What The F is going on with all y'all these days?

[saymyname]

its been awhile since i've asked. winter is dragging on in these parts and can go fuck itself. other than hating the government, what's new...good, bad or ugly? failing that...tell me what your cooking.

i've been on a "crazy" cake - also known as *depression cake - kick for awhile. mostly because they're cheap and fast. just put a lemon poppyseed one in the oven now. i tweaked the fuck out of the recipe i just found online, so we'll see how it turns out. most likely going to finish it with a lemon glaze, or eat it plain. havent decided. might make some cookie dough for the freezer once the butter is soft enough to mix and i've decided what i'm after.

but mostly this crazy brownie recipe has been on repeat since it uses a wee bit of the leftover coffee. i increased the oil to 1/2c. and same with the cocoa. and i'll usually add in about 1/4c. choc chips.

Crazy Brownies (No Butter or Eggs!)

Crazy Brownies are moist brownies that are crazy good and just as crazy to make since they are made without milk, eggs, or butter!

iambaker.net

*depression/crazy cake doesnt call for butter, milk or eggs, in the event you cared to know, and even if you dont gaf.

 

[Nink]

I made a grilled cheese samich in the air fryer the other day. Worked great.

 

[RightOfSask]

I made those accordion potatoes a few days ago and my kids loved it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ha_vxdJm3ls

 

[Squishybear]

Working working working to survive.

Hubs wcb BS got paused due to unrelated medical stuff, now we gotta beg the government for money and until then or maybe forever from now on, I shall work the OT to pay the bills which seem to increase every two weeks and then again two weeks later.

Who needs fuel and food anyway?!? Soon we shall all be eating grass and bugs.

 

[saymyname]

thats most obnoxious.

how are the chickens?

 

[Squishybear]

Locked up for good since the stupid cats won’t stop coming around for buffet items. Otherwise fine, the ones that are left.
March we got another round of meat burbs coming.

 

[BeaverTown]

Working....trying to find my first car - but insurance is EXPENSIVE
It'll cost a fifth of the money I can save up this year AFTER tax (not suprised though, they're trying to deter people from driving)
Not to mention the cost of the car itself (have to buy used) and maintenance + gas....

I think at this rate, my only hope for an independent life is to find a way to work remotely, get starlink and save up $50k for a little plot of land in unorganized territory where I can live in a trailer or small diy cabin.

 

[ChevChelios]

Land out my way is about $8K per acre and there's plenty of it for sale in the back country even along roads and power lines. People trickle in from other provinces (mostly BC and Ontario), plunk down a camper van and then slowly start building the structures they need for the long term

 

[BeaverTown]

Are you in the Atlantic provinces?? I hear that there's more freedom when it comes to building permits and whatnot....

 

[ChevChelios]

@BeaverTown: Yeah, despite NS having a deserved reputation for high taxes and habitually voting Liberal it's actually fairly libertarian out in the sticks regardless -- there just isn't a lot of enforcement available in such thinly-populated areas. A lot of people don't even bother with permits at all for smaller structures, and nobody seems to care.

In general this area attracts refugees from other parts of Canada who want to live off-grid but not pay a fortune to do so. It helps that the local people are friendly and supportive as hell; they're just happy to see anyone new show up in their community (even though the media loves to portray rural Nova Scotians as dangerous, inbred racists)

 

[border_humper]

It’s a wet cold though. Bonechilling.

 

[ChevChelios]

@border_humper: True, but a woodstove with its dry heat cuts right through that cold and there is practically free wood lying around everywhere

 

[YQRanon]

Still working on our fixer-upper acreage house. Doing drywall and waiting for warm enough weather to be able to open a door with my big-ass fan in the opening to blow some of the dust out when we start sanding. Today, taking a break from drywall and going to play some guitar at my buddies jam session, drink some beer, come home, watch UFC, drink more beer. Pulled a muscle in my back 2 weeks ago and am just getting over it. An old injury that rears it's ugly head every once in a while. Still haven't won the lottery. That's about it, that's my life these days.

 

[saymyname]

i am debating putting on pants to go buy beer. its too cold to go out in shorts.

have you at least been buying lottery tickets? its hard to win if you dont. ha.

 

[border_humper]

I’m still in an old work lottery pool from three jobs ago because it’s run by an upright Christian Filipino. He send picks of the tickets and our balances every week. Haven’t hit it big yet, but we win small amounts here and there that subsidize staying in. 16 of us still in that pool, not sure that anybody in it still works together. Filipinos love gambling even more than Chinese.

 

[saymyname]

i glazed the cake and am working on a potato-cabbage casserole for supremacy.

Country-Style Potato and Cabbage Casserole with Cheddar and Bacon

Country-style Potato Cabbage Casserole is a hearty, homestyle, and budget-friendly side dish that pairs perfectly with roasted meat or poultry. Loaded with tender potatoes, savory cabbage, and crispy bacon, all smothered in rich, melted cheddar cheese, this dish is a comforting classic. When...

www.fromachefskitchen.com

also broke down and bought more yarn because i'm afraid i'll not have enough to finish the sweater i'm working on with the leftover yarn from the husbeast's sweater i knit him last year. now we can be matching fags, more or less. because i bought more, i will have enough. thats how it works. i also bought more yarn than i need for "free" shipping. cough, cough.

i think thats how the rest of the day will go: buy beer, drink beer, knit shit, continue hating the government, as per the saturday routine.

