Petunia Bloom

My Espresso Machine - The Via Venezia August 6, 2008

After going through our finances two too many times and finding our “Snack” category in excess of $200/month on Quicken, I set out to do something about it.  Any type of coffee drink, soda type drink, or food snacks are categorized as “Snacks” in our budget.  The majority of our “snacks” were non-fat mochas and Frappuccinos at Starbucks.  I am not proud of this at all!!  Anyway, I talked to my husband about it and he agreed that this was not an acceptable way to spend our money so we needed to make some adjustments.  I said I could do without Starbucks, but the hubby said he didn’t want to give it up completely.  SO ~ I started researching espresso machines.  After my research we decided to buy at Starbucks Sirena Espresso Machine.

As you can see this is a very nice looking machine.  That is probably due to the fact that it was designed by BMW.  A whole website is devoted to the consumer use of the machine.  After getting the machine home, taking it out of the package, and setting it up, I realized that the dang thing didn’t work.  So, I had to take it back to Starbucks.  By this time, I didn’t know if I even wanted another espresso machine.  But then I thought about my husband and decided I better go ahead and get another one.  So, I traded the Sirena for a Via Venezia (below) both made by Saeco.  After using my new Via Venezia with ease for the past couple of months, I can honestly say that it has already paid for itself.  Our “Snack” category is almost a ghost category now and the lattes we are making at home are better than those from Starbucks.  AND best of all, we don’t have to drive anywhere to get one.

Here is how I make a shot of espresso:

1. Plug in machine and make sure the water tank is full
2. Turn the espresso machine on and wait until the shot button is illuminated
3. When the button is illuminated, press the shot button and let a small amount of hot water flow out to prime the portafilter.  Press the shot button again to stop the flow of water.
4. Remove the portafilter.  Insert 7 grams of finely ground coffee for each shot of espresso you would like to make.  So, for two shots use 14 grams of finely ground coffee.  Coffee pods can be used instead of ground coffee.
5. Tap the espresso to compact it in the portafilter and place portafilter back on the machine.
6. Press the shot button until the shot glasses are 3/4 full and press the shot button again.
7. Voila - fresh espresso made at home

To Make a Latte simply follow the instructions above, steam your milk with the steam wand, and add the syrups you like to sweeten.  We like to dink plain lattes with no sweetener.

Cleaning the Via Venezia is a snap once you have done it 5-10 times! 

**I wrote this blog before we had some friends over for supper the other night.  My husband decided to make some espresso and asked our guests if they would like to taste it.  They said sure.  Everything that could possible go wrong went wrong for us as we tried to make espresso that night.  Our friends probably think we are crazy espresso makers!  hahaha….By the time we were down the trash was FULL of paper towels used to wipe of coffee and milk, there was mocha powder all over the floor and counter top, we had dirtied 4+ glasses, and I had espresso spilled on my shirt….on my chest if you know what I mean.  Still, don’t be alarmed.  If you drink a lot of espresso drinks and find yourself driving to Starbucks 3-4 times per week defintely consider buying an espresso machine for your home.

Firehouse Subs - New in Tulsa August 5, 2008

I don’t typically write reviews on large franchise eateries, BUT I have to share Firehouse Subs with you. It is my second favorite place to eat in Tulsa. The Tulsa location is at 66^th and Memorial Drive in the same building as the new Gold’s Gym. I have heard that the franchise owner of this location plans on opening 3-4 more stores in the Tulsa area. Some friends of ours wanted to take us to Firehouse during their grand opening. Before that, I had never eaten at or even heard of Firehouse Subs.

First off, the sandwiches are amazing. The Engine Company Sub is my favorite. On the rare occasions that I am watching my calories, I order it without mayo or cheese. Usually, I just order it without mayo, but it is great with the mayo as well. Firehousesubs.com is easy to navigate and find nutritional information if you are curious. My husband always orders the steak sub.

We have been in the store 6-7 times and the place is always very clean. I have been in the bathroom several times and it has always been very clean and well stocked. When we have been there, the employees looked clean and well groomed. Also, the employees are always super friendly and efficient.

