240z

I've started working on my 240z conversion. At this point, I'm just trying to get it running with the parts that I already have. I'm putting in a 400 sbc with a T-5 manual transmission. When I bought the car in 2007, it was have taken apart and came mostly in boxes. Now I'm finally getting around to working on it. I've pulled out my welder and plasma torch and started making it happen. Here are some pictures of the car.

Most of the front body parts are removed and placed where they won't get hurt during all of the work.

New Kitchen Equipment

Hello there. It's been a while since I've blogged given finals at school in December and then the holidays. Holiday's were great and we saw a lot of family, but didn't get to visit everyone that we wanted. Last week, we found some bakery equipment for sale from an old lady who had a bakery in her house and passed away.. I've always said that a bakery and a pizza shop really have the same equipment, and luckily, I have both hobbies. We decided to buy the equipment, and picked it up last weekend. I've installed it in our tiled former dining area. The items we bought are a Hobart 20 quart floor mixer, a Blodgett 1/2 size convection oven, a stainless steel work table, a proofing cabinet, and a standalone dishwasher.

The mixer is the coolest item. I made a batch of cookie dough for about 16 dozen cookies. It whipped up the dough so fast, I was amazed. I also made some cinnamon rolls with the dough hook, and that made the most consistent dough so fast...I'm so happy with the mixer. It came with a paddle, whisk, and a dough hook. It also has 3 speeds.

The oven is a close second coolest item. I have already made stuff in it that I've not been able to do right in my regular oven. It currently has 3 racks in it, but I would like to get 2 more racks (but I'll wait on that). It goes from 250-550. I usually baked cookies in my regular oven, one sheet at a time at 350 for 12-15 minutes. I baked 3 sheets in the new oven at 275 for 9 minutes, and they were all evenly cooked.

The worktable is great and easy to clean. The proofer comes in handy when letting dough rise. The dishwasher was thrown into the deal, so I went ahead and hooked it up. It's nice when you have lots of dishes.

I also built a partition around it to keep Ashton out. I'm sure I know who will be participating in bake sales. Anyone ready to make cookies?

Cinnamon Rolls

Mix in some shortening and egg yolk and more...

Add yeast, milk, flour...
Roll out into big sheet. Spread butter, sugar, cinnamon on top.

Roll into LARGE roll. Cut small slices...

And prepare to eat. I did top with a powdered sugar/milk mixture, but didn't document that.

Olive Garden

We hadn't been out to eat in a long time and we both love Olive Garden, so when they had their all you can eat pasta, we signed up. I had one plate and took the second plate home.

Bridget enjoyed herself too.
I was full here after only one plate.

Should I try to finish the second plate.

My stomach said no way.

Here is a video that Bridget took of me sampling the hot pasta.

MRE Night

It's been more than a while since I blogged about my food adventures, so I'm going to catch up this week. This was an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) night that we had. The MRE's, if you didn't know, come in a sealed package which lasts for years. Bridget and I each had one.

Inside the package are individually packaged bread, drink mixes, main dish, spreads. Certainly, the person who designed this was not concerned with the human footprint like Al Gore...
You fill this bag with water and a chemical heater which is activated by water. After about 8 minutes, the main dish is warm, and you didn't have to light a fire.

Me opening the package...

The presentation of the MRE meal. It's actually quite good.

Grilling Chicken Fajita Meat

I love food and HEB had a sale on chicken fajita meat, 99 cents per pound. So we bought like 3 bags. Well, my cousin and his girlfriend (now wifey) were coming over for dinner and chicken fajitas is a easy large meal to make. First, I marinated the chicken for about 4 hours in Italian dressing.

Then, I grilled them up and sprinkled some Montreal chicken seasoning.

Then, bring them into the kitchen and cut them into thin slices.

Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the fixings. This meat is also good in quesadillas.

Cream Puffs

These cream puffs are delicious. They were made for us when Ashton was born, and, I was in love. I've made them with chocolate filling before, just replace the vanilla with chocolate. So here's the ingredient list; Milk, heavy cream, instant pudding (vanilla), eggs, bread flour, butter, water, salt.

First, mix the instant pudding, milk, and heavy cream together in a bowl.

After it's mixed thoroughly, set aside in the refrigerator.
Put butter and water in a pan...
and bring to a boil.

Add the salt and bread flour...

Grab a wooden spoon and vigorously stir the mixture. The bread flour soaks up the liquid very quickly. Stir, stir, stir the mixture. When it seems like all of the liquid is soaked up...

Transfer to a mixing bowl. Finish rolling the lump of dough around trying to spread the moisture around.

Beat in the eggs one at a time until completely mixed.

Spoon onto a tray in about 1 inch dollops.

25 minutes in the oven and the pastries look inviting. Allow them to cool for a few minutes.

Put the pudding mix in a Ziploc bag and snip a corner off with some scissors.

Cut a slit into each puff, and squeeze the cream into each one.

The last step is to eat them. I never forget this step, lol.