The World’s Best Pancake Recipe?

Jason Kottke has said that his wife has found the world’s best flapjacks recipe.

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, whisk, set aside:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp fine salt

Combine the wet ingredients in a second bowl, whisk:

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 beaten eggs

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk until just combined. Fry in a pan with butter. Top with maple syrup and devour.

He has some more comments about the recipe on his blog but I thought I would post them here so I remember the recipe for when we are up at the lake.

Bland No More

Michael Penny of House and Home redoes a bland apartment on a very tight budget.

Here are some of his ideas

1. Use psychedelic yet gorgeous vintage wallpaper to cover a sheet of plywood from The Home Depot and lean it against the wall. Most apartments won't let you wallpaper the walls, so this way you get the impact — and it’s portable! I created a pair of panels facing each other in the dining room and behind the writing desk in the living room.

11. Layer up your $120 Craigslist.org dining set with $1.50/yard burlap and an H&M pashmina.

Black Rock Powder Co. Crate from Cabelas

Take a look at these dynamite shaped fire starters from Cabelas.

Invented in 1866 by Alfred Nobel, dynamite's cylindrical shape perfectly fit down the drilling holes used in mining operations. When the charges were set, the now-famous phrase "fire in the hole" was cried to warn miners of the coming blast. Though the contents of this sturdy wood crate will not move mountains, they will start your fireplace. One look at the realistic "dynamite" crate will have family and friends looking twice. Each cedar wood crate contains 20, 8"L x 1-1/4"W, fire-starter sticks. They are made of paraffin and sawdust for a long, hot burn. Each stick will burn approximately 30 minutes setting ablaze even the most stubborn wood.

Tabletop Radio for the Lake

 
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a big part of summer at the cabin and all over Saskatchewan.  We were at Arlington Beach several times this summer and missed out on the action because we don’t have a television at the lake and we realized that we don’t even have a radio as we generally just bring up a iPod along.

After missing out on several games, Jordon decided he wanted a radio up there to listen in on the action.  He wanted a tabletop radio like the one above but he wasn’t willing to shell out almost $100 for a simple AM/FM radio.  What ate away at him was Office Depot sold some for about $20 a couple of years ago and he never got one. 

In the end we paid $25 for a small boom box that we can plug our iPod docking station into.  It allows us to play some CDs, listen to our iPods, and of course catch some Saskatchewan Roughriders game on the radio.  We took it out on Thanksgiving weekend and it worked well.  It’s not as cool looking as a retro tabletop radio or have the sound quality of the Bose Wave but that’s okay since the price was a whole lot cheaper.

We thought our search was over but yesterday Jordon was at Wal-Mart when he saw a ONN Tabletop Radio for $22 that looks like the above Sangean but also includes an input for our iPods.  He didn’t think twice before purchasing it and the summer of 2010 will have music, mindless football commentary, and some interesting stories on CBC Radio.  I can’t wait.

Technorati Tags: Memorex,Sangean,audio,ONN,tabletop radio

Green Line Architects Tree House

 
 
 

What a great series of images dug up by Kent at the Tiny House Blog.  I had a great tree house as a kid but it pales compared to this.  I think this thing has more square feet than our house.

Lake Union, Seattle Floating Home

This is a spectacular floating home in Lake Union, Seattle and is by Vandeventer + Carlander Architects.  The home has a private space downstairs and a float level has storefront windows. The private space is located on float level while public areas have taken the second one. The entry, guest rooms, master’s bath and bedroom are located one the float level. There is also a private terrace accessible only from the master bedroom.  More photos can be found here.  via

The Shake Shack Burger Recipe

Serious Eats has re-created the famous New York City Shake Shack Burger recipe

There's nothing special about the burger—regular squishy bun, a 1/4-pound patty of griddled meat, lettuce, tomato, and sauce—but like all good burger experiences, the sandwich is far more than a sum of its parts. To recreate the experience at home, I had to eat it, dissect it, deconstruct it, research it, eat it some more, rebuild it, break it down again, reconfigure it, taste it, eat it one more time, and finally reconstruct it again. Here are the results of my labor, from the ground up.

I am so trying this up at the cabin this summer.

New coffee grinder

We picked up coffee grinder for the cabin last week.  I am not sure what the difference between a $30 coffee grinder and a $8 coffee grinder so we went with the $8 grinder.  It isn’t going to get a lot of use and our other grinder has lasted a decade now and works as good as new.

The big advantage is that we can enjoy and serve fresh ground Starbucks coffee beans now.  Even as a non coffee fan, there is something nice about some fresh ground coffee, a coffee press, and a good book on a cool fall day.  While I can’t promise perfect weather, I can put together a good cup of coffee anytime I want (even if I don’t like to drink it).

