What I learned today (Take Two)

I purchased a couple of 10-pk Jagermeister Cold Brew Coffees for $5 each. Comes in cute, little Jager bottles that you pour over ice. 66 proof.

I had one of the best melons yesterday—so sweet and juicy. This year's strawberries are huge, and I have a large bag of those, as well. Also, I have a beautiful pineapple sitting on my granite counter at the kitchen window. I have put off cutting into it because it looks so perfect there. Big meat eater here and I usually plan my meals around meat or seafood. I grew up on the coast of Eureka, CA, and fresh fish was always on the table, as were chickens raised by grandpa or rabbits. Then I met Gene, and he and his dad owned a business selling fresh, locally raised beef, wild deer, and more. He introduced me to so much that I had never eaten, like real steaks, not the pounded flat pieces my mom used to buy.

We've had mulberries show up at our farmer's market the last couple of weeks. They're great to eat out of hand, and they make a nice cocktail when muddled with some gin, lemon juice, and orgeat. Subbing in pear eau de vie for the gin is even better.

[Jenise]

Cool! I've never had a mulberry.

What I learned today is that Laura Chenel goat cheese is like 100X better than the store brand at Costco. Laura's is tangier, and has a great crumbly texture--what goat cheese was meant to be. I bought this log before seeing the Alice Waters segment of A Chef's Table this week, where I learned that it was Alice's championing of Laura's cheese on her menus that pretty much made people aware of goat cheese, something not understood or popular before then. I know Chez Panisse was my first experience with it as well.

So I had the Chenel for Saturday night's dinner, then separately I bought some "goat logs" as my receipt ingloriously called them, at Costco to stuff into mushrooms for an appie I was taking to a wine tasting on Friday night. A single purchase is two logs. I've been happy with the Costco product in the long ago past but I think this is a different manufacturer, and it's weirdly smooth and latex-creamy, and leaves a slimy film in your mouth. Never again! I don't care how much you get for how little money, it's not worth skimping on the Chenel.

When I lived in Omaha NB there was a white mulberry (the Asian species that silkworms feed on) bush in our back alley. There was a very tall red mulberry (US native species) tree in Nashua NH in the parking lot of a local medical building. Unfortunately it was cut down when they renovated the building.

Both species have delicious fruit.

-Paul W.

When I lived in Omaha NB there was a white mulberry (the Asian species that silkworms feed on) bush in our back alley. There was a very tall red mulberry (US native species) tree in Nashua NH in the parking lot of a local medical building. Unfortunately it was cut down when they renovated the building.

Both species have delicious fruit.

-Paul W.

Ours must be the red mulberry - they're very dark purple.

Cool! I've never had a mulberry.

What I learned today is that Laura Chenel goat cheese is like 100X better than the store brand at Costco. Laura's is tangier, and has a great crumbly texture--what goat cheese was meant to be. I bought this log before seeing the Alice Waters segment of A Chef's Table this week, where I learned that it was Alice's championing of Laura's cheese on her menus that pretty much made people aware of goat cheese, something not understood or popular before then. I know Chez Panisse was my first experience with it as well.

So I had the Chenel for Saturday night's dinner, then separately I bought some "goat logs" as my receipt ingloriously called them, at Costco to stuff into mushrooms for an appie I was taking to a wine tasting on Friday night. A single purchase is two logs. I've been happy with the Costco product in the long ago past but I think this is a different manufacturer, and it's weirdly smooth and latex-creamy, and leaves a slimy film in your mouth. Never again! I don't care how much you get for how little money, it's not worth skimping on the Chenel.

It was interesting to read this because Laura Chenel goat cheese is the only one I have ever seen or used. A friend told me that goat cheese was her fave long ago, and I was introduced to the product. It is readily available in our neighborhood grocery store and yes , it is very good. I'm never without it.

Yesterday I learned that a food processor is not a good way to mince pork belly fat. The Thai sausage recipe calls for both minced pork and diced pork belly fat. The food processor managed to puree the pork belly fat while at the same time leaving behind stringy gristle. I would have been far better off mincing the pork belly with a Chinese cleaver.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

I've chopped meat in a food processor, Paul, and it works fine but you have to be conservative in your timing and there can't be any gristle involved, as you discovered.

Yesterday I discovered that commercially frozen collard greens are good. I bought them somewhere months ago, and I was tempted mostly because I'd never seen frozen collards before. In the south, I'm sure they're a stock item, like field peas, but here on the west coast no. I brought them back to life with water, garlic and olive oil, and really enjoyed them. Of course, fresh is best--always. but for a fast leafy green to go with a pork chop, I was happy.

