Even though the yard is still snow covered (BLECH! A pox on late springs!!), it is actually spring. Here is how I know (aka, I don't need no stinkin' robins to tell me it's spring!)
1. The turkey vultures come back.
2. The red-tailed hawks start what I assume are mating flights, as this is the only time of the year I see them soaring around in pairs.
3. The mourning doves start cooing to each other.
4. The red-winged blackbirds come back. I wonder if they will try to nest in the yard again this year?
5. The cardinals sing their distinctive song, after having remained silent all winter.
And the best indicator of spring... Cadbury's Easter Creme Eggs. Yes, I know, but I cannot resist them!
I should be welcoming this late spring, as it gives me more time to work on the house before the yard word starts, but still - I am so tired of winter already! And surprise, surprise, I'm sick AGAIN - laryngitis this time. I haven't been able to speak normally since last Thursday, and since this Thursday, I have literally no voice above a whisper. The doc put me on antibiotics, and if it hasn't gotten better by early next week, off to a specialist I go :(
Please excuse my inner geek.
So, I'm not saying this is like me AT ALL, or anything, but some might remember the day I found the slime mold on one of my petri plates, and got way too excited...
Source: The funniest comic on the web. Click to embiggen.
is it a bad thing that slime molds are among my favourite things?? The structures they produce while spoulating are absolutely stunning - in a microscopic sort of way. And yes, it is actually called dog vomit slime mold :)
$500 Challenge - March Edition
This month's challenge proved to be EXTREMELY frustrating.
I wanted to replace my old non-stick bake-ware with new, not non-stick, North American made bake-ware. After reading some great reviews about Chicago Metallic bake-ware, I decided to do some research here, and found out all their products are made in the USA.
From the website:
So, I found a Canadian distributor, and placed a fairly large (to me) order.
Now, keep in mind I'm doing this via mail-order, and paying more for both the product, and for delivery, because I want North American made, good quality products. I've researched the company, read on-line reviews, done my due diligence, so to speak. And everything I've found says this product is well-made, long-lasting, good quality - and made in the USA.
So, imagine my surprise when I opened the box:
WTF? I e-mailed Chicago Metallic to ask about the discrepancy, and this is the reply I received:
Now, I am under the impression that no business will allow another to operate under the same name, in the same country, making the EXACT SAME PRODUCTS, without approval. I'm also under the impression that all loaf pans, cake pans, muffin pans and pie plates will indeed fit in a "normal" oven, but that's a minor quibble.
Digging a bit deeper on-line, I find this site, which, conveniently enough, is under construction. Nowhere can I find any "warning" that there are two companies called Chicago Metallic, one that manufactures in the USA, one in China. In fact, I can't find ANY information on Chicago Metallic the second and their manufacturing processes.
So, I can either believe this is all innocent, and Chicago Metallic the first is either unaware of, or can do nothing about, Chicago Metallic the second.
Or, I can believe the two companies are linked in some way, and are using the reputation of the first to sell the products of the second on the home market. I responded to the e-mail above with some of these questions, and to date, two weeks later, am still waiting for a reply.
What to do?
I can return the pans to the distributor, and pay the shipping and re-stocking fee (since this is not their fault in any way), then go buy lesser quality products at a local store.
I can keep these pans, and provide a "win" to Chicago Metallic for their marketing strategy - and indeed, these are decent quality pans,
better than I have found elsewhere.
The one thing I apparently cannot do is find North American made bake-ware, or force Chicago Metallic to own up to their misleading marketing tactics.
It shouldn't be this hard.
Since I will most likely cave in, and keep the pans, the tally for the challenge is as follows:
Costs:
Two square cake pans, two round cake pans, one rectangular cake pan, two muffin pan, one min-muffin pan, and two loaf pans:
$149.75 + $9.97 shipping + $20.76 tax
Total: $180.48
Balance: $212.78
I wanted to replace my old non-stick bake-ware with new, not non-stick, North American made bake-ware. After reading some great reviews about Chicago Metallic bake-ware, I decided to do some research here, and found out all their products are made in the USA.
From the website:
So, I found a Canadian distributor, and placed a fairly large (to me) order.
Now, keep in mind I'm doing this via mail-order, and paying more for both the product, and for delivery, because I want North American made, good quality products. I've researched the company, read on-line reviews, done my due diligence, so to speak. And everything I've found says this product is well-made, long-lasting, good quality - and made in the USA.