I know as Canadians we should be drinking Tim Horton’s coffee but their coffee doesn’t generate anywhere the same amount of passion as Starbucks does around here.

Home Office in a Shed

I love the way this home office is designed and constructed. Called the Woodman Log Cabin, this shed isn't available in Canada. It's made by British manufacturer BillyOh, but it’s a pretty standing looking shed with some great architectural details.  I still keep thinking of adding a bunkhouse/shed for Mark in a couple of years and this is great example of how to make one.

Rustic Outdoor Bed in the Woods

How much fun would this be to have a summer nap in?  Of course you have to think about the ticks, the mosquitoes, and the bees…  It is a great idea though and pretty easy to put together.

Rustic Table

Does anyone else really like this old rustic table and bench?  I think it would look spectacular at the cabin or anywhere else now that I think about it.

Two Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Recycled Office Spaces

I love this collection of photographs of recycled furniture being re-used in offices.  While I was on the website I found some fun photos of chalkboards being used.

100 DIY Upgrades for Under $100

100 Upgrades for $100 from This Old House

• Trim and Decoration
• Kitchen
• Lighting
• Bed and Bath
• DIY Upgrades
• Exterior and Entry
• Storage and Organization

Here are a couple of ideas that Wendy and I have talked about.

• Doorway shelving
• Tearing out old carpet (we are doing this at the cabin)
• Create some instant open shelving
• Brighten up kitchen cabinets
• Add LED battery powered lights under counters :: We have done this at home and at the lake.  Giant Tiger has six LED stick up lights for $3.
• Fix up an old ladder and use it as a towel rack or as a plant stand.
• Build a wall mounted table side shelf
• Paint your front door a bright, vibrant color
• Install new house numbers
• Add a door knocker to your front door
• Conceal your air conditioner
• Create an instant collection

This weekend

The Huskies are hosting the UBC Thunderbirds this Friday at Griffiths Stadium.  Unless the weather is beyond horrible, I will be attending with Mark and my brother.  Let me know if you want to join us at the game.

Despite being a big football fan and a fan of the Huskies since I was a kid, I think this is only my second game ever at Griffiths Stadium. 

It’s a nice way to kick off the Thanksgiving Weekend.  After we take in the game, we plan to head to Arlington Beach for a quiet weekend at the cabin.  The weather is supposed to be questionable and the high for the weekend is only 2 degrees Celsius with a low of –6. 

The coldest we have been up there for is about –12 degrees Celsius and it wasn’t that bad.  You just need a lot of blankets and it is a pretty cold run to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

As Wendy wrote a while ago about the kitchen, we don’t have a full sized stove up there so cooking a turkey dinner will be a challenge.  We looked at a stand alone electric turkey roasters (someone had them on sale) which is a good idea but I wonder what kind of market they have.  How many tiny cabin owners are there that don’t have a full sized oven?  How many times a year would you use one if you had a full sized oven?

The plan is to either make Wendy’s excellent version of Turkey a la King or have a more traditional dinner and just cook the turkey in the city and reheat it.  As long as I get my turnips, I am happy (speaking of turnips, Wendy always offers to make something to “change them up” because she can’t believe I like mashed turnips with butter).

Great tips for entertaining guests from HGTV

Here are some excellent tips from HGTV on making guests comfortable when they come over to stay.

• Since a lot of people aren’t in touch with their inner body clocks, a clock/radio is essential in the guest room. A telephone and calling card are also nice, thoughtful touches.
• Provide your guests with a set of fresh, fluffy towels and their very own robe to make sprints from the bathroom shower to the bedroom a little less nerve wracking. Slippers make walking around the house a comfortable trek. An iron and ironing board make it easy to keep clothes wrinkle-free without feeling like a bother.
• There isn’t anything worst than opening your suitcase or overnight bag and discovering you forgot your toothbrush. Put frazzled guests at ease by picking up a few extra toothbrushes as well as toothpaste, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers and deodorants. If you want, you can even pick up travel-sized toiletries at the drug store so that your guests can take them along when they leave.
• Who doesn’t love a midnight snack—or a midmorning snack for that matter? A stash of yummy, non-perishable treats will make you a much loved host. Halloween is a great time to stock up on mini chocolate bars, candy and nuts. Bottled water, gum and mints are also essentials guests would appreciate having on the nightstand table.
• Reading material is always a great idea. Stock the room with the local paper, as well as books and magazines you think your guests might enjoy.

Better looking cabin numbers

Check out these great looking house numbers by Pewabic Pottery. Here are the prices.

