June 26th: Where were you 12 years ago?

So last night we're talking with my mom on the phone as we're heading home from the Urban Arts Festival, and all of a sudden I ask them what the date is.  They tell me it's the 25th, and I turned to Paul and asked if he knew what tomorrow was.  He said, "Sunday?", and I start laughing when I say, yeah, but it's also our wedding anniversary -- we forgot all about it!

Fast forward to this morning, and we decide to take a bike ride and enjoy the sunshine.  We end up at Point Defiance and wander around Taste of Tacoma.  I see the Lodge and suggest we go by and look around.  We didn't plan on it but here we were in the same place at almost the exact time we were married 12 years ago!  The gazebo where we said our vows looks so different.  There are tons of lovely plants all around it -- couldn't possible fit our wedding party and the guests there now. As we stood there we had a kiss and a hug, and Paul thanked me for marrying him, and I told him it was the best thing that happened to me.   Yeah, I know -- really sweet at the time but retelling it now...

Anyway, it has been a wonderful day.  We rode to Starbucks and had a coffee.  Then down to Point Defiance for a little look around.  Next was a lovely ride along Ruston Way then Schuster Parkway before we turned onto Dock Street.  We rode the esplanade to the Urban Arts Festival and enjoyed a little music before we took our bikes over the Bridge of Glass and rode to Merconi's for some refreshment.  After our short respite we grabbed the #1 bus to our neck of the woods, and then rode over the sky bridge home.

I am beat!  I'm gonna sit down with my ice packs, have a glass of wine, and then make something special for dinner.  Happy Anniversary Paul!

Home Made Tortillas

I love flour tortillas, Paul loves corn, and since I do the shopping guess which one we usually have in our fridge?  Lately we've been eating corn tortillas.  I don't know what it is about commercial corn tortillas, but they suck!  So I decided to make my own.  I went to my computer, typed  corn tortillas and viola!  2,150,000 entries just waiting for me to view:  definitions, images, recipes, blogs, videos -- amazing!  

The ingredients are so simple:  Masa Flour (not corn meal) which I found at Fred Meyer, a little salt, and some water.  You don't even need any special equipment!  Forget about buying a tortilla press -- just cover your cutting board with some plastic wrap, add another sheet of the plastic over the tortilla dough, and then smoosh it with a glass baking dish!  

Quick, easy, and so much tastier than store bought -- you have to try it!

Corn Tortillas (makes 8 tortillas)

1 cup Masa Flour

2/3 cup water

1/8 tsp salt

Combine ingredients in bowl.  Mix thoroughly for a few minutes to form soft dough.  Add water (1 tbsp at a time) to dough if it feels too dry.  

Divide dough into 8 equal balls.  Cover with damp cloth to keep dough moist.  Line a cutting board with a sheet of plastic wrap.  Place ball of dough on board, and cover with another sheet of plastic wrap.  Slowly press a 9x9 glass baking dish on dough until tortilla measures approx 5" in diameter.  

Preheat ungreased griddle or skillet on medium high heat.  Cook tortillas one at a time for about a minute each side.  Cover tortillas with cloth napkin to keep soft and warm.