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It is back. The heat, the humidity, the poor air quality, the discomfort, it is all back. Summer is not my favorite season. In cooler weather, one can always cover oneself with protective clothing and venture out of doors. In hot humid weather, I would be uncomfortable in even the briefest of outfits. I find it hard to believe that some people enjoy this weather. I certainly do not. This past week Terra dropped by with her boyfriend Lares. They helped me in the garden for a bit, did a few loads of laundry, and afterwards we cooked a few hot dogs on the BBQ and talked about all sorts. It was lovely to observe what Terra makes of herself these days. Lares most obviously cares for her and respects her, which leads me to feel the same way about him. Since the air conditioning is running today, I decided to catch up on my baking. I have baked and frozen two Date Nut Loaves and two Fresh Orange Loaves. A loaf of whole-wheat seed bread is currently baking in the machine. I am also preparing elbow macaroni for a cold salad and granola in the crockpot. When I cook and bake during the hot weather I open the vent to the attic to give the heat an escape path, reducing the need for cooling the air in the house. A strategy that seems to work very well. I remember the old farmhouses in the farming community where I grew up; summer kitchens were common. "The summer kitchen, connected to the main house by a covered breezeway, was used throughout the year for baking and cooking. Seasonal chores like butchering and food preserving were done here." Source: Montgomery County, Peter Wentz Farmstead Note: This is the only good graphic example and definition I could find on the Net, and although it is from the USA, it looks exactly like those in Ontario museums. It seems to me that with the amount of luxury we build into the modern home; it would not be much of a stretch to extend kitchens by adding an enclosed porch for use in the summer. This could include a counter and appliances such as a hot plate for jam making, a convection oven for baking, and a crockpot. All could be easily moved indoors during the winter months. One of ways I try to use the concept is to setup the crockpot on the back deck, releasing the heat to the great outdoors. This has significant drawbacks; as the local wildlife find the project of great interest and are not above investigating the possibilities. Vigilance is required, making the whole project rather time consuming and intrusive. The back porch summer kitchen is one of my "when-I-win-the-lottery" projects. No fur coats and flash cars for me. If I had money, you would find me making berry jam under the trees, visiting museums, and spending much more time with Attila. I am an example of ambition gone wrong. |
RECIPES :: Cast Worldly Distractions  Historical North American Summer Kitchen By the Easy Chair The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Weather 9:58 EDT Temp: 24`C Humidity: 94% Wind: W 7 km/h Barometric:101.1 kPa Sunrise 6:12 AM EDT Sunset 8:50 PM EDT |
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