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Fermented Milk
Kelvin Ho asked:


Cooking is an art as well as a necessity of our lives. It can bring great joy to both the cook, as well as those who partake of the well-prepared meal and it can also be a valuable and nutritious addition to our overall health and well being. One might think that cooking and science have little in common, yet that is simply not true, as cooking offers a wide variety of opportunities to teach science to our young. By sharing quality time cooking with our children, they can learn valuable lessons not only in the ethic of work and responsibility but also in the area of science.

Experimenting In The Kitchen

Simple scientific experiments can be conducted within the comfortable confines of ones own kitchen and the end results can be edible! What an approach to science! Yet because the students are learning in a comforting and enjoyable atmosphere, it is not like the stifled book-learning approach to science. Cooking offers the child a hands on and tangible experience, while at the same time teaching them a life skill they can use daily. Children from kindergarten to college can gain practical applications and life-long knowledge by using this approach. Some example of fun experiments parents can incorporate include making candyfloss and ice cream. Making ice cream, for example, allows the exploration of the freezing point of matter. One can also talk about the role of temperature, whipping and foaming during the process. Children can learn a wide range of science concepts while they enjoy the learning process. What is more is that they get to enjoy a tasty treat at the end of the process.

Difficult chemistry concepts such as radiation, convection, conduction, energy and carbohydrate chemistry may seem overwhelming to many students, yet exploring and appreciating these science concepts during our food preparation can makes it a fun and exciting adventure. For a start, one can study the various forms of heat transfer and their different roles it play in the cooking process. With regard to specific foods, milk and dairy products can be discussed as you use them in your cooking, such as how the cows produce milk, what milk is made of, the nutrients within the milk and the difference between fermented and non-fermented products.

Plants can also be easily incorporated into our discussions. Cooking vegetables is a science itself. Even preseving them, such as kimchi, is an excellent introduction to food nutrition and preservation. By the way, talking about kimchi, in it lives a host of live organisms which one can conduct experiments on. Moreover, it also gives you an excellent opportunity to talk about Korean culture and food. Concepts such as osmosis, pH value, density of the food, as well as dissecting the vegetables to identify plant tissue and structure can be explored too.

With the wide variety of creative ideas for experimentation, the kitchen is a wonderful learning laboratory for people of all ages.



JOESPH

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fermented drink
Dinah Leabeau asked:


From September 20 thru October 5, 2008, Munich, Germany will once again hold Oktoberfest. For the pleasure of eloquating the multitude of drinks and food offered during the 16 days of the event, learn German online.

Oktoberfest will once again be celebrated in Munich, Germany on September 20 thru October 5 this year. With the plethora of food and drinks available during this 16-day event, it’s a great idea to learn German to be able to pronounce them.

Satisfy Your Palate

The “wurst”, or sausage is the first thing that comes to mind on Oktoberfest. To be able to say the monikers of the various sausages, it’s advised that you should study German. You have to be able to eloquate and tell the difference between the world-famous frankfurter, knackwurst (pork or beef with fresh garlic), bockwurst (pork, turkey, chicken, lamb with paprika, parsley, white pepper, and chives), and bratwurst (pork, veal, and/or beef.

You will also have the opportunity to sample the numerous varieties of spatzle, or noodles, the perfect accompaniment to beer. Basic ingredients for the spatzle include various spices, flour, milk, eggs, and salt. Sample the cheese noodles with fried onions, the kasespatzle. It is a must to study German in order to express your gratitude.

You will also have a taste of sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), hendl (roasted chicken), and Apfelpfannenkuchen (apple pancakes). If you think learning German for these German delicacies is too much, think again when you get to the beers.
It’s All About the Beers and Wines

The Oktoberfest is a festival known for its wines and beers, maybe much more than its food, music, and costumes. If you possess a good grasp of the German language, you’ll be able to differentiate the multitude of wines and beers made available by the fourteen tents in the Oktoberfest.

With high carbon dioxide levels, the sekt is made fizzier than most sparkling wines. Seek out the Deutscher Sekt if you know your wines well. Or, you can go for sekt made from Riesling, Pinot gris, and Pinot blanc grapes for that extremely special event.

German wheat beer can get you intoxicated. There are many varieties, like the traditional and unfiltered Hefeweizen, Kristallweizen (crystal wheat), Dunkelweizen (dark wheat), and Weizenstarkbier (strong wheat beer), to mention some. Alcohol levels is normally higher with darker wheat, and the monikers hint of the alcohol strength, so learn German quickly so you will not confuse them.

There’s also the specially-brewed Oktoberfestbier marzen (pale lager) that you absolutely cannot miss. Indeed, the Oktoberfest is all about showcasing the many types of beers and wines. Why, the Weinzelt tent alone serves 15 wines!

Of course, to drink bacchanalian pleasures, dine on great food, meet new people, and appreciate Oktoberfest, you need not learn German. Still, if you wish to be heard above the Oktoberfest revelry, learning German is a plus.

To top it all off, drink up on the specially-brewed Oktoberfestbier, also known as marzen (pale lager). On the Oktoberfest, there are many more types of beers and wines available, with as much as 15 wines offered by the Weinzel tent alone.

Obviously, to drink bacchanalian pleasures, eat great food, meet new friends, and appreciate Oktoberfest, you need not study German. Still, if you want to be heard above the Oktoberfest raucous, studying German is an advantage.



RICK

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