Category: Skills

  • Pasta, again

    Pasta, again

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    by

    Chris Johnson
    in

    There are three ways of making pasta shapes. You can extrude the dough through shaped holes, cutting the forms off as needed. You can roll the dough thin, then hand cut the dough to be shaped. The same can be done using a “pasta machine” which rules the dough to a known thickness. Or you…

  • Chicken Stew

    Chicken Stew

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    Stew is the bedrock of my winter meal plan. Part of my family dislikes soup, but is okay with something thicker. Stew is the way to go! Stew is basically a protein (chicken, beef, lamb, etc), a fat (bacon grease, olive oil, veg oil, etc), vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, etc), and a starch (rice, beans,…

  • What was old is new again

    What was old is new again

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    by

    Chris Johnson
    in ,

    Allyson had picked up a wooden box a few years ago to take to events. It was a plain wooden box with just a bit of decoration and a porcelain knob attached to the sliding top. The knob and screw holding it are not period. The rest was pretty period. Or more precisely, it was…

  • Prepping – Post Apocalypse

    Prepping – Post Apocalypse

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    Are you ready for what happens after the apocalypse? I’m not talking about the zombie apocalypse here, nor am I referring to the next pandemic. The apocalypse I mean is the one that’s currently predicted: Harris winning the election. I know some of you are laughing, but please don’t. I am quite serious about this.…

  • The Weekly Feast – Beef Barley Soup

    The Weekly Feast – Beef Barley Soup

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    For me, the flavors in a good soup are the taste of autumn. I adore soup weather, and with the nights getting colder, I’m looking up my soup recipes. Last week, I made a small pot of beef barley soup, and I impressed even myself. It’s easy to do, and you can even pop it…

  • Prepping – Three Weeks Without Food

    Prepping – Three Weeks Without Food

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    by

    Allyson
    in ,

    BOOM! It happens. The meteor hits, or the fungus zombies arise, or civil unrest causes a loss of infrastructure. Whatever the emergency, the S sure has HTF. It’s time to break out the bug out bag or the get home bag, or check on your emergency stash of stuff. Yep, all there. My question is,…

  • The Weekly Feast – Cookbook Musings

    The Weekly Feast – Cookbook Musings

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    Some of you may have guessed that I like to collect cookbooks, in addition to writing them. I have, for a very long time, been interested in historical cookbooks. In particular, I like original recipes, even if the physical book I have is a reprint. One of the cookbooks I treasure most in my collection…

  • AAR – Show and Tell at the Fort at #4

    AAR – Show and Tell at the Fort at #4

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    by

    Chris Johnson
    in ,

    It was a beautiful day for a visit to the Fort. You all would have had a chuckle if you had seen me. Remember the movie True Grit with John Wayne and Glen Campbell? Mattie Ross wore a black hat. That is the hat I felt I was wearing yesterday. Except mine didn’t have a…

  • Show and Tell At the Fort!

    Show and Tell At the Fort!

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    by

    Chris Johnson
    in ,

    I’m up at the Fort with Ally and my wife. They are having a show and tell. She picked out the garb to wear, and I have my black felt hat. Originally, I intended to do some wood working, but that is currently on hold until I get some raw lumber. The lathe needs bracing…

  • Prepping – Shelter

    Prepping – Shelter

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    I’ve talked about bugging in versus bugging out. I haven’t talked much about long-term bugging out, mostly because I’m not suited to it. Frankly, I don’t think most people are, despite their desires. In any case, it’s not something I could do for a long time, so there is no point in planning for it.…