MY FAVORITE RECIPES: Meet the Jordans By Dee Bryson

Chuck Jordan was born and raised in Winona, Wash. He raises cattle and farms wheat. His great-uncle was the first in the family to come to the Palouse and his great-grandfather followed shortly after in 1892 and created the homestead that Chuck and his wife live on today. Chuck smiled as he shared that he has had three different addresses in his life but has never lived in another location. Although the location hasn’t changed, the address did as the postal service came in and then later made changes in the routes, once again changing his address.

Wife Scottia grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She met Chuck 27 years ago while in Startin’s Auto Repair. She offered him some candy, and that was an offer he couldn’t refuse. They have been together ever since.

Chuck and Scottia boast of their love for their little community and the good life that it has offered them.

The Jordans relayed an example of the compassion that is often found in the community.

One day during harvest, several farmers were in Startin's Auto Repair shop, which isn’t an uncommon event during that busy time of year.

A little girl wandered into the repair shop with a flat tire on her bike.

Although there wasn’t a lack of work, everything came to a halt to take care of the little girl and her bike.

It wasn’t until she was happily on her way that the other work resumed.

Chuck and Scottia said that they have found that their little town runs on a different set of priorities than some other place.

Taking care of each other is at the top of the list. The Jordans said their community runs on kindness and there is a real sense of family. When a farmer is sick or needs help, it is not uncommon to find 20 more farmers showing up to lend a helping hand. While the Jordan’s closest neighbor may be three miles away, there is no lack of solidarity.

Over the last few years, Scottia has developed a passion for creating handmade soaps.

While learning that a friend was making her own soap, it stirred a desire in Scottia to try it herself.

She quickly became passionate about it.

Before long, she was getting orders from family friends and neighbors.

Now Scottia is selling her handmade soaps to a variety of people and will even make custom orders.

She loves to create a large assortment of soaps.

Some of those include natural bars that are scented with essential oils and plant-based colors.

Scottia loves the creative process and has also made soaps with wheat and wildflowers that are abundantly found in the area.

Her beautiful soaps can be found on Facebook at Palouse Harvest Soaps.

Scottia can also be contacted via email at PalouseHarvestSoaps @yahoo.com

Recipes

Pecan Sandies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup canola oil

1 cup white sugar

1 cup powdered sugar, ........sifted

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. salt

2 cups pecans, chopped

Another 1/2 cup pow-.......dered sugar to roll ........dough in.

Preheat oven 375 degrees F.

Cream together butter, oil, white sugar and one cup powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; then stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the pecans. Roll dough into one-inch balls and roll them in the half cup of powdered sugar. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten a bit. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.

Roasted Garlic

and Potato Soup

3 large golden potatoes ........with skin

3 large golden potatoes ........without skin

1 large onion, chopped

2 tsp. fresh-snipped .......Rosemary or 1 tsp. .......crushed dried rosemary

1 bulb garlic

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 10-oz. can chicken .......broth, doubled with ........water (20 oz. total)

1-1/2 Tbsp. flour

1/4 tsp. pepper plus a ........little (to taste)

1 cup half and half

1/2 cup cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Oil a glass baking pan. Place peeled potatoes on one half of pan. Place unpeeled potatoes on the other half. Sprinkle onion and rosemary over all. Peel away dry outer layer of skin off garlic bulb. Cut tip off bulb, leaving bulb intact but exposing cloves. Place garlic, cut side up, on top of potatoes in center. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil all over garlic bulb, and 1 tablespoon olive oil all over potatoes. Cover with foil and bake 50-60 minutes.

In a mixer or food processor, add peeled potatoes, squeeze garlic pulp out of bulb into mixer (careful, it is HOT), a half cup of chicken broth, all of the flour and pepper. Cover and blend until nearly smooth. Pour mixture into a large kettle on the stove. Stir in unpeeled potatoes, remaining chicken broth, half and half and cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir one more minute. If you think it is too thick, add some regular milk. Enjoy!