Author: cdwan

I am vaguely irritated that I noticed at the *end* of my morning of processing food that the salt I had sitting out was the iodized one, not the “canning” one (which does not contain iodine). I switched them around at some point, and since they’re the same form factor, didn’t notice until the end of the day. Dunno whether it happened first thing, or at some point in the middle.

Using iodized salt won’t harm the food, but it will cause it to discolor. My cheerful greens will give way to brown over the next couple of months.

So I’ve got 7 quarts of pickles and 6 quarts of beans that are going to preserve just fine, but that will most likely discolor and look unappetizing. Gah. Frustrating end to a very enjoyable morning.

Now, out to the store to pick up parmesian cheese to try this trick with the rest of the basil.

On the same theme as my last post:

If anyone has suggestions for preserving, oh, say, about another four pounds of basil, I would be in your debt.

The second iteration of our “preservation share” from a local farm was ready today. We went to the farm and picked up our FIFTEEN POUNDS of pickling cucumbers, and our FIVE POUNDS of basil. Yes. Five pounds. The car smells like pesto now. In addition, we picked about 7 pounds of green beans. On the way home, on the way to the canning salt and bands and lids, I saw an awesome selection of fresh cherries. My cherry preserves are one of my favorite canned goods every year, and cherry season is critically short. So I bought those.

This afternoon, I did the cherry preserves, made about 20 servings of pesto, and started the pickle process. This involves soaking the cukes overnight in a brine. Tomorrow, I shall rinse them and pack them in jars with all sorts of spices.

And what of the beans? I think that I shall just preserve them. Simple cold pack canning.

I feel downright happy. Why am I not a farmer? Oh yeah, the pay is crap, the life is hard, and computers are simple for me.

I keep asking myself how I would live my life if I lived it according to my beliefs instead of keeping my beliefs fairly isolated from my actions. In the spirit of baby steps in the correct direction, I present my modified version of the Dark Days Local Eating Challenge

Each participant can set their own rules, but generally they are:

1. We have to cook one meal a week with at least 90% local ingredients. For the benefit of my detail oriented friends (jrtom) “90%” in this context means “predominantly”.

2. We have to write about it – the triumphs and the challenges

3. Local means a 200 mile radius for raw ingredients. For processed foods the company must be within 200 miles and committed to local sources.

I plan to keep this up through the end of the year, and then re-evaluate on New Year’s Day

The challenge starts now. All are welcome to play, but you gotta write about it.

Once upon a time, if the legends are true, my parents fed themselves (and little baby me!) for an entire winter using preserves from their very own garden, trade with the neighbors, and a half cow in a freezer up the street. That would be, like, 28 times harder than what I’m proposing here.

This is what I look like when I’m completely relaxed.

Last night, I had a dream. In my dream, I was meditating.

In other news, my cat’s ears are warm and soft. I know this because she’s rubbing the top of her head on my chin.

There’s an essay online talking about hosting the Dalai Lama back in the day. I found a certain resonance, even though I’ll never have that simple and straightforward experience with the man.

I’ve tried to set fingers to keyboard, and even pen to paper (how primitive!), to describe his personal magnetism. I’ve failed each time. Suffice it to say that this is a man who, when he enters a stadium, thousands of people become silent and rise to their feet unprompted.

The name “Dalai Lama” literally translates as “Ocean of Wisdom,” and there is something oceanic in his teachings. Something akin to watching the tide, as he shifts though his mind to explain a difficult concept or to answer a question.

On the road this week. A day at NASA, a quick visit to my dad, and two days in Maryland. This trip feels … uninspired. Professionally necessary and useful, but hotels are getting old again.

Saw Dark Knight last night. That was intense. Perhaps not “pants crappingly intense,” as my brother put it … but hardcore. It’s a movie about violent, crazy people.

Stuck around the theatre to watch Wanted. That was a total waste of time. Okay, not a total waste of time … since Angelina Jolie is still damn attractive … but as a movie? Waste of time. For free, from 10 to midnight, not so bad.

Home tonight to play host to brother and sister in law for the weekend, including a concert in the Berkshires. Yahoo!

Our community supported agriculture farm wants to give us our “preservation share” of basil, cukes, and beans … all tomorrow.

In other news, I’m vaguely disappointed that we actually seem to be a socialist state. When we privatize the rewards of an endeavor, it’s only fair to privatize the risks as well. Given that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders were all too happy to reap dividends in the good times, I think that they should be left to swing in the bad times.