Thursday, March 22, 2012

Ancient Orange Mead (by Joe Mattioli)

1 gallon batch 3 1/2 lbs Clover or your choice honey or blend (will finish sweet) 1 Large orange (later cut in eights or smaller rind and all) 1 small handful of raisins (25 if you count but more or less ok) 1 stick of cinnamon 1 whole clove ( or 2 if you like - these are potent critters) optional (a pinch of nutmeg and allspice )( very small ) 1 teaspoon of Fleishmann’s bread yeast ( now don't get holy on me--- after all this is an ancient mead and that's all we had back then) Balance water to one gallon Process: Use a clean 1 gallon carboy Dissolve honey in some warm water and put in carboy Wash orange well to remove any pesticides and slice in eights --add orange (you can push em through opening big boy -- rinds included -- its ok for this mead -- take my word for it -- ignore the experts) Put in raisins, clove, cinnamon stick, any optional ingredients and fill to 3 inches from the top with cold water. ( need room for some foam -- you can top off with more water after the first few day frenzy) Shake the heck out of the jug with top on, of course. This is your sophisticated aeration process. When at room temperature in your kitchen, put in 1 teaspoon of bread yeast. ( No you don't have to rehydrate it first-- the ancients didn't even have that word in their vocabulary-- just put it in and give it a gentle swirl or not)(The yeast can fight for their own territory) Install water airlock. Put in dark place. It will start working immediately or in an hour. (Don't use grandma's bread yeast she bought years before she passed away in the 90's)( Wait 3 hours before you panic or call me) After major foaming stops in a few days add some water and then keep your hands off of it. (Don't shake it! Don't mess with them yeastees! Let them alone except its okay to open your cabinet to smell every once in a while. Racking --- Don't you dare additional feeding --- NO NO More stirring or shaking -- Your not listening, don't touch After 2 months and maybe a few days it will slow down to a stop and clear all by itself. (How about that) (You are not so important after all) Then you can put a hose in with a small cloth filter on the end into the clear part and siphon off the golden nectar. If you wait long enough even the oranges will sink to the bottom but I never waited that long. If it is clear it is ready. You don't need a cold basement. It does better in a kitchen in the dark. (Like in a cabinet) likes a little heat (70-80). If it didn't work out... you screwed up and didn't read my instructions (or used grandma's bread yeast she bought years before she passed away) . If it didn't work out then take up another hobby. Mead is not for you. It is too complicated. If you were successful, which I am 99% certain you will be, then enjoy your mead. When you get ready to make different mead you will probably have to unlearn some of these practices I have taught you, but hey--- This recipe and procedure works with these ingredients so don't knock it. It was your first mead. It was my tenth. Sometimes, even the experts can forget all they know and make good ancient mead.

Friday, March 16, 2012

How would you like to sell your photos????

Hello Everyone, I have been selling my digital pictures for a bout 4 years now. Its easy with micro stock!!!! Here are a few questions I'm asked What does it cost? If you have a camera nothing!!! Is there a contract? No How do I sell them? Well you don't actually sell them the microstock company does all you have to do is upload them and they sell to there clients. How many photo do I need to make good money? Well if its a great photo just 1. You don't sell the photo you sell the rights to use it. This is the great part you sell the same photo over and over and over but you still hold the rights to it. The big question I get is "IS THIS A GIMMICK" ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!! Look I am on YouTube as MrHopZombie I'l do a video soon on microstock. Here is the site I use.

Its safe and and I been using them for  over 5 years

 Click Here

HopZ

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Two of the first brew vids I watched on youtube parts 1&2

Thank you for the emails.

Hey guy's,

      Getting some great feedback (negative and positive) and requests for videos.

Thank you and keep them coming. 

HopZ

Friday, March 9, 2012

Tune in Sunday night for the opening vid and Brew tour!!!! Subscribe now don't miss out,.  

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrHopZombie