Gazelles On Crack Rotating Header Image

cheese

Weekend Update – the pictureless edition!

Jun 27th, 2011
by gazelle.
1 comment

I took zero pictures this weekend. None. Zip. Zilch. I am so ashamed.

There were so many things happening! Friday morning, I headed up to Vancouver to hit some estate and garage sales with Emily. I had so much fun at the first one, picking up a couple books, some old photos (I have a thing), a cutting board (or, as the architect said, “why’d you get a finger cutter?”), and some sewing patterns. I also picked up a garlic press at another sale, some wine glasses (I only buy cheap wine glasses, because they have a habit of getting broken), and a new Halloween decoration. The crowing glory of the entire morning was, after a long trip through rural East Vancouver (including driving by the place I was lost and afraid a few years ago), ending up at a garage sale (that was not HUGE as advertised) that had about 3 dozen pink Juicy velour tracksuits for sale in various sizes, ranging from girls to adult. Emily & I really, really wanted to get a couple, but on learning that they were $50 each, we decided maybe that wasn’t the best way to spend our money, regardless of how funny it would’ve been.

After leaving the Couv, I went home, ate, did a little homework and then headed to Overlook Park for the Organic Brewers festival. I had such a good time, and couldn’t even believe it when it was 5 hours later and time to meet the architect for dinner!

Saturday was a buy morning – so many errands! I went to REI to get new bike shoes, then Title 9 for sports bras, then the Farmer’s Market to pick up the CSA share that I split with Sarah, then my tailor for my hemmed pants, then the Home Brew store for beer ingredients, New Seasons for groceries, the dry cleaners to pick up my skirts, and finally (FINALLY!) home so I could do some homework.

Sunday morning, I went for an early, long run, and then once I was home, I made cheddar and smoked my bacon. I was also going to stuff my hotdogs and smoke them, as well, but was unable to find my casings. My giant sausage stuffer will never be used!  (Actually, I ordered new casings yesterday, so they should be arriving Wednesday so that I can make the hotdogs in advance of my 4th of July bbq. I should maybe tone down the despair a bit.)

Finally, the cheese and bacon and dishes done, the architect & I headed to Leisure for dinner and beers, in what is quickly becoming a new Sunday evening wind-down tradition for us.

This morning, getting up was so hard. I am exhausted!  I can’t believe the day is half over already!

I hope you’re having a great Monday!

Three (3) Things Thursday

Jun 23rd, 2011
by gazelle.
8 comments

1. I was up until 3 am last night. Three A M. That is very late. I am running on about 3.5 hours of sleep right now. I just hope the random giggling that starts when I’m really tired holds off until I get home tonight. It tends to frighten people.

2. Last night, we had the best dinner. Risotto with edamame, asparagus (from my CSA), and homegrown greens (arugula and spinach). Oh, and the garlic was also from my garden! (Sadly, the edamame and onions were not. Nor was the rice, actually. And not the wine, either. BUT – the chicken stock was homemade!) The parsley on top? Also from my garden.

IMAG0413

Oh wait – what’s that on top? Parmesan cheese? Hmmm….where did that come from?

 

3. Oh yeah, bitches. FINALLY! Cheese success. The whole process started on July 19, 2010. I made parmesan. And then, I put it in my cheese cave. Eventually, I waxed it and put it back in the cave (which is actually a wine fridge) for further aging. It is recommended that one ages a Parmesan for 11-12 months minimum.

Freshly waxed cheeses

In late August/early September, I also made two wheels of cheddar, which only need about 4 months of aging. I tested these cheeses in December. They were, by far, the most disgusting cheeses ever. Seriously.

So – I was nervous last night when I decided it was time.

IMAG0408

The moment of truth

I sliced out a small wedge, and then slowly and hesitantly took a bite.

The test

Holy crap.

So freaking good.

We cut a big wedge out of it & grated it for the risotto.

I think I need to make more immediately – especially since it takes a year to age!

IMAG0411 Bonus! Also handy for munching any spare ghosts you have about.

