The Mushroom Factor

When it came to cooking, I used to hate chopping.

That’s changed lately for several reasons. First off, our new kitchen’s got me out of the cramped pantry where I used to do such seemingly tedious prep work. Secondly, my mother-in-law gave be a great set of Chicago Cutlery knives so I’m no longer sawing at food with worn, dull blades. And lastly, we’ve had a recent addition to our kitchen.

Isn’t it awesome?

It’s a butcher block—a beefy chunk that, if it could speak, would surely say in a raw, meaty voice, “Call me Solly.”

Years ago, as we formulated our kitchen renovation plan, we knew we wanted some kind of island. We held off, however, until the cabinetry was in just to be sure there was enough room. Once we determined there was, we then began tossing around ideas of what the island should be (meaning what did I want my husband to build).

Then my sister showed us her kitchen. I. was. smitten. Okay, I even wanted to copy her. Isn’t that what sisters do?

As owners of Butterfi LLC, my sister and her partner mastermind and market delicious, fiber-enhanced dairy products. They do this from their California kitchen, assisted by a beautiful, old butcher block. If a butcher block would help me cook as good as they do, then I wanted one of them thar things too!

Start, then, my 12-month Ebay search for a used, preferably antique butcher block.

Let me tell you, they’re a bit pricey. At least, for me.

When one’s husband has a ready supply of both wood and talent, as does mine, it makes sense to weigh the cost-effectiveness of purchasing something or having it built. As a result, my specifications for a butcher block were pretty clear cut: functional, low enough cost and close enough locale.

Last week, Solly showed up only 80 miles south in Mundelein, Ill., just down the road from Krystyna’s Polish Deli, where my husband had to stop for blood sausage (gag).

Let me describe this lovely hunk of a butcher block: It’s legs are a stocky 3 1/2″ inches in diameter. The block is 30x24x14 inches. What’s most interesting is the block is constructed of end grain maple pieces dovetailed together.

It obviously had been used in a real butcher shop because, well, to put it mildly, there were telltale stains everywhere. The surface was also a bit spongy. But that’s why butcher blocks are made as thick as they are: for resurfacing. Which is exactly what my husband did (who, inconsequently, is built very much like Solly).

So, my husband spent a couple hours power sanding. And I spent another hour scrubbing and bleaching (I’m a little strange that way when it comes to things of questionable origin and upon which I plan to place my food).

Now we have this great, solid butcher block sitting in the middle of our kitchen. The size is perfect for the space. It’s handy for setting things on as we move about the work zone. And, as I love to tell my dinner guests, it’s perfect for chopping raw pork and chicken.

Just kidding…

Anyway, chopping has now become my favorite part of cooking.

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The question of reglazing bathroom fixtures often arises in homeowner forums and inevitably the answers are varied. Eight years ago, as we removed the 1950′s plastic tile from our Craftsman-era bathroom, we contemplated reglazing vs. replacing the bathtub.

Our decision to reglaze was pretty easy and for us, it’s been the right choice. We’ve since enjoyed years of luxurious soaks in a glorious tub.

Our old tub is a 5-ft. cast iron clawfoot that’s original to our 1917 American Foursquare home. It’s finish was worn but passable, save the pink non-skid flowers previous owners had stuck to the bottom. Over time the flowers began to peel and left behind an unsightly adhesive.

Have you ever submerged yourself in a clawfoot? Such a tub is pre-water-restriction era and to slip into its steaming bath, scented with a splash of essential oil, is truly nirvana. Needless to say, pink flowers or not, we did not want to give up this tub.

We called John Harrison of Cream City Tub & Tile. He promised reglazing would indeed bring new life to our tub, but I also remember him advising us that reglazing does have limitations. The acrylic finish he suggested came with a 5-yr. warranty and helpful instructions for care and cleaning.

Being a clawfoot, we could easily take the tub out of the bathroom for off-site refinishing. OK, maybe not easily…it was pretty heavy and we had to manuever it down the stairs. But taking it out of the house was advantagious. My husband sand and water-blasted away the old finish, thus saving us some costs. We also didn’t have to breathe the fumes as it was reglazed and cured.

The disadvantage? We had to transport the tub back home and get it up the stairs without killing each other or marring the finish. Somehow, we managed.

For us, the reglaze has worked well for several reasons. Cream City Tub & Tile are reputable specialists and did a top quality job. We care for the tub according to instructions. Because it’s not in our primary bathroom, the tub’s use is limited. And finally, our four children are grown and no longer at home.

Eight years later, what do we think? We love it. We plan to continue luxurious soaks for years to come.

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