Homebrew IPA: First Batch

Temperaturing

Homebrewing* has begun! We spent six and a half hours last night creating our first batch of IPA from a Brooklyn Brewshop kit we got as a wedding gift a couple of months ago. I was definitely naive in estimating the whole process would take about three hours, but in my defense, only a few lengths of time are mentioned in the directions. (But I probably should have just googled to find other people's blog posts about using the kit, so...not a really good defense after all.)

Regardless of taking way more time than expected, we ended up feeling like kitchen pioneers, aka, awesome. And I kept thinking, Beer should be more expensive! (You're welcome, beer companies of the world.)

Getting started

Lovely mash

More temperaturing

Note One: Next to “6-quart stock pot" in the equipment list, it says “second pot is handy." I would change that to “a second pot is absolutely necessary unless you want to do a lot of kitchen juggling."

Note Two: The cooling down portion in the ice bath in Section 4 took us thirty to forty minutes (which was unexpected), so factor that into your time estimate.

Note Three: I'll let you know if it's amazing or disgusting in four weeks and two days. Methinks just waiting that amount of time for a beer will make it the best beer ever, but you never know.

* Note: I struggled between styling this as homebrewing and home brewing. The dictionary has it as two words, but Google Trends has it as more popular as one. So to be on trend and not to appear like a total homebrewing idiot, I kept it as one, but the copyeditor in me still wants to make it two. True agony, y'all.

90s Throwback Thursday: The Breeders “Cannonball"

I was describing to Chris last night the feeling of when an old song immediately takes you back to a specific time and place of your youth, in a magical and blurry way, and this song by the Breeders is my “Summer of 1994, Laying on My Blue and Purple Floral Comforter Surrounded by Posters of R.E.M. and Eddie Vedder" time warp.



I remember listening to this song repeatedly for hours when I was thirteen, over and over in the way that only a teenager can with full devotion. It was amazing then. And still is now, with its unreal teleportation-like effect on my mind. I FEEL thirteen when this song randomly comes on. Wherever I am, whomever I'm with, I become this girl:

Me as a teenager. Note the “No Children Under 18" sign right behind me. Whoopsies!

Also, I got that dress at the ESPRIT outlet on sale, and I will adore it forever.

Roasted Soy Bean Soft Serve at Daruma Ramen

Got the roasted soy bean soft serve special at Daruma Ramen last night and it was lovely! Had to share:

Date Night: Freedmen's, Whisler's, Weather Up

After a couple of days of being on Aunt and Uncle Duty, Chris and I decided to date-night-it up like the childless and free couple we are on Friday night. We started at Freedmen's. They have a Whiskey Wall! I was basically sold at that point. Their pit chili was my fave, and Chris loved the brisket. And we both tried their Whiskey of the Month, Angel's Envy, which basically tasted like golden liquid victory on ice.

 Whiskey Wall!

Brisket

Close-up of the pit chili. You're welcome.

Then we headed over to Whisler's on the east side before ending up at Weather Up, one of the best cocktail bars I have ever been to, where we sipped on perfectly made Manhattans. Lovely night in Texas, y'all. 

Baked Summer Zucchini

Zucchini is a veggie that I always forget about until it's too late. Like November late. Do not repeat my mistakes, people. It's in season now until Septemberish, and you are basically a fool if you don't take advantage. Simple and ready in fifteen.

I'm sure more complicated or fancier recipes exist, but this is how my mom always made it. It tastes great, so why mess with that?

But you should try this zucchini pancakes recipe from Food52 that I made a while back if you have more time or want to try something different. Perfection.

Baked Summer Zucchini (Serves 2)

-1 zucchini, sliced
-Extra virgin olive oil
-Sea salt
-Pepper

Cut zucchini into 1/4-inch slices. Spray or brush baking sheet with olive oil. Place zucchini slices in a single layer on the sheet. Coat the slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and a little pepper. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Wedding Ring Holders

At the Renegade Craft Fair a few years ago, Chris and I stumbled upon hollowed-out book ring holders by Pommes Frites. Even though we weren't engaged yet, we bought one. And this past April, my oldest nephew carried it down the aisle for us.

We also got a couple ring holders for gifts before the wedding and used them in a few photo opps. The first one is available here, and a similar Mr./Mrs. set is here.

(Photos by Nathan Russell Photography)

Wedding Ring Engravings

Another wedding post! Let's talk ring engravings. The idea for ours came from a drawing I made once when we were at pub trivia night and I was doodling on our answer sheet. I took a picture of the drawing that night with my phone and jokingly referred to it as our couple motto: Better Together. And now we have these:

A few other cute ideas:

 I Love You / I Know (Quotes from Leia and Han Solo)

Couple's portrait! Cute!

Put Me Back On

The Universe Unfolds

(Images from Pinterest and here. Our photo by Nathan Russell Photography.)

Austin Outdoor Summer Movies

A few days ago, we went to see Labyrinth on the lawn outside of the Long Center downtown. The event was part of their Sound & Cinema summer film series that runs every other Wednesday until August 21. Our view:

Gorgeous. Here's the rest of the lineup:

June 19: Smokey and the Bandit
July 17: Back to the Future
July 31: School of Rock
August 14: Flash Gordon
August 21: Jurassic Park

Tip: We were originally sitting to the left of the screen, but the sound was really low in that section. I don't know if that will be the case every time, but try to find a spot in the center or to the right when you're facing the screen just in case. We could hear perfectly after we moved spots.

And Cinema East is starting up tomorrow, too! They'll be showing Cutie and the Boxer at the French Legation, one of my favorite outdoor spaces in Austin.

Happy summer film-watching, everyone!

This and That

David Bowie and Mick Jagger dancing in the street. How have I never seen this before?

Lego-inspired candles.

Want to try iFontmaker.

Joss Whedon's commencement speech at Wesleyan. 

The real couple behind Before Sunrise. 

An amazing spoken word poem.

(Image via Pinterest)

Sustainable Food Center Brunch Benefit

Olive & June hosted a lovely brunch benefit for the Sustainable Food Center of Austin yesterday. (Definitely an organization worth supporting! More info on how to volunteer here.) The food was amazing: polenta cakes with blackberries, Tuscan home fries, pork sausage with roasted peppers, and bombolini with strawberries, lemon ricotta, and balsamic caramel. And we met so many rad couples at our communal table. Here are a few shots of our brunchy time there.