The only meat I've chopped in a food processor is chicken breasts. I needed a topper for my pup's kibble and was out of burger meat, or leftover meat. It worked great for that need.

[Jenise]

Today I learned why cherries are both expensive and kind of scarce right now, even though it's a WA crop. Usually, where I live, there are sellers on multiple street corners as well as fully loaded grocery stores.

The problem is not enough pickers. They're in hiding due to the ICE raids. The irony is that most of the farmers probably voted for it--Eastern Washington where the orchards are is Trump Country.

I sincerely hope those farmers get just what they voted for: an empty till.

I am missing the Rainer cherries, which are my favorite. They are advertised to be in grocery stores, but when I want them, they are nowhere to be found; only the dark red ones are available. Now, I know why.

I'm with Jeff. You get what you vote for.

We've been seeing plenty of cherries of several different varieties - bing, coral (our favorite), garnet, and rainier. Only at the farmer's market, though. These are all small growers and it may well be that they don't rely on the migrant pickers that larger producers need.

I am missing the Rainer cherries, which are my favorite. They are advertised to be in grocery stores, but when I want them, they are nowhere to be found; only the dark red ones are available. Now, I know why.

Interesting. We have been getting Rainier cherries from the west coast for over a month in the grocery stores. So that must be large distribution, although perhaps your particular grocery stores are not accessing them.

The east coast Rainiers have also just started, in the farmers market, but that's a different story.

Regardless, lots of crazy drama in the agriculture industry...

For years, I have purchased my dried spices and herbs from Penzeys. I love their packaging, I can get from small to refill bags. Their refill bags seal well, and I put them into freezer bags and keep them in a drawer away from heat and light. The product keeps well for years. They also send free packets of their product with each order. I have a pull-out shelf in my spice pantry filled with those freebies. They make great small gifts for family and friends who love it when I give them a choice of what they want. HOWEVER, I dislike how they toss their political views out to the buyers with postcards, flyers, and even names on spice packages. Their latest is this:

Penzeys Revolution Season Orange for Gun Sanity
https://www.penzeys.com › penzeys-revolution › pd-s
Hand-mixed from: Flake salt, Tellicherry black pepper, cane sugar, turmeric, minced orange peel and coriander.
Here's what it means:
Wear Orange/Season Orange: It's a play on the "Wear Orange" campaign, which is a movement to raise awareness about gun violence. By offering an "Orange Seasoning" and aligning with the "Wear Orange" weekend, Penzeys encouraged people to support gun control and think about the impact of gun violence.

This drives me nuts, and I always toss out the postcards and pay no attention to the rest. Why does a company feel the need to do this?

[Jenise]

Bill Penzey is a guy who lives his truth. He's a man for the people and he's going to object to political villainry at all costs or go down fighting. Although I mostly agree with him I don't read the rants, I just buy what I want and get on with it. Maybe you should too?

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting. I really like Penzy’s and enjoy that we are politically aligned. I have to admit that if there was MAGA-related stuff in the box I would never order again.

No form of protest sm.jpg

For years, I have purchased my dried spices and herbs from Penzeys. I love their packaging, I can get from small to refill bags. Their refill bags seal well, and I put them into freezer bags and keep them in a drawer away from heat and light. The product keeps well for years. They also send free packets of their product with each order. I have a pull-out shelf in my spice pantry filled with those freebies. They make great small gifts for family and friends who love it when I give them a choice of what they want. HOWEVER, I dislike how they toss their political views out to the buyers with postcards, flyers, and even names on spice packages. Their latest is this:

Penzeys Revolution Season Orange for Gun Sanity
https://www.penzeys.com › penzeys-revolution › pd-s
Hand-mixed from: Flake salt, Tellicherry black pepper, cane sugar, turmeric, minced orange peel and coriander.
Here's what it means:
Wear Orange/Season Orange: It's a play on the "Wear Orange" campaign, which is a movement to raise awareness about gun violence. By offering an "Orange Seasoning" and aligning with the "Wear Orange" weekend, Penzeys encouraged people to support gun control and think about the impact of gun violence.

This drives me nuts, and I always toss out the postcards and pay no attention to the rest. Why does a company feel the need to do this?

I get it, Karen, and it's a risk for them to wear their politics on their sleeves as they do. Look at what's happened to Tesla after Elon's political involvement. Personally, I don't disagree with their stands but if I did, I'd find other sources for my spices. We have a nice place locally that is great for both classic herbs and spices and blends that they make.