Thursday, December 16, 2010

Blog #12

Look up Gregor Mendel and his pea plant experiments Why does P1 look all alike and F1 looks very different?

The P1 looks the same because they are purebreds and are parents.  The F1 looks different because it has a mix of different genes from the other generations.


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Blog #11

In the movie Gattaca parents were allowed to pick the traits of their babies, should we be able to do this? Why or why not?

No, because if parents were able to pick the trait for their child, then everyone will be the same. Most parents would pick only the perfect trait to have as their child. If the whole world is perfect, then no one would be special. 

Blog #10

Step 1) Shred Cabbage - I use my food processor for speed and ease. If you shred by hand, make sure the shreds are no thicker than a nickel or dime!

Step 2) Mix, with wooden spoon or very clean hands, 5 pounds of shredded cabbage with 4 tablespoons of Kosher salt (pickling salt will do but changes the flavor a bit - do not use table salt) and toss and mix thoroughly until kosher salr dissolves! (You can make as much as you wish as long as you use the ratio of 5 lbs. cabbage to 4 Tbs. salt.)
NOTE: If you plan on refrigerating and not canning use 3 tbs of salt not 4!

Step 3) When juice starts to form on cabbage from tossing - Pack the cabbage firmly and evenly into a clean crock, glass or enamel container. Press firmly to encourage juice formation. Fill the utensil no closer than 5 inches from the top.

Step 4) Make sure juice covers the cabbage completely! (This does not always happen unless the cabbage is fresh from the garden) I prepare additional brine by putting 1 1/2 Tablespoons of kosher salt into 1 quart of boiling water. Dissolve salt and cool brine to room temperature before adding to the pot of cabbage.

Step 5) Once cabbage is immersed in brine water, place a large food grade, plastic bag filled with brine water and lay on top if cabbage... (I use 2 large bags, one inside the other   - sometimes a 2 gal freezer bag - with a couple of quarts of cooled brine water inside - this if the bag breaks it will not water down the cabbage into a tasteless mess)
The cabbage must be well sealed all around with the bag, so no air can get in and contaminate the sauerkraut with unwanted yeasts or molds!

Step 6) Now cover the container with plastic wrap, then a heavy towel or cloth and tie securely into place. Do not remove this until fermenting is complete!

Step 7) Put in an area where the temperature will not be above 75 degrees. Fermentation will begin within a day, depending upon the room temperature.

Step 8) If room temperature is 75 degrees allow 3 weeks for fermentation. If temperature is 70 degrees allow 4 weeks. If temperature is 65 degrees allow 5 weeks. If temperature is 60 degrees allow 6 weeks.

Step 9) Once fermented taste to see if your required tartness exists. Tartness will weaken as you process in canning so make sure it is a wee bit more tart than you like!
 
NOTE: The sauerkraut may not ferment and could spoil, If temperature is above 75 or 76 degrees!

!!!!! Fermentation is the process of deriving energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, and using an endogenous electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound. In this recipe due to fermantaion the cabage is cooked over time, with any heat.
 
 

Blog #7

Nhi: I think I have STDs!!!!!!

Diana: Ohh really? How did that happen?

Nhi: It happened about 1 month ago and I was drunk.

Diana: How are you going to tell your partner?

Nhi: Oh i havent thought about that.....

Diana: well you should jut tell your partner in real life its better that way

Nhi: i guess i have time today

Diana: good luck and i hope you live a long life