Yearly Archives: 2014

A new cookbook!

Food

smith_familymeals_pbI won a copy of Chef Michael Smith’s new cookbook called “Family Meals” from Simplebites.net last week – and the book showed up in my mailbox today.
Had a quick browse through – the raman noodle quick lunch and the broccoli tofu are on the menu later this week – and there are many more great looking recipes that I’ll be trying out soon! Thank you again SimpleBites!
Checked out Amazon, and they’ve got a great deal on it – list price is $32.00! Click on the cover to the left to order a copy.

Raspberry Pi + Andreja Premium?

Coffee

My Andreja Premium has been providing reliable service for the last 7 years – but just recently has been a little temperamental.  Seems that the controller is overheating – and so for the past couple weeks, I’ve been running the machine without its stainless steel casing, and the controller sitting beside the machine.
The controller was actually replaced once before, and it’s a fairly expensive repair – it was around $400 to replace the controller and descale the boiler. Don’t really want to spend that again – just to have the controller get wonky a few years later again.
A couple things I’m considering:
1)  Building a teak outer shell, with larger cutouts on the side to mount perforated stainless steel panels, as well as on the top.  Would also extend the wiring to that the controller is mounted where the water reservoir used to be (added the plumbing kit shortly after buying the machine)
2) Building a teak outer shell as above, but instead of using the same controller, use a Raspeberry Pi, and  do the iSpresso mod, adding the following features:

  • Programmable PID Controller for precise boiler temperature control
  • Programmable Pre-soak time, wait time, and brew time
  • Controllable from web browser, iPad, iPhone (Android coming soon) on WiFi network
  • Schedule allows programmable on / off timing for each day of the week
  • LCD readout for system status, toggle buttons for operation
  • Smart Connect for easy set-up to your WiFi network

Not sure if this mod would be easily ported to the Andreja or not, or if this would even increase the reliability – but it sure looks interesting!
[wpzon spec=”1″ asin=”B00GWTNYJW”]

Sites for reference :

UPDATE: 2014-08-30 – Picked up some bubinga to construct a new shell frame – I liked the look of the wood more than the teak – it was also $20/bd ft. vs. $50/bd ft. 🙂 Still need to get some perforated stainless steel

More pizza!

Food

Didn’t take any pictures, but made up a pile of pizza last night.  Tried a different dough recipe that was really good – and used bread flour, which I think is a little finer than standard flour.
Also, made a stop in at the Italian Centre grocery store up on 51st Ave, and bought a bunch of fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, pepperoni (was something very similar anyway), a couple cans of San Marzano tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and roasted peppers.  Along with some basil from my little herb garden, and some mushrooms we were making some margherita pizza’s as well as some various combinations.  They were all a hit – and levelling my BBQ seemed to improve the heating of the Bakerstone pizza oven – was getting just into the flame zone 🙂

Would be nice to be able to cook 2 or 3 pizza’s at a time – might have to look into building a cob or brick wood fired pizza oven next year! — Although, that might just make it a little more work watching and turning the pizza – one at a time might be enough – lol

Bulldogs

Recipes

bulldog

Bulldogs
Recipe Type: Drinks
Author: Ray
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 6 servings
Tasty, and potent!
Ingredients
  • 1 can frozen limeade concentrate
  • 2 cans water
  • 1 can tequila
  • 1/2 can Cointreau
  • 6 bottles of Corona
Instructions
  1. Put Coronas in fridge
  2. Add frozen limeade concentrate to large zip-lock bag
  3. Using can as measure, add water, tequila and Cointreau
  4. Mix well, seal bag, and lay flat into freezer
  5. Next day, pour frozen slush mixture into large margarita glass – about 3/4 full
  6. Open a Corona, and tip bottle into margarita glass and serve

 

Pizza sauce

Recipes

Got a new pizza oven – and made up a simple sauce that was amazingly tasty!

Pizza sauce
Recipe Type: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Ray
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemngrass mint white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients, blending thoroughly using a whisk.
  2. Add sparingly, to taste, to pizza, then add whatever you like for toppings