Beered Science

[You are so singing that song aren't you?]

By daylight, a Museum of Science and Industry with oodles of young minds wandering about being enlightened and entertained by the hands on science exhibits. [In an appropriate Zombie tone "braaaaaiiiiinnnnssssss"]
Bill Nye "The Science Guy" would be very proud.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."(Albert Einstein Copyright: Kevin Harris 1995)

Parents are close by keeping a watchful eye on their young ones but they aren't participating much, "It's for the kids really" is what they say...during the daytime but...
on certain evenings as the sun wanes and the clock strikes 7...
another side of OMSI comes alive and there are no children to be found.
[cue crickets "chirpppp" "chirppp" or something like that]

It's OMSI After Dark.

It happens once a month and it's an "adults only" evening at the museum. Why "adults only" you inquire? Because, you can buy and drink a beer while wandering around looking at the various exhibits, playing with all of the hands on science stuff (the water rocket is my fave), and getting to participate in live demonstrations and experiments and... there are no children there hogging all of the fun for themselves ;)
Adults get to experience the fun and maybe even learn a thing or two rather than watching from the sidelines.

Yes, it's a secret that most adults will rarely admit to in the presence of others... Sometimes, adults just really want to play too and at OMSI After Dark they do :)


"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."(Albert Einstein Copyright: Kevin Harris 1995)

Amanda at OMSI asked us at the Dessert Tray if we'd like to come and sample and maybe sell some of our treats. It was a resounding "YES!" So, on Aug. 25th, we went and did just that and had a blast to boot.

We also made a special treat for the staff which my two pastry chefs enjoyed creating.

First, you obviously need some text books to help you study.

Some nifty equipment always helps as well.







"Why, it's Elemental my dear Watson" [hehehehehehehehehe]





And...of course, it wouldn't really be the study of science unless you have some specimens.
Ah, this one will do nicely.









Now, One must obviously have somewhere to put all of these things...Ah, a science lab table would be just the thing.





Then there's the process of putting everything in just the right place.
Here we go...



TAAAA DAAAAAA!!!!!!!
The finished results.
People had a hard time believing that this really was a cake.









Some of the happy cake recipients.
They didn't eat the cake right away of course, they made their own little display around it.
(I"ll try and add pictures of that later)

Farm to Plate at Kruger's Farm

Location: Kruger's farm on Sauvie Island
Time: August 14th, 2010, approximately 6pm.
Event: Farm to Plate dinner
Chef: Lori Emch
Result: Good food, good conversation, and gorgeous location. Life doesn't get much better than that.

You think I would have gotten pictures of some of these tasty items but I was way too busy enjoying them and besides, nothing lasted long once it hit the table.

I did manage to get a picture of our cake which Lori used for the dessert though.


Menu

Sandra's Pickled Vegetables
Local Artisan cheeses and cured meats
Ken's Artisian Bread Crostini
Don's Farm Fresh Sungold Tomatoes

Mussels in Tomato Broth

Farm Greens with Crumbled Egg, Walnuts, and Sherry Vinaigrette

(The excellent chef helpers)

Tenderloin of Beef with Oregon Black Truffle Oil and Oregonzola Sauce on a bed of Roasted New Potatoes

Summer Pesto with Cherry Tomatoes, Grilled Squash Medley, and Pasta

Wax, Romano, and Blue Lake Beans with Sungold Tomatoes, Shaved Romano Cheese, and Basil Vinaigrette

Roasted Golden and Blood Red Beets

Fresh Roasted Corn

Our own Italian Almond cake with the last of the Berries and Local peaches.

Under the shade of the old oak tree, the world slowed down for a while. The unbearable heat of the day became a warm blanket lulling you into a relaxed state of laziness. The aroma of delicious things cooking permeated the air. It was a good way to finish a long day.





Farmer Don in person.

About half of the table sitting down to munch.


Some of the flowers on the table as the sunlight is starting to fade from the evening.






The chef herself, "Hi Lori"


I've seen this Art car around town a few times and it just cracks me up.

Inchworm

"Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two

Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far

Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
Seems to me you'd stop and see
How beautiful they are"

These cakes made me think of that song.
Sung by Danny Kaye on "The Muppet Show", episode 316, one of my favorite episodes but then...I pretty much love all of the episodes of "The Muppet Show". Swedish chef and Rowlf are my favorites, of course.

