Author: royalwestudios

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Simple Guide To Beer Glasses

royalwestudios

You probably didn’t know it, but your IPA has been missing something – Proper Glassware! But don’t worry, Our Simple Guide To Beer Glasses will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the right glass for your favorite adult beverage. Whether you choose a juicy and hazy NEIPA, or a nutty stout with strong coffee notes, we have a recommendation that will thrill your taste buds. In addition, we also take into account the cool factor to give you well-rounded choices!

Why Upgrade Your Glasses?

Before I get into the specifics of the glasses that I love and why, I wanted to cover some of the benefits of upgrading your glassware. Firstly, it DEFINITELY makes a difference in flavor and overall taste. I didn’t really think it could make a difference, but after many trials and efforts to find the right glasses, I can tell you that a standard pint glass simply doesn’t cut it. Pint glasses are great for a Miller Lite, but you’re going to want to step your game up for a Julius!

Secondly, upgraded glassware shows that you take your craft beer seriously. I’m not too hung up on trying to look cool, but a nice piece of glassware can start a conversation. In addition, it may provide you an opportunity to nerd-out over flavor profiles and proper pours with a like-minded individual that notices a familiar piece of glassware. There is no doubt that what you choose to drink out of shows a bit of your personality.

Fermented Reality Outdoor B Cups

We will start our Simple Guide To Beer Glasses off with a top pick for the outdoor scene – The Outdoor B Cup from Fermented Reality. You will want to rock this sustainable plastic cup at craft brew festivals, bonfires, and camping trips (Yeah, I know – it’s a guide to beer glasses, you knucklehead). Best of all, these cups are safe for use around the pool, where glass is generally a no-go! These sturdy plastic cups are available in many different configurations depending the the beer you are drinking. I generally drink IPA’s, so I definitely prefer the IPA cup. It is designed to agitate the beer and activate the CO2 with every sip. In addition, the cup has a nice taper at the top that concentrates aromas and delivers a piney, citrusy blast to your nose every time you tip your cup.

What This Glass Says About You

An Outdoor B Cup in your hand clearly sends off a few different vibes. First, it tells everyone that you take your craft beer seriously. While you can still love beer that was poured into a red solo cup, you are showing respect to the craftsmanship that goes into a well-balanced craft brew. In addition, this glass shows that you care about the environment. Sustainable glassware (or in this case, plastic-ware) is designed to last for generations. These cups are super sturdy, and best of all – Dishwasher Safe!

Spiegelau Craft Beer Glasses

The second glass in our Simple Guide To Beer Glasses is the Spiegelau line of glasses. This glass is a bit of a sentimental favorite because it was my first foray into craft beer specific vessels. These glasses are kind of the de-facto beer glass for your true craft beer fan. They are very well crafted, and have all of the features you need to enjoy just about any type of beer. The folks at Spiegelau have spent countless hours working with flavor scientists to develop the proper shapes and designs for all of their products.

They offer a fantastic combo glass pack that covers just about any variety of beer you can think of. In addition, they are dishwasher safe!! This five-glass set includes IPA, Pilsner, Wheat, Stout and Barrel-Aged beer glasses. Each of the glasses has their own design to maximize the flavor and taste of the respective brew. Regardless of what type of beer you are in the mood for, you will have the right glass to maximize your satisfaction!

What This Glass Says About You

Spiegelau glasses are the workhorses of the industry. Drinking from one says that you are all about value and want to have a very high quality product, without a lot of hype. There is nothing pretentious about these glasses and they show that you like to explore different beer styles. And who doesn’t want to be known for having adventurous taste buds?

Dragon Upside Down Beer Glass

Our next offering in our Simple Guide To Beer Glasses is the Dragon Upside Down Beer Glass. Now, I will admit that I didn’t pick this glass – it kind of picked me. I received this glass as a gift from a friend. He happens to be very particular about having his beer ice cold. He also happens to have super-sweaty hands. Hopefully you have figured out by now why this is a most unfortunate combination! He swears by this glass and raves about how it keeps his beer colder, for longer, than any other glasses he owns.

Well, naturally, he decided that I should also enjoy super-cold beers for longer, so he gifted me one. That’s why I keep this glass in my rotation. While it doesn’t get crazy hot here in the summer, the mercury does climb high enough to warm up a beer pretty quickly. In addition to keeping beers colder for longer, the unique design of this glass will get you noticed. It is a very artistic and functional glass. However, it does fall a bit short in providing the additional flavor and taste benefits of the other glasses in our list because it lacks the tapered top.

What This Glass Says About You

The Dragon Upside Down Beer Glass says a few things about you. First, it says that you don’t mind giving up a bit of flavor and taste in exchange for other benefits. Secondly, it tells everyone that you appreciate art and aren’t scared of a bit of flash. Lastly, it tells everyone that you place a very high value on the chilliness of your favorite adult beverage. Or, it might just say that you have sweaty hands…

Rastal Teku Tulip Glass

Last, but not least in our Simple Guide to Beer Glasses, we will highlight the Rastal Teku Tulip Glass. This lovely Italian-made beer glass is the latest craze in craft beer consumption. As with the rest of the glassware we have covered, these glasses are well-constructed and impeccably designed to deliver a consistently excellent drinking experience. The Rastal Teku glasses set themselves apart by providing a few features that their competitors do not.