If you are a condiment fanatic then listen up. Firehouse Subs has a ton of different hot sauces to put on your sandwich. There are probably 20 different sauces to try. They have everything from super super hot to their own signature sauce which is not hot just tangy.

The next time you are headed to your dirty, unfriendly, neighborhood Subway, turn your vehicle around and head to 71^st and Memorial for a truly tasty sub in a clean and friendly environment.

MapMyRide.com July 22, 2008

This past week, my mom came to visit and we rode our bikes a lot.  One day we rode all the way to the Jenks pedestrian bridge.  Another day we rode all the way past Broken Arrow on the Creek.  Anway, we wanted to know exactly how far we had ridden.  I found this site called MapMyRide.com that allows one to map the exact distance of a bike ride.  If you ride bikes, check out this site.  It is very helpful in earning bragging rights….  :)  A word of advice:  if you plan to take a 20+ mile ride, do not ride in the middle of the afternoon.  That is what my mom and I did and I got Heat Exhaustions which is not fun at all.

Here is the Jenks Pedestrian Bridge that we rode across.

This sign has some graffiti on it now.

This part of the trail is nice as it is shaded!!

Oh….memories

Spelt Bread July 21, 2008

If you will remember I made spelt bread not very long ago.  Well I found out that Great Harvest sells spelt bread so I went in with my mom this week to try it.  The verdict:  mine is way better.  Mine is probably not as good for you as I use sugar and they don’t, but mine is way better.

More Pictures from the Farm July 20, 2008

I finally got my camera back.  Here are some of the pictures I took while on the farm.

Here is Brian, Ryan, me, and my Mimi and Pappy.

You can’t beat this.  This is what I grew up on.  I made hamburgers this week for my mom and it tasted so bad to her that she threw it in the garbage disposal when she thought I wasn’t looking…  My parents cook their meat on a Traeger grill.  They are amazing.  Add some home grown beef to it and you are sure to want more.

Ryan and Brian helping to band some bulls.

Okay - That is gross.  I think I am going to call your bluff.

Up close and personal now….

Brian is having second thoughts about trying them.  Is he all talk?

And he decided to just try one or two…

Sophie is very concerned….okay, no she just wants to play ball…

Espresso Glasses July 10, 2008

Yesterday I was still bummed about breaking my espresso shot glasses.  Ryan wanted me to run to Starbucks and get him a little afternoon treat.  I went to the location on Memorial and 71st.  When I went through the drive-through I ordered and then asked if they sold espresso shot glasses.  The employee said they would check.  When I pulled up to the window, a man peeked his head out holding an espresso shot glass that they use in the store and claimed they didn’t sell any retail but they would sell me some the use in their store.  I asked how much, and he said $1 per glass.  OMG–First of all, that was the type of glass I wanted in the first place; Second of all, if you are to buy espresso shot glasses anywhere else for retail you are likely to pay around $10.  I was so excited!!  That is what I should have done in the first place- try to buy them from Starbucks.  FYI if you make espresso at home!

Spelt Flour July 5, 2008

Today I got hungry for some fresh bread - more specifically Great Harvest bread.  If you have not been to Great Harvest Bread Company in Tulsa and you like fresh bread, you are missing out.  They mill their flour every morning and use all whole wheat flour.  Anyway, I had a buy one get one free coupon and was so excited to get some fresh bread.  Before I went I made sure that they would be open since it is a holiday weekend.  The website said the store would be open on Saturday.  Well, when I got there they were closed.  I was so bummed, so I went home and decided to make my own homemade bread.  My mom gave me some organic whole spelt flour a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to make organic whole spelt bread.  I didn’t have a recipe for spelt bread so I used my recipe for white bread.  So, it was all kind of an experiment.  After making the dough, I decided to taste it  .  Yes, I always taste my bread dough which is probably weird and not healthy but what the heck.  Anyway, it was soooo good.  It had a great flavor and a very similar texture to my regular white bread.  It baked very nice and it tasted wonderful.  I made two loaves and one pan of cinnamon rolls.

