Beer bottling was a success! Ben donned a very official lab coat, medical gloves and attitude to get the job done. 
The thing about bottling is that the setup takes more time than the actual process. Everything from the bottles, to the tubing and buckets have to be completely sterilized with iodine water before you begin.
Don’t even get me started on siphoning the beer from the brewing bucket to a new bucket, to fill up the bottles. Thank goodness for iPhones and YouTube to help the boys figure out what to do!
There we go!
First bottle getting filled up.
After filling, you place a cap on top of the bottle and seal it with a capper.
After awhile, the guys got a nice assembly line going. One made sure the bottles were dry (from the sanitizing solution), one filled, and one capped!
They now have over 50 bottles of home brewed beer! Right now the yeast is fermenting in the bottles (creating carbonation) and the beer will be ready to drink in about a week. We tried some last night, un-carbonated, and thought it was really good. I can’t wait to taste it when it’s cold, crisp and bubbly!!
Cheers to a successful first batch!
This morning I slept in until 9:30! 
I actually woke up at 7:30, but it was one of those things where you tell yourself – just another 30 minutes – every 30 minutes, until you realize it’s two hours later! I finally hopped out of bed and spent a couple hours in the kitchen getting meals ready for the week, before Ben and I went over to my parent’s house for our traditional Sunday afternoon lunch. IT WAS SPECTACULAR!
Strawberries are selling at an all time low right now – like $.77 a carton – and my Mom had a full platter of the sweet berries accompanied by some fluffy strawberry dip that she made by mixing equal parts whipped strawberry cream cheese, marshmallow fluff and cool whip. Don’t tell, but I was eating it by the spoonful!!!
Let’s talk about this Fruit Salad for a second. It almost looked too good to eat!
Made up of spinach, strawberries, cantaloupe, mango, sliced almonds and seasoned feta cheese – basically, it was the tastiest, sweet & salty salad I’ve ever had! The addition of cantaloupe was genius. Such a surprising flavor in a salad, you know?
Also on the menu – Potato Puffs! Take whipped mashed potatoes, season with garlic cream cheese, then pipe them onto a baking sheet. Season with bacon, salt & pepper, then broil ’til golden brown. Ben ate 4…! Expertly grilled T-Bone Steaks rounded out the meal. These were HUGE, so my Mom and I split one.
WOW – we were so.stuffed!
Until we saw dessert – which we all managed to make room for – Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries!
Thick, creamy and sweet, with a traditional graham cracker crust.
I hated it. Clearly…
After lunch we all moved to the backyard to sit and chat under the beautiful afternoon sun. About an hour later though, some big, black rain clouds appeared out of nowhere, and we had ourselves a good old fashioned thunderstorm! I haven’t heard thunder that loud in a LONG time!
Ben and I dashed home before the rain got too bad, where I used the weather as an excuse to hunker down on the couch, watch some House Hunters and do some laundry (omg 6 loads, totally over it.)
Dinner was just as leisurely – Pizza!
Godfather’s is King around these parts, if you ask me – so when Ben suggested picking up a pie for din, I had no objections!
Chewy crust, gooey mozzarella cheese, and savory black olives.
I don’t even like black olives in "real life" – but when it comes to ‘za – the MORE the BETTER!
Well, I’ll be spending the rest of my evening listening to the thunder roll in from some more storms heading our way, watching Minute to Win It, and reminiscing over one of the best weekend ever!
Goodnight!
~~~~~
What was the highlight of YOUR weekend?
oh wow those potato puffs look delicious! I need to try making those one of these days. I love mashed potatoes but need to try something new with them.
Lovely pics, Kristin!
Gotta love all the fresh fruit
Have a wonderful week!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
I always look forward to seeing what your mom cooks up for your Sunday brunch, I love the tradition!
I wish we still had Godfather’s around the cities, they went away awhile back.
Enjoy your evening!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristin, Kristin. Kristin said: Chewy & Gooey! http://tinyurl.com/2vwtw4u [...]
LOVE Minute to Win It! I started watching it per your suggestion & it’s so great!
The highlight of my weekend was adopting a new Boxer puppy! He’s the cutest & I’m totally smitten!
That all looks yummmmy:) Glad ya had a good Sunday!
LOL my weekend was BORING. I think the highlight was running
Oooh, Ben’s friend is cute… is he single?
I’m very much joking, since I’m engaged to be married!
The highlight of my weekend was finding the perfect shoe for my bridesmaids… oh, and the weather, too!
We spent the weekend at a wedding out of town, so sadly I had to miss out on the farmer’s market:( Today was spend planting!
What a great looking Sunday lunch!
I’m so jealous of your pizza…Godfather’s is one of my FAVORITE pizza places! YUM!!
Your lunch looks GREAT…I’m going to have to try those potato puffs! They are so cute and look delicious!
is it wrong that i’m jealous of your tstorms!? ha. weather.com was predicting some doussies today but NONE came. booo.
Black & Green olives are my FAVORITE pizza topping! My weekend was pretty jam packed with highlights…my cousin visited me on Friday night, Saturday I graduated from business school, and today I came home to help celebrate my godson’s 1st birthday. I’ve been all over the place!
Hope you have a great week!
That pizza looks to DIE for!!!
Oh MY, your lunch and your dinner look amazing!!!
LOVE fresh strawberries! And olives on pizza?! The only way I’ll eat them!
Oh wow! I know I say this every Sunday, but can I please come to dinner? LoL. I love it!
We had pizza tonight too. In a thunderstorm! Weird!
Have a great night girl.
Ben should start an “Iowa Boy Brews” blog
Those clouds are so pretty! I love clouds
My highlight – 12miles in the POURING rain and FREEZING cold!! I was proud of myself
What an awesome weekend you had! I definitely have a life goal to bottle homemade brew, looks like the guys had a blast!!
oh my goodness my dad makes wine using that same kit! you can use it for beer or wine, so i want him to start on the beer next!! ben looks so official!! i love it and i hope it turns out great! such a fun hobby!
LOVE Godfather’s…their taco pizza is the bomb! The highlights of my weekend were hitting some great garage sales with a friend and having my parents down for a visit. There is nothing better than watching grandparents with their new grandson!!! You are so lucky to live near your parents! I hope we have that again someday. Have a great week!
That salad looks AMAZING!! Going to have to try that one soon!
I am seriously jealous about those thunderstorms. We just moved away from Iowa (sadface) and I MISS the thunderstorms!! The louder & scarier the better as far as I am concerned!!
~Amy
Totally random comment…I am from Des Moines and I think I may have went to High School or something with the guy in the pics with your husband….I cannot remember his name but his face is so familiar! I love reading your blog because it reminds me of home so much! Keep up the great posts!
[...] Pizza, pizza, pizza. Clearly I love the stuff! [...]
[...] lab coat wearing, [...]