#16: Biscuits, Gingerbread, and Pickle Juice

My first attempt at selling baked goods occurred when I was ten, and had somewhat disastrous results. I forgot to put the sugar in sugar cookies. I remember being rather devastated, although looking back on it I don’t know why. The “cookies” were quite good as biscuits although it was kind of weird that they had pink sprinkles.

Biscuits

My next screw-up in the kitchen happened when I was making gingerbread and I switched around the measurements for baking powder and baking soda.This time I wasn’t upset, I was actually excited about the mistake. I was sure that I had invented the next great dessert. Imagine my disappointment when nothing happened. This didn’t stop me from editing the recipe however. Who knows, maybe some day something amazing will happen because I put in 2/3 Tbs of baking powder instead of 1/2.

And trust me, my cookies didn't even look as good as these do.

Of course, I do have some successes in cooking/baking as well. For example I am the proud originator of a tuna sandwich recipe that, among other things, calls for pickle juice and salsa. When I made the recipe I don’t think I realized what pickle juice was.

I am SO not a Cowboys fan.

Wait a sec…some people actually drink pickle juice. On purpose? Yep, you see it appears that pickle juice relieves muscle cramps faster than Gatorade and includes 30 times more electrolytes than Powerade. According to the company that sells it.

Actually, researchers confirm that pickle juice relieves muscle cramps quickly:

“Pickle juice, and not deionized water, inhibits electrically induced muscle cramps in hypohydrated humans. This effect could not be explained by rapid restoration of body fluids or electrolytes. We suspect that the rapid inhibition of the electrically induced cramps reflects a neurally mediated reflex that originates in the oropharyngeal region and acts to inhibit the firing of alpha motor neurons of the cramping muscle.”

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

Basically, what they think pickle juice does is start a nervous reaction (neurally mediated reflex) in the throat (oropharyngeal region) that stops motor neurons from causing cramps (acts to inhibit the firing of alpha motor neurons of the cramping muscle). Drink up!!!! =)

How did I get so off-topic?

Smile!!!