The Frying Pan

derobert

9:00 PM

Oh! I know. I should ask if I accidentally add too much lettuce, can I just add more dressing to fix it?

rumtscho

@derobert Not good enough, unless your lettuce comes from a box. Or better yet, from the frozen aisle.

(The dressing should be from the shelf too, of course)

derobert

@rumtscho right, of course I meant pre-washed salad mix

And I confess, due to great lazyness, when I make myself a salad, its normally salad mix and bottled dressing :-P

rumtscho

Just precut and prewashed won't do it if they do it in the supermarket

you have to pick at least one which was cut days ago in a factory, then shipped to the supermarket in an airtight sealed plastic bag.

derobert

yes, that's how they all are

rumtscho

@derobert And I confess, due to great lazyness, that I don't make myself a salad :)

derobert

9:03 PM

They actually show up at Costco in reasonably good shape. Amazingly.

Mien

@rumtscho @derobert did you know the 'view all posts' under the title of the blog posts, on a blog post, doesn't work?

I hate salad mix.

rumtscho

Sometimes I buy a head of salad, eat one small bowl of salad (maybe 1/5 to 1/4 of the head) and then let it wilt because I am not in the mood for salad the next 3-4 days.

derobert

@Mien I think I can fix that. Let me try...

rumtscho

So I try not to do it too often, it gets expensive.

Mien

Too bad. You can do nice things with salad (sounds crazy, I know!)

Lettuce expensive? :o

Ever try to fry lettuce?

It's similar to endive.

The outer leaves to be precise.

rumtscho

9:05 PM

Not so much expensive in the sense of "I can't afford it" but expensive in the sense "I am too cheap to buy something and throw away 80% of it"

Mien

I like mixing some lettuce leaves in my mashed potatoes as well.

rumtscho

I can't imagine fried endive or lettuce to taste well

I even prefer my zucchini underfried

Mien

How do you eat endive otherwise?

Apart from raw?

rumtscho

raw.

Mien

That's boring.

rumtscho

9:06 PM

It is a salad. It gets mixed with other stuff.

Mien

Oh, I'm talking about the curly endive.

I can't remember the proper terms :-/

rumtscho

My ex's mother had a recipe for baking endive hearts wrapped in ham and poured over with bechamel.

derobert

@Mien does the link work for you now?

Mien

You never eat endive not in a salad?

rumtscho

But I didn't like it, at least the way she made it. The bechamel used to split.

Mien

9:07 PM

@derobert Yes! :)

@rumtscho Chicory?

rumtscho

And the warm endive hearts weren't as good as raw.

@Mien Ahh, I forget the terms too

I eat the leaves raw only.

Really. I even prefer to eat nettles raw, rather than cooked.

Mien

I think ham + chicory + cheese/bechamel saus is quite Belgian.

@rumtscho The ones that sting? :o

rumtscho

Possible. She has relatives living in Belgium - but the French part. I think a sister.

@Mien Yes.

They are popular as a soup in Bulgaria.

But I hate the soup.

Mien

Doesn't that hurt a lot? :s

rumtscho

I hate their smell when they are cooked. I can't sit in the kitchen when it gets cooked.

Mien

9:10 PM

Yes, they stink.

rumtscho

@Mien You have to pick them before they start to sting.

Mien

I only tried the soup once.

@rumtscho Even the small ones sting.

rumtscho

@Mien All leaves sting when the plant is in blossom.

In the spring, none of the leaves sting.

Mien

Hmm, first time I hear this.

rumtscho

Right now, they sting a lot. I wouldn't eat them.

Mien

9:11 PM

I do love sucking on the flowers of the white deadnettle.

rumtscho

The weekend before last, I was walking at a road without a sidewalk and some inconsiderate driver made me walk into them. I was wearing short pants. I had itchy legs for hours.

Mien

Vinegar can help.

