Thank You to My Advertisers: 8/24-8/30

As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...

Everyday Living

How to Peel Tomatoes

This is a necessary step in preparing tomatoes for canning or other type of processing.

1. First, remove the cores on the tomatoes (doing it now is much easier than after removing the peel)


2. Fill your sink with cold water


3. In a large pot, bring water to a boil


4. Once the water is boiling, place tomatoes in the pot and set your timer for 30 seconds


5. When the timer goes off, remove the tomatoes from the boiling water and place in the sink filled with cold water


6. The skins should come right off the tomatoes. Granted there may be one or two who want to be difficult, but just take a knife and scrape the skin off


7. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until all tomatoes are peeled

Of possible interest... How to Core Tomatoes

How to Core Tomatoes

Although some may see this as an everyday thing and is a necessary skill in order to can tomatoes and skin them, there are many out there who have never done this before, so I will give a brief guide on how to core a tomato.

1. Get a sharp knife and place it in your hand


2. Rinse the tomato and put it in your other hand with the core (where the tomato came off the plant) facing up


3. Take the knife and insert it approxiamtely 1/2 inch beside the core and about an inch deep


4. Using your thumb as a guide, turn the tomato in you hand and move the knife in an up and down motion until you have completed the circle

The top of the tomato should now twist off

Of possible interest... How to peel tomatoes

My Interview at Red Pine Mountain

Hello, I just wanted to let you all know that I have been honored to be interviewed over at Red Pine Mountain. I hope that you will swing by and read my thought-provoking answers (that will be the day). While you're there, please take the time and explore this terrific blog.

Friday Fotos: 8/28

For us, this is the last Friday before school starts. I hope you all enjoy your weekend...





What was that address, again...

courtesy of... funnyhub.com




How Aflack keeps costs down...

courtesy of... imageshack.us




Yeah, I can relate to this...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Baking With Your Sourdough Starter

Okay, your starter is sitting in your fridge and is real lonely, so you need to take him out and make some bread. There are several ways to do this, but I will tell you about the one that I use, since I know it works (which can be somewhat helpful). Here's what you need to do...

The night before you want to make your bread, take the starter out of the refrigerator and add:

1 cup of flour

1 cup of warm water

stir well and place in a warm location. Again, I usually keep it in the oven with the light on.


The next morning, your starter should have a yeasty smell and should have increased in size. Now, for the bread recipe:

What you need



• 2 cups of your proofed starter (now called the sponge)


• 3 cups flour


• 2 tablespoons olive oil


• 4 teaspoons sugar


• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

What to do


1. In a bowl, add your 2 cups of proofed starter


2. With your leftover sponge, add 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of warm water
   
3. Mix well and place back in the refrigerator


4. Add sugar, salt, and oil


5. Mix well


6. While mixing, gradually add the flour ½ cup at a time
   
   
   
   • Now, even though the recipe calls for 3 cups of flour, you may not need that much or you may need more. It all depends on the moisture content of your sponge and the humidity in your area
   
   
   • I only use the machine until the dough is completely mixed and then I let the machine go for maybe another 30-45 seconds. The dough is supposed to be slightly sticky, so you will have to go more by feel, than by a strict recipe
   
   
   • If it is too moist, add more flour
   
   
   • If it is too dry, add more oil
   
   
   
   
7. Once done, spray a glass bowl with Pam (I use the same one I mixed it in) and roll the dough in the bowl to coat with oil then form the dough into a ball by tucking the dough under itself


8. Place the dough in a warm place, cover with a towel (I usually spray some water on the towel) and allow to rise until double its size (this may take several hours)


9. Once doubled, punch down and knead again


10. Place the dough in the bread pan of your choice and return to its warm resting place


11. Once doubled, place in a cold oven


12. Set oven to 350°


13. Bake for 30-35 minutes


14. Check to see if its done (take your finger and thump the top of the bread, if it sounds like you are thumping a cardboard box, the bread is done


15. Turn-out onto cooling rack and give the thump test on the bottom, just to be sure


16. If your bread is not done, place back in oven and check every few minutes


17. Now the hard part...waiting


18. Wait until the bread comes to room temperature before cutting

Enjoy!

