Large Family Dinner DIY

This might sound a little strange But I do know how to cook. It may sound strange because I look more like a brainless brute than someone with talent in just about everything I try. Cooking is something people learn for many reasons my reasons were I didn't like the way most other peoples food tasted so I started to cook for myself and it turned out I was great at it. So here is my recipe for a "beef roast".

This is not just for special occasions this is also for when u want to cook healthy and don't want to spend more than 20 dollars for the meal. Prices are based on local prices I usually pay.

First you need to buy ingredients.
A beef roast: Usually top round or bottom round, remember more expensive is not always the best way to go. Just choose whats on sale and try and get between 4-5 lbs. of beef. I usually tenderize the beef to help it soften up when fully cooked, This is usually where most of the money goes for the dinner. I usually spend about $10 dollars for the beef.
Carrots: You can use normal carrots which u have to cut the ends off, sliced up, some people may want to peel them (I like them which the skin since its healthier), or u can buy a bag of baby carrots which don't need to be sliced up and don't really need to be peeled. Cost $3 usually
Potatoes: I usually buy potatoes in 10 lbs. bags but all that is needed is between 3-4 lbs., they should be heavily washed to remove all dirty, they can either be peeled and cut into smaller pieces or just cut into smaller pieces leaving the potatoes skin on which gives you more vitamins. Costs $3-4 usually
Mushrooms: Mushrooms aren't really necessary but I like the way they taste and the look they add to the meal. If you buy small mushrooms u can usually add them directly to the other ingredients or if you prefer you can cut them up into smaller pieces. Cost $2 usually
Garlic: Garlic is something that can greatly enhance the flavors of the food you are making for your family. Not much is needed just a single clove is enough. After they are peeled just toss them into a blender or food processor to get them chopped up or make it into a paste if you want. Cost $1 usually
Onions (optional): I am putting this as optional because a lot of people don't like onions, I personally do so I usually add them and they don't cost a lot so they are a good and inexpensive ingredient that can add some extra flavor to the meal. I usually chop the onion up into course bits not to small. Cost $1

Next You will need a large deep pot that is oven safe it should be big enough to fit all your ingredients, if you don't have one you can always use a smaller pot and create a smaller meal.
fist put the beef inside the pot them take salt and pepper and add them to the top and bottom of the beef roast making sure to rub them in but make sure not to use to much on the beefs top half. This will keep them on the beef while they cook. Now comes the potatoes add them all around the pot and around the beef. After that you add the carrots but make sure the carrots are not in contact with the metal pot as they can become stuck after cooking and may burn slightly. Next comes the mushrooms but as with the carrots make sure not to allow them to be in contact with the metal of the pot. The onions can be added at this point if you wanted them. The garlic is last u need to either spread the chopped garlic pieces over the entire dish or spread the garlic paste on everything you can with either a spoon or barbecue brush adding it mostly to the potatoes and the roast. Add some water about 1/5 - 1/4 the depth of the pot. Then take your salt and pepper and season the entire meal making sure not to go over board. Cover the pot with aluminum foil or the pots cover.

Next turn on the oven to 350 degrees and wait for it to finish heating up. Add the pot to the oven and wait about 20 minutes and then check and continue checking every 5 minutes till you see all the water has boiled away. This is the sign that the food is usually done but check the roast first by cutting it open to see if its still pink inside, if the roast isn't fully cooked yet add some more water and continue checking it ever 3 minutes or so till the water is boiled away again. The meal should be finished by this point. Gas and electric stoves and ovens cook differently so the actual time for the meal to cook will vary but It usually takes about 45- 60 minutes.

Well that's it, if you have finished everything you should be having a great tasting meal with your family. I hope you enjoy this recipe and the fact its not going to kill your wallet to make.

Take Care

Miniatures Hobby

3 years ago I got involved in a hobby and have been stuck on it since. Yes i have many hobbies already but this hobby let me express my more creative side by allowing me to learn how to paint as well as use my skills for building. That hobby is a miniature war game called "Warhammer 40k". The game and the models for it are found at http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/home.jsp . I like science fiction so it was very appealing to me as well as allowing me to use another one of my talents and skills "strategy". This hobby has also allowed me to learn how to build realistic terrain (landscapes) for my miniatures to be set up on and played. Warhammer 40k is a turn based table top game which you use your army of miniature to fight another army of miniatures usually played by a friend. The games rules are all written down in the main rule book with about a dozen army specific rule books which allow you to organize your army in thousands of different configurations.

