Achiote

I think I just mastered making yellow rice. This would be the puerto rican version, which can be part of arroz con pollo or eaten, as I did with some peas. My ongoing error has been skimping on the achiote. This time around a added about a half cup of achiote to one cup of vegetable oil (I thought about using olive oil but I wanted to have a straight achiote flavor and color).
I put this on the stove on medium till the oil was red in color. About 7-10 minutes. (care should be taken not to burn the achiote as it can be bitter)



I strained the oil into a glass decanter.

For the rice I used my usual recipe of 1 measure of rice to 2 of water, salt to taste (ocean) and 2 cloves of garlic mashed. I usually add 2 tbsp of oil, but here I added the achiote oil.
The rice had a beautiful yellow color and the achiote taste I was expecting. I added some green peas and dinner was on.

Growing garden

new plants
Originally uploaded by chuborupert

OK, now we have a tomato plant (far right) and some lavender (far left). the squares are divided unevenly by string and the butternut squash is in the front right square. I'm interested in seeing what we harvest.

Cheese bread

Cheese bread
Originally uploaded by chuborupert

Very easy, I had some leftover pizza dough and some leftover mozarella (half a ball). So I wrapped the dough around the cheese and left it to rise in a dish. Baked at 450 till done (poured some salt and olive oil over top.)
and there you have it.

Portal Turret

Portal Turret
Originally uploaded by chuborupert

I found this on my desk this afternoon after work. My 11 year old son made it and left it for me. He has been playing portal (obviously) and thought I would like it. He had made me a weighted companion cube for father's day which I also loved. "Do you remember when I was like..."






Go play some portal.

Breakfast on the Fifth

French toast and bacon
Originally uploaded by chuborupert

We spent the fourth of July weekend in Irvington with some friends.
The kids loved participating in the parade. We decorated and rid a couple of golf carts.


We strappe the boy to the back of the cart... for our own safety, as he proceded to pelt people with pencils.



The kids picked fruits and vegetables



as well as gathered blue/green eggs. I forget the chicken variety.



So here is some food we ate for breakfast on the 5th cause I forgot to take pictures on the 4th.