So, imagine my surprise when I opened the box:
WTF? I e-mailed Chicago Metallic to ask about the discrepancy, and this is the reply I received:
We are sorry about your pans but you have the wrong Chicago Metallic. We are the industrial side of the pan market and we do not have house ware pans. Chicago Metallic is under another company also and the company you have bought your pans from buys from China. All the pans we manufacture will not fit in the normal oven. Yes you are right, you could go to the nearest Walmart and buy the same pans. Our pans are made in the USA and we sell to distributors. If you have any questions please feel free to call.
Now, I am under the impression that no business will allow another to operate under the same name, in the same country, making the EXACT SAME PRODUCTS, without approval. I'm also under the impression that all loaf pans, cake pans, muffin pans and pie plates will indeed fit in a "normal" oven, but that's a minor quibble.
Digging a bit deeper on-line, I find this site, which, conveniently enough, is under construction. Nowhere can I find any "warning" that there are two companies called Chicago Metallic, one that manufactures in the USA, one in China. In fact, I can't find ANY information on Chicago Metallic the second and their manufacturing processes.
So, I can either believe this is all innocent, and Chicago Metallic the first is either unaware of, or can do nothing about, Chicago Metallic the second.
Or, I can believe the two companies are linked in some way, and are using the reputation of the first to sell the products of the second on the home market. I responded to the e-mail above with some of these questions, and to date, two weeks later, am still waiting for a reply.
What to do?
I can return the pans to the distributor, and pay the shipping and re-stocking fee (since this is not their fault in any way), then go buy lesser quality products at a local store.
I can keep these pans, and provide a "win" to Chicago Metallic for their marketing strategy - and indeed, these are decent quality pans,
better than I have found elsewhere.
The one thing I apparently cannot do is find North American made bake-ware, or force Chicago Metallic to own up to their misleading marketing tactics.
It shouldn't be this hard.
Since I will most likely cave in, and keep the pans, the tally for the challenge is as follows:
Costs:
Two square cake pans, two round cake pans, one rectangular cake pan, two muffin pan, one min-muffin pan, and two loaf pans:
$149.75 + $9.97 shipping + $20.76 tax
Total: $180.48
Balance: $212.78
I'm getting better at this...
I have been roasting chickens for... well, ages. For at least 12 years, but I can't remember the first one I ever roasted. What I do remember, though, is chicken after chicken after chicken, with moist, tender dark meat, and dry, tasteless white meat. Even as a child, I preferred dark meat, and it hasn't changed. But since it's more frugal, generally, to buy a whole chicken, I needed to figure out how to cook it better, but a way that is still easy and economical. In other words, I don't truss, and I won't spread a half pound of butter on the breasts to keep them moist :)
Enter my enamelled cast iron pot. It's a generic, cheap version, but it has very quickly become my favourite pot in the kitchen. I first tried it for roasting a chicken a few weeks ago, and while good, the white meat was still a bit dry (note to self: that meat is still in the freezer. Do something with it!). So today, I tried something slightly different: I started with the chicken breast side down, and I kept the lid on. For one entire hour. Then, I flipped the chicken, and cooked it at a higher temperature, just long enough to finish it off and brown the skin a bit.
Before, seasoned with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
After. Could be browned a bit more, but not bad!
The result? Not bad at all! The white meat is a LOT better, and while the skin isn't the crispy goodness I'm used too, that isn't a bad thing, since I'm not tempted to eat it all in one sitting :)
The best thing about this method is that the stock gets made right in the same pot. Since I don't make gravy, I simply remove the meat I need (breasts, drumsticks, thighs and sometimes the wings), return the carcass to the pot, add an onion or two, some celery, some carrots, some peppercorns and a bay leaf or two, then cook until the carcass falls apart. I strain out the solids (pick out any meat and discard the rest), and place the stock overnight in the fridge, skim off the fat the next day, then use half to make soup (with the meat from the carcass) and half goes into the freezer for other uses. And all that bottom-of-the-pan goodness goes right into the stock.