When I first started playing i didn't have any clue how to really play since I didn't buy the main rule book and misunderstood parts of the army rule book I did have. Even so I was still able to win my very first battle with the help of the staff at the games workshop store I visited and that really got me into it. I was later on able to buy a small version of their main rule book which I still have. One of the things that I was asked to do before I got to play my first game was to build and paint my army of model miniatures and that's what I did.

My Army took me nearly 2 months to fully paint a month later was my first match and 2 months after that I learned that my army was illegal in game terms. Not because of my trying to do anything wrong but because of my misunderstanding the army rule book and not selecting the troops I needed to to make the core of my army like its said in the main rule book. I went through the book and found a way to get my army to work using special rules specific for my army and in the end found my nick in the game. My army is Imperial Guard with Grenadiers special rule allowing me to take what would normally be elite troops as normal troops making my army a elite force. I later added Grey knights of the order of the Inquisition which gave my army a hand to hand element I sorely lacked and since then my army hasn't had to many changes. My army has fought against some of the top players in Virginia.

My recommendations for someone that is creative and works well with their hands is to try this game it is a bit expensive but having something u can look at and be proud of is always something that will have a positive effect on you and your self esteem.

I later plan on posting about projects that include "how to build terrain", "How to pain terrain", "How to build and paint your miniatures", along with some tips that may help people getting into the game to make strong armies and to create army lists for games.

Building your own table

This post will be for directions on how to build a table at a very low cost with basic tools. Most large tables for kitchens or dining rooms can cost anywhere from $300- $1,000 which in most cases seems extreme especially for those with very tight budgets. The directions are for a table that cost me $63.97 in materials to make and gave me a large 6' x 4'. Actual costs may vary depending to the prices at the local building supply locations.


Step 1: Designing

Designing the table is for most people the hardest part considering that a bad design can not only look bad but be structurally weak and end up breaking after a significant amount of weight is put on it. Your best and simplest design is a table with 4 legs, 1 at each corner. Don't ask me why but the first suggestions given to me for my table design when I was drawing it up was a center stand with 5 braces at the base. Though this may look nice on paper and in your head it will seldom work out like u want.

Next was the frame for the table top as well as bracing for the legs. Frames are simple to make and offer a lot of strength to the table. Depending on your tastes you can have the frame follow the very edge of the plywood tabletop of you can create a "lip" by making the frame smaller than the tabletop. Personally i go with the "lip" since it will keep the table legs farther underneath the table so u don't end up kicking them on a regular basis when walking around the table. In my case I went with the frame following the edge of the table top.

This last part of the design is the most important since it means your table will last and it all comes down to braces. Braces are used to support weak spots in the tables design, frame corners, legs. A diagonal brace at each of the frame corners will greatly increase the frames strength and durability and reduce the chance of the table warping because of humidity. A diagonal brace on the inside of the legs will increase stability and reduce the chance of a table leg breaking.


Step 2: Materials

7 - 8' long 2"x4"

1 - 8' x 4' piece of smooth surface 3/4" plywood

1 - Container of wood filler (I went with Elmers since its easy to use and works well)

1 - Box of 1 3/4" coarse thread drywall screws

2 - Fine grain pieces of sand paper (preferably 180 grit or higher)

Optional:

1 - Small container of wood stain (helps give the finished product a lot more visual appeal)



Step 3: Preparation

Preperations before you actually start your project can help make it go smoother and in the end come out better. First you should make sure you have a large enough area to work in with good ventilation and plenty of light. Second you need to make sure u have all the tools you will need.
Tools: electric drill, measuring tape, pencil, Saw (either electric or hand saw), a level (to make sure your table is flat and balanced), gloves, Eye protection, Square (to make sure everything is well square).

After you have your tools make sure and decide which pieces of wood will be used for the legs and which will be used for the frame. Also make sure that when you make lines on the wood after you measure and cut to erase any lines that are left.

For those that intent to use wood stains after the table is comeplete make sure to wear a mask and to keep the area ventilated at all times including up to 48 hours after the stain has been applied as well as make sure not to allow any open flames or sparks around the area since stains are flamable.

