Showing posts with label In the Kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In the Kitchen. Show all posts

July 4, 2011

I get a lot of weird looks at the brewing supply store.

Cause I look like this:


Actually, people stare at me a lot no matter where I go. Creepy. Here's another angle for you:


You're welcome. That's from 36 weeks, which was actually a week and a half ago so now I'm *technically* full term. Wowza. Why would a lady giant with child be at a brewing supply store? Because hubs is crafty, too!

He's been brewing beer at home for maybe a year, sometimes with buddies who also work for the government - so they've named their endeavors "Red Tape Brewing." Eh? Eh? With that type of cleverness they could be journalists.


This is what's been creeping up the side of our house, trying to get in and fill our air with hoppy beer smell. Fitting that I should post this on July 4th; Independence Day. Poor hops have nothing left to climb, but hopefully they'll still yield enough flowers to get a batch out of.

Hubs has brewed his own recipe a few times with, I think, excellent results. I'm no connoisseur, having been out of the beer-drinking loop for the better part of a year, so perhaps any sip that hits my lips is like a sweet, sweet college memory. But really, I think it's just pretty good beer. And this is why I bring up the beer-craftiness going on in my house:


KEGERATOR. Built from a freezer, a home-made wooden tap collar, and whatever else goes into making kegs operate. I don't know. There's pressurization and tubes and the whole beer-making process is actually quite scientific and that's why I don't participate. I just go to the store and endure the glances of all the people who are hoping that they don't need to be judging me and if any of them talk to me they'll find that I have not been involved in any kind of unhealthy boozing behavior but that I do look forward to being able to have a beer once in a while. Except when that time comes I'll probably opt for a margarita.

March 12, 2010

I rule you, yeast.

Apparently, this "crafting" blog is turning into a "homemaking" blog. Whatevs.

I'm afraid of baking bread with yeast, because in the past it has failed. But TWICE now, I have been triumphant! First with this cinnamon raisin bread:


Note the highly professional swirl.

And then for delicious soups like this sausage/veggie/cheese tortellini soup:



I succeeded with a french bread. Really easy, excellent flavor.


It didn't even get ruined because I ran out of regular flour and subbed some whole wheat flour. Or because I don't have a fancy-schmancy baguette pan.