Ice Crystals

Sometimes I am amazed by what I can find around the house to take pictures of. As I continue to educate myself on how to use my new/used camera, I'm always looking for something to shoot...

Yesterday I was finishing up my mushroom base/consomme project and came across these fascinating ice crystals on top of my sliced mushrooms that I was flash freezing.

  And the money shot.

Pretty cool...

W

Black Garlic (Black Gold) Part 2

 It has been 2 months since I ventured into the realm of "Black Garlic". Overall it has been an eye opening effort, having forever changed the way that I'll cook. Everytime I use this wonderful elixir my taste buds do the happy dance. I have recipes that I've been making for years and by adding the black garlic in some way the dishes are transformed. 

Marg is my sous chef, taste tester and she will comment when she notices a change. It has repeatedly been the addition of the black garlic. As simple as adding black garlic infused olive oil into my normal egg salad and wow the flavor profile changes into something totally different. Giving off a richness that is hard to describe...

As I'm now starting my third batch of black garlic I wanted to share my discoveries about the second batch. I used what is called "Elephant Garlic" instead of normal garlic. This garlic (head) is the size of a baseball-softball and the cloves have a more subtle flavor than normal garlic. 

After fermenting them for 2 weeks I did a test and stopped the process early. The individual cloves had a rich crude oil color and the consistency was pliable enough to thinly slice with a razor blade. The oils in the cloves ran like molasses when stored and left a residual in the bottom of the container. The heads that I stored (complete), weeped their oil into the skins that  will later be used when making my mushroom base/consomme.

My first use of the Elephant Black Garlic would go on a homemade pizza. I prepared the black garlic by slicing a clove with a single edge razor blade (thinly) and then put the slices on a lightly oiled (black garlic infused EVOO) gluten free crust I was preparing. Oh boy can you say yummy! Another recipe to share...

W

 

The Dream

There I was concerned for my safety, he was an immediate threat. What could I do? watch and learn... He was menacing, dangerous and a threat to the people I was near. 

I knew I'd never been in this place before and understood that it was another dream.

They were a large Italian family living in a classic expansive home with a lot of heavy antique furniture. The feel of the home was comforting, although the sense of foreboding was almost overwhelming. 

Why? 

Then I saw him with precise and controlled strokes, carving something into the side of the bureau in the bedroom. The knife he used was short with a heavy curved blade, something like you would use to skin an animal.

As I watched silently pondering his actions I could tell that I was a spectator, part of my dream. As he finished, turned and casually left the room he looked over his shoulder. 

I contemplated, was he here for me?

Looking at the carving I could not make out the elegant script. Going into the bathroom I found a washcloth, moistened it and returned to the carving on the bureau. Wiping the moist cloth across the aptly skilled carvings the inscribed words popped...

"It all starts today"

Was the carving from an accomplished craftsman or a killer? 

Yes, I am consciously aware that this is a dream although I'm trying to stay in control of the story line in my subconscious. 

Moving forward into the initial interaction with the matriarch of the family. 

As I'm explaining to her what I've seen she immediately starts to reach out to the "family". As they start to gather one man questions her as to who I am, and the matriarch subdues him trusting in what I've told her. 

Calm she is, strong and concerned. It appears as I look at the faces around me that the patriarch has not been contacted yet. I can see the concern in the matriarch's eyes, although she hides it well from her gathering family. 

I go back to the bureau and attempt to take a picture (on my phone) of the carving. My desire is to text it to the patriarch. I'm surrounded with an overwhelming sense of obligation. Repeatedly my picture attempts fail, I can not get the phone's camera to work. Moving ever so slightly towards an angry frustration I again consciously alter the dream and get the camera to work. 

Next I'm in a large (almost) warehouse size room, that's nicely furnished with elegant antiques. The protagonist family member is at me again questioning my loyalty? Anew the matriarch steps in and talks with me and looks at the photo I am texting to her husband. Once again concern flashes in her eyes, though none of the family can see this. She continues to talk reassuringly to each of the family members present.  Kind of cool how this one woman can keep a family at ease, in the middle of a crisis even when she doesn't yet know the possible outcome. 

Slowly I awaken and as with any dream that needs to be remembered I play it over and over again in my minds eye, saving what appears to be important.

Memories from some of my dreams date back over 40+ years. Although it is said that you can not remember dreams and or interact with them as they are happening. Well this is not true, both are possible and sometimes quite enjoyable.

A few days later as I'm cruising through my phone I click on the pictures icon on my phone. As I'm looking through them I see something surreal, the picture of the statement carved into the side of the bureau...

Makes you stop and ponder....

W