A Sunnier Outlook. A Happier Blog. Planning Projects.

1-6-2018

Moving ahead with life.

A person can benefit greatly from a longer view. Knowing now just how long consequences can last. I feel more compelled to plan projects and forecast needs with consequences in mind. Due deligence.

Here is this year's project.  The Oven of My Dreams. Artsustain presents your neighborhood horno:  Bake bread, cook in mass protein or vegetable resources for future use. Appointments available through social media, email or locals can call. Like us on Facebook for further details.

Love food but so want a new way to enjoy it? I used to cook for a restaurant that could roast huge pans of boneless chicken, bake it's own flat bread in mass for its sandwiches, and as sides to soup made from scratch and fresh washed chopped romaine heads for salad.  The most fresh ingredients prepared for broad use. Food prep would begin a couple of hours before lunch. Prep cooks roast red peppers and eggplant for use in recipes for the daily cooking in some way prepared in this huge wonderful earth oven. I had the pleasure of building an horno and seeing it used at the Coloraod State Fair when I was in college. After working with an horno (say "orno")in a successful restaurant, I have wanted to build one ever since.

Although the wood oven is huge and needs mindful tending, I see now how efficient the focus was in that restaurant and playing in the fire was fun. I know how to get a cook fire going with out much tending as long as your wood is dry.  I feel there are elements of that commercial experience could work in residential food preparation.

Cooking with a group of people for a common goal can be a fun event. Plan uses for food cooked en mass. Promoting "gang" cooking where a group prepares simple delicious flexible food packaged for use in the future. I am going to explore my latest Laura Ingalls Wilder's book for ideas for future sustainable projects. If only Laura had the use of a freezer. Holding food properly is key.  I want to promote simple meal planning for better spending habits, food variety, and better refuse disposal.  Most of all plan for better health and food security.




My first step is building the oven. The rest will come. Details to follow.