tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24310319995898680922012-02-12T22:17:29.943-08:00Adventures in cooking, landscaping the yard, home improvement, and other ramblings.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-77743254813602630732012-01-17T15:40:00.000-08:002012-01-17T15:40:32.112-08:002012-01-17T15:40:32.112-08:00

We're slated to get another foot or so over the next couple days!

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2012/01/dogs-seem-to-be-enjoying-our-winter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-28627636452810903942012-01-01T19:08:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:08:40.381-08:002012-01-01T19:08:40.381-08:00

Asian food of any kind is one of those genres of cooking that I am wholly uncomfortable with and generally requires a lot of prep work. I only try cooking it when I get a wild hair up my ass and a recipe that I feel is solid. Today was one of those days. I used a Cooks Illustrated recipe (always bombproof) and spent 2 hours getting dinner together including time spent cleaning the kitchen.

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com2http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-orange-chicken.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-51433769275707049182011-12-13T17:11:00.000-08:002011-12-13T17:11:14.270-08:002011-12-13T17:11:14.270-08:00

Trying to peel the paper off of garlic can be a pain. This is a great method if you don't need your cloves to be totally whole and beautiful once peeled. Start with garlic cloves with intact paper One at a time, whack them with the flat of a chef's knife or cleaver or something you're not likely to slice your hand open on. Smashing the garlic deforms the cloves and loosens up the skin.

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-peel-garlic.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-4500083526139442312011-12-13T16:56:00.000-08:002011-12-13T16:56:01.956-08:002011-12-13T16:56:01.956-08:00

Ok, here's a basic technique that makes prep work a lot easier for basically any type of cooking. I've found that this isn't a really common piece of knowledge and it really makes chopping onion a lot easier. Start by cutting it in half from root to tip. Then you want to cut the tip end off and start peeling back layers until you end up with a nice creamy white color (the green areas have a

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-chop-onion.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-75256177527221448422011-10-06T21:09:00.000-07:002011-10-06T21:09:05.627-07:002011-10-06T21:09:05.627-07:00

Craig prefers it when I refer to this dish as "whore pasta." I think it's a little more exciting when it has colorful language in the name. I made it for dinner tonight. Mostly because I had this huge heirloom tomato from the grocery store that was starting to get a little iffy. Puttanesca is loosely translated as "of whores", so pasta puttanesca is whore pasta. The concept is that whores don't

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/10/pasta-puttanesca-or-whore-pasta.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-7137727736975624932011-08-28T21:43:00.000-07:002011-08-28T21:43:57.943-07:002011-08-28T21:43:57.943-07:00

First, I let the dough rise about an hour, then I did a 2nd coat of egg wash Then popped that sucker in the bottom level of the oven for about an hour And after it came out of the oven!

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/08/challah-great-success.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-14182023752187797492011-08-28T20:12:00.000-07:002011-08-28T20:12:40.198-07:002011-08-28T20:12:40.198-07:00

In fact, I've never even HAD challah before.  I'm gonna make some mean french toast next weekend.  Hav eyou ever braided 4 strands before?  Yeah, me neither before today. I hope it looks as nice as Rose's!

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/08/im-baking-challah-tonight-for-first.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-63186393332553762582011-08-28T16:03:00.000-07:002011-08-28T16:03:11.485-07:002011-08-28T16:03:11.485-07:00

Just a little.  2 weeks in and it's certainly taking its time but we are making progress and every morning I wake up to just a bit more green.  The far side seems to be much slower, but I'm thinking it has to do with that side getting constant sun, and the other greener portion getting a bit of shade throughout the day.