First, let’s start by talking about nucleated versus non-nucleated. We said we would keep it simple, so we will. Nucleated glasses have laser-etched designs in the bottom of the glass. These designs cause CO2 to accumulate and rise to the top. This keeps the beer frothy with head. Non-nucleated glasses allow the beer to settle, reducing the head. Which is better? We don’t know – and neither do the folks at Rastal, so they let you choose!!

Second, this glass has a nice long stem. The stem allows you to hold the beer without the heat of your hands transferring to the beer. This translates to your beer staying colder for longer. It is also worth noting that the design of the Tulip glass provides all of the flavor and taste benefits without the trade-offs of the Dragon Upside Down Glass.

What This Glass Says About You

If people see you chilling with a Rastal Teku Tulip full of frothy beer, they will know that you like to stay on the vanguard of the craft beer scene. These glasses are definitely the latest trend, and rightfully so. Rastal has built upon the foundation of prior glass manufacturers and taken their product to the next level, offering an exceptional balance of versatility, utility, and beauty.

Choose Wisely

We hope that you enjoyed reading about our experiences with our various pieces of premium glassware. At the end of the day, there are infinite preferences and countless options to satisfy those wants and desires. Keep your eyes open for different offerings and keep trying new things until you find what works best for you, your palate, and your budget.

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Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken

royalwestudios

Our Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken is a huge hit with our family. Because it is so easy to prepare, we make it very often. In addition, if there are leftovers, this chicken can be transformed into many additional amazing dishes. My personal favorite is smoky chicken salad, but there are so many other uses!

Our Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken all starts with a simple, but tasty, brining process. Check out our Simple Guide To Brining Meats or Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine posts for the recipe! You will have to plan ahead for this recipe, but the preparation is definitely worth the investment!

This recipe has a great balance between
sweet, savory and smoky!

Prep Times

  • Cook Brine: 2 Hours
  • Brine Time: 8-12 Hours
  • Prepare Chicken: 1 Hour
  • Smoking: 3-4 Hours
Simple but delicious!

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Pound Whole Chicken
  • 4 Quartered Lemons – Divided*
  • Rosemary Bunch (Fresh) – Divided*
  • Thyme Bunch (Fresh) – Divided*
  • Parsley Bunch (Fresh) – Divided*
  • 4-5 Garlic Cloves – Peeled & Smashed
  • 1 TBSP Whole Black Peppercorn
  • 4 Bay Leaves
  • ½ Cup Honey
  • 10 TBSP Coarse Kosher Sea Salt
  • 10 Cups Water
Smoked To Perfection!

*Split the lemons and the herb bunches in half and use 2 lemons and half the herbs in the brine and the other half during cooking.

Directions

Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine: 2 Hours

Brine Time: 8-12 Hours

Prepare Chicken: 1 Hour

  • Remove chicken from brine.
  • Rinse and pat dry.
  • Allow to rest for 1 hour.
  • Insert reserved lemons and herbs into body cavity.
  • Truss the chicken with twine.
  • Soak your cherry and apple wood chips in water.
  • Bring your smoker up to 225 degrees.

Continue to check the your smoker box with chips/chunks. Also check your water pan regularly to ensure adequate moisture. Smoke chicken to 165 degrees internal temperature.

  • Remove the chicken from smoker.
  • Allow to rest for 20 minutes.
  • Remove lemon and herbs from cavity before serving.

Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken is a family favorite!!! Even the pickiest eaters will fall in love with this sweet, savory and smoky chicken recipe!

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Simple Guide To Electric Saws

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Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine

royalwestudios

Our Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine is a simple but delicious staple in our kitchen. This brine is perfect for chicken, turkey, fish or even pheasant. The fresh citrus flavor enhances the natural flavors of the meat without overpowering. In addition, the ingredients are simple and fresh! If you would like more information on brining, check out our Simple Guide to Brining Meats. This brine is the flavor base for our Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken recipe, as well!

Ingredients

*Split the lemons and the herb bunches in half. Use 2 lemons and half the herbs in the brine and the other half during cooking.

Simple, fresh ingredients combine for amazing flavor

Directions

Because you need to allow the brine to cool after simmering, you should plan for this recipe to take two hours total. Also, it is very important that you allow the brine to cool down to room temperature before adding your meat to the brine.

  • Select a pot large enough to hold ingredients and allows for meat to be fully submerged without overflowing.
  • In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat source and let the brine cool to room temperature.

Once your brine has cooled to room temperature, you can add meat directly to your pot. Brine meat according to guidelines in our Simple Guide To Brining Meats. Larger cuts of meat will need to soak in brine longer because the flavors will need to penetrate further within the meat. Be sure to check out our recipe for Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken as well.

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Simple Guide To Brining Meats

royalwestudios

Our Mason-Dixon style of cooking relies on simple ingredients. Therefore, this Simple Guide To Brining Meats is a great way for you to start brining foods using common ingredients. Because most of the things that go into this brine are probably already in your cupboards, you can make this brine tonight. Let’s get started!

The Basics

Enhancing the flavor of any recipe or cooking method is simple with a great brine. Because meats like pork, chicken, fish, and turkey benefit the most from brining, that is where we will focus . When making a brine, the kosher sea salt provides most of the flavor. However, a great brine should also have other flavor profiles present to compliment the sea salt.

Kosher Sea Salt

As we said before, Kosher Sea Salt is the workhorse of the brine. This is due to the fact that is very effective at penetrating deep into the meat. Because the salt penetrates into the meat, it breaks down some of the fibers. As a result, the meat is more tender. We can all agree that tender meat is juicer, as well. Because everyone likes juicy cuts of flavorful meat! However, if you don’t have Coarse Kosher Sea Salt, any salt that you have available can be used for your brine. Above all, make sure to cook the brine until the salt is completely dissolved. Finally, As a general rule you should use 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water.

