Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Boy did you miss out!


Puffs

1

cup water

1/2

cup butter or margarine

1

cup all-purpose flour

4

eggs

Fluff Filling

2

cups whipping cream

1/4

cup granulated or powdered sugar

1

teaspoon Vallette’s Vanilla extract




Heat oven to 400ºF. In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, heat water and butter to rolling boil. Stir in flour; reduce heat to low. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Beat in eggs, all at once; continue beating until smooth.


On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool away from draft, about 30 minutes.


Fluff Filling:

In large bowl, beat whipping cream, sugar and vanilla; beat on high speed 1 to 2 minutes or until soft peaks form*. Fill puffs. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 hours.


Cut off top third of each puff and pull out any strands of soft dough**. Fill puffs with filling; replace tops. Sprinkle with powdered sugar***. Cover; refrigerate until serving. Store covered in refrigerator.



*I whipped the cream a little longer and it thickened up nicely into more of a custard or ice cream texture.

** I didn’t remove any of the insides, the puffs puffed nicely.

***I topped with a chocolate sauce, made of semisweet chocolate chips and chocolate syrup

Monday, April 20, 2009

Beans


I was able to move the green beans out of the window and back under the lights, they are producing quite nicely and they are wonderfully sweet. The pods are not as tough as the pea pods, but the taste is similar. I am thinking will start some more plants just to make sure I continue to get beans throughout the summer. Maybe I will get enough so I can pickle some.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

This is our old entertainment center, It's been sitting in the garage for a few years now. It's been customized a few times to accommodate TV upgrades. I didn't think I would get much for it on Alaska's List, and since I am no longer permitted to even see the website, I decided to reuse the wood.

What I thought was Oak, turned out to be oak veneer over particle board. It was not cheap construction, and I bet whoever bought it first paid a pretty penny for it. But, since it was particle board my plans had to change significantly. I decided not to completely take it apart and re-cut to my design, instead I just moved parts around.
I needed the side panels to become shelve to accommodate the length of the lights. The lights also needed to be close to the plants to keep them from getting "leggy". I have it designed so three flats can go on the floor, that light (24"x24") is mounted on chains so it can be lowered/raised. It is also closest to the heater, which helps keeps the moisture evaporating. I will use this area for seedlings. The middle shelf is set up with a 4' light with 2 bulbs. I will use this to area for the second stage of growth. These two lights are wired together so its a plug and play kind of thing. The top shelf is just below the window, which I will place the more mature plants, will help when it comes time to harden the plants. That light is also hanging and can be easily adjusted.

Now I have WAY more room for my plants, and when the shelf is not growing plants, I have a nice laundry/ project table (which has been a want since we moved here) that it just the right height for me to stand at; and you know? I bet I have enough parts left to make some a few shelf units for the cabin.