And this is what makes a whole chicken an economical choice. I will get at least 16 meals out of this one, small bird:
- 4 suppers of roast chicken
- 4 meals using reserved meat, generally the breast meat. This can be chicken salad, quesadillas, or any other recipe that calls for cooked chicken
- at least 4 servings of soup
- at least 4 servings of another recipe that calls for stock
Even if I use all the stock for the soup, I get at least 12 serving of a meat-based meal, all for the cost of one chicken.
No low fat cooking here!
So, time for another un-recipe. I came down with the flu this week, and basically haven't eaten much of anything. I woke up this morning feeling a lot better, and with an incredible craving for bacon and cheese.
Go figure.
Add to that, I've been meaning to try something like this for a while - a grated potato crust quiche thingy, that can be sliced and kept either in the fridge or freezer, and easily re-heated (or eaten cold, for that matter). I know breakfast is an important meal, but I am SO not a morning person, and am liable to grab the easiest thing around, like a piece of pie, or even chocolate. So, having a "healthy" option to grab in the mornings is a good thing.
I'm also tempted to try it as individual servings, using a muffin pan, but figured I'd go with cast iron for my first attempt.
The verdict: It's good. Not great, but good for a first attempt. I was trying to get a crispier crust, and it's flatter than I wanted, but fewer potatoes and more eggs should solve that. The one thing that did surprise me was the cooking time. 35 minutes for what amounts to an omelette with fried potatoes is a bit much, but if it stores and re-heats well, spending 35 minutes to make a week's worth of breakfasts may be doable. The one thing I like is that it is infinitely adaptable, according to how many potatoes, eggs, and extras you have on hand. It's a "Clean out your fridge" recipe :)
Modifications: I can easily see this in many different variations, depending on what is in the fridge. Basically, whatever rocks your omelette world can be used in this recipe. Sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese? Sounds great! Green peppers, mushrooms and ham? Fantastic! Got some greens, like spinach or Swiss chard? Toss 'em in. Caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese? That sounds so good, it gives me the shivers :) Served with a green salad, this could make a great brunch option, or even a light supper.
Go figure.
Add to that, I've been meaning to try something like this for a while - a grated potato crust quiche thingy, that can be sliced and kept either in the fridge or freezer, and easily re-heated (or eaten cold, for that matter). I know breakfast is an important meal, but I am SO not a morning person, and am liable to grab the easiest thing around, like a piece of pie, or even chocolate. So, having a "healthy" option to grab in the mornings is a good thing.
I'm also tempted to try it as individual servings, using a muffin pan, but figured I'd go with cast iron for my first attempt.
Ingredients:
1/2 a pound of bacon. Yes, this is a lot, but this easily makes 6-8 servings. Besides, it's bacon.
6 medium sized potatoes
1 medium sized onion
6 eggs
1 cup grated old cheddar
salt and pepper to taste
Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
Chop the bacon into ~1" slices, and cook in a cast iron (or other heavy, not non-stick, oven-safe frying pan or skillet) until crispy-ish. I don't like my bacon too crispy, so feel free to cook it to your taste instead of mine :) Meanwhile, peel and grate the potatoes, and place into salted cold water to prevent browning. Just before the bacon is done, drain the potatoes well, squeezing out excess water. Grate the onions, and mix with the potatoes. Remove the cooked bacon from the pan, and drain off the fat, keeping ~2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the potato and onion mixture, spreading out into an even layer. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes (note: the potatoes were a bit chewy, so next time I will either use fewer, or bake for 5-10 minutes longer). Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a measuring cup, and add water (or milk) to measure 2 cups final volume (note: I only had 6 eggs, and you can easily use more, just bake for longer). Remove the pan from the oven, and sprinkle the bacon in an even layer, followed by the cheese. Pour the eggs over the top, return to the oven, and bake for 15 minutes, or until set. Remove from oven, let cool for ~5 minutes, slice and serve.
The verdict: It's good. Not great, but good for a first attempt. I was trying to get a crispier crust, and it's flatter than I wanted, but fewer potatoes and more eggs should solve that. The one thing that did surprise me was the cooking time. 35 minutes for what amounts to an omelette with fried potatoes is a bit much, but if it stores and re-heats well, spending 35 minutes to make a week's worth of breakfasts may be doable. The one thing I like is that it is infinitely adaptable, according to how many potatoes, eggs, and extras you have on hand. It's a "Clean out your fridge" recipe :)
Modifications: I can easily see this in many different variations, depending on what is in the fridge. Basically, whatever rocks your omelette world can be used in this recipe. Sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese? Sounds great! Green peppers, mushrooms and ham? Fantastic! Got some greens, like spinach or Swiss chard? Toss 'em in. Caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese? That sounds so good, it gives me the shivers :) Served with a green salad, this could make a great brunch option, or even a light supper.