Sugar

Any great brine recipe will also contain some form of sugar. Because of their versatility around the kitchen, we prefer to use honey or brown sugar in our family’s brine recipes. For example, we prefer the bold, sweet flavor of brown sugar in our pork recipes. Because it has a slightly stronger flavor, it pairs well with the strong flavor of the meat. On the other hand, we add honey to recipes for fish, chicken or turkey. You really can’t go wrong with either choice, so experiment with different combinations and find out what your family likes best.

The recipe in the link below calls for honey because it is intended to brine a roaster chicken. However, you could easily substitute1/2 Cup of brown sugar for the 1/2 Cup of honey and get great results.

Spice

As we said before, a brine should have a host of different flavors. So, we would be crazy not to add spices to the brine. Therefore, we will infuse the meat with lovely aromatic flavors by adding some of our favorite spices.

Bay Leaves

Bay leaves are commonly used in soups and stews to keep them from tasting too heavy. In addition, Bay Leaves add a subtle and complex bitterness that contributes to the wonderful flavor component of brines.

Spices and Herbs

In addition, peppercorns can be described as having a spicy, fresh and earthy taste, so use them generously if you and your family enjoy these flavor profiles. Whole Black Peppercorns are definitely the best way to season your brines. That said, you do not have to use whole black peppercorns. In a pinch, ground black pepper, white pepper, or even paprika can be substituted. The flavor profiles will change slightly as a result, but that is OK. Also, we bunch together flavorful garlic, thyme, rosemary and parsley to simmer in the brine mixture. However, any roasting herbs could flavor the brine perfectly.

Smashed Garlic

Lastly, your garlic should be smashed – not diced or chopped. By smashing the garlic under a knife blade you will damage the cell structure differently than chopping or mincing. As a result, it infuses a different flavor into the brine.

Acids

Lemons are generally added to chicken, fish and turkey brines. However, pork brines will usually call for apple cider or apple cider vinegar in place of the lemons. Because pork is generally considered tougher than poultry, the vinegar is more effective at breaking down the meat and making it more tender. However, the citrus flavor of the lemons compliments the earthy herbs and salty flavors perfectly for poultry dishes. Because every family is different, feel free to experiment with different combinations until you find your perfect mix.

Cooking Your Brine

Before we start cooking, we would like to cover the basics in our Simple Guide To Brining Meats. First, make sure to cook your brine in a pot large enough to hold the cut of meat that you plan to brine plus your liquid brine. Because your pots and pans may be different sizes, it may take a bit of experimentation to get the amount of liquid just right. Above all, you will want to ensure that your meat is fully submerged in brine. To avoid the issue of not having enough brine, always simmer more liquid than you think you will need. Because you can always drain off any excess liquid, there is no risk to making a larger batch.

Pot Selection

Brining a chicken is simple, but you may just be starting out. If that is the case, and you don’t have a pot large enough, this 12-Quart pot is what we normally use for our roaster chickens. This pot is perfect because it leaves plenty of space for the brine to cover the entire bird without having to worry about sloshing / overflowing of liquids.

Brining a turkey may require significantly larger pot, so you may want to consider this 60-Quart Brew Kettle. Because it is designed to fit on a propane turkey fryer, and will hold birds up to 30 pounds.

Timing

Plan for one hour of cook time for your brine, but also plan for an hour of cooldown time. Above all, make sure you bring your water up to temperature because simmering is important to ensure that all of the flavors develop fully and mix well. Once your brine is full of flavor, it will need to cool for approximately an hour prior to adding your meat. It is very important that you take the time to allow your brine to cool to room temperature, so plan accordingly. By placing your meat in hot brine will start the cooking process, therefore boiling the meat. No one wants boiled turkey – Trust me!!

Brine Time Guidelines

It is possible to over-infuse or over-brine your meat, so make sure to consult the chart below for suggested brine times. Over-brining can also occur if there is too much salt in the mixture, so make sure you use one tablespoon of salt for every cup of water. Also, if you are concerned with the flavor of your meat you can cut off a small piece of meat and cook it. Once cooled, sample the meat to determine the flavor and saltiness of the brine.

Meat TypeCutBrine Time
ChickenBoneless Breast2 Hours
Chicken2 Lb. Roaster4-6 Hours
Chicken3-4 Lb. Roaster8-12 Hours
PorkChops2 Hours
Pork4 Lb. Loin12 Hours
TurkeyBoneless Breast12-18 Hours
Turkey10-15 Lb. Roaster24 Hours
Turkey15-30 Lb. Roaster36 Hours
FishFilet1 Hour
FishSteak8 Hours
Follow these simple guidelines for perfectly brined meats!

Our Simple Guide To Brining Meats would not be complete without a bonus recipe!

Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine

Our Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine is a simple but delicious staple in our kitchen. This brine is perfect for chicken, turkey, or even pheasant. The fresh citrus flavor enhances the natural flavors of the meat without overpowering. In addition, the ingredients are simple and fresh! If you would like more information on brining, check out our Simple Guide to Brining Meats.

Ingredients

*Split the lemons and the herb bunches in half. Use 2 lemons and half the herbs in the brine and the other half during cooking.