 

After the disappointments with the cheddar, I feel totally vindicated and am ready to make some more cheese!  I’m thinking cheddar this weekend, and maybe another wheel of parm in a month (the next three-day weekend I have at home & party-free).

 

 

Best weekend ever?

May 4th, 2011
by gazelle.
5 comments

Despite all my craziness and stress, I had a fantabulous weekend.

It started out auspiciously – I actually slept (with sleeping! and REM! [the dream state, not the band, that wouldn't have been restful]), and then? I slept until 9:30. That is highly unusual for me, but it was good.

I woke up all refreshed, took a shower, did some homework and looked at the internets, and then, I was away!

I met Sarah in Beaverton and we hit up a McMenamin’s for lunch. After splitting a calzone & salad (and drink a beer, which we did not split), we were underway.

We headed out to Kookoolan Farms (near Yamhill) to check things out. Their farm store was amazing. Milk! Mead! Kombucha! Cheese making supplies! Meat!

Sarah bought some cheese making supplies and I purchased a couple cheese molds, a wax brush (for cheese waxing), and oh yeah, 1/8 of cow. And, as a reward for buying 1/8 of a cow, I got a cookbook!

I cannot wait to go back to pick up my meat and buy some milk and eggs and other exciting things!

After the farm excitement, we decided to stop at the Grand Lodge for a beer (we were doing a McMenamin’s tour). As we drove up to the Lodge I saw a banner:

Medieval Faire

April 29-30

It was the 29th! There was a Medieval Faire! I believe we were both a wee bit excited.

We headed to the Faire and were a bit saddened to find that we had to go inside to get beers as the Yardhouse was not yet open. Fortunately, we were able to take our beers outside & wander through the fair. They were just setting up, so it really wasn’t that exciting, although we did see an old man in a kilt tying his shoe, which was almost exciting. And then we saw Gandalf in his best scarlet dress robes!

It was almost too much excitement to handle (and certainly too much to photograph!), so we headed back to Portland. After parking & dropping off some cheese making supplies, we continued our day of fun by heading to Powell’s, where we each bought cookbooks (although I only bought two – one for curing meat & one for preserving, unfortunately I cannot, for the life of me, remember the name of that one, but it has pretty pictures…).

Then – more food! And beer! (Although not at a McMenamin’s.)

But wait! There’s more!

We headed to a cookbook signing where I (you guessed it) bought another cookbook. And got it signed. Sarah already had that cookbook, so she bought one by the other author present.

Then, there was food! (Although I didn’t eat any.) And more beer! (Although I didn’t drink any, and opted for Prosecco instead.)

And then, unfortunately, it was time to go home. BUT – such a great day.

Saturday & Sunday were also awesome. Forest Park run – 7 miles! New running shoes! Date night with the architect! Gardening! Sunburn! Champagne on the patio!

Glad those good days were there to get me through the week! All this sunshine sure hasn’t hurt, either.

12/6/10 – Reverb Writing Prompt #6: Make

Dec 6th, 2010
by gazelle.
2 comments

Prompt: Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

Author: Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Project
@gretchenrubin

reverb10.com

***************************

Oooh – this is easy. I am a MAKER! I would say the last thing I made that was out of the ordinary was the lefse (that I still haven’t posted pictures of, although I have made some progress and actually gotten them off the camera). The materials were simple. I did the cheating version and used potato flakes, butter, salt, milk & flour. Next time, I am going to do real potatoes, just to see the difference.

I am really looking forward to making some more cheese. My first batch of cheddar was tasted (by me & the architect) last Thursday, and promptly thrown out. That wheel had been a problem wheel from the beginning, and I was not terrible surprised when it turned out so badly – just disappointed.

Cheddar wheel #2 will be tasted this weekend, and will hopefully be much better. BUT – as soon as I’m done with the next week, I will have time for a bit more cheesemaking, and am really looking forward to that!

In terms of making something new, I am excited to brew up an inaugural batch of beer – another holiday project we’re going to try!