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/08/quick-update-on-yard-our-grass-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-51194172237976889912011-08-28T15:58:00.000-07:002011-08-28T15:58:08.369-07:002011-08-28T15:58:08.369-07:00

Today is my first wedding anniversary.  Since I never posted any of our wedding photos on the blog, I figured that now was as good a time as any, and to tell you guys a bit about it.  We had the ceremony and reception at a nearby koi water garden location.  It was a mid-afternoon ceremony and the main goal was for it to be a laid back comfortable event for our friends and family to enjoy.  My

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/08/happy-wedding-anniversary.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-40055291990080520102011-08-14T11:04:00.001-07:002011-08-14T11:04:35.011-07:002011-08-14T11:04:35.011-07:00

Front yard renovation Since we looked at photos of the house that we ended up buying online, I have hated the junipers out front.  Like enough to almost not go see it.  Strangely, the two things that I hated the most about the house, I have lived with for nearly 3 years.  Those are the kitchen floor (you’ve seen photos, it’s terrible) and the junipers out front. They are nearly 40 years old and

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/08/front-yard-renovation.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-37119727269997365892011-07-10T10:57:00.000-07:002011-07-10T10:58:52.902-07:002011-07-10T10:58:52.902-07:00

And it smells glorious.  I cut some of the branches off to enjoy inside the house and they've done surprisingly well.  I'm on day 3 and have only lost a few flower petals.  Please excuse the cell phone photos From Instant Upload From Instant Upload From Instant Upload

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-mock-orange-is-blooming.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-59211921384938812562011-07-02T16:36:00.000-07:002011-07-02T16:36:24.229-07:002011-07-02T16:36:24.229-07:00

We've had a slow start to summer here in the PNW for the second year in a row.  For gardeners, it's FRUSTRATING!  Everything has started off slowly.  For example, purple lilacs usually bloom for a few weeks out of the year, and just as they are tapering off, the white lilacs start to kick in.  Only the saddest dregs of purple blooms, and the most healthy white blooms are left around by Mother's

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/07/garden-what-month-does.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-26933745429023618612011-04-06T21:54:00.000-07:002011-04-06T21:54:42.931-07:002011-04-06T21:54:42.931-07:00

My coworkers are awesome.  Really.  Due to the nature of our business, whenever we get a "job"-that is- something that needs to be fabricated, the customer wanted it yesterday.  Since the majority of my coworkers are the ones that fabricate the devices, and I'm the point of contact with the customer, them busting their butts and being good at their jobs makes me doing mine easier. Since the

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/04/strawberry-rhubarb-cupcakes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-46092192325699642762011-03-13T19:23:00.000-07:002011-03-13T19:23:46.335-07:002011-03-13T19:23:46.335-07:00

This was the kitchen before I tore all of the doors out.  Silly me! Then I got to painting them. I'd like to show you my ingenius drying setup.  We don't have any sawhorses, but I figured I'd for the same concept with crossbars, but with less sawhorse.  I got 6 10 foot sections of 3/4" PVC and some T ends for the to keep them from rolling, and set them up in pairs on the garage floor.  Just

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/03/ack-my-shoulder-hurts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-61878641916918854802011-03-11T11:13:00.000-08:002011-03-11T11:25:07.294-08:002011-03-11T11:25:07.294-08:00

As I type, the installers are here, putting the unpainted doors up and getting everything aligned and drilled for the hardware, then I get to take them down, and prime, sand, paint, sand, paint, sand, and paint them before reinstalling them and putting the hardware on. I guess this is what $2300 worth of doors and drawer fronts look like!

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/03/cabinet-doors-are-being-installed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-55928059671186220112011-03-06T19:20:00.000-08:002011-03-06T19:20:41.053-08:002011-03-06T19:20:41.053-08:00

AKA - "I hate sanding more than you could ever imagine" or "God I appreciate having a kitchen!" Our magnificent cabinets Now you may be wondering where the contents of my cabinets went while I was working on this project. Wonder no more! Our only source of food besides takeout? Nothing better than a freezer dinner and whiskey from a plastic cup as a nightcap.

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com6http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-ive-been-up-to-in-pictures.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-43232805897307646632011-01-29T11:05:00.000-08:002011-01-29T11:05:17.009-08:002011-01-29T11:05:17.009-08:00

I'm beginning to get frustrated. You see, I adore this mixer. When my parents got divorced, and my mom and I were picking out things to start our new house, we of course needed a kitchenaid mixer. My mom, trying to make this as fun as possible for me, let me pick out the color of the mixer. I immediately decided upon the color that Martha was using at the time, which in the late 90's was an

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-heck-color-is-this-mixer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-2859203718346829242011-01-24T19:38:00.001-08:002011-01-24T19:40:05.235-08:002011-01-24T19:40:05.235-08:00

Kosher Salt Butter Eggs Heavy Cream Garlic Onions Homemade Chicken Stock Lemons Red & White wines Cheeses - primarily parmesan, sharp cheddar, and chevré what are yours?