Simple, fresh ingredients combine for amazing flavor

Directions

Because you need to allow the brine to cool after simmering, you should plan for this recipe to take two hours total. Also, it is very important that you allow the brine to cool down to room temperature before adding your meat to the brine.

  • Select a pot large enough to hold ingredients and allows for meat to be fully submerged without overflowing.
  • In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat source and let the brine cool to room temperature.

Once your brine has cooled to room temperature, you can add meat directly to your pot. Brine meat according to guidelines above. Larger cuts of meat will need to soak in brine longer because the flavors will need to penetrate further within the meat.

Because it is so simple and fresh, we make this brine all the time. This brine is also the used as the flavor base for our Mason-Dixon Smoked Chicken recipe! We hope you enjoyed our Simple Guide To Brining Meats.

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Workshop

Beginner’s Guide – Epoxy Resin

royalwestudios

There are SO many things I wish I knew when I started pouring Epoxy Resin for my woodworking projects. There is a lot of trial-and-error wisdom in this page. That wisdom came to me in the form of many failed workpieces, most of which were a total loss. What I discovered is that when you don’t have everything set up for a great epoxy pour, there is little to no recovering. That is why I decided to write up a Beginner’s Guide to Epoxy Resin. My hope is that sharing a few of my failures will help you to avoid the same issues and deliver perfect workpieces right from the start!

The Basics

If you are just starting out, you may not know a lot about the science of epoxy. Don’t worry, we’re not going to bore you with all of that! Instead, we are going to focus on a few simple things you need to know in order to have a great experience with epoxy resin pours in your woodworking. First, epoxy resin is a two-part product. Any kit that you buy will have two products. One bottle will be the resin itself, and another that will be hardener. By combining these two products together and mixing, you will start a chemical reaction. Once that chemical reaction is complete, your board will have a strong coating that will last.

Different grades and types of epoxy are available on the market. Some are food grade, while others are not. Some brands focus on providing a crystal clear finish, while others may not. Your options and price points are virtually endless when it comes to epoxy. So far, the best brand that I have found is from Specialty Resin & Chemical. Their product cures crystal clear, has an anti-yellowing agent that protects against UV damage, and they are FDA certified for indirect food contact.

Whichever epoxy resin product you choose, make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s directions. The tips and tricks below apply specifically to Epox-It 80. Some manufacturers have different ratios and conditions for their epoxy applications!!

Beginner’s Guide – Preparation

A great epoxy pour starts well before any resin leaves the bottle. In order to help you get ready, you will need to make sure you have a few tools handy and that your work area is prepped and ready to go!

What you will need:

Optional :

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Epoxy manufacturers recommend that you mix, pour, and cure your epoxy resin in a well-ventilated area. In addition, they recommend that you wear splash goggles, long sleeves, and nitrile gloves. Many people choose to also wear a respirator that controls for ‘Organic Vapor’. The masks from 3M are highly trusted for this use, and many of their cartridges are capable of handling dust and organic vapors, making them ideal for woodworking and epoxy resin pours!! Also bear in mind that the cartridges do wear out over time and use, so make sure to replace them per the manufacturer’s recommendation. PPE is a choice, so you will have to find the right level of protection for you.

Choose Your Work Area

Your work area must meet four critical requirements. First, it must be large enough to fit your workpiece. Second, it must be an area that maintains a temperature higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Third, you will need access to an electrical outlet for your heat gun. Lastly, you must have a level work surface where you can rest your workpiece for at least 24 hours. Use your torpedo level to ensure the work area is suitable.

Prep Your Work Area

Once you have settled in to an optimum location for your epoxy pour, it is time to prep your work area. To avoid spilling epoxy on your surfaces, it is a good idea to lay down parchment paper below your workpiece and below your epoxy/hardener bottles. Parchment paper provides an excellent barrier against epoxy resin and it is relatively inexpensive. If you choose not to use Parchment Paper, wax paper or other non-porous papers can be substituted. Avoid using any porous materials, as they will absorb the epoxy and may end up making more mess than you bargained for.

Set Up Your Pouring Station

Once you mix your epoxy, you will have a limited amount of time to work with it before it cures. In order to save time and maximize your open time, having your pour station set up is critical. On a separate piece of Parchment Paper, you will want to set your Epoxy Resin, Hardener, Clear Mixing Cup, 2x Measuring Cups, and a Craft Stick.

A neat and clean Pouring Station

Prep Your Workpiece

Depending on what type of project you are working on, you may have different needs in terms of preparing your workpiece for epoxy. Any places where you think epoxy might flow should be sealed off with Tuck Tape. I have used Painter’s Tape, Duck Tape, and Gorilla Tape as well. Nothing handles the epoxy as well as Tuck Tape. It has a very strong adhesion to the wood and stands up against the thermal properties of epoxy as it cures. You can substitute other tapes if you would like, but be prepared for disappointment.

Tuck Tape keeps the epoxy from spilling over the edge

Beginner’s Guide – Mixing Epoxy Resin

You have done all of the prep work. Now it is time for the real fun to begin! As we move into this phase, we are going to focus on ensuring we get equal parts of the resin and hardener into the cup together and mixing them thoroughly.

Pour Resin & Hardener

To start, pour resin in one of the measuring cups. Pour your hardener into the other measuring cup, making sure that there are equal parts of both. In my experience, I like to fill the hardener just a tiny bit fuller than the resin to ensure I do not end up with a gummy cure.