Restless

Sep 7th, 2010
by gazelle.
5 comments

I had a nice long (six-day) weekend. Originally, the weekend was supposed to be busy. Wednesday was off to finish up a paper for my class I was taking. Thursday, I was going to hit yoga & then drive to Bend to help a friend with some database stuff. Saturday morning, the architect was going to show up in Bend & whisk me off for a two-day camping trip. We were going to return sometime on Monday, and then laundry & sleep in preparation for going back to work.

That is not what actually happened.

Wednesday, I overslept. I had agreed to be interviewed for Lelo’s radio program, and we were going to talk at 9:30. I woke up at 9. (I have got to stop staying up ’til midnight watching Criminal Minds – it’s totally messing with my sleep schedule.) I hurriedly drank my cup of coffee & worked on making myself ridiculously nervous. (It worked! I was about ready to pass out by the time she called.)

Unfortunately, she was having technical difficulties, and had no internet, which surprisingly makes internet radio nearly impossible.

So, we rescheduled.

I then attempted to get my car fixed. It was still sitting out front, all sad & three-wheeled, after last weekend’s flat tire fiasco.

The guys from the tire place drove their truck over, took the tire, and drove off. I had called them, but was a bit surprised when I looked out the window & saw my car jacked up with the tire missing.

I worked, worked, worked on my paper.

The tire people came back, put on a new tire, and suggested that I drive my car over to their shop post-haste so that they could put on another new tire & perhaps work on the alignment a bit.

I did, then walked home, with a long detour for some lunch.

I finished the paper, and then it was time for my radio interview.

I had such a great time talking to Lelo, that I actually forgot that our conversation was being recorded for all posterity, which I hope explains why I blurted out in the middle of it, “My car just drove by my house.”

It was true – my car did just drive by my house. I’m guessing that the mechanics were just test driving the new tires/alignment & didn’t realize that I would be staring out my window when they drove by. That was embarrassing.

After that, I’m pretty sure that Lelo hastily wrapped up the call & put a check box in the “never talk to her again” column. :)

I also spent a great deal of time alternately searching for my older cat & talking to the vet office. I didn’t find her until dinner time.

Thursday morning, I took Jasmin to the vet. I was really nervous. She’d been acting so odd – hiding! not showing up for tuna! yowling at strange times! and other odd behaviours.

I tried to prepare myself for the worst.

Fortunately, it was not the worst. She was very sick – having a terrible allergic reaction to some flea bites. She doesn’t do well with steroid shots, so someone had to give her a pill every day for five days.

So much for the camping plans.

When I dropped her off at home, I gave her a pill, and she curled up in the kitchen sink and cried.

I know she’s not a human baby, and all of you with actual human children are shaking your heads at me right now, but people! It was so sad! She was just whimpering in misery.

Resolutely, I picked up my bags & headed to Bend.

I made it about 5 miles.

Then I texted my friend & told her I needed to reschedule.

I headed home and found Jasmin still curled up in the sink, still crying, and completely miserable. So, I hung out with her on Thursday & Friday, and started washing every surface in the house, hoping to eradicate the source of the fleas that only bite her (the other cats are fine).

I did get some other things accomplished – I made cheddar (!), got a lot of gardening stuff done (trimmed back all non-tomato bearing tomato stalks & threatened all green tomatoes with great acts of violence if they didn’t start turning red soon), and got a healthy head-start on the fall cleaning.

I just really, really wanted to get out of town, though.

So – long story short (too late!), Sunday afternoon, the architect & I drove up the Columbia River Gorge, drove the fruit loop north of Hood River, stopped at a peach festival (yum), and then spent the night in the Dalles.

Yesterday, we drove a bit further east before crossing the mighty Columbia & making our leisurely & scenic way back home. Where we (wait for the excitement) cleaned! Woo!

There are so many great pictures – so look for the photo essay that should be accompanying this long block of text to show up tomorrow.

****

And now – I am back to the grindstone. Three whole days of work this week! And a new class (for which my textbook is apparently just hanging out in Kent, WA taking in the sights) to start! And much exercise to get in!

4.22

← Earlier Posts