Wordless Wednesday: Toy Hoarder

Christmas Barware

I decided to play along with the NewlyWoodwards and the Dare to DIY gang. This week the project was to decorate your table. Okay that is pretty easy, I had some ideas of things I wanted to do. I just have one problem...this is the state of my dining room.

Movies, book, magazines and mail piled up. I don't even know what is in that blue bag or the Barnes & Noble bag. Fabric from a project. Washer and dryer. Under the table there is part of the refrigerator and the light fixture for the kitchen that I keep meaning to put up but haven't gotten to it. Let's not forget that handsome pup (and all of this toys shattered throughout my whole house). And under all that mess is a dining room table.

Okay so the guy is suppose to come in next weekend to start putting up the ceiling drywall. This means that we have nothing (except a couple garbage bags that are going out this week) in the living room and probably won't be able to have anything in there for a while. I am slowly becoming use to the fact that this is what my dining room looks like (along with the spare bedroom and office). I look at my dining room and I think I need to be on the hoarders show....ugh!!! 

Then I thought maybe I can do something nice to the island that we eat at. Then thought not the world's best idea, with Hank everything and I mean everything needs to be out of his reach and those cute little Christmas bulbs look like balls and he is a ball addict so yeah that wasn't going to happen.

I was depressed and didn't know what to do. Then it came to me in a dream (or when I was doing dishes) that I should totally decorate up those cute shelves next to my sink. (I think I might go to the store and get a couple strings of lights for around the window). Sorry for the horribly dark picture, that light above the sink is the only light in our kitchen, please see above for why that light is the only light in the kitchen. Also the Kongs aren't part of my decorations, just life living with a dog that is the same height as your counters and can open cupboards.

Close up of the left side.

I have a lot of bar ware, that I never use. And when I saw never use I mean it, my family loves to get me beer, wine, martini glasses. First off I drink beer from a bottle/can no need to make more dirty dishes that I don't want to clean anyways. Second off I don't drink wine or martinis. I do, however, have a massive shot glass collection. I bought a couple of different colored bulbs and filled the martini glasses and a couple of shot glasses for each shelf. 

Great Lake Loons, local baseball team. Ironically their team colors are green and red so I thought it worked with the color scheme quite well.

German Shorthaired Pointer ornament and a plain shot glass.

I got these polar bears from the pharmacy that I worked at a couple years ago. Penguin shot glass was given to me from Big-D's cousin when he went to the zoo in Chicago.

Close up of the right side.

We are Michigan State fans, therefore it only seemed right to have a green and white color scheme with a Michigan State shot glass.

I know Texas's colors aren't blue and white, however, I love my Texas Longhorns shot glasses. My mom has friends that live in Texas so I have quite a few shot glasses from Texas.  (I sometimes wish I was from Texas.)

Feel like something else needs to go on this self with the polar bears but all of the other shot glasses I have don't really go with the polar bears. Any suggestion?

I ended up having some leftover bulbs so I put them in this cute little bucket thing.

So I hope this counts...I decorated to entertain. However, no one comes over to my house because it's a mess and no one loves us that much. Just kidding, I just don't like people seeing my house in complete hoarder style. 

Next up figuring out how to keep a 9 month old GSP from attacking a Christmas tree.

Over and out,

A Engineer in the Kitchen

Apple Cider Doughnuts

It is the season of Apple Cider. Unfortunately Apple Cider this year is way high due to the weird winter that we had last year that really affected the apple crop.

I love Apple Cider and I love doughnuts and since these doughnuts have apples in them, they are healthy right...wink wink!

Mixed together the flour, both sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, apple pie spice and cinnamon.

Next add apple cider, apple sauce, eggs (one at a time) and vanilla extract. Mix until creamy.

Lightly grease a doughnut pan. Using a Ziploc with a corner cut off, fill the pan with batter.

Bake at 325° for about 12 minutes or until they spring back when touched.

Top with glaze and topping.