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/01/10-best-ingredients-in-my-kitchen.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-41709764004200822222011-01-24T19:24:00.000-08:002011-01-24T19:24:09.287-08:002011-01-24T19:24:09.287-08:00

Ok, so here's my FINAL follow up to making bacon. It's easy. We left off with refrigerating the pork belly in a ziploc and turning it over every day or so to keep it curing evenly. When the belly begins to turn from squishy to firm, you are ready to cook the bacon. If you have a smoker, good for you and do you want to be friends? If you don't have a smoker, follow my instructions. Remove

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/01/makin-bacon-part-2.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-70149459909627660572011-01-21T11:09:00.000-08:002011-01-21T11:09:13.525-08:002011-01-21T11:09:13.525-08:00

On my way to work this morning, I got to thinking about biodiesel. The thought occurred to me that biodiesel is made with more than just corn and soybeans, it's made with rendered fat from animals. Now I may be speaking in generalities here, but a great many environmentally conscious users of biofuels also tend to lean towards vegetarianism, no? That makes me think. Many don't believe in

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/01/vegetarians-and-biodiesel.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-45219782443440544632011-01-16T18:37:00.000-08:002011-01-16T18:37:43.541-08:002011-01-16T18:37:43.541-08:00

I just want to be clear with you. I abhor the "cupcake craze" that is going on in this country. It's ridiculous. People will spend $4 on a tiny little cake that most of the time sucks. I have NEVER had a commercially produced cupcake that was any good. Either the cake is junk, or the icing is no good, but most of the time, they are both crap. Given, I pretty much only have tried ones that my

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-foray-into-cupcakes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-61880198876344086762011-01-01T16:48:00.000-08:002011-01-01T16:49:44.057-08:002011-01-01T16:49:44.057-08:00

This biscotti recipe is a combination of my dad's and my dad's wife's recipes. They're both good but neither are perfect. My dad's recipe is very flavorful but it's hard as a rock. Kim's is OK, but it's texture makes it edible without being dipped. Many recipes call for anise of some sort in them. It makes me gag when I smell it, and I find that I don't much like baked goods that include it,

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2011/01/laurels-almond-biscotti.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-9182221024668521482010-12-10T21:14:00.000-08:002010-12-10T21:18:59.824-08:002010-12-10T21:18:59.824-08:00

I took these last night when I went into the bedroom to go to bed. I ran back out and grabbed the camera. The dogs are clearly enjoying the soft bed. Boris gives himself a bath at night and in the morning. Helo just likes to lay there and soak in the amazingness of his pack that loves him so much and treats him so well. I call Helo "Fluffy Bunny" which I'm sure he'd hate if he

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com1http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2010/12/doggy-bedroom-pictures.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-45825848263624358542010-12-05T22:59:00.000-08:002010-12-05T22:59:57.068-08:002010-12-05T22:59:57.068-08:00

This is me with Perry and Boris cuddled up on the sofa all asleep. Craig had a late poker game and I was waiting for the sheets to come out of the dryer so I could make the bed and pass back out. This is Perry, yesterday morning. He was enjoying looking out the window. This is my northwest style red ale. It's on nitro. See the sandstorm. Envy the sandstorm.

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com2http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2010/12/random-photos-that-i-feel-inclined-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431031999589868092.post-69633528727451169112010-12-05T22:51:00.000-08:002010-12-05T22:51:53.711-08:002010-12-05T22:51:53.711-08:00

So making bacon is awesome. I love it. Well, I love it kind of like I love pulling a sled up a hill to sled down. It isn't the greatest thing in the world, and if I could just EAT the bacon without being bothered to actually make it and have total control over every step of the process, sure, I'd do that, but I can't. So just as the sled has to be pulled up the hill for the payoff, the bacon

Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250413278318349811noreply@blogger.com0http://homeindisarray.blogspot.com/2010/12/makin-bacon-part-1.html