Fresh Tomato Omelet with Mozzarella Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 4 medium tomato slices
• 1/4 cup shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese (1 ounce)
• 1 teaspoon snipped fresh oregano or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano crushed

Directions

1. In a small bowl combine eggs, salt, and pepper, beat with a rotary beater or wire whisk.  Coat and unheated 8 inch skillet with a nonstick cooking spray.  Preheat over medium heat.  Pour half of the egg mixture into the hot skillet.
2. Using a wooden spoon or plastic spatula, immediately begin stirring egg mixture gently but continuously until mixture resembles small pieces of cooked egg surrounded by liquid egg.  Stop stirring.  Cook for 30 to 60 seconds more or until egg mixture is set but shiny.
3. Place two tomato slices on half of the egg mixture in the skillet.  Top with half of the mozzarella.  Using a spatula, life and fold opposite edge of the omelet over tomato slices.  Sprinkle half of the oregano onto the omelet.  Transfer to a warm plate.
4. Repeat with remaining egg mixture, tomato, cheese, and oregano.  Makes 2 servings.

228 calories

Build Your Own Bunkhouse

Over the next couple of years, Wendy and I plan to build something very similar to this for Mark at the lake.  It moves him and eventually Oliver out of the cabin and into their own space.  There are a variety of shed options but for $14.99, you can buy the plans to build this bunkhouse from Tiny House Blog.  For a very little amount of money, you could build something for a lot less money than renovating a cabin or in our case building new.

The first step we need to take this year is planting some trees to create a space for a bunkhouse that integrates it into the lot while at the same time giving it some privacy.

As an aside, I hope Kent Griswold makes some money from the Tiny House Blog.  Over the years he has done a great job of building that community, creating great content and connecting people like me to wonderful ideas, buildings, and plans.

Living in a Yurt in Alaska

This family of three lives in a yurt high up on a mountain in a remote coastal Alaskan town. The McKittricks have a woodstove but the place is only accessible by boat or aircraft. They have broadband internet but no indoor plumbing.

The remote town has no access to other parts of the state by road. Residents have to travel by boat or airplane. A recent passenger on Homer Air, the local airline, was a poodle on its way to the vet.

The decision to live in a yurt has forced them to confront the same questions that many people do, but their conclusions have been far different. They decided they could live without running water, shower, bath or a working toilet, but they had to have broadband Internet access.

The couple discovered yurts when they returned from their 4,000-mile trek and passed through the nearby town of Homer, where Nomad Shelter Yurts sells modern tents inspired by those used on the Mongolian steppes by nomadic herders. Unlike the Mongolian ones, which are covered with wool felt, the approximately $14,000 tent that is home to Mr. Higman and Ms. McKittrick is encased in Duro-Last roofing vinyl and backed with heavy-duty Tyvek insulation to withstand the Alaskan climate.

“Part of it was just logistical,” Mr. Higman said, explaining their decision to buy the tent. “A yurt can be set up in eight hours.” It was also in their price range, suited their minimalist approach to life and, perhaps most important, evoked the wilderness experience they cherish.

I am surprised you don’t see more Yurts being used in northern resort communities.  The running water issue isn’t that hard to solve and an outdoor shower would make them quite comfortable.

Lodge Hibachi Cast Iron Grill

Over at the Jordon Cooper Outfitters, I highlight that rather remarkable Lodge Hibachi Cast Iron Grill which is a cast iron portable grill (well as portable as a cast iron grill could be)

Being cast iron, it absorbs and retains heat, radiating it evenly, so the whole stove is part of the heat source, not just the coals.

It’s cast iron instead of stamped tin or steel. It is small enough to put in the trunk and take camping, use for tailgating or to use on the patio (about 20" x 10" x 9" and the legs lift the bottom about 4 inches off the ground).

The grate you place the food on is not welded wire, it is cast iron like the rest, so the cross pieces are as wide as the slots in between. They hold food well, hold heat well, and when you sear your food, you can see the wide dark sears on the food.

I have posted more about it over at the Outfitters.