124 Pictures in 2024 #98 "Something cold"
ANSH128 #2 "Cold/hot weather"
While we did not set a record low, this morning we did have a very cold morning, with a low of 25F/-4C (average is 48F/9C). To go with it we had what the weather service called a freezing mist, which left this layer of ice on my backyard smoker. Some days it pays to be retired...
Tags: scavenger2 Something cold ice
ANSH128 #1 "Love is in the air"
With Valentine's Day approaching we are finding these pink heart cookies (or biscuits, for many). They appear every year about a month before the holiday at our local grocery store. They are crunchy shortbread cookies with a thin, hard icing, and I can actually eat a few of them without killing my blood sugar.
Tags: scavenger1 cookies biscuits valentines day
ANSH128 #5 "Pink"
This is a jar of prague powder #1, which is used for curing meats. It is a mix of salt (sodium chloride) and sodium nitrite. The combination is a powerful antibacterial agent and helps prevent spoilage in cured meats. I bought it to try making my own bacon (which was a highly successful experiment a few months ago). Nitrites are thought to be carcinogenic in large quantities, so the amount used in the curing process is quite small and must be carefully measured according to the weight of the meat. Note that the pink color is artificial - both sodium compounds are naturally white. This is to make sure it is distinguishable from ordinary table salt, It is what gives fresh bacon its iconic pinkish color.
Tags: scavenger5 pink salt
124 Pictures in 2024 #18 "Building in black and white"
ANSH128 #12 "Architecture in black and white"
This is the American Bank building in downtown Corpus Christi, Texas converted to black and white using GIMP's black and white film simulation with Kodak tri-x settings.
Tags: scavenger12 building monochrome
ANSH128 #4 "I'm obsessed with..."
I enjoy making what I can from scratch rather than buying overly processed food with questionable ingredients. While store-bought butter isn't really that questionable, it turns out that it is very easy to make, and tastes better. So a pint of heavy cream and about 30 minutes (including cleanup) will yield around 220g (just a bit under 1/2 lb) of fresh butter, and lasts us around 3 weeks, sometimes a bit more. As a follow-on obsession, I am learning how to make cheese, which does require a bit more investment of time.
Tags: scavenger4 butter homemade