Cacao, Chocolate, and Fermentation
Do fermentation and chocolate go together? YES, actually. What we taste and enjoy as chocolate would not be possible without fermentation! When cacao seeds (the part of the Theobroma cacao …
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Chiles in Escabeche
Escabeche has a fascinating history. The word originally comes from the Persian al-sikbaj, literally meaning “vinegar food”. After mingling with the Spanish, it eventually became part of the Spanish and …
Real Food Resources
Several people have asked me about what I buy and where I shop for “real food”, so I decided to compile a list of resources and provide some definitions. Much …
Passion fruit Jam
Last year, my neighbor politely asked me if it was okay for his passion fruit (Passiflora edulis var. Frederick) vine to grow over my fence. Thinking ahead to the bounty …
Banana or Pumpkin Bread or Muffins
Loaf or muffins? Banana or Pumpkin? It’s four recipes in one! These muffins/bread are a good nutrient-dense way to use some of that sourdough discard. It employs the “muffin method” …
Cultured Ice Cream (Dairy and Vegan varieties)
After struggling in vain to find an ice cream brand that really knows me and also meets my high standards for ingredients (simplicity and quality), I took matters into my …
Mustard
The word mustard derives from Latin, mustum (fermented wine) + ardens (“hot” seeds). The well-known spicy condiment is made from the seeds of either the white (aka yellow) mustard plant …
Dill Pickle Powder (Seasoning)
Have you ever made a batch of pickles that weren’t crisp and they’re just not enjoyable in their fresh form? Or, maybe you’ve have a jar that has sat in …
Pickles (Garlic Dill Cucumbers)
You’ve never made homemade fermented dill pickles? They’re simple and sublime! Be warned: once you have, you’ll never buy pickles from the grocery store again. And if you’re a certain …
Sourdough Soft Pretzels
Having my sourdough starter being super active while baking lots of loaves of bread (doubling in about 3 hours), I ventured out into snack land, and decided to make sourdough …