Combine In Mixing Cup

Use the Craft Stick to empty the Measuring Cup filled with Resin into the Clear Mixing Cup. Make sure to scrape the sides and give time for the Resin to ‘ooze’ out of the cup fully. Next, pour the Measuring Cup with the Hardener in to the Clear Mixing Cup. Make sure to scrape the sides of the measuring cup and get every bit of the hardener into the Mixing Cup.

Mix, Mix, Mix!

Mix your Epoxy Resin vigorously for five minutes. Make sure to change up your movements, using clock-wise, counter-clockwise, up-and-down, and cross-wise strokes. Varying your mixing pattern will help to ensure a thorough mix. Next, make sure that you are scraping the sides and bottom of the mixing cup regularly. This will help to avoid any material from caking to the sides of your cup. As you stir, you should see the epoxy starting to turn a bit cloudy. Lastly, look for bubbles forming in the epoxy resin.

Beginner’s Guide – Pouring Epoxy Resin

Epoxy resin has many uses, but we want to keep this guide simple. Therefore, we will be covering the two most basic repairs- Cracks/Splits and Voids.

Cracks / Splits

Cracks and splits occur when the cell structure of the wood shrinks or expands during drying. By applying epoxy to cracks and splits, you can sure up the wood and be relatively certain that the condition will not worsen. To fill cracks and splits, you should start by applying your epoxy to the most shallow point in the crack and allow it to flow down into the deeper recesses of the split. This allows air to escape from the split and makes it less likely that there will be air bubbles trapped in your cured epoxy. Your craft stick should hold a few drops of epoxy at a time. drip them into your cracks and splits slowly.

This board is loaded with cracks. Filling them in with epoxy will sure up the wood and add beauty!

Voids

Decay, branch collars, or insects burrowing through the wood can leave behind voids. Voids are best filled from the bottom. To do this, choose a single spot in the void and trickle epoxy in using the Craft Stick. By allowing the epoxy to flow to the bottom of the void and soak in, you have a better chance of avoiding trapped air bubbles.

Depending on the size of the void, you may wish to pour directly out of the cup. If you decide to do this, please be very patient with your pour. Simply dumping in epoxy without giving the mixture time to absorb into the wood and settle to the bottom will most likely result in trapped air bubbles in your finished workpiece.

Voids can be problematic for milling. Epoxy stabilizes them and adds beauty!

Beginner’s Guide – Curing Epoxy Resin

Most of the hard work is behind us, but we are not quite done yet! In this next step, we will take steps to ensure our epoxy resin cures to a hard, clear, bubble-free finish!

Apply Heat

Once your void is filled with epoxy, it is time to apply heat. I use a Furno Heat Gun from Wagner. It has a good range of heat settings and two fan modes. I have seen other folks use a small butane torch or a hair dryer in place of a heat gun to cure epoxy. Because I have not used those methods, I cannot endorse them. I keep my heat gun on the medium setting and slow fan speed. Turn the heat gun on about 30 seconds before you need it. This allows it to warm up properly.

Now we are ready to knock out our bubbles. By simply running the Heat Gun over your epoxy pour, you should see the bubbles disappear. Make sure to apply heat every five minutes until the epoxy starts to harden, which should be about 40 minutes from mixing time. Be careful to avoid any ‘sloshing’ from the heat gun fan. It will occasionally push liquid epoxy into undesired locations if you are not careful.

Top Off

Last step – We are almost done! As the wood absorbs epoxy, the levels of your pours will dip below the surface of the wood. While continuing to apply heat, monitor your fills to ensure they remain above the level of your board. Add additional epoxy as needed. Some voids will soak up quite a bit of epoxy, while others will not. It all depends on the porosity of the wood and the surface area that the epoxy is adhering to.

Epoxy turns a void in the wood into beautiful art!

Top Tips!

  • Measure your epoxy carefully.
  • Add a tiny bit more hardener than epoxy.
  • Pour epoxy and hardener in separate measuring cups.
  • Mix for five minutes.
  • Always pour your epoxy and store your work pieces above 70% F.
  • Ensure your work piece is 100% level.
  • Pour epoxy slowly to allow air to escape.
  • Apply heat to epoxy every five-ten minutes until tacky
  • Top off your epoxy as the wood absorbs.
  • Use Tuck Tape. This stuff is a bit expensive, but worth every penny.

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Beginner’s Guide – Epoxy Resin

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red northern cardinal bird resting on snowy fir branch
Lifestyle

Kid-Friendly Suet Cakes – Winter Bird Feeding

royalwestudios

Making kid-friendly suet cakes with my children brings back fond childhood memories of Nanny and I doing just the same. My favorite part was mixing the ingredients by hand and getting to smoosh the seeds between my fingers. I am overjoyed to see my kids enjoying those same silly moments. Nanny often made a Suet block by cutting the bottom of a milk carton off and filling it with seed mixture. My crew and I prefer to use our seasonal cookie cutters when doing this craft. Another fond memory I have is speaking with Nanny about the birds and what they did. Andy and I kept the tradition alive by speaking with our kids about our back yard ecosystem and the part that birds play in keeping it healthy.

An added bonus is that the activity and conversation helps to support teachers in the classroom through applied learning. It’s fun, educational, ecosystem friendly and wonderful way to spend the afternoon together!

Hand-made goodies for the birds!

Why Feed Suet?

Feeding birds during the winter helps to supplement their diets and assists them in building enough fat to endure the cold winter months. Resources are often scarce during the winter and we know that not all birds fly south once the cold months hit. As the temperature drops and the trees begin to lose their leaves, birds lose many of their food sources and shelter is less abundant. High-energy foods like suet cakes can help birds through Winter.

