the people, who are symbolically the Body of Christ on earth, proclaiming and celebrating the Eucharist, which is actually the Body of Christ on earth. We pray and sing hymns and proclaim in word and action that Christ is alive and here with us. He offers Himself in the Eucharist as a gift to us, a medicine for sin and for our salvation.

Last week we had a heat spike that put us in the 100 degree range for a day or two. So, we switched several meal plans and have some repeats this week. I am so excited to find a way to make a gluten-free, dairy and egg free, chicken fried steak and gravy for Jerome, so we are trying that, too. We are still making meals that are safe for Jerome, so if you have allergies and need ideas, I hope that helps. If you have ideas for us, please share them! We are also keeping the Wednesday and Friday abstinent fasts.

• Sunday - Corpus Christi
  Breakfast: Leftovers from Homeschool Dance, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Snack Tray, Fruit Plate
• Monday
  Breakfast: Labneh and Jerome's Yogurt with Tomatoes and Dill and Olive Oil, Toast/GF bread, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak* and Gravy, Biscuits (Gluten-free and vegan for Jerome), Steam Sautéed Broccoli and Italian Beans, Fruit
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast with Honey (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Gumbo (using tapioca starch in place of flour) and Rice, Pepper Vinegar and Chopped Scallions, Strawberries
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Columba
  Breakfast: Polenta with Maple Syrup, Blood Oranges, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Besan Chila (using all parsley for Jerome), Chopped Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Apple-Coconut Breakfast Bowl with Honey Peanut Butter, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Cold Cut Sandwiches (Gluten-free bread for Jerome), Coleslaw, Pickled Vegetables, Fruit Plate
• Friday - Feast of Saints Barnabas and Bartholomew, Apostles
  Breakfast: Potato Vegetable Hash, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Creamy Avocado Pasta (Gluten/Lentil-free Pasta for Jerome) with Cashews, Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy (Gluten and dairy free for Jerome), Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Drowned Beef Taquitos, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Refritos, Shredded Cabbage, Chopped Tomatoes, Sliced Radishes, Chopped Avocado

Labels: Church Year, Corpus Christi, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 6:29 AM 0 comments

These are really simple to make and quite delicious. I tried them with a gluten-free all purpose flour blend and a coconut and cashew milk yogurt for Jerome, and they worked perfectly. So, if you are dealing with those kinds of allergies or sensitivities, this recipe will still work for you. These don't take as much time as Khoubz Araby, but they are delicious and perfect for wrapping around a gyro (like Slow Cooker Faux Gyros or Eggplant Gyros) or shawerma. Again, I failed to get photographic evidence, but when I have it, I will share it with you.

Turkish Flatbread

2 1/2 cups warm water
4 1/2 teaspoons yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups whole milk yogurt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil + more for cooking
2 tablespoons kosher salt
7 1/2 cups pastry or all purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley

Combine the yeast, sugar, and water in a large measuring cup and mix well. Set aside for 5 - 10 minutes. The mixture will be foamy and bubbly.

In a large bowl, add flour and parsley. Whisk in the yeast mixture, yogurt, olive oil and salt and stir with a sturdy spoon or spatula until the dough comes together.

Turn dough out onto a well floured counter and knead for a few minutes, until dough is no longer sticky and springs back when lightly pressed. Sprinkle more flour onto the counter as necessary during kneading, being careful not to add so much as to make a dry dough. Divide into 24 equal pieces, sprinkle lightly with flour, and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Preheat a griddle or large frying pan over medium heat. Fill a small bowl with a little olive oil. You will likely replenish it as you fry the flatbreads. While the pan is heating, roll the dough portions until they are about 1/4 inch thick. Brush the top surface of one lightly with the olive oil. When the pan is hot, pick up the first circle with your hand and place in pan, oiled side down. Lightly brush the top surface with oil. Repeat with enough rounds to fill the pan or griddle with room to turn them. Allow to the flatbreads to cook for about 1 - 2 minutes, until top surface is covered with bubbles and underside is golden around the edges and in spots. Adjust the heat as necessary. You do not want these to burn.

Flip flatbreads over and cook for another minute to minute and a half, until a few small golden spots appear. Be careful not to overcook. Repeat the oiling and frying process with remaining uncooked flatbreads.

Stack flatbreads on a clean kitchen towel after cooking and wrap up to steam a bit and retain softness. If you are lucky enough to have any left, you can store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag and reheat on a dry pan or in the oven to eat later. We never have any left.

Labels: Homemaking, Recipes, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 1:14 PM 0 comments