Ferms

I got my first head of cabbage of the season, and immediately turned it into to kraut. It was regular cabbage (the official name escapes me now).

So, some changes to the original recipe. I'm doing them in old country crock containers, as I don't have a ceramic dish I can use for that size for that long. I also was able to use juice from last season's batch as a starter. It's been less than a week, and already really bubbly. And, last batch was awesome on the boy's birthday brats!

In other news, my sourdough starter turned 15 months the other day. Sadly, all I did was feed it. I need to bake a loaf soon.

the jam post is here!

Wow, must have been some sammich as I'm just now getting back to posting about it... I've been busy, er, lazy. Yeah, that's more like it. Ok, cutting myself some slack. I've been busy and lazy. As in by the time I'm done being busy during the day, I just want to be lazy at night. Having a kid can fry your brain.

Any way. Marmalade, in a crock pot. I've been on a crock pot kick since I quit my job. It helps tremendously, really. So great to just dump every thing in there and be done with dinner so that I may child-tend.

So without further ado: Orange grapefruit marmalade

4 oranges

2 grapefruits

sugar

Slice everything as thinly as possible. I segmented the grapefruit, I didn't want that my pith in it making it all bitter.

Alternate layer of citrus/sugar

Add a pinch of salt (cause it makes everything better)

Set it on low(and forget it) ok, not entirely, I stirred it every once in awhile

I ended up pureeing mine because I can't cut too thinly, and I wanted a more uniform consistency, too.

I started this kind of late in the afternoon, and had to continue the next day so I can't quite give exact cooking time. Just taste it from time to time. The house smelled so deliciously wonderful! The fruit came from G & S Grove down in south Texas and were organically grown.

Preview: Orange Grapefruit Marmelade

I made some, in the crockpot. I just had a bite of a peanut butter and orange grapefruit marmelade sammich. I'll post more about it later, but right now, I want to eat my delicious sammich in the comfort of my bed before going to sleep.

Sauerpuss face

Ok, second batch of sauerkraut is ready to go! Now that dark corner of my kitchen can stop smelling like, well, fermented goodness. And hopefully, the last of the sauerkraut posts!

I don't have any food projects going on! I did just read on a friend's blog that she started kombocha, which sounds awesome to me, so I may work on that.

I haven't taken food pix in awhile, sadly, either. Oh wait, I have this: I love how brussels on the stalk look.

LL Sauerkraut

Well, the sauerkraut was a success. I have another batch working since, well, I got another head of cabbage in my farm box. I gifted the first jar, so this batch I'm keeping. Well, maybe, I got another head in the farm box.

So speaking of fermentation... My sourdough starter turns a year old this week! It's made me many a loaf of sourdough deliciousness.

A friend posted a blog that listed how to make things yourself, i.e. baking powder, brown sugar, and butter. I'm considering this. Especially for the business. It's hard to find bulk organic brown sugar, but to make it myself would be awesome. I did make my own butter last night, and it was pretty easy. Not sure how often I'd do that though.

So looks like a short post today as I have to no recipe to share right now.

Shins and kraut

Well, I'm trying really hard to keep up with this thing, but it seems I have a lot going on. I have officially started my own business selling lactation cookies. Which you can check out here. Seems more rewarding than working for the man. Who sometimes just isn't that nice.

Another food project I'm working is sauerkraut. The fermentation process fascinates me. I have a starter that's about to turn a year actually for which, I'm thinking of having a party. And some kimchi. Back to the sauerkraut. It's supposed to take 2-4 weeks, but it's already stanky fermenty and it's been 10 days. Should be good and ripe next week then.

My recipe is loosely based on this, but as usual, I tweaked it some. I'm sure I'll be posting pix of it when it's done. And when it's done, I'll be enjoying on top of some beer-soaked brats. Shins(Chutes Too Narrow) make good blogging about sauerkraut music.

There are 4 jars now actually....

Homemade sauerkraut
1 head napa cabbage
salt
water
random jars (qt size seems to work so far)

Cut napa into thin strips, put into bowl salting a little as you work so that it's napa, salt, napa and so on. Give it a courtesy stir, and then let it sit for about an hour. Jam into jars. Make saltwater solution of 1tsp per cup of warm water (to dissolve) and pour into jar, cover with a towel to keep random kitchen bits out. meaning you just leave it in a corner for a while (2-4 weeks depending on how stanky you like it). Best to put a plate under it, seems to bubble over sometimes. if the top looks gross, skim it off. Will post final review upon completion.