Troubleshooting... The Dough Also Rises

First in series... How to Make Sourdough Starter

How to Make Sourdough Starter

Being that the cost of a loaf of sourdough bread is roughly $4.00, I decided that since we are trying to save money, why not try and make my own sourdough bread. So, with this thought echoing in my mind, I went on a journey to discover what I would need to do. I have made regular bread before, but I have never even attempted sourdough, basically because with terms like starter and sponge...it seems a little intimidating. However, as you will see, it is pretty easy. I have already tried the following recipe and, believe it or not, it actually works. I made one loaf yesterday (pictured above with some Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top) and, as I write this, I am proofing a loaf of french bread (which I'm going to pour a mixture of melted butter and granulated garlic over before baking).

What you need



• Mason jar (wide mouth) or other glass container


• Cheese cloth (Something to cover the container, but will allow it to breathe)


• 1 cup of flour


• 1 cup of warm water

What to do



1. Put 1 cup of flour into glass container


2. Add the 1 cup of warm water


3. Stir well to combine


4. Cover and leave in a warm place (between 70-90 degrees) (I leave mine in the oven with the light on)


5. Each day you will need to remove ½ cup of the starter and replace it with ½ cup of flour and ½ cup of warm water


6. Stir and repeat step 5 for the next three to four days (may take longer) or until your starter is ready

You will know when your starter is ready, when you notice a "beery" or yeast smell coming from it. You may also notice that a liquid forms along the top (called hooch). If this happens, just pour the liquid out.

Once your little pet is up and running (I call ours Fluffy), you can cover him with a lid (poke a hole in it, please) and place him in the refrigerator. He will only need to be fed (refer to step 5) once week.

Next in series... Baking With Your Sourdough Starter

Thank You To My Advertisers: 8/17-8/23

As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...

Everyday Living

Friday Fotos: 8/21

It is Friday once again and the weather this weekend is going to be HOT! I hope you all have a terrific weekend and try to keep cool...



This sounds like a government idea...

courtesy of... funnyhub.com




I LOVE this...

courtesy of... lolpix.com





courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Exercise or Yardwork

When I started my retaining wall project last month (yes, shameless promotion), I was currently in the habit of exercising 5-6 times per week. I was determined to maintain that schedule throughout the construction process, because I knew that I would feel guilty for not working out. Well, that lasted for all of three days. The first two days went fairly well; I exercised and than I went and spent three hours weeding the berm. However, on the third day, I began digging the trenches; this did not go so well. I was so exhausted from the exercising and the digging, that I all but collapsed when I was finished for the day. I discovered right then and there, that the yard work I was doing was providing me with more than enough exercise, thank you very much.

You see, I had it engraved in my mind that if I skipped a day of exercise, I would be sabotaging my whole fitness routine. Strange, I know, but that's what my mind-set was. Looking back on everything, I have come to realize that it is not just the fact that I am setting aside a certain amount of time each day to expend energy, it is the fact that I am actually expending energy. Whether in the form of a structured exercise routine or in the way of yard work: it is the fact that I am actually doing something physical.

Now, you may be asking what all this has to do with the title of this article? Well, simply put: it doesn't matter whether you do your usual exercise routine or do yard work. It matters that you get out there and do some sort of physical activity. So, put the guilt away and go get that yard (or mine) in shape.

Retaining Wall Photos: The Final Pictures

Unfortunately, due to an exclusive agreement with Kindle, I have been asked to remove the contents of this page. However, all the information you will need to build your retaining wall, can be found in my book. I am very sorry of any inconvenience this may cause.

Retaining Wall Photos: 8/17

Unfortunately, due to an exclusive agreement with Kindle, I have been asked to remove the contents of this page. However, all the information you will need to build your retaining wall, can be found in my book. I am very sorry of any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank You to My Advertisers: 8/10-8/16

As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...

Everyday Living

Friday Fotos: 8/14

We have made it to another Friday, so give yourselves a big round of applause. Have a great weekend and I hope you enjoy the pictures...