Quickies!
Dad's surgery went okay, and he's recovering well - after a few trips to the hospital to deal with some small issues.
The new tank-less water heater is hooked up, and running great! While there is a noticeable delay in the time it takes for the hot water to get to the tap, I still think it will save money in the long run.
I got the re-assessment done today for the energy audit, and even though all the drywall isn't completed, the "air-tightness" of the house has improved by over 40%!! WOW!
The old hot water tank should be removed by Friday, assuming nothing else goes wrong with the process (I'm currently at two phone calls and well over one hour spent on the phone to make this happen. Seriously, Direct Energy customer service sucks).
I called the manufacturer of the taps, and explained I couldn't find the "cap" for the cold water tap. It arrived on my doorstep, 3 days later, free of charge. Danze, your customer service ROCKS!
The bathroom is put together finally, even though I still need to do some touch-up paint, and all the trim. It's SO nice to have at least one room "done"!
As much as I love that cabinet from Ikea, the glass door is a little too transparent for me. I'm thinking of lining it with some fabric, just so my soap and shampoo collection isn't on display ;) Ooooh, I also need to replace the brown register cover with a white one!
I bought myself a "I'm tired of winter" treat:
From this artist, and it's even better in person! Now I just have to figure out where it's going...
Katy found a new perch - she can look out over the side yard and garden from here. I tell her she needs to start planning the garden...
And can someone, anyone please tell me WHY all the stuffed toys end up at the bottom of the stairs??
The new tank-less water heater is hooked up, and running great! While there is a noticeable delay in the time it takes for the hot water to get to the tap, I still think it will save money in the long run.
I got the re-assessment done today for the energy audit, and even though all the drywall isn't completed, the "air-tightness" of the house has improved by over 40%!! WOW!
The old hot water tank should be removed by Friday, assuming nothing else goes wrong with the process (I'm currently at two phone calls and well over one hour spent on the phone to make this happen. Seriously, Direct Energy customer service sucks).
I called the manufacturer of the taps, and explained I couldn't find the "cap" for the cold water tap. It arrived on my doorstep, 3 days later, free of charge. Danze, your customer service ROCKS!
Look, both caps!! And they are even on the right taps!
The bathroom is put together finally, even though I still need to do some touch-up paint, and all the trim. It's SO nice to have at least one room "done"!
I bought myself a "I'm tired of winter" treat:
Katy found a new perch - she can look out over the side yard and garden from here. I tell her she needs to start planning the garden...
And can someone, anyone please tell me WHY all the stuffed toys end up at the bottom of the stairs??
I am an Urban Homesteader
There is a brouhaha going on right now, about a certain company trademarking the terms "Urban Homestead" and "Urban Homesteading".
And the on-line community is rightly calling bullshit.
Now, let me be clear here: I have no problem with a business protecting a trademarked name, logo, slogan, etc. That is not what is happening here though. The Dervaes are sending cease-and-desist letters to bloggers for daring to use those terms on their blogs. Using a phrase in a blog post, or even in the name of a blog, especially when that blog is not commercial in nature, and pre-dates the Dervaes' trademark, is simply... well, words fail me, but it is causing a backlash that will affect the Dervaes for some time, I'm sure.
Posts for background reading:
http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/2011/02/urban-homesteaders-cease-and-desist.html
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/2011/02/pasadena_family_trademarks_the.php
http://www.rootsimple.com/2011/02/why-did-we-change-our-name.html
A Facebook page was started to declare OUR ownership of those terms.
WE, the gardeners, the chicken-keepers, the growers and harvesters, the planters, the seed-keepers, we will continue to do what we do, no matter who is trying to trademark our passion.
I am an urban homesteader.
