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10 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JULY 2020 By Sharon Cates, Resident Remember not so long ago, the panic to buy toilet paper? It wasn't too uncommon to see shoppers pushing carts overloaded with TP to the check stand. Well the stores seem to have plenty of toilet paper now although limit signs are still being displayed. That panic has decreased and more reasonable amounts of TP are showing up in shopper's carts as they line up six feet apart to pay for their purchases. There seems to be other common products that have produced empty shelves at my nearest grocery store. Yeast and flour could not be found. The store clerk said many folks are baking bread. There was plenty of bread on the shelves, so what's the panic? Well, it seems that since the quarantine, people have time for this baking activity. My granddaughter has two little girls. She's never been into baking before but says she looks at bread-making as an educational activity. Kneading has become fun time in her home. When the ovens on, her house smells wonderful. Not to spoil anyone's fun, but there are recipes for making bread that do not require yeast and a lot of hands-on pushing and pulling at dough. I'm all for trying the short cuts first. In 1986, I was fortunate to attend the World's Fair in Vancouver, B.C. I haven't forgotten the delicious fried bread the Native Americans sold there. The smell of it cooking brought long lines of fair goers and served with a piece of fresh broiled salmon, it was delicious. At right is the recipe if you'd like to try it. NAVAJO FRY BREAD INGREDIENTS • 4 cups of white flour • 1 Tbsp baking powder • 1 tsp salt • 1 ½ cups of warm water • 2 cups of lard or oil for deep frying DIRECTIONS Mix all dry ingredients. Add warm water. Knead until dough is soft and doesn't stick to bowl. Cover bowl for at least 15 minutes. Form dough balls about the size of a peach then flatten with your hands into a disc shape. Heat the oil over medium heat (350f ) and gently add the discs. Fry each side until golden brown. Be sure oil isn't too hot as outside will burn quickly. Serve with honey butter, sugar and cinnamon or make Indian tacos by placing meat and fixings on top. Some bittersweet history: When the Native Americans were forced to reservations, they traveled on what's known as the Trail of Tears. They invented Fry Bread from the ingredients given to them by the government. Although, different tribes have their own recipe, this one is basic. Enjoy. A Sign of the Times

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