Ingredients:

Doughnuts:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the glaze:

• 1/2 cup of apple cider
• powder sugar

For the topping:

• 1/4 tsp of apple pie spice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix all of the dry ingredients for the doughnuts together in a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix until evenly blended.
3. Add the apple cider, apple sauce, eggs (one at a time) and vanilla extract. Mix until creamy.
4. Using a Ziploc with the a corner cut off fill, a lightly greased doughnut pan.
5. Bake for about 12 minutes at 325° or until the doughnuts spring back when touched.
6. Let cool before removing from the pan adding glaze and topping.
7. To make the glaze, pour the apple cider into a mixing bowl, add powder sugar until it is the right consistency.
8. To make the topping, mix all of the ingredients together until evenly blended. 
9. Dip the top of the doughnut into the glaze then the topping.
10. Let the glaze set before eating.

Enjoy!

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Future DIY Furniture

Big-D and I have a thing about big trucks. We both love big engines and both want big diesel engines in our next set of trucks. A lot of our conversations revolve around our trucks, what we want to do with the trucks. Really I feel like I live with a house full of boys because its trucks trucks trucks and hunting.

I bet you are wondering where I am going with this aren't you?

As I am sitting here I get a IM from Big-D.

It said:  "Can we do this when my engine dies?"

Okay let me first say, usually the pictures I get from him are of big trucks, big trucks stuck in mud, trucks pulling something, trucks with big engines, etc. I was totally not expecting this:

My reply was of course yes.

Let's be honest here wouldn't that just be flipping awesome sitting in my living room.

Sorry, this is what happens when you have two engineers living in one house.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Wordless Wednesday: The Life of a Deer Hunter's Wife

Laundry Room Update

Last weekend, we had a professional come over and install the water lines for the laundry room. We are one step closer to having another project done...I am quite excited to be able to use our own washer and dryer again as well.

Big-D had to build the wall out a little bit because The Professional wasn't able to get through the truss. And because I am an idiot, I had to put in a GFIC outlet too...I forgot water was going to actually be in the laundry room.

Next step, drywall!!!!

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Pizza Subs

I love pizza, I can literally eat it every day (remember I am a college student). However, every once and while I have to mix it up and eat something pizza a little differently.

Gather all of your pizza ingredients.

Cut bread in half, add butter and pizza sauce.

Next add your favorite toppings.

Place in oven at 350° until cheese is melted.

Ingredients:

• Sub like bread
• Cheese
• Pizza Sauce
• Butter
• Favorite Pizza Toppings

Directions:

1. Cut the bread in half.
2. Butter then cover with pizza sauce.
3. Add your favorite toppings.
4. Place in oven at 350° until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

Over and out ,
A Engineer in the Kitchen 

Hank Get's to Lick the Bowl

Growing up didn't everyone love to lick the bowl/spoon when your mom was baking?

I loved to lick the bowl...I still do when I am baking. I love cookie and cake batter...I'm a freak no big deal.

Anyways, I figure why not let Hank lick the bowl when I am done making up his Kongs...don't worry he doesn't lick cookie/cake batter but it's the same stuff that he gets in his Kong every night. (The recipe I use for his Kongs are at the end of this post.)

 "I have to wait patiently until Mama say it's alright."

I'm mean I make him wait ONE WHOLE MINUTE before he can have his "treat", if he gets up his minute starts over....

"Oh this is good stuff."

He has such a huge tongue. 

"OH NO! It's almost all gone."

 At this point he picked up the bowl and carried it to his bed, not paying attention to him, I realized this when I heard my nice Pyrex dish hit the ground.

"Got to make sure nothing is on the outside of the bowl."

"Opps, missed a spot over here."

Clean enough to put back in the cupboard...not!

Hank will now sit next to me while I am putting his Kongs together. I think someone has learned that he gets to lick the bowl when I am done...can you say kind of spoiled. But it's a good spoiled because we love him.

