Thursday, July 31, 2014

Kitchen Remodel--Day 3

We have floor!!!!!!


Kitchen Remodel--Day 2

Day 2 didn't yield the dramatic pictures that the first day did, but some very important things did happen.


For example, the hole in the ceiling was repaired.  In fact, all the holes (pictures and such) were repaired.


The little counter between the kitchen and dining room was removed.  It will be replaced with granite when the counters are done.

After several trips to Lowes and a few phone calls EVERYTHING else for this job was delivered yesterday.

That included appliances:
 
Fridge (there will be handles ;) )


Fridge open

                                 

Oven/microwave


My dishwasher and cooktop were also delivered, but they are in boxes...not so interesting to look at.  

Other things delivered were tiles.  Back splash and floor.


These are some of the decorative tiles that will go above my cooktop.  The bulk of the back splash will be bisque colored subway tile.



This is my floor tile.  Isn't it pretty?


Won't this be stunning when the whole floor is done?  That is today's project.

Now you may be wondering how we are eating with my kitchen in shambles. We went out on Tuesday, but last night I grilled.  An entire meal! Chicken, potatoes and green beans.  It was really good.  I'll grill again this evening. The novelty of preparing meals at my little deck table will quickly grow thin, but for now I'm managing.

More tonight!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Kitchen Remodel---Install Begins

Dumpster +


Permit =
+

No Kitchen



Old fridge got moved to garage.



Coffee maker got moved to the hall bath.


This is my life for the next little while, but things should move quickly.  Keep checking the blog, there will be nightly updates.

kitchen, Kitchen, KITCHEN!!!

Date Night--Monday July 28--Last one in Old Kitchen

So I wanted to send the kitchen out with a big bang.  Baked cookies for the fabulous folks and lows and the crew actually doing the work. And then I wanted to do a final, great date night.

Now if you've been following my Date Night blogs for any time, you know that rule #1 is that we eat at the table.  Check out my table:



What was I to do?

A little creative thinking led me to this:


I served dinner in the "lounge" (that's what we call the study when we aren't using it for study).

And what did I serve?

Josh made Manhattans and I made a barbecue chicken slider to share for an appetizer.


For our meal, I made the "best flank steak" Josh has ever eaten.  I also made salt and vinegar roasted potatoes.  For the green portion of the meal, I roasted green beans with red bell pepper and onion on the grill.


Recipe from LaaLoosh

Ingredients

  • 1 pound baby or fingerling potatoes, sliced lengthwise
  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • Sea salt & Pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven or toaster oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a small pot, combine the potato slices and vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until fork-tender, about 8 minutes. Let cool in liquid for 30 minutes. Then drain well.
  3. Dump the potato slices onto a sheet pan, spritz lightly with an olive oil mister, then sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
  4. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer. Roast until lightly browned, about 25-30 minutes. Then flip the slices and broil until the underside is lightly browned, about 5 minutes more. Serve warm.
Josh found the potatoes a little too vinegar-y, but loved the consistency.  Next time (and there will be a next time), I'll cut the vinegar with water...probably 50-50/


Everything was really, really good.

For dessert, I grilled a peach, drizzled it with honey and served on a sugar cookie. I neglected to tale a pic of it.   That's okay though.  It was only so-so.

This is the last true cooking post for a little while, but just because I can't cook, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

happy cooking










Saturday, July 26, 2014

Kitchen Remodel--Your Time is Imminent

The countdown is on.  Sunday, Monday, AAAAHHHH it's time.

My stress level is rising.

I have so much to do before they can even begin.

Cabinets to clean out.  And things to clean.  Oh the things to clean.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that will go into the new kitchen must be clean before it leaves the old.

So I've been busy.  And it has been fun.  Lots of fun.  That is, until I think about what I have left to do.

Rather than moan about the impending work, I'll show you what I've done.

First, do you have any idea how much stuff is lurking in your cabinets?  I don't mean dishes and glasses, I mean all the other stuff. Well, I have a lot and now it's all on my guest room bed.



I really hope I'm not the only one with all this kitchenalia.

So now to some before and afters.  The "before" pics were the ones I took to show the kitchen designers I was meeting with.  The "afters" I took this afternoon.






I have to say, it's a little bit sad.  Not a big bit, just a teeny-tiny bit.  I told Josh, if the kitchen is the heart of the home, mine is in cardiac arrest.  It's okay, though.  I know that a healthy transplant is on the way.  The surgery will be lengthy...more hurry up and wait kind of stuff.  But I'll get to know my new kitchen in the meanwhile.

that's all from me.

happy cooking




Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Kitchen remodel: We Have a Start Date!!

Tuesday, July 29!!!!!!

A little later than what I was hoping for, but very much in line with my original thinking.  The early arrival of the cabinets threw everybody off, I guess.