u/AngryBuffalo33

A while ago I made a post to ask for advice on making an indoor aviary space for our two parrots, this is the update on that post with what we have done so far!

Next week we will have someone professional come to Talk to us about having a glass wall added but for now we bolted a wooden beam and plexiglass to the wall (very sturdy, it won’t fall) and some planks drilled at the bottom as the plexiglass didn’t reach the floor.

For inside the aviary we got a XL Java tree where we added some of their favourite tree tunnels and a new swing also made of Java wood. I added a little bath to the side for them temporarily but will look for a nice bird bath stand or solution.

We will likely add plastic Ikea matts to the floor but wanted to observe how they like and use the aviary first. I also want to add more bird things into the room but not sure what yet! Originally we were hoping for a XXL Java stand with two trees but they were not able to ship that.

My two parrots are settling in but got a bit spooked of the tree! Open to any feedback or suggestions 🙏

I’m hoping to build a Catio/Birdio style outdoor space where we can open the aviary window and they have an outdoor aviary, but that will come later as with so many cats around we need a sturdy safe solution.
They will have curtains soon too!

I asked a year ago regarding major cracks in my new homes fireplace, we « fixed » this in two stages:

1. We taped over the cracks with thick painters tape and then painted over the cracks, this was a very temporary fix while we looked for a more permanent one where we managed to not have the fireplace look tooo out of place.
2. A more permanent fix done by a contractor who added a metal mesh and patched up the cracks. Now we are waiting for the fireplace inspector/cleaner to check the fireplace before we use it. :)

Thank you to this sub for the support!! Edit to add specific thank yous to Lots_of_bricks, Alive_Pomegranate858 and GhostTengu

Felt nostalgic for Dutch apple pie I had growing up and visiting my family in Holland so I tried this recipe: https://rutgerbakt.nl/taart-recepten/appeltaart/vegan-appeltaart-recept/

It came out great!! I really like the look of the glaze too which is with heated apricot jam, I’ll try and remember that trick for the next times I try and replace a egg wash in sweet dishes and see if it works ok with savoury ones.

Copying the recipe from the site link above (I didn’t add the rum and just added the raisins dry to the apple mix):

« For the dough

375 g flour

175 g white granulated sugar

1½ tsp baking powder

zest of ½-1 lemon

¼ tsp salt

250 grams of ice-cold vegan butter, cut into small cubes(Alpro)

20 ml aquafaba

For the filling

100 ml dark spiced rum

200 g dark raisins

1¼ kilos of firm, slightly tart apples (for example Jonagold)

50 grams of sugar

2½ tbsp custard powder

1½ tsp cinnamon powder

1 tbsp ground cardamom

juice of ½ - 1 lemon

20 grams of breadcrumbs

Further needed

vegetable butter, for greasing(Alpro)

flour, for the work surface (when you are going to roll out the dough)

20 ml aquafaba

1 tbsp sugar

100 g apricot jam

Vegan apple pie recipe – Step-by-step making 

Line the bottom of a 24-centimeter springform pan with baking paper and grease the sides with vegetable butter. 

Making dough for vegan apple pie

Put the flour, caster sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl and rub the plant-based butter into it with your fingertips until coarse crumbs form. Alternatively, you can do this in a food processor with blades; pulse the mixture until coarse crumbs form. Add the aquafaba and knead everything briefly into a dough. Add a very small amount of water if necessary to obtain a smooth dough. 

Set aside about 250 grams of dough to make the top later. Press the rest of the dough evenly against the bottom and sides of the tin. Let the tin with the dough rest in the refrigerator, covered, for about 1 hour. You can also choose to let the dough rest in the refrigerator first and then roll it out into a round sheet large enough to cover the tin and sides. This yields a slightly more even result, but the first method is the easiest! 

Making filling for vegan apple pie

Meanwhile, for the pie filling, bring the rum and raisins to a boil in a small pan. Then remove the pan from the heat and let the raisins soak in the rum and cool. Cut the (unpeeled) apples into quarters, remove the core, and cut the apple into wedges. Mix the apple in a large bowl with the sugar, custard powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and lemon juice. 

Making a cake

Preheat the oven to 180°C, with a rack on the lowest shelf. Sprinkle the base of the pie with the breadcrumbs. 

Drain the raisins and pat them dry thoroughly with kitchen paper. Mix the raisins with the apple mixture and spoon this into the tin. Gently press down the pie filling so that it is compact. Roll out the reserved dough into snakes about 1/4 cm thick and use them to form a lattice on top of the apple filling.

Baking vegan apple pie

Mix the extra aquafaba with the tablespoon of sugar and brush the dough with it. Bake the apple pie for 65-80 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Cover the top if it threatens to become too brown. 

Let the cake cool before removing it from the springform pan. Put the apricot jam in a small saucepan and heat it while stirring. Brush the cooled cake with the warm jam for a beautiful shine.

Recipe development in collaboration with Dosia Brewer

Photo: Erik Spronk «