Extreme Home Makeover, Part VII

Finishing Touches
The contractors have finished the job and now it is our turn to dig into the garden and re-arrange plantings! We had a wonderful day in the garden today moving hostas and ferns to the area once occupied by overgrown bushes.

Making Yogurt, Part II

I cannot believe it actually worked. I have achieved yogurt. I am so excited, I'm jumping around the kitchen yelling, "I DID IT! MY CREATION LIVES! IT'S ALIVE!" I also finally found a use for alll that cheesecloth.

Making Yogurt

I started with a half gallon jug of fresh, raw milk from Dean Farms in nearby New Castle. I got the yogurt cultures from Natural Options, the health and wellness center in Grove City. After scooping off a dollup of cream for my coffee, I gently shook the jug to mix the cream with the rest of the milk. I followed the instructions on the back of the packette, but since I didn't have a thermometer, I had to guess. I brought the milk to about 180 degrees by putting it on a low heat and slightly increasing the temperature. Once there were bubbles forming around the perimeter, I transferred the pot to a smaller burner and put it on low to bring it down to 110 degrees. The woman at Natural options as well as several websites said that you can tell by putting your finger in and holding it for a count of ten. If it doesn't burn you, then you are pretty good to go. I have a sore finger and think next time I'll get a thermometer.

Then I mixed the bacteria in with a room temperature bit of milk, dissolved it and stirred it in with the rest. I turned off the burner and wrapped the pot in a million towels and a tea cozy.

For further information, here is a good article to read! I'll let you know how it turns out at the end of the day.

Extreme Home Makeover, Part VI

Rained Out

Ironically enough, many of the members on our crew are actually working on the television show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is filming in Erie right now. We've lost some crew members to that as well as to the rain. They are inches from being done. Nonetheless, the house looks fantastic and we are feeling really good about it.

Bureaucracy Rant: Tracking the Visa

[argh] We received approval from the Department of Homeland Security and got a form that allows our child to be claimed as an immediate relative. This enables her to get a visa, come to the US and become a citizen. Approval date: June 8, 2009.

We were instructed to call the Visa Center in New Hampshire every day until we had confirmation that they have the paperwork. Seriously? We called over the course of two weeks, gave up, only to be told three or four different things about our case. For some, we didn't even exist. Erik had a feeling one evening and tried one last time, "Oh yes, your paperwork has been here for over a week and we sent it on to India, but you have a new case number. That's why no one could find you." A new case number? Who thought that was a good idea?

So we now were supposed to e-mail New Delhi to see if they have our visa. I sent a note to three different people last week. No word. Erik tried to call, but it seems that they are only open from 10am-noon. Oh, did I forget to mention they are only open Monday-Thursday? With the enormous time change, this means we'll be calling India in the wee hours on Sunday night.

I don't understand how I can got to FedEx, ship a package and go on line and see exactly where it is and where it has been at any given time. YET, I cannot see where my child's visa is, except by calling someone in New Delhi during two hour increments, which for me is in the middle of the night!?!?!

Seriously, people. It takes a month just to find out whether or not your visa is sitting in some office. A MONTH!!?! Can't you develop some sort of notification system. An email? A text message? For crying out loud, we live in the most electronically connected society OF ALL TIME!

It's a bureaucracy because it's large, inefficient, and no one cares. [/argh]

Extreme Home Makeover, Part V

Day six
The cottage before,

and the cottage after. And our garage no longer looks like a set from a zombie movie.

Cafe Irani: Closed for Rain

We usually close the dining room during the summer months and open Cafe Irani, on the back porch, but our little cottage doesn't have rain protection. It's just no fun to eat in the rain. The clouds cleared enough for Erik to grill some sausages from my uncle Jeff's meat market. I steamed some artichokes as recommended by Easy as Pie. I cut up a pineapple and we had a delicious "weed salad" with romano, sunflower seeds and cucumbers. It sure was a tasty dinner!

Extreme Home Makeover, Part IV

Day Five, almost done
Sarah lives in a little yellow house, a little yellow house! Sarah lives in a little yellow house!

Adoption Update: "Is our visa ready?" "Is is there yet? Huh? Huh Is it there yet?"

Our homeland security approval has been approved and we have permission to get a visa. That was on June 8th. We're very frustrated with how the system works. Once we got our approval, we had to call the Visa Center every day to ask "Is our visa ready?" "Is is there yet? Huh? Huh Is it there yet?" For two weeks, we got "Nope." Then last night, Erik called and the person on the other end said, "Yeah, it came through on the 18th." Can I let out one big ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Now, we have to contact the embassy in New Delhi. "Is our visa ready?" "Is is there yet? Huh? Huh Is it there yet?" Seriously? This is the best system we've got? No notification, no call? Just me calling every day. "Is our visa ready?" "Is is there yet? Huh? Huh Is it there yet?"

Once we get through to India and they say "Yes, Mrs. Irani, your child's visa is ready." Then Srushti and her escort make the long trek to New Delhi and the even longer one to Newark, New Jersey. We're this much closer.

Extreme Home Makeover, Part III

More destruction. At least we didn't find any mold colonies!

Roasted Guinea Fowl and Weed Salad

I stuffed the fowl full of garlic, rosemary and lemon chunks, a little oil and salt and pepper on top. I didn't have any twine for trussing, but I did enjoy Easy as Pie's "How to Truss a Chicken" video. For all the work, I'm not sure it was worth it. I wasn't sure when it'd be done because it was so much smaller than a chicken, but it still took an hour. Perhaps once I get the hang of it, it'll be easier.

Then for a salad I mixed together greens from the CSA delivery, arugula and herbs from the earth box. I shredded a turnip and roasted pine nuts for a garnish. The dressing was yummy! I followed this recipe:
Garlic Scape Pesto
5 - 10 scapes, top flowery part removed, cut in 1/4 in slices
1/3 cup walnuts or almonds or hazelnuts
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 - 1/2 cup good parmesan, or asiago or both--- grated.
1/3 tsp saltblack pepper to taste
Whiz scapes and nuts in food processor until well combined and somewhat smooth.Drizzle in the oil and process until well-integrated. With a rubber spatula, scoop mixture out of the processor and into a bowl. Add cheese, salt, pepper.

I added some oil and balsamic vinegar to make a dressing. Erik didn't like the salad and dubbed it a "weed salad," but I thought it was delicious!