Or at least, that's what they tell.

rumtscho

It was up on the hill, there are mostly paths there, but I have to walk along the road for a while, and it is just asphalt road going through a meadow, with grass and nettles on both sides :(

I didn't try vinegar. Maybe next time, but I really hope there is no next time.

Mien

I think I fell into a bunch of them naked when I was a baby.

rumtscho

Auweia.

Mien

9:14 PM

I don't remember.

Someone told me that once.

I'm not even sure it's true.

rumtscho

My great-grandmother used them as an anaesthetic when piercing my aunt's ears. That's why my mother never pierced her ears.

Mien

lol

more like an all-aesthetic :p

rumtscho

I am completely serious. After a life of hard work in the field, she could probably grab a bunch of flowering nettles without feeling anything - because her skin is leather-like

Mien

Not over her whole body, I hope.

rumtscho

So, she grabs a bumch of leaves, and rubs the earlobe for a minute, to make it numb from the sting

@Mien no, but the fingers.

And then she takes a sewing needle with some strong thread in it and pierces the ear

Mien

9:17 PM

It's not that weird I think.

Yeah, the old way :)

With a cork at the back?

rumtscho

and she binds the thread to a large knot, so it forms a closed loop

and removes the needle.

Then the girl has to pull the loop once a day through the ear, so the knot goes through the wound - else the wound would just grow shut around the thread

She practically tears the wound anew once a day for about two weeks

and at some point, it is considered healed enough to remove the thread and put an earring into it.

Infections were common.

My own grandmother took me to a cosmetic's studio :) I am happy that she is so progressively-thinking in that way.

derobert

@rumtscho That seems like a good reason to just not wear earrings.

rumtscho

@derobert They were less common after the healing period.

Let's say that people from my greatgrandmother's generation considered being ill from time to time just a fact of life.

derobert

@rumtscho Well, yes, but if you weren't going to wear earrings, you could avoid the weeks-of-infection period entirely

rumtscho

A small hindrance which made work a bit more unpleasant than usual.

@derobert It wasn't even sure that you will get the infection. And even then, a few days of achey earlobes were considered a good price for a lifetime of wearing earrings.

Mien

9:24 PM

You can have an infection from the normal way as well.

rumtscho

All this talk reminds me that I should wear earrings for a day again, lest my piercings grow shut.

Mien

I just pinch my holes every few months.

rumtscho

@Mien I think that the risk rates are very different.

Mien

But the ones in my lobes will never grow back anymore, I think.

@rumtscho Yes, sure.

But it's not 0% or 100%

rumtscho

I used to wear earrings all the time for ears - I even slept with them. So I don't think they will really grow back completely.

derobert

9:25 PM

@rumtscho I'd guess so, probably a huge different between a sterilized stainless needle and a piece of string

Mien

I think here great-grand mother also sterilized the needle.

Here, they did that at least.

(by holding it in a flame)

rumtscho

But last winter, I put on earrings for the first time in months, and I had to punch a lot through the middle. It wasn't really a new wound, but very hard to get through. I don't remember if I bled, but I had lymph oozing for a week.

derobert

Hmmm, checking the Wikipedia article, it seems this is unnecessary unless you need to pay Charon for passage to Hades.

Mien

I didn't choose for it :p

rumtscho

9:52 PM

wow, my sorbet mix had gelled in the fridge

the blueberries must have had lots of pectin

I hadn't even cooked it, just pureed it cold

derobert

wow, that is a lot

Google agrees that blueberries have lots of pectin

This could be interesting when I try to make my blueberry ice cream.

rumtscho

The recipe was 360 g blueberries, 1 banana, 180 g water, 100 g sugar, a tbsp of lemon juice

blueberries are so expensive here, these were reduced to 1.50 for 125 g

so I used 125 g berries, 1 banana, 90 g water, 50 g sugar

derobert

fresh, or frozen? When in season (or frozen), they're not that bad here, I don't think.

rumtscho

I used them fresh

I hope they freeeze well

But the mass is not liquid enough now

and there is not enough of it, because I made this small amount

and now it is being pushed by the hook, not churned

Mien

@rumtscho That's even on the cheap side here.