• 2-digit plaque - $95 - (size 7” x 9 ½”)
• 3-digit plaque - $110 - (size 7” x 12 ¼”)
• 4-digit plaque - $125 - (size 7” x 15 ½”)
• 5-digit plaque - $140 - (size 7” x 18 ¼”)
• House Numbers - $14 each - (size 2 ¾” x 3 ¾”)

2009 Summer Play List

While we are a family of iPod users, we decided we needed a playlist to be on our iPods for the summer at the lake.  Here is the 100 songs of the summer of 2009 around here.  You can see more of what we are listening to at Last.fm.

1. Black Velvet by Alannah Myles
2. Superman (It's Not Easy) by Five for Fighting
3. Not Too Late by Norah Jones
4. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot 
5. Me and Julio Down By the School Yard by Paul Simon
6. With Arms Wide Open by Creed
7. My Dear Country by Norah Jones
8. Video Bargainville by Moxy Früvous
9. (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
10. Sweet Home Alabama by  Lynyrd Skynyrd
11. All I Can Do by Chantal Kreviazuk
12. Blowin' In The Wind by Bob Dylan
13. Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
14. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2
15. Before You Accuse Me by Eric Clapton
16. Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega
17. Stuck In The 90's by Moxy Früvous
18. You're Still the One by Shania Twain
19. Not My Friend by Norah Jones
20. Winter Games by David Foster
21. Narrow Daylight by Diana Krall
22. My Baby Loves A Bunch Of Authors by Moxy Früvous
23. Losing My Religion by R.E.M.
24. Sinkin' Soon by Norah Jones
25. Beautiful Day by U2
26. We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel
27. Those Sweet Words by Norah Jones
28. Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
29. Charmed Life by Diana Krall  
30. A Case Of You by Diana Krall
31. Layla by Eric Clapton
32. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You by Bryan Adams
33. Dark Horse by Amanda Marshall
34. Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan   
35. Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin
36. The Girl In The Other Room by Diana Krall   
37. Feelin' The Same Way by Norah Jones   
38. Fly Me To The Moon by Diana Krall   
39. The Lazy Boy by Moxy Früvous       
40. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band
41. King Of Spain by Moxy Früvous
42. Alberta by Eric Clapton
43. Let's Fall In Love by Diana Krall
44. Devil May Care by Diana Krall   
45. Big League by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider
46. Never Surrender by Corey Hart       
47. More Than a Feeling by Boston
48. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
49. Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses
50. Survivor by Destiny's Child
51. Don't Know Why by Norah Jones
52. All Summer Long by Kid Rock
53. Fell In Love by Moxy Früvous       
54. Dead In The Water by David Gray   
55. What Am I To You? by Norah Jones
56. Sunrise by Norah Jones
57. Free Fallin' by Tom Petty
58. Spiderman by Moxy Früvous
59. Songbird by Kenny G
60. Prayer '94 by Bon Jovi   
61. Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
62. Gulf War Song by Moxy Früvous
63. Angel Eyes by Theresa Sokyrka   
64. Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman
65. Freedom Reigns by Rita Springer
66. Victory Days by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider
67. My Hometown by Bruce Springsteen
68. Tubthumping by Chumbawamba
69. Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas
70. Kokomo by The Beach Boys 
71. I've Got To See You Again by Norah Jones
72. When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down) by Great Big Sea
73. Breakfast At Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something
74. Bang The Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren
75. Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Eric Clapton
76. Let It Rain by Amanda Marshall   
77. River Valley by Moxy Früvous
78. I Am a Wild Party by Kim Mitchell
79. Sleep by Riley Armstrong       
80. Patio Lanterns by Kim Mitchell
81. Home by Michael Bublé
82. Celebration by Kool & The Gang
83. Closing Time by Semisonic   
84. She Ain't Pretty by The Northern Pikes       
85. Up! (Red) by Shania Twain   
86. The Drinking Song by Moxy Früvous
87. Bad Day by Daniel Powter       
88. Faith by George Michael       
89. Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams       
90. New Orleans Is Sinking by The Tragically Hip       
91. Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz 
92. Only Time by Enya       
93. Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen   
94. The First Cut Is The Deepest by Sheryl Crow   
95. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of by U2
96. Bittersweet by Moxy Früvous
97. While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Jeff Healey Band
98. Believe by Lenny Kravitz   
99. Low by Flo Rida
100. Right Round by Flo Rida

Floating home on Lake Huron

Here is a stunning floating home on Lake Huron.  You can see the entire slideshow at Dwell.com or read more about the home here.

The finished building is the family’s summer headquarters, despite its modest 1,250 square feet of indoor space. Downstairs are a boat slip, storage, and sauna; upstairs there are two bedrooms (the kids have bunkbeds), an office, and a galley area, with dramatic views from parallel windows. As Sample explains, the boathouse is the nucleus of the whole island. It’s connected to the island from the second floor by a bridge that reaches  toward the nearby sleeping cabin and at water level by a dock that connects to the other side of the cove. An outdoor stair is open to the sky above and the water below.