Fermented field corn
Look what the Laotian cat dragged home?
A lonely sack sitting in the corner since yesterday, finally had time to investigate. Don't quite know what I will find... could be tamarind and chilli treats ... or something fried from the camp kitchen... raw vegetables. I think I see a squash or watermelon.
Chocolate chip ice-cream! melted, bloated headed for the trash.... little bags of rice in some clear liquid, smells fermented and in portions too.... and what's this... one ear of dark kernel corn? Wait, it's sticky and I can't tell if it is cooked but it smells fermented too, like the little bags of rice. Maybe just slopped on. <wash> and picking out a kernel if feels like sweet corn, young tender and tastes... fermented.
I'm going out to find out where it came from and what is it exactly? But I think a cornbread is in the making. ...with squash perhaps. Starter on a cob. (I know... out of focus. will remedy that...)
Mini O
looks like a thin slice of young coconut in the bags.
Torrential rain. I'll get soaked to the bone. I'm trapped until it lets up. I spent more time hanging on to the lawn furniture than getting information... wind very strong.
Sounds like Massachusetts these days...
Murph
to be a melon, some kind of half and half thing, half orange coloured and the other half green but almost over ripe. Don't think they grow in Massachusetts. My neighbour says the corn was cooked two days ago and it has "gone off." She thinks I should throw it away. It smells quite good and not foul or rotten. Still investigating, haven't gotten to the source yet. (The camp cook.) She can be full of surprises.
Portable moonshine. No still needed. Just put a handful in your pocket to enjoy a corn-tail instead of a cocktail anytime. The person who "discovered" alcohol wasn't smart-just lucky! Like you!
It also goes to show that yeast is everywhere!
and added a little water, then before bed, stirred in a little AP wheat flour and hope it is sweet enough for the little yeasties.
This morning I thickened it up to toothpaste consistency and will see what happens. Would be nice to have a Lao starter. Might have some special local flavours.
The cook sent over two more ears of corn, the yellowest ones she had I'm sure. They were tasty. The ears were still warm and not fermented. Got the impression they were boiled in sugar water as they were a little bit sticky while removing the last few husks. This country eats a lot of sugary foods and very hard to avoid without cooking yourself. I can imagine the cook is worried I ate a bad ear of corn. Little does she know I prize such coincidences.
My husband has asked me to organise and teach some of the kitchen staff to set up a "European breakfast" in the canteen. Time for the WFO to swing into action! Right now we haven't had a need to offer more than the local and Thai type breakfasts. The few comings and goings have been handled on an individual basis. Oh, the meat slicer arrived. Guess we are expecting more Europeans in camp.