Same for raspberries.

rumtscho

9:56 PM

looks like this machine doesn't work well with half size batches.

@mien these were on sale at a discounter, normally they cost more

Mien

Oh okay.

Apricots are on sale here now.

2kg for 5 euro.

I'm buying it tomorrow.

I was looking for apricot jam recipes.

I've found one that said to add a grinded couple of apricot stones :-/

rumtscho

The whole sorbet is moving with the paddle now :(

Mien

Is that even possible?

rumtscho

@mien of course it is possible.

Mien

Ouch :s good luck

derobert

10:00 PM

@rumtscho Stop the machine and see if you can break it up?

rumtscho

I will make a blog post on preserves using nuts and other nice things

Mien

I mean, you don't want pieces of stone on your bread, do you?

rumtscho

@derobert I did it - it gathered it again afterwards, because it is so sticky

Now I don't know when it will be ready, because the machine guesses itself, but now it was off in the middle.

derobert

@rumtscho well, from your description of whats happening, it won't ever be ready

rumtscho

But maybe it guesses based on thickness and not on time, TFM says a cycle is 20 to 40 min

derobert

10:03 PM

@rumtscho but its ready in 20min or so, when it reaches around 20°F

rumtscho

and it certainly has some fancy sensors - if it feels overloaded, it changes the rotation direction

derobert

-6C, that is, apparently

rumtscho

so that's why some reviewers complained of not enough torque

At least it doesn't build crystals.

derobert

seems like if you do it again, you should skip the lemon juice. Not sure if that'll get the pH high enough to prevent the jelly

Mien

But @rumtscho why would anyone put apricot stones in jelly?

rumtscho

10:10 PM

It's -4.5°C now, so I have hopes for saving the batch

@mien not the stones

you break up the stones

Mien

The inside of it?

rumtscho

and take out the fresh, tasty kernels

they are great

Mien

No, they are bitter.

rumtscho

for eating as-is, and also for grinding

Mien

Of peaches/nectarines at least.

rumtscho

10:11 PM

No, the ones of peaches are bitter

the ones of apricots are used as a cheap substitute for almonds

Mien

And it's just for the taste that it's added?

Oh really?

Nice

I'll try to open them all.

rumtscho

but with the almonds commonly sold in the stores, there isn't much difference between apricot kernels and almonds

Mien

Price I guess?

rumtscho

the kernels of fresh apricots taste better than the dried almonds in the sotres.

Mien

Cool.

rumtscho

10:13 PM

It is a different taste, yes, but the difference is not as big as between, say, almonds and hazelnuts.

rfusca

Ug, I just got a note from a photo client that reads - "Just a heads up they [their one year olds] will be in bright red patriotic outfits if that makes any diff"

rumtscho

I don't grind them, I blanch them to remove the skin and then throw them whole, to get some crunch in the preserve.

@rfusca Oh. I hope they don't mean Confederate outfits?

rfusca

lol, down here, they could

derobert

@rfusca Hmmm. Could be worse. Could be reflective outfits.

rfusca

@derobert lol ya, i guess

i'm still dreading it

rumtscho

10:15 PM

Look at it from the bright side - if your work gets on the Cheezburger Network (they have a poorlydressed site) youi will get some international exposure early in your career

derobert

@rfusca @rfusca nothing that turning the saturation slider to 300% can't fix :-P

rfusca

greeaaat....thanks

ya, i just should give them all black and white lol

derobert

Hah. Now, if they're very dark skinned, that could make for an even more challenging photo. Good luck trying not to blow out the red shirt highlights :-(

rfusca

i think they're african american

derobert

Well, at least it probably won't be a Confederate uniform then.

