Yeast

Although the principle tastes present in beer, wine or bread are the result of the raw materials used, the strain of yeast used can also add important flavors, good and/or bad. Considering the importance of yeasts, it's remarkable how little attention they get. Vines and grapes, hops and barley, and even flour are easy for us to understand because we can see them, and they get all the attention.

Yeasts, along with other microbes, are much harder for us visually dominated humans to get a handle on because of their microscopic size. If we want to have a proper perspective on things, imagine the sponge kettle in the Dough Mixing Room is the size of a small lake and yeast cells are the size of golf balls, capable of growing rapidly and dividing every half hour or so. Suddenly they don't seem so abstract.

This week, a look at yeast.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "The weariest night, the longest day, sooner or later must perforce come to an end." - Baroness Emma Magdalena Rosalia Maria Josefa Barbara Orczy (British novelist, playwright and artist of Hungarian origin, most notable for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, 1865 –1947)

The Story of Yeast

Winter Holiday Food Safety Quiz

It's the holiday season, so don't let your food safety guard down. Here's a quiz to make sure you're paying attention between those brandied egg-nogs.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "There is only one real deprivation, I decided this morning, and that is not to be able to give one's gifts to those one loves most." - May Sarton (1912 -1995, American poet and novelist)

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Winter Holiday Food Safety Quiz

Feng Shui

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Zoo paid $4,500 to an expert in the ancient Chinese art of feng shui to ensure three endangered golden monkeys on loan from China can have a strong life force. Consulting the feng shui expert was part of the cost for a $7.4 million enclosure for the golden monkeys.

Who am I to argue with golden monkeys? If it's good enough for them, perhaps it's good enough for us. This week, by special request, a look at feng shui.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "In case you ever run out of gift ideas, here's a little tip: give me your laugh. Whether it's mischievous, tender, loud, or quiet, simply give me a laugh from your heart. Your laughter brings me never-ending joy." - Helmut Walch (Austrian author)

Feng Shui

FDA History, Part 1

A few weeks ago you read about the 1937 Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy, in which over 100 people died after using a drug formulated with a toxic, untested solvent. This week, we look at more of the history of the FDA, starting with the 1906 Food and Drugs Act.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "If a person gives you his time, he can give you no more precious gift." - Frank Tyger

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FDA Part 1

Lemon Wedges

Lemons are native to tropical Asia, where cultivation dates back at least 2,500 years. In the twelfth century the Arabs brought lemons to Spain and Africa. It was Christopher Columbus who brought the seeds of lemons with him from the Canary Islands on his second voyage.

It's said that lemon juice is good for colds, flu, scarlet fever, and chest infections; it can act as a tonic for the liver and pancreas, improve the appetite and helps to ease stomach acidity, ulcers, arthritis, gout, and rheumatism; as a gargle, lemon juice relieves sore throats, gingivitis, and canker sores; externally it can be applied directly to acne, athlete's foot, chilblains, stings, ringworm, sunburn, and warts.

Despite all these positive aspects, I'm drinking my ice tea these days without a lemon wedge. Why? A recent study shows that lemon slices are loaded with bacteria, likely due to cross-contamination from improperly handled cutting boards, utensils, other foods or unwashed hands.

This week, a look at lemons that are, well, lemons.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Other people may be there to help us, teach us, guide us along our path. But the lesson to be learned is always ours." - Melody Beattie (American author and journalist)

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Lemon Wedges

A Bitter Brew

Coffee use can be traced back as early as the 9th century, when it appeared in the highlands of Ethiopia. According to legend, Ethiopian shepherds were the first to observe the influence of the caffeine in coffee beans when the goats appeared to "dance" and to have an increased level of energy after consuming wild coffee berries.

Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,000 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea into Arabia (modern day Yemen), where Muslim monks began cultivating the shrub in their gardens. Coffee became the substitute beverage in place of wine in spiritual practices where wine was forbidden.

I still drink wine, but my daily dose of caffeine doth leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses and restoreth my buzz, and thy cream and thy sugar comfort me. This week, a look at why coffee is often a "bitter brew".

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience." - George Washington (first president of the US, 1732 - 1799)

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A Bitter Brew

HACCP - Five Preliminary Tasks

A while back, we looked at a brief overview of HACCP.

The format of a HACCP plan can differ, depending on the industry and application. In many cases the plans will be product and process specific. However, some plans may use a unit operations approach. Generic HACCP plans can serve as useful guides in the development of process and product HACCP plans; however, it is essential that the unique conditions within each facility be considered during the development of all components of the HACCP plan.

To take all these difference into consideration, there are preliminary tasks that need to be accomplished before the application of the HACCP principles to a specific product and process. This week, we'll look more in depth at the Five Preliminary Tasks that need to be accomplished before you can develop a HACCP Plan.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination." - Roy M. Goodman (US politician, 1930 - )

HACCP - Five Preliminary Tasks