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A small knob of experience

I've noticed that American recipes tend to be very precise about measurements, whereas recipes from other cultures are more "analog". They use phrases like "a small knob of butter" and "a small piece of ginger root, peeled and sliced".

The assumption is that you've either cooked something like this before, or you've watched someone cook, and you know about how big a small piece of ginger root would be. As opposed to the large pieces you use for other purposes.

It's cozy, and has a certain reassuring imprecision that "1.5 tablespoons butter" wouldn't have, but it doesn't translate well.

Also, and so that you may benefit from my experience, steaming is not a good way to prepare still-frozen fish fillets. Unless you are very patient. And not hungry.



Mar. 27th, 2010 05:02 am (UTC)
Charcoal.. we actually use the regular non fire starter saturated type to keep our trailer fridge nice smelling during the winter.
And the old reliable baking soda (the one in the box) They actually sell baking soda in boxes meant to be put in the fridge to deodorize it.
You can also wipe down a stinky item with lemon juice. But then you have to wash the lemon juice off, or it gets sticky.
Don't know if you would ever get this desperate, but if a prized clothing item gets sprayed by a skunk, the only sure fire way I know of to get rid of the scent is to bury it. Literally go in the backyard and bury the item for a few days in the dirt.
Apr. 3rd, 2010 06:16 pm (UTC)
Thanks! I'll try either the baking soda or the coffee grounds. (My sister drinks coffee, so I'll get some grounds from her. These would be used coffee grounds, right? not freshly-ground coffee?)
Apr. 3rd, 2010 06:44 pm (UTC)
Used grinds. At our weekend trailer, I keep a open jar of used coffee grinds in the freezer. My hubby stores his bait in there and sometimes that stuff is mega stinky! We have coffee every day, so I can 'recharge' the grinds every few weekends.