Without food and shelter, birds will migrate to other locations in search of the resources needed to survive the winter months. Or more often than not they become ill and do not survive the winter. Once your backyard bird population becomes ill they also become easy prey for other smaller critters like foxes and the occasional barn cat.

When Spring and Summer arrive, birds that had access to fatty foods and fresh water during Winter will be healthier than birds who had to get by on less. With healthier birds living their best life in your backyard, you can enjoy better pollination- which is important for gardens. Healthier bird populations mean fewer pests, brighter and more colorful birds, and more lovely birdsongs.

Gourmet bird cuisine!

Unexpected Benefits!

Birds also play a huge role in seed spreading. Our birds feast not only on our suet cakes and seeds, but they also enjoy picking through our compost bin. As a result, various seeds are spread and we have mystery plants that sprout here and there. Our first jalapeno plant was a delight because we had not planted jalapenos that year, but nature found a way!

For those who enjoy bird watching, suet feeders attract a variety of different birds to your yard. Of course, the type of seed you offer will determine what types of birds you can attract. We typically purchase a 5lb bag of seed from our local feed store. I tend to prefer brands that have added vitamins and minerals. Typically, the seed bags will have the name and sometimes picture of the birds that you might see feasting on your seed blend in your yard.

Smoosh them down so they stick together!

Let’s Make Suet Cakes!

Making kid-friendly suet cakes is simple and requires little preparation. Although through my experience it is best to not let the kiddos scoop out of the peanut butter jar with the same spoon that they are using to mix the seed…oopps! and this activity can become a little messy when the seed mixture is transferred to the molds. A good vinyl table cloth comes in handy.

This recipe is super-chill. There is no specific amount of peanut butter or lard or oats – nothing needs to be exact. As long as the mixture is wet when placed in the mold, it will work out just fine. I throw in seeds and dried fruits from the “bottom of the bag” in the pantry. The birds don’t care about freshness – they will love it – and they can’t read expiration dates!!

After mixing your ingredients together, pack the birdseed mixture into a mold. We use cookie cutters most of the time. We find that the deep ones work best, but feel free to experiment. You can also add a piece of twine during this process to create a quick and easy hanger. Skip this step if you plan to use a suet cage. To create a hanger, slide the twine under the cookie cutter before filling and pull so it is over the mold. Don’t tie it off just yet.

After freezing your suet cakes, remove the mold and tie the twine together at the end. When choosing where to hang your cakes, plan to place them outside of windows, around bird baths, or near feeders. Take this time to empty out any bird baths with gunky water and replace with fresh clean water while you are at it. Your back yard birds will thank you for it and will pay it forward this spring.

Delicious, healthy snacks for our winged friends!

Suet Cakes

Ingredients

  • Bird Seed – Any Variety
  • Peanut Butter (Chunky or Creamy – Your Call)
  • Raisins / Dried Fruit
  • Lard / Bacon Fat
  • Oats
  • Cornmeal

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients together in one large bowl until well combined.
  2. Place suet mixture into mold. Pack by hand as tightly as you can.
  3. Freeze for 2 hours, or until the cake is solid.
  4. Remove cake from mold. If mold sticks to cake, try running warm water over the mold to loosen.
  5. Hang your suet cakes somewhere that you can watch them enjoying their treat!

We hope you will try our kid-friendly suet cakes recipe with your family and make some amazing memories!!

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Beginner’s Guide – Epoxy Resin

There are SO many things I wish I knew when I started pouring Epoxy Resin for my woodworking projects. There…

Royal We Blog

The Royal We Blog features our family’s experiences and our perspectives on Home & Garden, Recipes, Crafts, Family-friendly Travel, and…

Royal We Studios LLC

Our charcuterie board business was born in October 2020. It all started with a simple request from Cass. “Hey babe,…

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Royal We Blog

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The Royal We Blog features our family’s experiences and our perspectives on Home & Garden, Recipes, Crafts, Family-friendly Travel, and just about anything else that we are passionate about and think our fans will enjoy. We are hopeful that by sharing our experiences with people, it will help them to discover something new, inspire them, or somehow enrich their lives.

Our Passions

We have many hobbies and interests. Naturally, as our passions have grown for certain subjects, our desire to share our insights has grown as well. Because of this, we want to share experiences, tips and tricks with people to help make things easier. Our family experiences have grown, as well. Because of this desire we decided to start up the Royal We Blog. We are excited to share our perspectives with all of you!

Learning Together

One of the best things t come out of the Royal We Blog is the opportunity to dive into new and interesting experiences together. Before we started this, neither of us knew a ting about creating a webpage, but here we are pecking away at a keyboard on Saturday Morning. One of us sipping coffee, while the other eats a donut. However, both of us are debating the best way to create a blog post without saying Charcuterie Board 300 times.

We may not be experts in everything we write about, but we are passionate. Passion combined with creativity is absolutely our fuel. We love to explore new things and get a better understanding of our world through trying, doing, and occasionally failing. It is our hope that you are willing to walk with us on this amazing journey! We would love to have you along!

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Royal We Studios LLC

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Our charcuterie board business was born in October 2020. It all started with a simple request from Cass. “Hey babe, do you think you could make me a charcuterie board?” Before we knew it, we were filing for an LLC! Royal We Studios LLC was real!

