Mette Marie Christensen

I don't own a dishwasher, so hand washing dishes is the norm here. But using less than 3 gallons of water was a challenge!

I used "readily biodegradable" unscented Dr. Bronner's "Magic" liquid soap (https://www.drbronner.com/collections/all/products/baby-unscented-pure-castile-liquid-soap), soapy water filled near full a 3 quart pan refilled once (just under 6 quarts total) for wash, and a clean cookpot filled to 6 quarts with piping hot water for rinse. Everything was dried in the drying rack and on the stove burners.

Screen repair. In addition to a small hole that could be patched, there was a tear along the edge of the screen, so I decided to replace the entire screen. I used fiberglass screen.

I didn't have a spline tool or an exacto knife , so I used the blunt end of a camp fork to press the screen into the groove, the blunt end of a spoon to press in the spline (which I salvaged rather than replacing), and scissors to trim the excess. I also used a sewing needle to pull out the spline.

Photos:

1. Before, installed in door, with tear along edge.

2. Materials and tools (did not end up using measuring tape).

3. Pressing the screen into the window groove with the dull end of a camp fork.

4. Pressing the spline in with the blunt end of a wooden spoon.

5. Screen ready to install.

6. Screen installed.

Second attempt at stovetop BB: cooking quinoa on gas stovetop.

First photo: bottom of pot--3 quarts.

Second photo: dry quinoa in my "measuring cup". There isn't a tool with volume markers where I am, so I also used this to measure appropriate water in relation to dry quinoa using simple ratios.

Third photo: quinoa cooking on gas stove.

Fourth photo: cooked quinoa taking just under 1/3rd of 3 quart pan, so ~3+ cups of cooked quinoa.

Photo #1 Kitchen and Hall before.

Photos #2-#3 Action shots.

Photo #4 After. (Note: Things that look like bits on the floor are stains or other imperfections that are either permanent or require elbow grease to remove).

1 pint (2 cup) corningware saucepan used to cook 2 cups of buckwheat and a smattering of other grains ("Ancient Grains").

Photos of bottom of 1 pint (2 cup) cookpot, grains used, cereals cooking, and final 2 cups of product.

I have been using cast iron to cook for years, but never figured out why sometimes my eggs came out fabulous and why sometimes I had a mess stuck to the pan.

This exercise was helpful in learning more about using my cast iron cookware.

Egg sliding around while cooking:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Oq_BqPYOlfY