Unholy mackerel
A couple of months ago, Andy came back from work with eight large reduced-in-price fresh mackerel 'because I know you like your mackerel'. So kind. 'It needs eating now though, it won't last much longer'. There is only so much not-entirely-fresh mackerel a girl can eat, so I decided to try cold pickling it, as I believe they do in Scandanavia. (I might be wrong on this).
Bit of a faff, but I had that holy glow one gets from preserving. No waste in this house! A month later, I tried some. I love rollmop herrings, but my fishy pickles were in a class of their own - quite sour and mushy, though I bravely ate the whole dish. The jar went to the back of the fridge, where I found it a few days ago. There was something about it I didn't quite trust - I may even have started a new eco-system. It smelled - very fishy, but I don't think it was off - just funny coloured in parts. Nonetheless, it has been disposed of.
A couple of months ago, Andy came back from work with eight large reduced-in-price fresh mackerel 'because I know you like your mackerel'. So kind. 'It needs eating now though, it won't last much longer'. There is only so much not-entirely-fresh mackerel a girl can eat, so I decided to try cold pickling it, as I believe they do in Scandanavia. (I might be wrong on this).
Bit of a faff, but I had that holy glow one gets from preserving. No waste in this house! A month later, I tried some. I love rollmop herrings, but my fishy pickles were in a class of their own - quite sour and mushy, though I bravely ate the whole dish. The jar went to the back of the fridge, where I found it a few days ago. There was something about it I didn't quite trust - I may even have started a new eco-system. It smelled - very fishy, but I don't think it was off - just funny coloured in parts. Nonetheless, it has been disposed of.
Shudder! I tried making jerky once, but ended up junking it. There is something about preserving meat that is a little more tricky than, say, plums or jam.
ReplyDelete"A" for effort, though!
Yowza!
ReplyDeleteEwww! Coincidently, just 2 days ago I discovered a forgotten packet of smoked mackerel that had slipped vertically down the back of the fridge. I was a bit peeved because it's one of my favourites!x
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I don't think that should end up in your gullet.
ReplyDeleteHeaven only knows what lurks at the back of my fridge, but its gots eyes and fur!!! Ha! Ha! Best to have thrown your fishy dish out, methinks, rather than risk being ill.
ReplyDeleteHmm - definitely the right decision - how brave of you to photograph it!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you should have sent it to Professor Hugh Pennington - you might have bred a new kind of bacteria!!
ReplyDeleteMy friend lived in Sweden for a year and the town she lived in had a rotten fish festival.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I recall they put lots of fish in a barrel (and some other things presumably) and bury it in a forest
Several months later they dig it up and eat the contents.
They always open the barrels up whilst still out in the forest but the smell gets to the town anyway.
I think you were very brave to open the jar.
It's things like this that remind me why I'm vegetarian.
Hi, Greetings from New Zealand, I do like your little flying bunny it is so, so cool, Cheers Marie
ReplyDeleteHmm, many a person has regretted those words "I don't think it's off, just a funny colour in places" You were so wise to ditch it!!! I love roll mops too, but not that much :) I'm sure there's a felted creature lurking in the title of this post though! :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.x
Oh, dear, I believe it is looking at back at us.
ReplyDeleteI think the only way it could be OK would be if you left a couple of years (or more), like they do fermented fish sauce.....
ReplyDeleteAn unlooked for joy in moving is, you find those things that squint at you from the dark recesses of the fridge.
ReplyDeleteIt's an unusual colour...maybe an inspiration for a strange beastie...
I laughed like a drain when I read this. So kind of you to let us have a look too.
ReplyDelete"I don't think it was off" - great inscription for a tombstone.
Happy Christmas!
Wow. The word Ewwwwww comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a season of CoMfOrt & JoY
LiBBy BuTTons
Gah! looks like that was ready to crawl off to the bin on it's own! Glad you helped it on it's way, that could have seriously ruined your Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOK,this Southern girl needs to puke... :P
ReplyDeletedid you pull the old..."honey, taste this and tell me if it tastes bad to you" too funny Gretel!
ReplyDeleteEwwwwwwwwwww too!
ReplyDeleteAnd I just the loved the comment - good inscription for a tomestone! haha!
You are so brave to let us have a look and a good laugh!!
Have a nice Christmas!
Vicky x
I think you were a bit brave about the fish!
ReplyDeleteI read back a little and was very touched at the photo of you and your mother.
Christmas greetings from New York
I've eaten many a jar of pickled herring in my time. It's good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I wouldn't eat this. Judging solely from the pictures, it's gone past pickling, past aging, well into the blue bread mold stage.
This is one of those times when you can feel proud of yourself for saving the lives of your loved ones by disposing of what was once a foodstuff.
I'm glad I snuck over to read this post. Poor Fishy would have been horrified to read of the demise of the unholy mackerels. She's busily eating chocolate treats. Good of Andy to think of you ~ at least you enjoyed most of them.
ReplyDeleteQuite an adventure. Perhaps alcohol will help? Some for the preservation process and enough to cover the taste? ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Boxing Day! After stuffing myself with too many chocolates yesterday I find the idea of pickled fish actually refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't attempted any preserves beyond jam-making, so "well-done" with the fish, even if they did make an unexpected metamorphosis.
"It smelled very fishy"! Made me laugh. I'd have quit when they first came through the door.
ReplyDeleteThat was funny...! I have a similar way with blue goats cheese - love it, in small portions, very small! Which means it does have a tendency to develop independent locomotion... I have to keep it secure in one of the salad drawers!
ReplyDeleteThat looks God awful. Blech!
ReplyDeletePussDaddy