 

[RightOfSask]

My wife spent a bit too much time watching renovation videos and now thinks that the window in the kitchen behind the sink is too small and should be twice as big. I just said maybe and hope that she forgets it until winter is done. Hopefully it snows for like another 5 months or so. You never know.

 

[brutana_dilewski]

and hope that she forgets

a very familiar feeling

 

[RightOfSask]

Yeah ... rarely pans out. Already having nightmares of me with a hacksaw cutting a big hole into my house.

 

[saymyname]

@RightOfSask distract her with talk of another baby?

 

[RightOfSask]

@saymyname
In that case I'm already on my way to buy a new window.

 

[Squishybear]

@RightOfSask She’s right though… distraction!

Maybe chickens will do instead of crotch goblins! If you have the space.

 

[Hirudinea]

@Squishybear

Why not combine the two ideas and try rabbits! (Sorry, it just popped into my head and now you have to suffer too.)

 

[saymyname]

@RightOfSask isnt she from a family of six kids? if so, she prob wont stop til she has six of her own and you might get that boy. maybe. lolz. but you are def a very blessed dude. i'm sure your eldest girl will be more than happy to help you in the spring with that window!!

 

[RightOfSask]

@Squishybear
I think I would rather install a new window than to build a chicken coop that can handle -40 weather.

 

[RightOfSask]

@saymyname
My oldest is almost 12. Kinda have the feeling the ones in the middle would have way more fun destroying things.

And about the sixth kid. If it would end up to be another girl, I would be 100% on the news as the guy from Saskatchewan with six daughters.

 

[saymyname]

@RightOfSask maybe thats why my dad never went for number six. he didnt want to be THAT guy in the town we're from.

12 is a good age to help with that kind of thing, if she's willing...mind, being the eldest of 5, i'm sure she's busy enough helping her mom.

 

[border_humper]

We’re going to do some ‘winter sowing’ tomorrow. Setting out seeds in milk jugs in the snow. Going to try cucumbers, zucchini, pansies, tomatoes, etc. Haven’t tried it before, but youtube made it look legit. Trying to keep my indoor plants alive.

Been watching travel ‘vloggers’ on youtube since I find travel interesting but I don’t want to spend my own time and money doing it. baldandbankrupt is hilarious.

Cooking lots of soups and cookies since Christmas. Had leftover frozen split pea last night with easy, tasty sour cream biscuits. Have a fantastic oatmeal raisin cookie recipe that I make and plonk into a ziplock and then bake six or 12 every evening. Made some butter pecan ‘brownie’ bars with stashed bourbon this week, they are a winner.

Dealing with our year old puppy who has spring fever and is sick of winter and only wants to bite and hump.

 

[saymyname]

baldandbankrupt is always good for a laugh...its a good thing he's a fairly large guy with some of the shit he tends to say...

the butter pecan bars with bourbon sound delightful. recipe?

 

[border_humper]

I doubled the recipe (except for the pecans), omitted the chocolate, tripled the bourbon and baked them 55 minutes.

Bourbon Butter Pecan Brownies ~ these are the ones I don’t give away.

A classic chewy butter pecan brownie, loaded with toasted pecans, melty chocolate, and a subtle splash of bourbon for depth.

theviewfromgreatisland.com

 

[saymyname]

@border_humper ty - i love her recipes...i keep thinking about making her lemon butter pie, but never get around to making it...you know...because then i'll eat the whole pie in two days.

i'll have to buy the big bottle of bourbon for these squares, i think.

 

[border_humper]

@saymyname Can you buy bourbon? It’s not for sale in Manitoba because it’s made by Americans, but other American products are fine. Just no American booze.

I made that lemon butter pie but it had concrete crust so it wasn’t very good. Crust is hard.

 

[saymyname]

@border_humper i forgot about that...good ol dougie poured one out for what? elbows up? i do have some fireball on hand that might do, but i'll have to have a look around the lcbo and see if there's anything worthwhile.

good to know about the crust on that lemon butter pie though...looking at it, i'm thinking i would maybe just chill it and not bake it before filling.

 

[ChevChelios]

@saymyname: I see you subscribe to the Angus Crock school of cookery


View: https://youtu.be/ITBU9VcCZjM?t=293

 

[ChevChelios]

This is very common among couples: one spouse will have a Very Bright Idea that would impose a considerable time and/or money obligation on the other partner, but with enough tactful smooth-talking said Idea can eventually be made to go away and never spoken of again

 

[Hirudinea]

its been awhile since i've asked. winter is dragging on in these parts and can go fuck itself. other than hating the government, what's new...good, bad or ugly? failing that...tell me what your cooking.

i've been on a "crazy" cake - also known as *depression cake - kick for awhile. mostly because they're cheap and fast. just put a lemon poppyseed one in the oven now. i tweaked the fuck out of the recipe i just found online, so we'll see how it turns out. most likely going to finish it with a lemon glaze, or eat it plain. havent decided. might make some cookie dough for the freezer once the butter is soft enough to mix and i've decided what i'm after.

but mostly this crazy brownie recipe has been on repeat since it uses a wee bit of the leftover coffee. i increased the oil to 1/2c. and same with the cocoa. and i'll usually add in about 1/4c. choc chips.