‘Our’ Start

Once I figured out what a charcuterie board was, I said yes! I dove into sourcing wood for ‘our’ project. ‘We’ found a great little lumber mill in Mechanicsburg, PA. After picking out ‘our’ perfect pieces of live edge lumber, ‘we’ went to work in the shop. Most of the boards ‘we’ picked out had a ton of character – knots, voids, wormholes, bows, bends, and the occasional flat spot. ‘We’ went to work planing, sanding, applying epoxy, and conditioning the boards. The end results were pretty amazing and we found ourselves enjoying our boards in so many different ways.

Current Projects

Cass and I are constantly brainstorming new ideas for the shop. Our next logical addition to our product line was chopping blocks. I had no real experience with the design or manufacture of chopping blocks, so I jumped on to the web and consulted with some of my favorite YouTube pros. I put together quite a few prototypes, spilled glue all over the place, and spent countless hours sanding to get a solid basis for making blocks. My favorite blocks will always be end-grain walnut, but the spalted rock maple boards are climbing on the list.

In The Works

I am currently experimenting with a few ideas for up-cycled products. We have a pretty reliable supply of used pallets and I have been working to convert them into wine racks and six-pack beer carriers. Those should be available in the near future, so stay tuned.

For more information on Cass & Andy, click our names or to link to our Who We Are page.

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Lifestyle

Mason-Dixon Pulled Pork Tortilla Wrap

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We smoke a lot of pork in our house. One of our favorite cuts is a whole pork shoulder. The cut usually runs between 8-10 pounds. Once it is smoked and pulled, we usually end up with 5-7 pounds of delicious pulled pork. While I would be happy to eat pulled pork on a roll until it is all gone, not everyone is wired like I am. I found a delicious compromise to keep things fresh for the rest of the family, the Mason-Dixon Pulled Pork Tortilla Wrap. By slightly transforming the delicious, smoky pork into another dish, it helps to use up the remainder.

Our family has fallen in love with the Tortilla Wrap.
If you don’t know what that is – no worries!!
Let us introduce you to this super simple and delicious trend!

The Tortilla Wrap

Who knows where this idea came from – but we love it! The tortilla wrap brings crunchy, savory, sweet, and gooey together in one nice neat package. It is super simple and leaves us scratching our heads – wondering why we didn’t come up with this sooner!!

Crowd Pleasing Twist To Taco Night Cooked in A Lodge 12″ Cast Iron Pan

Let’s get cooking!

Mason-Dixon Pulled Pork Tortilla Wrap

Ingredients

Directions

  • Lay the tortilla down on a plate and make a slice from the center of the tortilla to the bottom.
  • Place a slice of Pepper-Jack cheese in Section 1 and another in Section 4. Trim the edges of the cheese slightly so that it fits on the tortilla wrapper.
  • Place your Pulled Pork in Section 2. Add Stubb’s BBQ sauce to taste.
  • Spoon Cole Slaw into Section 3.
  • Pre-heat 10″ or larger pan over medium-low heat.
  • Coat pan with butter.
  • Once butter starts to brown slightly, gently slide your tortilla wrapper on to the sizzling pan

  • Cook tortilla over medium-low heat until cheese is fully melted.
  • Once cheese is fully melted, use a spatula to lift up the lower left edge of Section 1 of the tortilla.
  • Fold Section 1 over so that it completely covers Section 2.
  • Apply a bit of pressure to ensure the melted cheese sticks to the pulled pork.
  • Now fold Section 2 over to the right so that it completely covers Section 3.
  • Flatten the tortilla out so that there are no lumps or bumps in the surface.
  • Fold Section 4 up to completely cover Section 3.
  • Make sure the melted cheese sticks to the tortilla wrapper.
  • Center the tortilla wrapper in the pan and let it brown for 30-45 seconds.
  • Flip and repeat.

This recipe is so simple and packs a ton of flavor into a small, crunchy, hand-held package. The best part is, you can customize this recipe however you would like. Try this recipe out and let us know what you think of the Mason-Dixon Pulled Pork Tortilla Wrap!!

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Complete Guide to Indoor Grilling

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Our Complete Guide to Indoor Grilling will walk you through everything you need to be an absolute Grillmaster – Without the actual grill!! To do this, we are going to cover step-by-step instructions on how to take your grilling game to the next level within the comfort of your own kitchen.

No Grill Needed!!

I will say it again – You do not actually need a grill to make delicious meals that look, taste and smell just like they came off the grill. The secret is this Cast Iron Grill / Griddle from Lodge. Because this amazingly versatile kitchen essential will allow you to sear, sauté, and char your dishes to perfection!

Make amazing looking steaks – without a grill!

Flavor, Flavor, Flavor!

Enhancing meals with flavor is a priority for our family. Our Complete Guide to Indoor Grilling would fall short if we didn’t provide tips on how to flavor your meats. Because of this, your plan to flavor your proteins should be your first consideration. Based on your tastes and timing, you can choose to marinade, inject, brine, or rub your meats. No matter which you choose, you can’t go wrong. By identifying a few solid go-to flavor-enhancers that load your foods with flavor, you can consistently create delicious meals. My personal recommendation is our amazing brine recipe that you can find below.

Marinade

As you are aware, marinades are a super-simple way to impart a tremendous amount of flavor into any meat. In addition, marinades work well with pork, beef, chicken, and seafood. Because of this fact, there are myriad choices available in the market. Dry packaged marinades, like the Brazilian Steakhouse pictured below require the addition of a few simple ingredients like oil, water, and vinegar. Personally, I prefer to make up my marinades in a gallon sized zip-top bag.

