First Blog - Melanzane Sotto'lio - Why ?

Pickled Eggplant ?

Melanzane Sotto'lio

so... first blog post ! Here it goes.... I probably wont spell anything wrong because there's a spell checker but maybe my grammar might be off but whatever it's a blog.  Claire probably will make me fix things or check it over but ill probably get better at it as time goes on.  FYI I do a lot of "....." it's my thing.

Claire and I have this awesome garden that's busting out a ton of veggies that i'm just having a hard time using before they go bad so i'm starting to get a little creative.   Way back in the day i remember my dad making some sort of pickled eggplant that tasted like well...... shit.  It was gross.  I was a kid what did i expect? i hated red sauce and pretty much lived off chicken nuggets, hot dogs and beans and ramen noodles.   I decided that since it was stuck in my brain till now something about it had to be good so i googled up a recipe.  Link's above.   Honestly it's not bad.  It's like something you stick out on the side for appetizers. something you see at like whole foods in the antipasti bar that no one will eat because it looks like worms.   I think in about a week when the olive oil soaks in more and the herbs it will be pretty damn good.  One day later it's still a little vinegary and bland.


i didn't take any photos of me making it during but all i did different was add thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes and a shit load of garlic.

Also in my picture is these amazing heirloom tomatoes that honestly could win an award.  I'm collecting a bunch and this weekend im thinking about making a fresh pasta sauce with them.   Claire and I are obsessed with Arrabbiata so it'll be along those lines.  I'll blog about that too.

My Rant:

Why am i doing this blog stuff?  I don't know.  Facebook's boring, instagram is just pictures and i like telling everyone what i'm doing.  I have ton's of ideas and i just want to share them.   If i try to make something and screw it up i will tell you straight up it was a bad idea.  If its a piece of furniture i'm making and screw it up, it 'll be in the fire pit and i'll start over again.   This is an everything blog but i see it mostly becoming a projects site for stuff i'm doing around the house or cooking.

thing's coming up:

Arrabbiata from the garden

Lil D dog bed from reclaimed lumber -  Currently drafting a building diagram in google sketchup.  awaiting my new toy the Kreg Pocket hole Jig R3 kit!

Kreg Pocket Hole Jig R3
If you ever want to make furniture this is one of the first tools you'll need.  Hides all your screws and helps you join wood together for a seamless look.












here's a teaser picture of my building diagram for his dog bed.   Still a lot more to do!

wood stove installation -  Jotul 118b fantastic antique UL approved stove.  Mc and I got this baby in glastonbury for a hell of a price.

Till the next......

Stender