Bad Tempeh-rament and Popovers

Inedible.
Many of us have had those nights/days when the decision to try something new blows up in the face. Last night was one for me. I can stomach a lot of bad stuff, and I'm open to new tastes and textures. When my little container of Chocolate pudding unexpectedly turned green on the bottom... I thought 'It doesn't smell bad. What the hell, I'll give it a shot.' and I suffered the consequences.

This was seriously horrid.

I've never cooked tempeh before but I figured I'd try. I've eaten it before and it was good. It's a fermented soybean product kind of like a veggie burger. I'm not sure if it's the brand I bought or if it is my poor technique or just a combo of both but holy shit was it disgusting. In conclusion: It was mushy/grainy in texture with unexpected large bean lumps, it had a bite that wasn't quite a bean and wasn't quite like the tempeh I've had before AND the bitter, almost chemical taste did not boil out so it overpowered the sauce I'd made (which wasn't bad). -Many online tips as well as a few cookbooks I took a look at advised boiling tempeh for 10 minutes to help remove the bitter taste then chill it, cut it and cook it.
Yeah, boiling didn't do a damn thing.
The Mister also hated it and not even ketchup could save it for him. Ketchup is the pinnacle of condiments for him. Puts it on everything except tater tots*. Heretic. (Second place is bbq sauce.)

In any case I may try it again in the future but for now all temeph experiments will be placed on hold and I'll stick to tofu and I may try seitan. WOO! SA-TAN!

I hate it when I transpose numbers and call some random person. Have you ever had a long conversation with someone you don't know on the phone? This happens to me every once in a while (like every 5 years). I called the wrong number, an older man voice answered, I apologized for the mistake, he was gracious and then proceeded with small talk which progressed to talk of how his business was failing but he's ok with it cause it's time to retire anyway. Good Luck Mystery Gent! Made me remember that I like talking to people. Well, I don't like talking much, I weird people out and I'm not very good with the spoken word, but I like to listen to people. I forget how to talk to people most of the time because I get so out of practice. Part of me is of the opinion that one really doesn't need to talk much in life. It's a superfluous exercise in ego.

Exactly like this blog.

Let's seeeee a recipe for something, ummmmmmmm how about.....

Popovers

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
3 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbspn melted butter (for greasing pan)

1.Sacrifice to steam fairies.

2. Place small oven proof container with water in it into your oven

3. Grease your muffin tin or popover tin VERY WELL with the melted butter

4. Whisk together milk and eggs, whisk in flour and salt to make a thin batter

5. Pour muffin cups 1/2 full

6. Place pan into cold oven

7. Turn heat to 350

8. Bake until puffy and golden brown (about 35 mins? I can't remember off top of my head)

9. When you take 'em out of the oven poke holes in the top to let steam escape and this will help to prevent collapsed popovers


* Don't knock the tots. They're wonderful and a cult icon. Tater Tots is also a euphemism for certain anatomical features and this makes me giggle. I approve.