Etcetera

Salt & Pepper

skeeter1.

Posted to Etcetera on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 08:48:55 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Black & White.  Yin & Yang.  

For whatever reason, salt & pepper have become the almost-universal accompaniment on just about every dining room table and restaurant I've ever seen.  Indeed, I have salt and pepper shakers on my own table.  People even collect  the things.

I'm not sure when salt and pepper became the universal condiments.  Salt, I can understand -- a little sodium chloride is essential for proper electrolyte balance in any living being.

At one time it was simple -- there was plain table salt and ground black pepper.  

Well, it's gotten a bit more complicated today.  There's now Kosher salt, Sea salt, seasoned salt, and a host of others.

Pepper is rather the same.  Most good cooks would rather use fresh ground pepper.  White pepper is an essential for making Chinese hot & sour soup.  Chili pepper (can't make chili without it), Cayenne pepper for when you need just a little "extra".  Some Paul Prudhomme's can spice up just about anything.  Same thing with Mrs. Dash.

And let's not forget the pepper sauces, like Tabasco, and Frank's Redhot.  

I get hungry just thinking about these things.

Tags: edited by Port1080, written by skeeter1, salt, pepper, cooking, food, seasoning, spices (all tags)

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1

Salt book

gerrymander.

Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:02:09 AM EST

4.00 (informative)

Don't know about pepper, but there's an informative book (and a quick read) called Salt: A World History which goes into the production history and customs surrounding its eponymous subject.

2

I'm Told

thefadd.

Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 01:04:46 PM EST

4.00 (informative)

...that my first sentence as a child was, "Please pass the salt." That's me--hungry yet well mannered ;-)

It is easy to buy small plaster models of what you think life is like.

3

Re: Salt & Pepper

port1080.

Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 05:22:48 PM EST

none

These are essential for grilling - salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Most everything I grill gets a good amount of freshly ground sea salt and black pepper cracked over it, then a small drizzle of olive oil to coat both sides, and then on the grill.  It's simple, elegant, and tastes about as good as it gets - doesn't overwhelm the meat, but gives it just that little extra.

4

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Re: Salt & Pepper

skeeter1.

Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 08:19:40 PM EST

none

"Most everything I grill gets a good amount of freshly ground sea salt and black pepper cracked over it, then a small drizzle of olive oil to coat both sides, and then on the grill."

That's usually the way I like it, too.  Quick, simple, delicious.  You can deal with the mustards, catsups, sauces, chutneys, onions, peppers, relishes, mayonaisse, tomatoes, cheeses, and on-and-on afterwards.

there's only one way to find out...

6

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Re: Salt & Pepper

thefadd.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 at 08:42:07 PM EST

none

I actually cooked on my own on a grill for the first time this past weekend at friends house. Apartment living, I haven't been able to have my own grill, though we had one as a kid. I just threw the salmon up there naked for a couple minutes and it was plenty amazing. I gotta find a way to get me one of those:)

It is easy to buy small plaster models of what you think life is like.

5

Re: Salt & Pepper

tomc.

Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:27:23 PM EST

none

One of the things I really go for are Kettle's salt & pepper potato chips.

Why did it take so long before a chip company put out something so simple yet flavorful?

7

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Re: Salt & Pepper

skeeter1.

Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 01:42:49 AM EST

none

"One of the things I really go for are Kettle's salt & pepper potato chips.

Why did it take so long before a chip company put out something so simple yet flavorful?"

They don't sell that brand in the midwest, but I did find some Shearer's Salt & Pepper potato chips ($3.29/9oz), made in Brewster, Ohio.  They are tasty, but just like just about every processed food (in the US, at least), look at the label before you stick it in your piehole.

Potatoes
Vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: Peanut, Canola, cottonseed, or sunflower)
Salt
Spices
Sugar
Corn syrup solids
Modified corn starch
Whey
Monosodium glutamate
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Hydrolyzed soy protrein
autolyzed yeast extract
Sodium diacetate
Citric acid
Lactose
Sodium caseinate
disodium inosinate
Disodium guanylate
Caramel color
Natural flavors

My friend makes his own potato chips, fried in peanut oil, with salt & pepper.  I think he's got the better idea.  

there's only one way to find out...

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Re: Salt & Pepper

tomc.

Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 11:26:38 AM EST

none

The good news is that Kettle is now distributing nation-wide.  You might be able to find them in a health food store if they haven't made it to your local grocery chain yet.

Potato chips in a health food store - go figure.

9

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Re: Salt & Pepper

postillion.

Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 10:48:33 PM EST

none

Sea salt and Vinegar chips.

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