The big masonry kitchen project shows its face again

KevinBaking with Fire, Braising w/ Fire, Cooking w/ Fire, Grilling w/ Fire, Smoking w/ Fire, Wood Fired Oven Project2 Comments

Some of you might remember this. 2-3 years ago, I came up with the mad idea of building a huge-assed [17+’ wide] masonry wall of kitchen awesomeness in my back yard. Did all the research. Drew all the plans. Had them approved by the city and the gas company [crossing a gas line, not because anything’s gas fuelled]. Then, decided … Read More

Fire, Brick, Water, and Wheat

KevinBaking, Baking with Fire, Cooking w/ Fire, Dry Stacked Oven, From Local Farms, Grains, Sunny Boy2 Comments

I couldn’t not take photos of these breads yesterday. It being a busy fall with harvesting, butchering, etc, I haven’t fired up the wood oven nearly often enough. There’s something meditative about watching a fire that’s akin to getting lost in music. Add to that the satisfaction of baking up lovely loaves of tasty bread while tending the oven, and … Read More

Bacon Deserves Some Respect

KevinBacon, Charcuterie, Cooking w/ Fire, From Local Farms, From the Cellar, Nature's Green Acres, Pork, Smoking w/ Fire, Wood Fired Oven Project7 Comments

I know, I write about bacon a lot. And I know, bacon’s so last year, right? Wrong. Putting bacon in all kinds of stupid stuff – that’s so last year. But top-shelf bacon is, and will be so long as man and pork collide, a force of awesomeness to be reckoned with. For those of you who have been paying … Read More

An Afternoon with Bread

KevinBaking with Fire, Cooking w/ Fire, Dry Stacked Oven, From Local Farms, Gold Forest Grains, Grains, Highwood Crossing4 Comments

Life’s pace slowed for a moment today, so out came the flours. I made 3 doughs. 1] 50% Highwood Crossing Unbleached White, 50% Gold Forest Grains Whole Wheat. 2] 50% Highwood Crossing Unbleached White, 50% Gold Forest Grains Rye and 3] 100% Highwood Crossing Unbleached White. So a white, a whole wheat, and a rye. All with roughly 80% hydration, … Read More