I hope.

rfusca

10:18 PM

well, thats probably true

rumtscho

@rfusca but if it isn't, the pic gets immediately a hundred times worse

rfusca

@rumtscho truth be told, i'd probably refuse to take a confederate outfit pic of any kind

rumtscho

@rfusca lol, you feel that strong? It has been over for over 150 years

rfusca

@rumtscho i only feel that strong because of what it represents in the area

rumtscho

It's bad taste, sure, but really? A reason to reject a customer?

derobert

10:23 PM

@rumtscho its been 150 years, but its still very politicized in many parts of the country. People still use it as a symbol...

rfusca

there's a lot of very, very racist people in the area and many of them fly a confederate flag as a 'up yours' to uncle sam

derobert

Also, while its been 150 years since the Civil War, it hasn't been 150 years since the civil rights era.

And of course, racism is still very present.

rfusca

my parent's neighbor won't open the door to somebody who isn't white

derobert

@rfusca I'm guessing you wouldn't mind if it were in a proper historical or scholarly context, e.g., you wouldn't mind being hired as event photographer for a historical battle reenactment

rfusca

@derobert right, sure

(which does happen around here)

derobert

10:26 PM

@rfusca here too, Mananas is pretty close. Gettysburg isn't very far. Etc.

rumtscho

I have the feeling that people from other lands, including Americans, are quick to connect Germans to Nazis, even though today's Germans (except for a vocal minority) are less patriotic than the average European and nowhere country-conscious at the elevated levels of Americans

derobert

I don't know. We pretty much only use Nazis for laughs nowadays, it seems. Or empty political namecalling.

rumtscho

Are you telling me that these same Americans who are proud to have licked the Nazis back then, and are so outwardly big on affirmative action and so, have a sizeable problem with racist movements?

rfusca

ya

@rumtscho for the most part, these are not those same ones, no

derobert

@rumtscho Keep in mind that in many parts of that America back in 1944, a black person and a white person marrying was a crime. Schools were segregated. Etc.

That didn't really start changing until the 1960s.

E.g., Loving v. Virginia was 1967.

rfusca

10:31 PM

@rumtscho you're picturing somebody normal

i'm talking about:

derobert

@rfusca Hmmm. Not quite enough. Where's the rifle?

rfusca

thats better

derobert

@rfusca perfect!

rumtscho

@rfusca there are nugs everywhere.

But I wouldn't think that there would be enough of them to create real problems

rfusca

down here, there are

rumtscho

10:33 PM

actually, the nuts are not even such a problem here

They are too dumb to do anything other than booze themselves to death while crying about the good old times

derobert

Any major city is pretty reasonable. Get out into the middle of nowhere, though, ...

rfusca

regardless, i'm just saying I wouldn't take a picture of one in a confederate shirt, professionally

rumtscho

The real problem are the neonazis who are intelligent enough to construct a paramilitary organization and keep it at the edge of legality

@rfusca OK - I didn't know that people take the symbolic seriously

rfusca

ya, they do

rumtscho

I first thought that appearing with confederate colors would be like Bavarians appearing clothed in König Ludwig's colors or similar

Jay

10:36 PM

wth is that guy wearing

rfusca

ic

derobert

@rumtscho what'd you think of, for example, someone going around wearing a swastika? That's probably closer...

At least for some of them. Its not as universally offensive.

rumtscho

Hm, I don't have 20 ml of vodka in that bottle

Do you think that silver tequila will fit with kiwis and mint?

derobert

Not sure, haven't had tequila.

rumtscho

@derobert a swastika here is outrigh illegal. It is one of the few cases where a law is put above the right to free speech.

It is not just some minor offense, it is considered a serious crime.

rfusca

10:39 PM

well imagine it wasn't illegal and apply his statement

rumtscho

Yes alright, it isn't illegal in Bulgaria, and it is used more widely there in graffiti and whatnot

What alcohol is used for juleps?

derobert

Mint julep

The mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States. Preparation A mint julep is traditionally made with four ingredients: mint leaf, bourbon, sugar, and water. Traditionally, spearmint is the mint of choice used in Southern states, and in Kentucky in particular. In the use of sugar and mint, it is similar to the mojito. Proper preparation of the cocktail is commonly debated, as methods may vary considerably from one bartender to another. By another method, the mint julep may be considered as one of a loosely associated fa...

