Yesterday, I was wondering about sugar. Now today, I will wonder about that other white stuff we find in most kitchens and on dinner tables most anywhere, salt. We get most of our salt from salt mines (yes, there are salt mines and some people go off to the salt mines to work each day), some of which are located under Detroit city. Ocean water can be evaporated to get the salt, but the mines are the quickest way. Salt has been extremely important throughout history.
When most of us think of salt, we think of Morton. It is the company with the slogan "When it rains, it pours" and comes in those round containers. Now, I wonder why they are round. Well, there is a practical reason. They first tried to market it in cloth sacks, but it got lumpy. Square boxes where next tried, but it lumped up in the the corners, so they went to the round container. They also, at first, added magnesium carbonate to keep it flowing free. Morton now uses calcium silicate to keep it from caking up. So, yesterday we talked about sugar, today is salt, what should tomorrow be, pepper? Have a great day because you are the salt of the earth, you hear?
My dad put a few grains of barley in our salt shakers to keep it from lumping together. I don't even own a salt shaker... Bill & I both have hypertension. But.. now you got me to wondering... is salt "naturally" iodized or is that added? I think iodine is supposed to prevent goiters. Does anyone actually get a goiter anymore? Oh rats... now you have ME wondering about such stuff....
ReplyDeleteThot Morton's was always in that round box. I put rice in my shakers to keep the moisture out.
ReplyDeleteImported from England, baking soda was first used in America during colonial times, but it was not produced in the United States until 1839.I think it is considered a salt
ReplyDeleteNever saw sugar mold before, but I bet you won't see that happen to salt. Interesting reading. Pepper? I've heard of one guy that grows Jalapeños, smokes them and then grinds them in to pepper. I've never tried it, but will if I ever get the chance. I hear its great, but takes a massive amount to make enough to fill up just one shaker.
ReplyDeleteThe Odd Essay, I have seen rice in salt shakers but not barley. I guess either would work. I would think that salt from the ocean would have some iodine in it, I would think.
ReplyDeleteTrouble, the square boxes were before your time.
Justastick, now you got me wondering about baking soda.
David, Sugar doesn't spoil or mold unless it gets wet. Now, you can't have salt without pepper. Jalapenos would make a great ground pepper as would habanero.
I always come back to read your replies... It's been a long day and I must be tired... I read tffnguys comment... couldn't imagine smoking jalapenos... about put my lungs on fire just thinking of it... then.. the light came on... oh.. like roasting peppers on a grill! Okay... that sounds okay... duh... not a thing wrong with me that a little R&R won't help ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe Odd Essay, smoking a jalapeno is easier than smoking meat, like ham (grin). Glad you got it figured out.
ReplyDeleteEven though I don't use as much salt as I used to, I do like it. Can't imagine a world without salt and pepper on the table.
ReplyDeleteSugar? That goes without saying!
HJ, me neither. That is one of my problems. I love salt and I also have high blood pressure, the tow of them do not mix.
ReplyDeleteI have never been much for salt and now even less since I am on high blood pressure medication...but pepper...well I love pepper!
ReplyDeleteMsB, when you have enough pepper you don't need salt.
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