September 2011
9 posts
1 tag
Houseboat meets camper | Offbeat Home →
This is so awesome! If we had $20-30,000 just sitting around, the Sealander would be perfect for us. Sam isn’t a big fan of tent camping, but I love to get outdoors. He dreams of owning a simple camper and a houseboat (yes, both). This combines both in a cozy, lightweight pod that even has a retractable roof to really make you feel back to nature. Amazing!
1 tag
Beer Bread
I was pretty excited to try this whole-wheat beer bread. It certainly is quick and easy because it doesn’t involve yeast. It took less than ten minutes to mix up.
But it isn’t good. I couldn’t even finish the first slice because it was so weird and beery. Subsequent slices have been better, but not great. I used a lightish lager we had in the fridge; perhaps I should have used...
2 tags
Storage Solutions
Our kitchen is pretty good-sized and we’ve made careful use of the space. However, our cupboards are still overflowing. This area is the culprit:
The upper cabinet holds some bread, but mostly booze. The base cabinet is our recycling center. These all seem like things that could be stored elsewhere, freeing up space for all of the crap atop the fridge, all of the food falling out of the...
1 tag
The Big Chill
Well, my hopes of a good long fall growing season (to make up for the late spring) may have been dashed by last night’s 36-degree low. Only in Minnesota would the temperature drop over 50 degrees in roughly the same number of hours.
I guess we’ll see how my tomatoes come out, but I’m optimistic. They were just starting to really grow a lot of fruit so it would be a pity to...
Porch Progress
Our porch project has taken us a while because we’ve been so busy, but we’re making progress. After careful consideration, we decided to remove the lower windows. The frames were rotted, some of the panes were cracked or missing, and most of the windows didn’t raise or lower properly. We have storm windows on the outside that are in better shape, so the interior windows were...
1 tag
Baking Bread
We haven’t had much time for home improvement lately, so instead I’m stuck writing about my minor culinary pursuits. Recently it’s been bread, which I’ve made from scratch a few times but not in years. I was inspired by our visit to Round Barn Farm Bed & Breakfast & Bread in Red Wing. The weekend was a gift from my parents; Sam and I had a great stay. One of the...
2 tags
Fresh Veggies
It may have taken until September, but I have finally harvested my first tomatoes, broccoli, and green pepper (probably the only bell pepper I’ll get this year).
I celebrated by tossing the fruits of my labor into one of my favorite dinners: stir-fry. I love sauteing vegetables because it’s fast, easy, healthful, flexible, and preserves the fresh flavors. Sometimes I make it...