No, your other right...

found at... funnyjunk.com




So true, but I still want one...

courtesy of... pyzam.com




Couldn't resist this one...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Retaining Wall Photos: 8/10

Unfortunately, due to an exclusive agreement with Kindle, I have been asked to remove the contents of this page. However, all the information you will need to build your retaining wall, can be found in my book. I am very sorry of any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank You to My Advertisers: 8/3-8/9

As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...

Everyday Living

Friday Fotos: 8/7

Well, we've made it to another Friday and to help get you through this most noble of days, I have found a few pictures that may bring a smile to your face. I hope you all have a great weekend...



Would you be fooled...

courtesy of... funnyjunk.com




Also works great during rush hour...

courtesy of... motivationalz.com




This is the way I feel after doing a budget...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Problems Faced While Building a Retaining Wall

Unfortunately, due to an exclusive agreement with Kindle, I have been asked to remove the contents of this page. However, all the information you will need to build your retaining wall, can be found in my book. I am very sorry of any inconvenience this may cause.

Retaining Wall Construction Photos

Unfortunately, due to an exclusive agreement with Kindle, I have been asked to remove the contents of this page. However, all the information you will need to build your retaining wall, can be found in my book. I am very sorry of any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank You to My Advertisers: 7/27-8/2

As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...

Everyday Living

Shopping The Manly Way

There are two words that, when spoken aloud, can strike fear in even the bravest of men: clothes shopping. I bet that may seem strange to some of you, but it’s true. My aversion to clothes shopping began at a relatively early age. You see, in August, my mom would tear me away from my friends at the swimming pool and drag me to the store to shop for Back to School clothes. I hated every second of it, because not only was I missing the fun at the pool, I was getting clothes for…school. I mean, this was the summer: time for friends and fun, not clothes and school.

As time went on, instead of getting a babysitter, I was dragged along on various shopping junkets and made to sit on a chair and watch in sheer boredom, as my mom and my sister waded through the various clothes. Hours later, and on the verge of a coma, they would be finished and we could leave. Needless to say, these experiences stayed with me and throughout my adult life, I have made it a point to do as little shopping for clothes as possible. Now, in this age of the Internet, it is possible to shop for clothes, yet not have to step foot inside a clothing store. For me, this was terrific news and I was off on an adventure. One of my first stops was a place called Zappos.com. I just recently saw one of their commercials and decided to see what they had to offer and I wasn’t disappointed.

One of the first items of clothing I need to get is a good pair of jeans. You see, for the past several years, I have been getting by with just wearing sweatpants; they are comfortable to wear and they are very forgiving when it comes to gaining weight. Now, that I have lost a great deal of weight, I need to find something to wear that is a bit more durable than the sweatpants. This being the case, I want to buy a good pair of blue jeans. Thankfully, they made it very easy to shop for them. I can search by fit, size, rise, color, and brand. This makes it very quick and easy to find the type of jeans I’m looking for. Another nice feature is the fact that they offer free shipping both ways. So, just in case my jeans don’t’ fit, I can return them for free. That, in my books, is a very nice thing to do.

The other clothing item I am searching for is a bathrobe. You see, when I went away to college, I was able to take my dad’s old terry-cloth bathrobe with me. It was great to have something to wear when going to the showers or just for just lounging around in my room. Of course, that robe is long gone and even though I no longer live in a dorm, I have always liked the idea of being able to lounge around in a bathrobe. I know, it sounds dumb, but when it’s cold outside and you are tired after a long day, it’s nice to be able wrap yourself in a comfortable robe and to drink a hot cup of coffee.

So, all you guys out there need not live in fear of stepping into a clothing store, because they have made shopping for clothes as pain-free as possible. The fact that I can easily search for what I want, means that I can spend my time doing something a little more productive. I would also like to restate the fact that they offer free shipping both ways, so if I do have to return an item, I don’t have to worry about coughing-up even more money. And, in this day and age, every dollar that I can save is important. Now, as I write this, it is currently 100 degrees outside, so I guess I'll have to wait a while on that hot cup of coffee.

Finishing Your Retaining Wall

Unfortunately, due to an exclusive agreement with Kindle, I have been asked to remove the contents of this page. However, all the information you will need to build your retaining wall, can be found in my book. I am very sorry of any inconvenience this may cause.