First, empty the dry contents of the seasoning packet into the bag. Next, you will add the wet ingredients, such as oil, water, and red wine vinegar. After that, you can simply swirl everything around to mix thoroughly. Once you trim and slice the meat, it is ready for a dip in the flavor pool. Next, I drop in my protein into the bag and seal it with the slider. Because air will create pockets, make sure to seal out any excess air. This small extra step provides a thorough coating and consistent contact with all surfaces of the meat. I follow the same process with the wet marinades featured below, as well. Now that your meat is coated thoroughly, toss it in the fridge for a few hours to let it marinate.

Inject

Injection is another great method for flavoring your meats. It is as easy as taking a loaded syringe full of delicious flavor and injecting it directly into the meat. Another reason we love this option is because it is very versatile. Because it can be done before, during, or after cooking, this option is particularly attractive for large cuts of meat where traditional basting would not penetrate deep into the meat. One of the most popular injections on the market is The Cajun Injector. This product packs meats with flavor and the syringe is sturdy and reliable.

Brine

This is probably my favorite way to impart flavor to a grilled meal because it penetrates throughout the entire cut. If you have the time to prepare the brine and let your meat soak overnight, this is the best way to go. We have a brine recipe that we are very fond of because it is very fresh tasting. This brine packs a ton of flavor while complimenting the natural taste of chicken, pork, or turkey. You can find our Sweet & Savory Poultry Brine here.

Brine Ingredients

  • 4 Quartered Lemons – Divided*
  • Rosemary – Fresh Bunch – Divided*
  • Thyme – Fresh Bunch – Divided*
  • Parsley – Fresh Bunch – Divided*
  • 4-5 Garlic Cloves – Peeled & Smashed
  • 1 TBSP Whole Black Peppercorn
  • 4 Bay Leaves
  • ½ Cup Honey
  • 10 TBSP Coarse Kosher Sea Salt
  • 10 Cups Water
  • *Split the lemons and the herb bunches in half. Now you can use 2 lemons and half the herbs in the brine and the other half during cooking.

Cook the Brine

  1. Select a pot large enough to hold ingredients and allows for meat to be fully submerged without overflowing.
  2. In the large pot combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
  3. Simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat source and let the brine cool to room temperature.
  5. Add meat to room temperature brine and fully submerge . Its helpful to put a heavy plate on top of meat to help weigh it down in brine mix. Also, if you find there is not enough water to fully cover, simply add more until meat is fully submerged.
  6. Refrigerate

Rub

There are TONS of rubs available out there. Some are Sweet and Smoky like the one featured below, while others are more savory. There are rubs that have a heavy base of coffee flavor, as well. Regardless of what your favorite flavor profile is, there is a rub out there for you. Personally, I love the convenience of an all-in-one rub because it makes things quick and easy. Again, find a rub or three that you and your family enjoy and keep them in your rotation. This should keep your crowd happy and make dishes feel more diverse because you won’t be eating the same flavor over and over again.

Pro Tip: Applying a liberal coating of plain yellow mustard prior to applying rub will help the rub to stick to the meat without making the meat taste like mustard. Science!

Grilling Without The Grill

Now that we have our meats flavored up, our Complete Guide to Indoor Grilling will cover everything you need to know about grilling indoors.

  1. Be prepared for some mess! You will be cooking on an open griddle. There will be splashes and splatters. It will be worth it!
  2. There will be smoke! Grill lines, beautiful searing, delicious char – All of these cooking techniques are going to generate smoke. Be prepared by blasting your hood fan and cracking a window!

As you can see from the video above, the griddle is designed to be placed over two burners on your propane or natural gas stove. The griddle has two sides – a flat side and a side with raised ‘grill grates’. As you may have guessed, the flat side is ideal for searing large flat surfaces, like a roast beef. However, The ‘grill’ side of the griddle is perfect for getting those lovely grill marks on your meats. Depending on how you season your meat, those grates will also impart additional flavor in the form of char or caramelization. Best of all, these flavor notes, combined with the tell-tale grill marks will make your foods look, taste, and smell like they just came off the grill!

Let’s Get Cooking!

Brazilian Steakhouse Chicken

Recipe

1 Packet McCormick Grillmates Brazilian Steakhouse Marinade
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 Cup Water
1 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar
2 Lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Preparation

  1. Place dry marinade in a one gallon zip-top container. Add oil, water and vinegar.
  2. Mix contents of marinade thoroughly – set aside.
  3. Trim chicken breasts of any visible fat. Remove rib meat, if present.
  4. Slice chicken breasts in half, widthwise.
  5. Place chicken in marinade. Shake bag after placing each piece in bag to ensure total coverage of the meat.
  6. Seal bag, ensuring that any excess air is squeezed out.
  7. Place bag in fridge overnight.

Cooking

  1. Preheat griddle over low-medium heat, grate side up. Add a touch of olive oil to the grate. When oil begins to smoke slightly, you are ready to cook.
  2. Place chicken on griddle at a 45 degree angle. Breasts should be placed directly over burners for best results.
  3. Discard any remaining marinade.
  4. Cook until breasts reach an internal temperature between 115-125 degrees.
  5. Flip your chicken and cook until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Allow your chicken to rest for ten minutes. Once cooled, you are ready to serve up a delicious ‘grilled’ treat that you and your family will love!

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