Now, go ahead and sue me. I double dog dare you ;)
________________________________
Update:
Other blog posts along the same theme:
http://fightingsharks.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-home-steader.html?showComment=1297902145704#c554727962906215631
http://deniseintn.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
http://champagnewishesandcoupondreams.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
http://www.halfacrehomestead.com/2011/02/urban-homesteaders-unite/
http://brandesaysnom.blogspot.com/2011/02/trademarking-way-of-life.html
http://www.farmcurious.com/trademarks-patents-thieves-oh-my/
http://growandresist.com/2011/02/16/urban-homestead-act-2-1/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1km4x8YB9M
http://viggiesveggies.com/?p=1197
http://chilechews.blogspot.com/2011/02/mistakes-were-madebut-not-by-me.html
http://heirloomgardens.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
And the on-line community is rightly calling bullshit.
Now, let me be clear here: I have no problem with a business protecting a trademarked name, logo, slogan, etc. That is not what is happening here though. The Dervaes are sending cease-and-desist letters to bloggers for daring to use those terms on their blogs. Using a phrase in a blog post, or even in the name of a blog, especially when that blog is not commercial in nature, and pre-dates the Dervaes' trademark, is simply... well, words fail me, but it is causing a backlash that will affect the Dervaes for some time, I'm sure.
Posts for background reading:
http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/2011/02/urban-homesteaders-cease-and-desist.html
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/2011/02/pasadena_family_trademarks_the.php
http://www.rootsimple.com/2011/02/why-did-we-change-our-name.html
A Facebook page was started to declare OUR ownership of those terms.
WE, the gardeners, the chicken-keepers, the growers and harvesters, the planters, the seed-keepers, we will continue to do what we do, no matter who is trying to trademark our passion.
I am an urban homesteader.
Now, go ahead and sue me. I double dog dare you ;)
________________________________
Update:
Other blog posts along the same theme:
http://fightingsharks.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-home-steader.html?showComment=1297902145704#c554727962906215631
http://deniseintn.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
http://champagnewishesandcoupondreams.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
http://www.halfacrehomestead.com/2011/02/urban-homesteaders-unite/
http://brandesaysnom.blogspot.com/2011/02/trademarking-way-of-life.html
http://www.farmcurious.com/trademarks-patents-thieves-oh-my/
http://growandresist.com/2011/02/16/urban-homestead-act-2-1/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1km4x8YB9M
http://viggiesveggies.com/?p=1197
http://chilechews.blogspot.com/2011/02/mistakes-were-madebut-not-by-me.html
http://heirloomgardens.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
To the person searching for...
... 70s porn, my deepest apologies that you got this instead.
;)
As an aside, the most common search term that brings people to this blog is some variation on "dead things found in old houses" or "things found in the attic", which makes this page the most viewed. People are strange* :)
_______________________________________________
*Hey! I just blog about dead bodies in the attic and 70s porn, I don't actually go looking for them on the interwebs!!!
;)
As an aside, the most common search term that brings people to this blog is some variation on "dead things found in old houses" or "things found in the attic", which makes this page the most viewed. People are strange* :)
_______________________________________________
*Hey! I just blog about dead bodies in the attic and 70s porn, I don't actually go looking for them on the interwebs!!!
And now Kip is 4...
Four years ago today, Kip (and his seven brothers and sisters) was born.
Nine weeks later, he came home with me - after a four hour car ride, during which he whined. The entire time. Poor pup!
He grew up quickly. Too quickly.
And he learned how to jump, and to go up and over and under. And he even learned how to stop on the table, and not slide off the other side.
And then we moved home, and he learned what squirrels were, and that a dog needs to be ever vigilant.
And to always look up.
He learned what a lake is, and how nice the beach is - even if he doesn't like water very much.
He is my clown, my goof, my funny funny funny dog. He loves every one, every dog he meets, and has never had a bad day, a bad moment, a bad thought.
He is my boy, and he is four today.
Nine weeks later, he came home with me - after a four hour car ride, during which he whined. The entire time. Poor pup!
And he learned how to jump, and to go up and over and under. And he even learned how to stop on the table, and not slide off the other side.
And then we moved home, and he learned what squirrels were, and that a dog needs to be ever vigilant.
And to always look up.
He learned what a lake is, and how nice the beach is - even if he doesn't like water very much.
He is my clown, my goof, my funny funny funny dog. He loves every one, every dog he meets, and has never had a bad day, a bad moment, a bad thought.
He is my boy, and he is four today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