These guys could easily be on the Muppet Show too, come to think of it.

"and I will hug him and pet him"

Much rejoicing was heard in Bakerville today.

{rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice rejoice}

Our new (gently used) display case arrived. Yay!!!!



and I shall name him George==>






<==Happy and smiley over here.





Big Al's Specialty Movers did all of the heavy lifting and actual moving stuff.

[Thank you guys!] Big Al's made it quick, easy, and painless for us-very, very much appreciated.(Seriously, if you need some moving done, this company is an excellent choice).

So... here's the case starting to get filled up. Our bakers are giving a huge sigh of relief that there is now more space in the walk in for all of the usual stuff.

It is now 2/3 full and holding proper temperature. Double Yay!!

It's a touch smaller than our old case (requiescat in pace old friend, you have served us well and for many, many moons) but it will definitely serve our needs for the foreseeable future and...did I mention? It's... SHINY!!


[One of these days, I will give a small lecture on the "Time and Temperature Principle" and Sanitation in general but that is for a different day]

I cajoled most of the staff to wear our new Dessert Tray shirts and to do a group photo to boot. New case + new shirts = Happy bakers and Tasty cakes. [You guys all deserve major props for everything you do!]

Additional bonus that you all look so cute in basic black ;)

Vampires are taking over everything

The request was to make a cake for an older grandchild who does not care for the Twilight series written by Stephanie Meyer (the reason makes sense, just trust me).

So... of course, she absolutely had to have a cake with the Twilight theme for this person's birthday.
(Hehehehehehehehehe. Ah, families-if they can't poke fun at you, who will?)

{Yes, yes, I know that some of you may be experiencing shock that there are some people in this world who don't care for the series-just let it go. Some people claim not to like Brussel Sprouts or beets-I don't understand them either but I accept them in spite of their oddness and they can still be productive members of society
; }
Anyhow, the grandparent had purchased the Twilight dolls and needed an appropriate log for them to sit upon whilst being full of angst and moodiness.
The log without adornment... Kind of a nice log, maybe waiting to be put in a campfire so it can roast some marshmallows for later S'mores action.

[S'mores, required camping accompaniment-also, excellent gauge of true adulthood. You know you are an adult when you hit that stage in life when one S'mores contains WAY TOO MUCH SUGAR for you to handle (teeth ache just looking at one is an excellent sign) or you start pondering ways of making the S'mores gourmet by using handmade artisianal marshmallows, single origin chocolate from
Dagoba chocolates, and handmade Graham crackers using stone ground whole wheat flour sourced from the Cedar Creek Grist mill...not that I've ever done that mind you-ahem.Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, log cake...] now back to the regularly scheduled program.

The finished log ready and waiting ...


and...with appropriate decor and accessories; very, very moody and angst ridden accessories.

One of these days, I will have to read the books...

Waterfront Blues Festival

"The Thrill is Gone", "Nobody Knows When You Are Down And Out", "Hellhound On My Trail". These songs were born of heartache, angst, reflection, bitterness, and so many other emotions rolled together and rung out until the raw music seeped out into our conscience.

Blues music can be loud, brash, and in your face or, soft and subtle, soaking into the depths of your soul. The Blues speak to harsh truths that may you already know of, the heavy beat of the music wrapping around your marrow like bone strengthening you against further adversity, the words giving catharsis to all who need it.

he Safeway Waterfront Blues festival is one of many that celebrates this music and its many variations. 4th of July weekend, the Waterfront comes alive with the music that you can hear floating throughout downtown and across the river. Lots of good music, lots of good people, and lots of excellent food.

One of the caterers that we know (Hi Lori!) has been feeding some of the behind the scenes workers and musicians who have participated in the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival for the last few years. She buys a few things from us and we donate some stuff as well.

Last year Keb Mo ate one of our Vegan Spelt Chocolate Chip cookies ["Just Like You" is one of my all time favorite songs].

Besides, the usual cookies and other desserts, this year we donated a half sheet cake that I decorated.

No, this is not a tune, my music reading skills are nil and this is in spite of the fact that I used to play music in school (musical notes are kind of like fractions to me-I know they mean something, but I just really, really don't get how they work and the examples are always something simple like 1/4+ 3/4, that's not a useful example! Give me something like 34/59 divided by 7/17. Now THAT is a useful example) [maybe I still have a few issues regarding fractions, just maybe]