Alliance Three: Fermentation

Fermentation is similar to baking, that is why is is a cooking method in a way. Fermentation is also a cooking method, because we had to prepare the cucumber in a specific way, in order to preserve it for a longer period of time. The goal of fermenting was to prevent the vegetable from spoiling, and we also wanted to encourage growth of "good" microorganisms. Fermentation requires special ingredients and controlled conditions, such as temperature and pH. It is also an anaerobic process, since it is only able to be carried out if and only if it is carried out without oxygen. If you are eating a fermented food, obviously the microorganisms would help preserve the food, but it would also change its flavor and the texture. In my alliance group, we fermented a cucumber which later became a pickle. We put the cucumber in a jar and soaked the vegetable in a salt brine, in order to allow the growth of bacteria. The bacteria ate up the cucumber's sugars and eventually produced a tart-tasting lactic acid, causing the vegetable to turn into a pickle. After, we sealed the jar with a cap and let it set for a couple of weeks in a cool place. In case, if you didn't know what salt brine is...basically it is consists of boiled vinegar, water, and salt.The ingredients used in this experiment were: a tablespoon of salt, 1/2 cup of water, 3/4 of a cucumber, and 1 1/2 cup of vinegar.

NAT 2.0 Analysis/Observation Blog

For our NAT 2.0, we turned our results into a spreadsheet and then turned it into a chart. On account, I am consuming 2200 calories each day. The chart shown on here is what I am high or low on a category. In the chart, it showed how I was low on fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and satF. The chart also showed how I was high on salt and vitamin C. If the results I have right now, continues to stay this way...then I would remain skinny(anorexic), and I would not really gain much weight. But, I might increase the risk of getting cancer, depression, and anxiety if I was low on my cholesterol. Since, the chart shows how I am high in salt...if this continues it would cause high blood pressure. In the chart, it also shows that I am high in vitamin C...so if this continues, then it may affect my sugar levels a little bit. In the future, I would probably need my blood glucose levels to be regularly monitored by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist.