FOOD LAB

Food preparation can be frustrating for some. I’ve failed a lot in the kitchen, and I find it cathartic to share some of my more epic missteps. Curiosity about new foods is so important! I am not trained in the culinary arts, and this fact will be abundantly clear as you read along. The page is named for one of my favorite classes in undergrad, and a landing spot for my most recent misadventures in the kitchen.

April 5, 2022: I am always looking for another way to use chickpeas. I made falafel last year at this time for my food service rotation and was craving it. I’ve been banned from frying anything in my kitchen, so I conned my husband into a food lab project in the garage. Must use dried soaked chickpeas though, so some prep required. My foodservice preceptor would be yelling at me for not using fava beans. The Pinterest recipe was not great but could be saved with some modifications. Gave us horrible gas and a quart of oil I can’t use again, but hey, it was a project. Will bake in oven next time – and make tahini sauce for it.

December 2020: large tubs of commercial hummus are boring and bland, so tried making my own. Roasted the garlic and everything. Ended up in very tasty wallpaper paste that is dense enough to break Triscuit cardboard squares in half, but overall pleased for a first run. Needs some tweaking. Gave half to the in-laws for beta testing, and drywall patch should they need it.

21-Oct-19: this looks like it might be a Delicata but we aren’t sure. Could be a cross-breed. See blog page for post on Gordy-How? for further details (hint: it ends in me eating it)
20-Oct-19: what is left of the 2019 grape harvest…… a gallon and a glass of juice. we chugged the glass, and it was pretty good for the absence of added sugar.
I’m trying to process the grapes before they go ferm-y on me – the container in the fridge smelled like it was considering turning into something else, so I boiled them to salvage what I could. Might just be juice this year, if I can actually finish this project.

5-Oct-19: squirrel in a bacon blanket over a campfire. For the record, I didn’t want the bacon. I had never tried squirrel before – drums are better than backstraps, but still not good – I can check it off the list now. Shot by Hubs in Grayling while camping. Had a co-worker tell me later the Red ones aren’t good eating….. can confirm.

26-Sept-19: the 2019 Grape Harvest – not as big as last year, but respectable.

the last of the summer vegetables – Rainbow Chard and cherry tomatoes.