Kong Recipe:

• 1/2 Cup Pure Pumpkin (there will be some left over, do not store in the metal can put it in a plastic container)
• 1/2 Cup Plain Yogurt
• 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
• 1 Milk Bone per Kong

This recipe makes about 3 large Kongs.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

PS: Leaving things in the metal can and placing them in the refrigerator, will cause whatever is in the can to taste metallic, will cause the food to spoil faster and can cause bacteria growth to accelerate.

Facebook

Finally had a few minutes and A Engineer in the Kitchen is now on Facebook!!!!

Here is the link: www.facebook.com/AEngineerInTheKitchen 

Go check us out, for every like I get Hank will get a treat! Don't refuse the poor boy of his noms...he will starve.

I will be updating contact info and hopefully getting some follow buttons within in the next day or two.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas in November?

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day to all the military men and women.

There is a very special veteran that I would like to wish him his first official Veteran's Day as a Veteran! Today is my big brother's first Veteran's Day as a Veteran. He was Honorably Discharged from the United States Marine Corps this August.

Love you Big Brudder.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Updating...

I am in the process of updating the blog with some new pages and other goodies. So please let me know if there is anything you guys would like to see or anything that needs to be changed or anything that needs some fixing.

Some things that are going to be updated included:

• New pages: Before & After, Hank will be getting his own page!!
• Background
• Sidebars
• Want to try and figure out how to drop down menus on the pages (so if anyone knows how to do this please let me know!)

Anything else that needs updating? Let me know.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Happy Fall

Hank would like to wish everyone a happy and safe fall season.

Last weekend Big-D started on the exhausting job of raking the leaves...the people that previously owned the house did not rake leaves last year so lets just say our backyard is a mess. I think we have about half of the yard done and there is so much more to do. Hank of course helped and when I mean helped he allowed us to play ball with him as we worked. I helped a little with raking leaves but took the opportunity to clean the inside of the house since Hank was happily entertained outside.

Not quite sure why but I really like this picture.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

DIY Drain Cleaner

We have kind of crappy water, I mean it's safe to drink but it kind of smells and our drains start to really smell bad after a while. Our bathroom sink seems to be the worse, it probably doesn't help that we allow Hank to drink out of the drink but oh well.

I like to use "green" products, actually all of my house cleaning products are "green" products. However, I've yet to see a drain cleaner that is "green" so I decided to do a little googling and make my own.

This is what I do:

1. Clean sink and drain of all visual debris.
2. Boil three (3) cups of water and carefully pour down the drain. 
3. Use 1/2 cup of baking soda and one (1) cup of vinegar. Let foam for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Turn on the hot water and allow hot water to run through drain for 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Optional step: Pour one (1) cup of lemon juice down the drain to help cover up the vinegar smell.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 4 as needed.  

Enjoy a nice smelling drain,
Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Tacos

I love tacos, for one there are really easy to make and two everyone can make theirs the way that want it. I am actually finishing up leftovers as I am writing this post...

 I make up my own taco seasoning and two tablespoons is equal to one package from the store.

Brown and drain hamburger, add 1/2 cup of water and taco seasoning.

I bought this awesome old Pyrex dish at a garage sale for $5 but could never find something to use it with until now. Isn't it just awesome looking, the bottom is orange. The lady had a red bottom but no top so I just got the one, I now regret that decision.

Add whatever toppings you like. I like to use the larger tortilla shells only because I like to add a lot of lettuce and cheese to mine and I find the little ones not big enough.

Taco Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 & 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The seasoning makes just over two tablespoons, I tend to make a couple batches worth and store in it in an air tight container. This way I am not making it up every time I want tacos. 

Enjoy,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Six Months Ago

Six months ago today, I left work at midnight went to my best friend, Lindsay, house. Packed up and hopped in her Durango and drove an 18 hour round trip to Pennsylvania.

 

We brought this little munchkin home with us...all of 16 pounds of  him.

He literally slept the whole way home. Oh how I miss the days of all day naps.