G Freden

If it helps, I started mine (going strong for years and years now, though it does hibernate in the freezer from time to time) by mixing flour, water and commercial yeast:  active dry yeast.  

I just treated it like a starter from then on, and fed it a little every day;  it didn't get very sour for a week or two I guess, but as I fed it and used it it got more sour.  

Several times I've even rescued it from going moldy when I've forgotten to feed it:  even when it was going a bad color with an off smell.  I just feed it a good amount for a few days with a good stir;  the good cultures in it have always been able to get going and kill off the bad yeast and make it the right color and smell again, usually by the next day.

Like some others here, I generally only eat one or two meals a day;  I start the day with some unsweetened tea, and when I do break my fast (sometimes at 10 am, or sometimes as late as 4 pm) I like to eat protein and vegetables, preferably some/all of them fermented.  Today it was a 4pm "breakfast" (aka dinner) with parsnip/cabbage/turnip greens/carrot/pumpkin, chicken strips and fermented chow chow.  Yesterday it was closer to 11 am and I had eggs, bacon and kimchi.  

Eggs and kimchi is a match made in heaven, in my opinion.  Bacon is simply gilding the lily.

Judith Browning wrote:Rachel,
I wrote in cursive and they could not read it

I find it very hard to read cursive too, despite having learned it back in school (I'm 44 now).  Both my husband and son can only write in cursive, or joined-up writing as they call it here and I really can't read either of their handwriting.  What's worse, they don't know how to write in block script like me, except capital letters:  they were never taught it at school here in the UK.  I learned handwriting in the US, both ways (block script first);  and because I find it so hard to read, I abandoned cursive as soon as it was no longer required at school.

So I guess what I'm saying is, cursive is all well and good, but teach/learn block script too!

r ranson wrote:
So I take it and use it to create the kind of thing I want to see more of on the internet.

If I did something/made something cool (which doesn't happen often, definitely no influencer here), I'd rather post it on permies than on my blog;  I only have a tiny following on my blog but there are potentially millions of people here.  Not to brag--mostly--but to be the change I want to see.

Nancy Reading wrote:Steaming my pudding in a cloth this year. I'm a bit late making it....and forgot the charms!

I normally make it at the beginning of December, but couldn't be bothered this year.  Instead my 14 year old son made it yesterday with our newly repaired Kitchenaid.  Looking forward to eating it, especially as I didn't have to make it :)

The whole family pitched in for the ungreasing and regreasing--husband, son (14), self and daughter (4) who helped by holding the flashlight and putting rubbish in the bin.  My nails are still a bit black but we got it apart, cleaned, and regreased.

After putting it back together--we're pretty quick at it now--and plugging it back in, it was still not moving much but at least it was a lot quieter.  The kids disappeared and the husband and I started messing with the speed plate again.  After a lot of tightening and loosening, we realized the motor casing itself was moving a little when turned on.  A closer look revealed two screws holding it in, with what looked like marks where a nut should be, but no nut.  A couple days when the son and I took it apart, we discovered a nut on the table after finishing.  But we hadn't taken any nuts out so we disregarded it (but saved it in case).  This nut was put on to one side of the casing and then IT WORKED!

IT WORKS!

Well, still not there.  I replaced the speed plate and governor, but it still just makes a big noise for a very little movement.  My next step is to take it all apart, clean out the old grease and put in new.  I have a new tub of food grade grease, but after a frustrating hour and a half messing about with the speed plate/governor, I'll try again tomorrow.  I'll inspect all the gears while I'm at it.

Anne Miller wrote:

G Freden wrote:Thanks for that Anne, I had a look at the brushes and they seem to be in good condition;  the son was able to put them back in the right way (I couldn't work it out).

How many millimeters were left on the brushes?  Just curious ...

Hi Anne, I took one out this morning and measured it at about 15 mm.  

There are three sweeteners that I have heard of that don't spike insulin:  monkfruit, stevia and erythritol.  Of these, the only one I have tried cooking with is erythritol, and it does have a slight aftertaste.  Maybe not noticeable to everyone?  My kids don't notice it;  we're all fairly low carb because of my husband's diabetes.  I can't speak for the other two sweeteners.

Thanks for that Anne, I had a look at the brushes and they seem to be in good condition;  the son was able to put them back in the right way (I couldn't work it out).

James, I did some experimentation with the screws holding the speed plate and was able to make it move, but not get all the speeds or much variation in speeds, so I have ordered a new plate and governor.  I also ordered some new grease, as it's making a terrible racket when it does turn.  When it arrives I'll clean out the old and put in the new.  Oh and I asked the son to remind me each time I went to adjust a screw to UNPLUG!  He/I remembered most of the time.

Any luck Amy?