@rumtscho so, bourbon apparently.

rumtscho

Aw, I have no bourbon.

I could open a bottle of Johny red label

derobert

(I don't really drink, so I'm not familiar with these things....)

rumtscho

Or use the open rum bottle I have

@derobert another non-drinker? Oh my, you people are the majority here

I feel surrounded

rfusca

10:42 PM

i drink an occasional glass of wine, but thats about it

i'm certain Jay does though

derobert

@rumtscho well, I'm not so a teetotaler , just very infrequently

rumtscho

somehow the rum doesn't smell like it would go well with kiwi

I have orange liquor here

but it will probably overpower the mint

derobert

I mean, currently, I have rum, vodka, triple sec, and red and white wine around. Maybe bourbon as well, not sure...

rumtscho

I don't want to open another bottle before I have to, with so many open ones aorund

@derobert I don't drink much recently either

The vodka which is going out right now - I bought it for my 26th birthday party

rfusca

(next sentence, @rum lets us know that its cuz she's pregnant)

derobert

10:44 PM

@rfusca I wonder, does that apply to robots?

rumtscho

@rfusca No, it has been going on for longer than a pregnancy term

I am 28 now

rfusca

@rumtscho well who knows how long a baby robots term is

rumtscho

But it is just that after drinking so much in highschool and then in the first two semsters, it got boring.

@rfusca but I have never met another humanoid robot

I don't think that I can carry a human man's baby

I opened the whiskey. I think it will be better with the kiwis, even though it isn't bourbon.

derobert

@rumtscho wait, didn't you find a boyfriend on okcupid?

rfusca

bourbon is a kind of whiskey

well, i'm out, ciao

derobert

10:49 PM

@rumtscho good news in spirits have a very long shelf life

rumtscho

@derobert I did. But I doubt that I will ever have a child with him.

Certainly not soon.

derobert

@rumtscho at least not until you convince him to be robotized?

rumtscho

Pah. You can't robotize a puny human.

Robots are made that way

derobert

Why not? Couldn't you program a robot to act like said human?

rumtscho

(please don't tell my bf that I called him a puny human)

@derobert That maybe yes - but I meant the other direction

also, no robot would want it.

derobert

10:55 PM

@rumtscho Seems sort of weird, then, that a robot would want to date one.

And I forget how long it took us to find out you're a robot, you don't act that much different from a human.

derobert

11:09 PM

Oooh. Time to go home.

rumtscho

@derobert I don't remember either, but every now and then, you say that my behaviour reminds you that I am a robot.

As for dating, it is just that human pets are fun.

Now the kiwi base is in the fridge, I wonder what to do next.

derobert

@rumtscho Yes, but its not that much different. So its odd that you'd look down in humans so much. I guess it could be an "uncanny valley"-like effect.

rumtscho

A plain vanilla custard base to compare to the philadelphia one, or something richer and more interesting?

Like honey-lavender or maybe white choc

derobert

Well, the custard base is going to be much richer...

rumtscho

@derobert I am an enlightened being, and I benevolently look at you little ones

@derobert I meant richer in flavor notes

derobert

11:14 PM

@rumtscho I meant that in response to comparing them.

rumtscho

Death by chocolate has some ice cream recipes I have been dying to try

derobert

Anyway, I really should go.

rumtscho

@derobert I just want to know how big the difference in texture is, for when I have to decide whether to make a flavor with or without eggs (in the future)

Oh sorry, goodbye then

derobert

@rumtscho Ah, yeah, I'd expect the custard to be smoother. But not completely sure. Anyway, goodbye.

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