Beers

Just kegged Baby Bunny Brown.  It's called that because it's a Brown Ale that's just a little hoppy.  *rimshot*


Baby Bunny Brown
Nugget - 1/2 oz - 60 min
Williamette - 3/4oz - 15 min
2 lb CaraRed
4 oz Chocolate Malt
1 lb Caramel 40
4 lb Extra Light DME
2 lb Pale Malt
Some sort of English-Aley yeast

This recipe had the most non-extract grain I'd ever used.  I ended up running water over the grain, sparge-style, to get all the goodness out when it was done steeping.  I also heated that water beforehand, so there wouldn't be so much of a wait between steep and boil.

Today, I'm making a traditional American Pale Ale.  Nothing too fancy.  I want a beer that folks will drink come pig-roast time.

Grandma's Rolls

Fresh-baked bread soothes the soul.

That said, here's my Grandma's roll recipe:
Mix 1 cup warm water, 1 tsp sugar, 1 package yeast - Let the yeast bloom.

Mix
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1.5 tsp salt
1 cup warm water

Add
6 cups AP flour, gradually. Knead, let rise. Punch down and form into rolls. Place in greased pan, let rise again. Bake at 375 until brown and delicious.

Sounds simple, right? Well, it wasn't for me at first. Here's some of the places I went wrong, and how I fixed them, as well as some things I've changed.

Warm Water - Yeast will bloom faster if the water is 80-90 degrees F. If it's up over a hundred or so, it'll kill the little guys. Use a thermometer.

Yeast - I prefer Rapid Rise yeast. You can skip the blooming step. I take about half the flour and mix the salt and yeast directly into it. Just don't forget to add the extra cup of water.

Where to rise - If I've got time, I let the rising happen in the refrigerator. It takes longer, but the rolls end up tastier.

Kneading - This is all about making holes in the dough for the yeast to blow up with CO2. I use the Alton Brown recommended method: Spread the dough out flattish, and make a trifold wallet with it. Repeat for five or ten minutes.

Oil - Grandma doesn't use extra virgin olive oil. I do. It's yummy.

Water - Depending on where you're at, the tap water may have enough chlorine in it to kill yeast. For instance, I was never able to make bread with tap water in Fayetteville or Dallas. To be totally safe, use bottled water. You can usually find 8-oz bottles, which is convenient, because 8 ounces equals one cup.

The Pan- Don't be afraid to pack them in - It'll make them rise taller. Tall rolls are tasty rolls, and they look good too.

The Pan, part 2 - Heavy is good.

Garden Update

SFG #1
Achillea x1 Feb 20, 2010	Jalapeno x1 April	Chard x4 April	Turnip x6 Mar 6, 2010 July
Cilantro x4 April	Nasturtium x1 April	Shallots x16 March	Turnip x6 April/August
Marigold x2 April	Thyme x2 May	Shallots x16 April	Beets x9 May
	Tomato x1 per two squares Basil x1 per square April		Tomatillo x1 May
Trellis
SFG #2
Anaheim x1 Mar 6, 2010	Chard x4 May	Onion x16 March	Onion x16 Feb 20,2010
Zinnia x1 April	Marigold x2 April	Chard x4 April	Onion x16 April
Corn x1 June	Okra x1 May	Arugula x2 Mar 6, 2010 July	Arugula x2 April/August
Corn x1 May	Okra x1 June	Potato	Potato x4 Mar 6, 2010

Kegerator v3.1

How could a kegerator get any better? How about two faucets? Bam!

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen

I present to you Death of a Joke: A Play in One Act, based on a shocking true story.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

DANIEL, a WISE GUY, who mayhap thinks he is some sort of comedian or something

TRENT, a CASHIER, thoroughly familiar with both TRACTORS and SUPPLIES

ACT I

Daytime, inside a Tractor Supply Company. DANIEL has just selected a dollar's worth of carriage bolts and a Diet Coke. He approaches the cash register.

TRENT: Wow, big spender today, huh?

DANIEL: Yep, sure am. I don't like to brag, but sometimes... [glances back and forth, gestures toward the Diet Coke]... I'll buy these six at a time.

TRENT: [pauses] So I guess you really like to drink them, then.

DANIEL: Well, they... er... come in six packs. [Takes receipt and leaves, dejected]

[Curtain]

Note to Self

Start horse tack shop, call it David's Bridle.