Spelt flour is supposed to be better for you.  It is typically organic because it has a short growing cycle and doesn’t usually need to be sprayed for bugs or weeds.  It is supposed to contain more vitamins, fiber, and protein than regular white flour and also whole-wheat flour.  I used whole spelt flour, but my mom said she usually uses white spelt flour.  Yesterday she made bread out of white spelt flour and my brother thought it was Sara Lee.  lol

I would have taken pictures, but my poor camera is in Kansas.  Last summer I left my camera in San Antonio -Ryan was NOT happy (It was actually his expensive camera he had before we were married).  This summer I left our new expensive camera at my mom’s house -Ryan was not happy.  Luckily, we will get it back this summer.  Then when I was making the bread today I tried to move our espresso machine with the shot glasses on it to another counter….not good.  One of the espresso shot glasses fell and broke into a million pieces.  Sophie was on the situation ASAP unfortunately.  No she didn’t eat any, but she did want to help pick up.  After I swept the floor twice she went right over to two pieces I missed and looked at me, so I swept again and once again -Ryan was not happy.  Feeling like a failure of a wife, I finished with the bread.  When I pulled the beautiful loaves of organic spelt flour bread out of the oven and my kitchen was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread -Ryan was very happy.

July 1st July 1, 2008

Today I had a semi-creative moment. My mom is coming to stay with me for a week, so I am getting busy and getting my office ready for her to stay in. My office has this huge window in it and it faces East (sunrise). Last time my mom stayed the sun was really bright and woke her up way to early. Wanting my mom to sleep later on this visit, so I can sleep later , I wanted to figure out a way to cover up the window without spending any money. This is what I came up with. It is a blanket that my mom gave me. How ironic is that? Anyway it is thin enough to fit over the top of blinds and thick enough to shut out the sun. I am hoping this will keep the room cooler as well.

This morning Ryan woke me up and told me I needed to call the Chiropractor because his hands were numb. I laid in bed trying to absorb that information (which I couldn’t) and decided to go back to sleep. Ryan decided to call the Chiropractor himself on his way to work since I didn’t feel the same urgency as he felt! Well, the Chiropractor told him to come right on in. They popped his wrists and all was better. Now how weird is that, to go to the Chiropractor so he can pop your wrists. hahahaha….that is my hubby. Apparently he uses his wrists and hands a lot at work…

Selling Stuff on Amazon.com June 29, 2008

Last week some friends had a garage sale. I told my husband, Ryan, that I too wanted to sell some stuff. He said I could sell several of his books. After listing his books, I started going through my books and added the ones that worth something that I didn’t want anymore. Then- I couldn’t stop! I started listing gifts that I hadn’t used, bowls that I rarely use, and other random things. Well, the sales started coming in. So far, I have sold a bunch of books and a salad spinner (for $20 — I couldn’t believe I got that much). Right now, Amazon owes us $256. If you have unused stuff laying around, get yourself an account on amazon.com and start selling. It is so fun!!

Here is a link where Amazon.com explains the whole selling process including shipping.

Amazon will credit your seller account for the amount they estimate the shipping to be. For shipping books, they credit your account for $3.99. Most of the books that I have sold I have shipped media mail and usually it is under 3.99. The stinky part is packaging the book. Amazon.com requires that you mail your packages in a padded envelope. These are $1-$2 depending on the size you get.  I have found that they are the cheapest at Walmart.  If you find them cheaper somewhere else, let me know!

For other items, I make sure that they are selling for enough that I don’t have to worry about losing money on shipping.

Going Organic June 28, 2008

So, if you all would like to know why I have this recent interest in going organic here it is:

I must warn you — it is very hard to watch.

I don’t even know how I found this video. One night I was just surfing around on different blogs and found this. After watching it, I told Ryan he needed to watch it. He dragged his feet (very busy- as always ), but I got him to watch it. He was repulsed as well. After watching the video clip, I began thinking about the foods that Ryan and I eat the most of. Chicken was among our top five food choices. Even though this video was made about Kentucky Fried Chicken farms, all other large chicken farms are most likely very similar.