Nature Photography

Nature Photography: Sloppy Mesquite Tree

At this time of the year, my mesquite tree is a bit of a slob. It’s losing its leaves, which means that my yard is full of duff. Here’s what I’m talking about…

Nature photography - mesquite duff in Tucson, Arizona yard

If the tree limited its duff sharing to the yard, I’d be happy. But no. Duff on the driveway. Duff on the sidewalk. And duff on the front porch, which gets tracked into the house…

Nature photography - mesquite duff on Tucson, Arizona yard porch

Why do I put up with this sloppy tree? Because it feeds me, that’s why. Which means that it’s recipe time!

Whole Wheat Mesquite Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup mesquite flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2/3 cup oil

1/3 cup honey (add more if you want sweeter cookies — or use sugar)

Optional ingredients: Dried fruit, cinnamon, nuts, chocolate chips

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix whole wheat flour, mesquite flour, baking powder, and salt together in one bowl. In a second bowl, use a fork to beat the eggs until they’re well blended.

Now, it’s time for your upper body workout. Add the honey to the egg bowl. Getting it blended in will take some doing. For even more exercise, add your dry ingredients and stir everything until it’s blended.

Grease a cookie sheet. I like to do this by pouring a small quantity of oil into a cupped hand, and then it’s hand and finger painting time! It’s even more fun to get both hands involved.

Use those oily hands to roll your mix into 1-inch balls. Drop them onto the cookie sheet.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes. Makes 2 dozen cookies.

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