Connections More: Crock

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

First Fermentation

Back on May 3 the beautiful fermentation pot arrived. It was a gift to myself just because I loved the shape and the handle on the top! I did know, however that the potter was a very competent local fellow. In fact he says, "It's not just pottery or handmade, it's an everyday lifestyle with art." And so it is!

I discovered that mine was the first he has created and that makes me feel special too. He signed it on the bottom.

I must tell you that I have never fermented anything but felt up to the challenge. I started with four small cooking onions I had on hand. I found several recipes on the internet but the one I chose was so simple that I had the confidence to give it a try.

Two weeks ago I put together the following:

4 small thinly sliced onions (the recipe called for a red but I didn't have one.
1/2 C cider vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
1 1/2 Tbl. Caster sugar (I had to look that up, and used powdered sugar instead of the very fine caster type)
2 tsp. Maldon sea salt. (I used Morton's Natural Sea Salt-no iodine).
1 C boiling water (I used tap water. We have a good deep well)

I pushed it down, put the two weights over it, covered with the lid, filled the groove on the top of the pot with water and waited two weeks without peeking! I did add a little water to the groove after about one week.

Today was the DAY! There was NO mold and NO scum! I scooped out the onions into three 4 oz. glass jars that I had on hand and ladled the juice into each one until there was nothing left. OF COURSE I tasted it! The Mister tasted too! The fermented onion slices are crunchy, and a bit sour but the more I ate, the better I liked the flavor. Perhaps a little more sugar would be to our taste. Perhaps brown sugar would be better than powdered.

DEFINITELY a success! YAY! I have already started another and will tell you that this one is a bit fancier with red onion, a stick of cinnamon, whole cloves, and other stuff. When I put the lid on this time it actually was burping itself!! Two more weeks and the report will be in!

Below is the link to my first blog when I received the pot If you would like to see what it looks like.
The Pot's Arrival

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Two-Part Day!

The first wonderful happening was early morning when the potter himself, hand delivered my fermentation crock to our porch. Oh my goodness! It is spectacular! We observed distancing but I sure would have liked to give him a big hug for his awesome work and care. I'll give 2 links at the bottom of this post so you can see others that he creates and sells. The first three photos are his, that I first saw on his webpage when I claimed this pot as my own. You know - a "from me to me" gift. I have been wanting to try fermenting some batches of vegetables and the small size is perfect.

The next photos are mine right after opening the box. His were taken in the natural sun; mine were taken inside the shady porch but you can tell a "little bit" how the seaweed colors are special.

The rest of my morning was my first ride around the lake as we had uncovered the golf car yesterday. Oh! and I finally dressed James in his spring garland of Forsythia. More photos of my ride will be posted tomorrow.