Step 4: Construction

Lets start with the legs. take 3 of the 2" x 4" - 8' long pieces of wood and cut out 8 - 28" long pieces, there will be extra pieces of wood from the making of the legs, these will be used for making the corner braces for the table frame. Take 2 of the 8 - 28" long pieces and place then together so that they are flat against each other making sure that the top and bottom are flat. take 3 of the drywall screws and drill them at 12" intervels into the wood joining the 2 pieces together (make sure to drive the screws into the wood so that the head ends about a quarter to half a inch inside the wood this will help when filling the holes later on), then turn the piece over and drill 2 more drywall screws on the other side making sure to drill them in at 6" from the center in each direction. (see diagram at top for a better idea if you are confused). Once the first leg is complete repeat the steps for the next 3 legs.

The table frame is next. First take 2 - 8' long 2" x 4" and cut 2 - 45" pieces. These will be the short end table frame pieces. Next take the last 2 - 8' long 2" x 4" and cut out 2 - 6' long pieces these will be the Long table edge frame pieces. Next take the 2 - 6' long pieces and the 2 - 45" pieces and put them into a box shape on the floor or in the work area you are working in wine up the pieces so that the long pieces overlap the short pieces ends and line it up so that the corner is a perfect right angle with the Square. While bracing the wood drill in 2 drywall screws into the end of the 6' long piece so that they join the 45" piece together being carefull not to crack the wood. Repeat this on the other end of the 6' piece with the second 45" piece again making sure that the corner is Square. then attach the other 6' long piece to the oposite end of the 2 - 45" piecesjust like the first. If everything is done correctly u should have a perfectly square box frame.

Bracing the frame comes next. take the scraps of wood left over from earlier and cut 4 - 13" long pieces. then take the 4 pieces and cut 45 degree angles at each of the corners of the 4 - 13" pieces making sure that u don't shorten the wood, at least not more than half an inch if it can be helped. Next take these 4 pieces and put one on each of the inside corners of the box frame you completed earlier. Screw the braces in with 2 drywall screws at each brace end, but be sure to drill the screws in at 45 drgree angles to make sure that the screws point doesn't poke out the other side of the frames wood. once u complete this at all 4 corners the frame will be done.

Next while the frame is on the ground take the legs made earlier and put them inside the corners of the frame while making sure to put them snug. Next take 4 drywall screws and drill in 2 screws from each side of the frame into the leg making sure that the leg stays completely snug against the frame. Repeat this for all the legs. When all the legs are installed and are firmly in place have someone help you to turn the table right side up. If the previous instructions were followed and common sense used you should have a nearly complete table with a surface that is completely flat and ready for the table top. Take the 8' x 4' piece of plywood and cut a 6' long piece out making sure to go slow as to not damage the edge. once this is comeplete take the 6' long piece of plywood and lay it on the table frame. Once the table top and the frame have been aligned properly drill drywall screws at each corner 3 inches from the corner along the edge joining the frame and the table top, make sure to continue to check on the alignment just in case it shifts. When the corners are all screwed down go along the egde with additional screws placing theem at intervals of 10" - 13" using your judgement as to how long the intervals should be. As in all cases go slow as to not crack or split the wood. When this is done the basic table is complete.

Step 5: Details

To help make the table look good it is best to cover the places with drywall screws with woodfiller to cover up the screw heads and give a smooth surface. first apply the wood filler making sure to work it into the holes where the screws are in and to leave a bit of extra on the top . When the wood filler is completely dry take the sandpaper and sand down the areas that have woodfiller maing them smooth and level with the rest of the area. After everything is sanded make sure to wipe down the entire table to make sure all the dirt, dust, and wooddust is gone. Next after putting on the mask take the container of wood stain and shake it for several minutes. When finished shaking open and take a object usually a thin piece of wood and stir the stain for several more minutes. When this is done take a old piece of cloth or rag (must be clean) and dip it into the stain then apply the stain to the table starting with the hardest to reach areas first and working your way out to the tables edges. Use a circular pattern when applying the stain as it will help the wood absorb the stain. If the table needs a second staining wait 24 hours before you stain it again. When the table is completely stained let it dry for 48 hours in a well ventilated area.

Well done you now have yourself a new table

Introduction

Hello, this will be my very first blog. I intend to bring low cost and simple "Do it yourself" projects into light for some people that have trouble with them. I will also include ways to make something that is broken down or completely worthless and change it into something useful. If anyone ever needs some specific "Do it yourself " advice just email me or send in a comment or request and I will do my best to bring it into the light.