Crazy Brownies (No Butter or Eggs!)

Crazy Brownies are moist brownies that are crazy good and just as crazy to make since they are made without milk, eggs, or butter!

iambaker.net

*depression/crazy cake doesnt call for butter, milk or eggs, in the event you cared to know, and even if you dont gaf.

saymyname
Is that depression cake the one with boiled raisins? I made one of those, didn't quite give me depression, but no great thrills either.

 

[saymyname]

no. not that one specifically. depression/crazy/wacky cakes are a generic term for one that doesnt have dairy or eggs and are typically raised with the baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice combo.

i think the boiled raisin cake would be better if the water was subbed in for either tea or coffee to add another layer of flavour. and probably increasing the oil. i typically increase the oil in depression cakes if they're less than 1/2c. to add a bit more richness..or if i want to be a little more indulgent, i'll just use melted butter, which fixes everything, because butter is better. but that just defeats the purpose of being a cheaper cake, i suppose.

mostly i like the cheap assed cakes because they are quick and easy AF...takes less time to measure out the ingredients than trying to fight with the duncan hines box and bag bullshit.

 

[Hirudinea]

You're right, depression cake can be made better with more expensive ingredients, but as you say that defeats the purpose. And I like the cheap and quick cakes too, they can be made good, but the problem is after I make them I eat them!

 

[saymyname]

@Hirudinea i've been cutting them up and freezing them...apparently it takes me 20% longer to eat them once frozen.

 

[FreedomTruth]

Hubby made gourmet meatloaf and mac n cheese while I cleaned the eldest kids room for her. I am not as young as I once was, so now I'm limping.

But I also made berry crumble, with quinoa "oatmeal" in the topping. Apparently I used a lot of sugar.

It seems like ginseng tea really helped my focus and energy levels the last few days. Hopefully it continues.

 

[d01tg0d0wn]

Since office renos began i now work at home. I loath working from home so I am on a hunger strike until the make us go back. My wife says working from home has made me crazy and is just glad i have life insurance that will make all her dreams come true when i fall down the stairs from being to weak to keep myself up. Renos could take months and I have heard as long as a year. I feel fine however so all you have nothing to worry about and my million dollar bet with my wife isnt panning out to well for her. We shall see how next week goes.

What also doesnt help is my dog is gassing me to death. Wife says i need to eat something and i tell her i am the dogs gas is that thick and terrible and it tastes beyond awful

Honestly i can work in the noise and with all the dust. Why wont they just let me go back? All my routines are shot. I even miss seeing the fuzzy coffee spoon in the common area that grosses me out but entertains me when others use it to add sugar to their coffee. If i did go back to the office i could shut my office door that they tell me i may not shut cause of crazy office person reasons.

How does one enjoy working from home?? Any suggestions?

I already tried to work in my pajamas and that was the worst day of my life and i had to quickly change into my office attire to feel comfy again

 

[bobthefighter]

I have worked from home for the last four years (yay working for an American company).

I wouldn't trade it for going back to office grind again. I get to sit with my dog, see my wife and have visits with my toddler when it is slow or I want to stretch my legs, I take the toddler and dog for a quick walk around the block.

I will suggest eating less for sure since I don't seem to get as much exercise as when I was in an office and had clients to show around.

I don't know man, working in shorts Monday - Friday every day, not driving an hour to work in the snow and having to wear pants, socks and shoes. It is a nice thing.

Some people aren't cut out for it though, I know a buddy who was happy he got to go back to hybrid a year or so ago since he was going stir crazy.

I like the ability to work on the deck in the summer and walk around with my laptop if I get bored.

 

[d01tg0d0wn]

U make good points. Might like it more once the snow melts and i can work outside on the deck. The Beagle will be more tolerable out there thas for sure.

 

[d01tg0d0wn]

U make good points. Might like it more once the snow melts and i can work outside on the deck. The Beagle will be more tolerable out there thas for sure.

 

[border_humper]

You need a dedicated office space with a fan and some plants. It’s so great to not have to do the commute every day. Give it a chance. Do you feel powerless because no one at home gives you senior leadership deference?

 

[BeerAndOil]

The new bath tub is in, the shower valve is installed, the vanity plumbing has been changed from one sink to two sinks.

Next up is finishing the shower plumbing for the new head and the hand sprayer, then close up the walls and start laying tiles.

 

[TOPDAWG]

I had my basement wall fixed finally. With mold three grand for that wall repair was 1000 so around 4500.

 

[TOPDAWG]

Guy who did it did a good job as I am too lazy to fuck with that shit.