SC - Milestones/beer bread
Arabella de Montacute
ladyarabella at hotmail.com
Mon Feb 9 22:41:50 PST 1998
>That particular islinglass is known as muscovite mica, used in oven
>doors and
>such in the "Good Ole Days". It's a clear mineral found in areas where
>there
>was volcanic activity, like here in the Blue Ridge... the other
>isinglass
>probably influnced the first one's name or visa-versa as in the
>current/rasin
>debate.
>
>Corwyn
If it is a mineral - that could be possible, I guess, it's a pretty soft
mineral. I went to look it up in one of my college geology textbooks:
Henry Holt guide to Minerals and Fossils by Bishop
"Mica group - There are two groups of Micas: dark mica rich in Fe and
Mg: and white mica which is rich in aluminum. In addition there is a
series of lithium micas.
Muscovite - ( it lists chemical composition here, I'll save you)
Chrystal system - Monoclinic : puedo-hexagonal. Habit - Chrystals
tabular and hexagonal in outline; also as foliated masses and as
disseminated flakes...... Hardness in Mos'hardness scale - 2 1/2 - 3
(meaning you can scratch it off with your fingernails) Cleavage - Basal,
perfect. Cleavage flakes flexible and elactic. Color and transparancy
- - Colorless to pale grey, green or brown: transparant to translucent.
(I'll save ya'll from the rest, terminology for students of geology,
unless you've taken a geology class you probably haven't heard these
terms)
If that is what inslinglass is, then why would they use a rock or
mineral in their food? If I remember correctly this debate began when
somone asked what it was and maybe why it was in ingredient in their
recipe? If I remember correctly, it's been a few years ago, a Mica
doesn't have a chemical reaction to a specific liquid like a few other
minerals do. And it has no taste like the mineral Halite(Rock Salt).
So why add it to food????
Just my two cents worth - Arabella
>=====================================================================
>The isinglass that I am familiar with is the lining of fish swim
>bladders, which is used as 1) a period thickening agent and 2) a fining
>for fermented beverages that helps precipitate spent yeasties. Rather
>nasty to think about, but very effective for both.
>
>fra niccolo
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