Diary of a Foggy Mad Scientist: July 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Herb garden inventory

I took inventory of what I have out there now, and here's where it stands:

Basil: Holy, Pesto, Italian, Spicy

Bee Balm

Catgrass

Catmint

Catnip

Fennel

Foxglove

Germander

Horehound

Hyssop (blue)

Lavender: English, Spanish, French, White Katharine

Lemon Balm

Lemon Grass

Lemon Verbena

Lovage

Mint: Ginger, grapefruit, chocolate, orange bergamot, apple, spicy

Nasturtium

Oregano: Italian, Spicy

Parsley, curled

Peppermint

Raspberry

Roses

Sage: Purple, White, Plain

Savory: Summer, Winter

Spearmint

Stevia

Thyme: Lemon, German, English, Silver Posie

Valerian

Violet

Yarrow

Garden Inventory:

Asparagus
Beans
Blueberries
Brussel Sprouts
Carrots
Cucumbers (pickling)
Lettuce
Kale
Peas
Potatoes
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Zucchini

Apples, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Plums, grapes

There are still so many things I need, so if anyone has suggestions let them fly!

Wants: Dill (mine doesn't grow well), ginger, marshmallow root

Sunday, July 27, 2014

BB: Brussel sprouts and apples in reduction

-Brussel sprouts, brined overnight and halved

-butter

-onion, diced

-apples, diced

-carrots, rounds

- white wine (optional) or a wee bit of bourbon ( optional)

- apple juice, chicken broth, or water

Sautée the onions in the butter till translucent, add rest of veg and liquid.

Cook till liquid is gone and sprouts are browned. Top with crumbled bacon or pancetta. Enjoy!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Hummingbird cake

Hummingbird Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour (can substitute Pamela's flour for a GF version)
2 cups Sugar or 1 C Truvia
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 c oil
1/2 c apple sauce
1 (8 ounce can) crushed pineapple, undrained (or one pineapple, chopped, w juice)
4 bananas, mashed
1 cup walnuts chopped

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon.
Mix together with whisk. Add eggs, vanilla extract, oil, applesauce, pineapple, bananas and walnuts, and mix until all ingredients are moistened
Spray 3 (9 inch) round cake pans or one 9 x 13 inch pan, or grease and flour pans. Cook in preheated 350 degree oven 35 to 40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean from center of cake. Cool. Frost with cream cheese icing.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Bathroom renovations.. and so we begin..

So the bathrooms are terribly 80's/90's and while some updates have been done, there are soooo many things to do to make it our own. I love, love, love the cool tones. Want to make the main bath reflect the colors that the master bath have already. I think I will probably blog changes we make but also ideas and good places we find stuff- we're doing a lot of *not cookie cutter* stuff, on purpose, and I realize that renovating a bathroom with anachronistic pieces or stuff that doesn't say "NEW!!' won't appeal in the future when we hand off our home to someone else, but really, we have to live here till then. I don't want a pretty, new, silver and undamaged thing, that has no soul. It needs to say- Hey! They spent HOURS, WEEKS, MONTH scouring places to find that light for me, or find that cabinet to reclaim for me. I still want new appliances, and new countertops, but really, I'm a dab hand at reno, and so is Chris so let's get it on, braugh! hehehe. My kids would bury their heads in shame..

I think that these nickel and opal fixtures would rock out the eclectic wibbly wobbly timey wimey thing we seem to be doing. They'd work over our sink and in the main bath.. way better than those exposed bozo the clown nose bulbs on wood backing. Bleck!

http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/antique-lighting-lanza-5-bath-fixture?sc=9&category=309078

I also really really like the idea of doing a floor to ceiling one sided shelf with a back support bracket over the toilet to give some storage. Not deep- just enough to add some functionality.

Also seriously loving the ideas of the hidden/concealed grab bars. I think in my old age *cough, cough* I have become appreciative of the idea that just because you need a little assistance, it doesn't mean you want to look like you NEED a little assistance. It's a blow to the ego there ya know. Therefore, these beauties at Home Depot, or rather the line of this type of things has a future home in our bathrooms I think..

Now, if anyone has a winning lottery ticket to share with me, this'll go WAY faster, but I'll post as we update. Man I wish that light fixture wasn't a whole car payment or two. *sigh* But it is pretty sweet.