One of the great joys that I have found in going primal is all of the opportunities to “Do It Yourself” (DIY). There is a certain satisfaction and sense of pride that you can gain from taking on a project and completing it yourself that I feel is just lost on most people these days.
Enjoying the fruits of your own labor can be infinitely more enjoyable than enjoying the fruits of others in my book. There is truly a rewarding feeling when you eat a meal that YOU prepared or complete a project that YOU worked hard on.
In a world where we tend to be headed towards less DIY…frozen meals, processed pre-packaged meals, all inclusive products, consultants, contractors etc. There are less and less things to be able to work on and take pride in yourself. When is the last time you did something that you could really enjoy for yourself and take pride in? Maybe it was this today or when you cooked dinner last night… maybe it has been a month…. a year?
This weekend, my challenge to you is to fight back against the Wall-E corporate control of your life and take on one DIY project. You can cook a new meal, do a project that you have been putting off around the house, build a home gym… anything that floats your boat.
Here are some ideas:
1. Make an SoG Recipe.
2. Beef Jerky!
3. Make your own Mayonnaise.
4. Build a slosh tube or sand bag for exercising at home.
5. Do any of the cool projects from instructables.com or another Do It Yourself project site.
Take pride in your work… enjoy something that YOU put some work into.
For more info on Fight Back Friday articles from other blogs go to Foodrenegade.com – Fight Back Fridays.
March 20th, 2009 - 8:27 am
I have twice attempted mayonnaise with no success. Today, I will try again…
March 20th, 2009 - 8:37 am
Damaged Justice,
After several failed attempts for apparently no reason… I have discovered that the trick is to not add the oil too quickly. At the begginning, you need to add the oil in such small amounts that it almost feel ridiculous. Start very very VERY small with the oil and then you can add more as you get it going. If you add to much at the beggining at ALL… it will break the emulsification and ruin the entire batch. Hope that helps!
March 20th, 2009 - 9:00 am
Hi SoG — Thanks for joining in Fight Back Fridays today! You’re right, there is a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in doing things yourself. What a great challenge for the weekend!
March 20th, 2009 - 9:13 am
I made 2 of your recipes last night, the Apple Caveman Cookies, and the Banana nut bites…. I melted some Lindt 80% Dark chocolate and drizzled it over the top of the BNB’s to make them extra yummy!
Keep up the great posts, your blog is great.
March 20th, 2009 - 9:35 am
FoodRenegade,
Anytime!
Dean,
Glad you enjoyed the recipes. The chocolate drizzle is not a bad idea. 80% is too sweet for me especially since the recipes are already sweet. I might try some 100% ghiradeli drizzled on them though!
March 20th, 2009 - 10:09 am
I actually plan on making your caveman banana bits today! They seem so easy and delish.
I love to do stuff myself but have been lacking the motivation. This weekend I am working on a major garden overhaul and cant wait to do it and have that accomplishment on my hands!
March 20th, 2009 - 1:19 pm
A non-food related DIY: Sort of along these lines, I recently inflicted a DIY on myslef. I use 2 cases of bottled water for my clients in my studio each week. Rather than buying them at the local Cow Museum (my name for any superstore)and recycyling the bottles, I now wash and re-use the same bottles and fill them with my own filtered water. This process is more time consuming than just buying water, but I have to say, when I wash those bottles (pain in the a#@) I feel like I’m doing something good.
March 20th, 2009 - 2:21 pm
SoG, I’m so wanting to try your caveman bars but for the life of me, I cannot find unsweetened coconut ANYWHERE in town. I think I’m going to have to break down and buy it online. Thanks for putting this information out there. I’ve just recently began reading your blog, but it’s packed full of great information.
March 20th, 2009 - 2:28 pm
Courtney,
Have fun with the BNBs! they are easy, delicious and portable. i hope they turn out well for you. A garden overhaul sounds like an ambitious project in and of itself!
Emergefit,
How environmentally concious of you! I was under the impression that those bottles were cleaned and reused as it is?
Motherhen,
If you have a local kroger, smith’s or equivalent grocery they have unsweetned coconut in the baking isle for 99 cents per bag. Great deal!
March 20th, 2009 - 3:15 pm
Shhhhh!
March 20th, 2009 - 7:53 pm
Unsweetened coconut may be in the “organic” or “health” section too, even if it isn’t organic.
March 20th, 2009 - 10:33 pm
Thanks, I’ll check those “health” sections. SoG, unfortunately, no Kroger’s here.
March 21st, 2009 - 8:15 am
I have had great success asking the store manager to start carrying items that they don’t presently carry. Try it at ur local store!
March 22nd, 2009 - 4:52 am
SOG,
Thanks for the link love. I made some “pesto mayo” yesterday.
One day late for fight back Friday.
Marc
March 22nd, 2009 - 8:23 am
hmm, I made your egg salad on tuesday for which I also made Mark’s mayonnaise – both turned out great, but does anyone have any idea how long I should be able to keep the mayonnaise in the fridge before it’ll go bad? also, it came out yellow (with a touch of green), is it supposed to?
so I hope this counts as my DIY project .)
I also bought stuff to try out your gorilla cake, I might do it later, but more likely next week…
March 22nd, 2009 - 9:00 am
Angel,
You mean the section of the store most people avoid like the plague? lol
Motherhen68,
bummer.. i like kroger
lm,
You kind of live in a specialty market though
Marc,
Pesto Mayo? That sounds good!
Vasco,
It does turn out very yellow. That is the way classic mayo should look. Not sure about the green bit though? Enjoy the Gorlla cake too!
March 25th, 2009 - 9:45 pm
[...] WE CAN!) 10. Beginning Condiments-1st time 11. Laryssa @Heaven In The Home (How To Stay Well) 12. Son of Grok (DIY Challenge) 13. Kyle (Vitamin D) 14. vehementflame(THE RIGHT LINK [...]
April 7th, 2009 - 12:18 pm
Here’s a tip for making mayonnaise – put the oil into a “squeeze bottle” (like you’d find holding mustard at a picnic) and use that to put the oil into your blender or food processor with the rest of the ingredients while it’s being blended or processed. I find that it should take at least a full minute to add all the oil. I’ve never had mayonnaise fail using this method.
Good luck!
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July 3rd, 2009 - 8:54 am
Didn
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November 30th, 2009 - 11:31 am
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