Kitchen Projects

I have some kitchen projects I want to take on during the cooler portion of the year. No, not fix-it projects -- cooking projects! You know, the type -- the ones where you spend a drizzly Saturday puttering around your kitchen all day.

We are about to have 150 bottles of homebrew at our disposal thanks to the Herculean efforts of my Brewmaster in Residence (my husband).  Friends that you never knew you had tend to come out of the woodwork when they hear about a beer stock of such epic proportions, but it's still a lot of beer for two people to have stashed away in their basement. I hope to use a couple bottles to try my hand at this Cheddar Ale Soup recipe. Beer, cheese, and bacon? Twist my arm.

 (photo from Tracey's Culinary Adventures)

Not only do we have a lot of beer, but we still have a counter full of apples from our recent apple picking adventure that need to be put to good use.  Being the southern girl that I am, I'm really itching to delve into canning. This  Apple Butter sounds like a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone.

 (photo from The Kitchenette)

Y'all, Joy the Baker is a woman after my own heart.  She just gets me (case in point: this sandwich). Though I'm still intimidated by recipes that require the use of those small and unassuming, seemingly innocent, packets of yeast, Joy's recipe for Spicy Garlic Bread  is irresistible. It's just the kick in the pants that I need to conquer my fear and to finally try my hand at Dutch Oven bread.

(photo from Joy the Baker)

Speaking of yeast, how amazing do these Homemade Pretzels with Jalapeno Cheese Sauce look? Rolling and knotting pretzel dough, watching some football while they bake, and then digging in, hovered over a bowl of that cheese sauce, would make for such a fun afternoon in the kitchen with your significant other or some friends.

(photo from Homemade by Holman)