Home Brew by Thanksgiving

Meagan bought me a home brewing kit for my birthday. My birthday isn’t until end of November but we both figured that it would be nice to be able to drink the home brew on my birthday, and so I got my gift early. I got a Better Basic brewing equipment set (w/ glass carboy) and a Caribou Slobber beer kit all from Northern Brewer.

Last night I boiled the wort and put it into the primary fermenter. The original gravity was 1.052. This morning when I woke up, about 10 hours after sealing the carboy, my airlock is bubbling like crazy. I’m beginning to worry about blowing the seal and making a mess. I wonder if I should put a blow-off tube on the carboy for the next few days (see the air lock bubbling). UPDATE: I’m told that if the Krausen (the foam at the top of the fermenter) does not reach the airlock, I shouldn’t be worried. (p.s. thanks to Aaron @groundrocket for advice on steeping specialty grains).

My amber beer should be ready by Thanksgiving, just in time for my parents visit.

Bon Appetit (II)!

Cabbage soup is not for the feint of cabbage or vegetables.

Cabbage Soup

p.s. Meagan and I shared that crusty bread.

p.p.s. planning to update more pictures of food as they happen, aren’t you excited? I’ve also added a new “Food” category to my blog’s sidebar!

Bon Appetit!

Thought I’d share my first experience with a hot roast-beef sandwich. It was pretty choice. If you want the recipe, email me…

Hot Roast Beef (Country Cooking)

Mi huella del carbon

I calculated my carbon footprint today (link). I was surprised by the amount of CO2 I’m “emitting” from things included in the ‘secondary’ category. Secondary category items included my food preference (a mix of red and white meat), organic food, in-season produce, fashion, recreation, and use of financial services. If you know how use of financial services (e.g. bank accounts) increases carbon footprints, you are smarter than me. If my internet usage was considered, this category would be higher (link).

My annual carbon footprint by category was:

• House: 0.13 tons  (based on a $50.00/month electricity bill)
• Car: 1.83 tons (5,000 miles/year at 24 mpg)
• Flights: 0.26 tons (one ~4,000 mile round trip flight)
• Bus: 0.10 tons (I ride the bus every day ~2 miles)
• Secondary: 6.26 tons (see above for description)

My Total carbon footprint is 8.58 tons of CO2 per year. The national average is over 20 tons, but the worldwide average is 4 tons. Given my ’secondary’ category was highest, I suppose I should work on reducing this portion. For example trying to buy more local food and items with less packaging. TALLYHO!

Thanksgiving 2008

Meagan and I hosted our first Thanksgiving. My parents came to College Station the night before Thanksgiving and stayed until early Sunday morning (my birthday). The meal preparation went off without any significant problems, but I can’t say that I was super involved. It was nice to have my parents here, they met and got a kick out of Webster, and Webster enjoyed having other people to lay on, at least I think he did.

For my birthday, we played a game of cribbage and then went to a German restaurant in Bryan, TX called the Brauhaus. It was pretty tasty, my parents and I had the schnitzel with spatzel and Meagan had roast beef. Playing cribbage with my family is one of my favorite things, we all seem to enjoy it and its fun! We also went to the George Bush (41) Presedential library and my parents acted as participants in my research (although I won’t use their data).

Josie Claire has arrived UPDATE

Yesterday was Meagan and I’s 3rd year anniversary. Because it was Labor day she had the day off but I unfortunately did not. Apparently Texas A&M doesn’t appreciate the work of it’s laborers. At any rate we decided to create a greek meal for our anniversary dinner. Pita chips with homemade hummus, roasted red pepper/feta cheese, and Horiatiki Salata rounded out the first course. For the main dish we made chicken gyros with yogurt dill sauce and Spanokorizo (green spinach rice). Finally, for dessert we ate the only non-greek item, tiramisu, because its so tasty. We also tried a greek wine that was just okay….

My sister-in-law Courtney is pregnant and has been for 31 weeks. Chris and Courtney named her Josephine Claire and asked Meagan and I to be godparents. Saturday Chris called to tell me Courtney had preclampsia and that she was in the hospital for tests. Sunday I talked to Courtney who told me more details and that she would definitely be on bed rest but would most likely go home until the baby was born, ideally not until 38 weeks. Yesterday, Courtney called again while we were cooking, I did not answer but she left a message saying everything was going great, her blood pressure was dropping, Chris had returned to Oklahoma City for job training and she would likely go home Tuesday. This morning at 5:30am Courtney’s good friend Michelle called and said Courtney delivered Josephine and they were both fine, Josie cried when born (a good sign).

Josie is just about 4lbs and everything is super, I can’t wait to see her.

UPDATE: October 1st: Josie is home and is dang near 5lbs.