how much is 'a sensation'?

[scullion]

i've just been flicking through 'a good wife's cookbook', from 1911. (selfridge and co ltd, oxford street)
in a recipe for 'omelette bengali' one of the ingredients is 'a sensation of garlic'. could this be a discreet rub round the bowl or a massive hit?
the only ingredient in the recipe that could hint at bengal is, possibly, a pinch of cayenne.

[StokeySue]

I'd imagine it is about the same amount as a "suspicion of garlic" which I've seen in old writing

Not exactly omelette masala then!

[earthmaiden]

I would read it as a 'smidgen' but have absolutely no idea really - it depends what degree of sensation the writer preferred

[TeresaFoodie]

I don't know about sensation, but I once asked my Nan what she meant by 'knob'. She held her forefingers in front of her, with a cheeky smirk on her face, and said 'oh, about this big'

[liketocook]

I would read it as a 'smidgen' but have absolutely no idea really - it depends what degree of sensation the writer preferred

Cooking with my gran involved measurements such as a "touch", a "smidgen" and a "pinch" in ascending order of quantity never heard her use a "sensation" though

[Catherine]

That's about as specific as when a recipe method says 'cook until done'

[StokeySue]

A panel on the back of Iceland frozen avocado halves is headed Defrosting Instructions. These are to defrost completely then use. No clues as to method, time or temperature. I'd suggest 60 - 90 minutes at room temperature in a bowl of cold water to leach out some of the citric / ascorbic acid mix with which they have been treated

[TeresaFoodie]

Wow, I didn't know you can freeze avocado! Agree, those defrosting instructions are vague if not useless. They may as well have put 'To defrost, use your common sense'

[scullion]

i had no idea these were available - maybe that's another reason why fresh ones are so expensive!
are they in any way useable as a solid when defrosted or do they resemble guacamole?

[Gruney]

My mother, who had learned a few things in service, and was a very good cook, used to cook scouse until it "flopped".

[StokeySue]

I think it's the other way round scully, frozen ones are available because fresh avos have become an expensive staple

I haven't tried freezing my own but I will when this bag has gone

What you get is a bag of peeled halves of perfectly unblemished but apparently ripe small avocados from Peru. So ideal for one portion. They thaw ok and end up quite soft but not overly mushy, you can slice with care but the package recommends using in smoothies and dips or generally mashed. They taste of avocado.

The downside is that they have been treated, as you might expect, with a solution of citric acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to prevent discoloration. Possibly overdone. Reading the reviews online it seems that some people find the residue incredibly bitter, some find it unremarkable. I'm in between, very noticeable when eaten in slices but just about OK when mixed in with the flesh using less lime / lemon juice than usual.

So experimenting with thawing in water to see if I can wash it away. Watch this space

[StokeySue]

OK, reporting
Left a small frozen half of avo soaking in a bowl of cold tap water for a little over an hour and it thawed completely Drained and dried on kitchen towel. Cut off a small slice, tasted of avocado (duh!) with a definite "sensation" of lemon.

Mashed, seasoned, and spread on toast you would have not known it wasn't a good fresh avocado

[KC2]

OK, reporting
Left a small frozen half of avo soaking in a bowl of cold tap water for a little over an hour and it thawed completely Drained and dried on kitchen towel. Cut off a small slice, tasted of avocado (duh!) with a definite "sensation" of lemon.

Mashed, seasoned, and spread on toast you would have not known it wasn't a good fresh avocado

Gosh, that's very helpful Sue, I will look out for them as I despair of ever buying avos that are either perfect and ready to eat or that can be ripened in a brown paper bag (even though we always pick ones that still have their little brown disc still on, which is what a friend told us was essential) - we've almost given up trying! But we're very partial to guac and it is expensive when you buy it ready made. And we love avo on toast ...

[Gruney]

I've just been idly browsing Elizabeth David's "French Country Cooking" and come upon the instruction "season with a discreet amount of black pepper".

[Zosherooney]

A recent recipe described the cooking power needed was 'a whisper' ? So is that less or more than a simmer ????

[TeresaFoodie]

I keep seeing ads for frozen avocado from Iceland and can't get fresh easily from here so I am tempted as I always find Iceland reasonably priced whereas Sainsbury's, my only real source which involves a bus or a mum car journey, can be very pricey, although good quality mainly.

[KC2]

I keep seeing ads for frozen avocado from Iceland and can't get fresh easily from here so I am tempted as I always find Iceland reasonably priced whereas Sainsbury's, my only real source which involves a bus or a mum car journey, can be very pricey, although good quality mainly.

I just checked out the Iceland frozen avos and came across this: http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/13/iceland-i ... t-6634887/

I saw the avocado halves last time I was in there and I must say I'm very tempted as good avos seem always to be very hit or miss. The so-called "ripe and ready" at the supermarkets are a bit more reliable but certainly no guarantees, and they are quite pricey. I've given up getting them at the market even though the ones they have opened for the display always look fine!

Have you got an Iceland that is easily accessible, Tezza?

[TeresaFoodie]

That article was quite amusing!

I have an Iceland walkable about half a mile away which I have yet to visit but plan a trip there on 'pay day'. I've never suffered from avocado hand and would only really be tempted because they seem to be very reasonably priced plus I am pretty good at planning meals well in advance, also couldn't be tempted to defrost in the microwave as I do not own one. Agree, fresh are very hit or miss.

[StokeySue]

The Iceland ones are OK (see my posts above) but think I'll try freezing my own when they are gone

[TeresaFoodie]

Thanks Sue, I think it was your comments that convinced me to buy some. And, I just walked to post a letter opposite there so know I can do it as a daily walk now, but gently does it on the old hip which is now bu**ered for the rest of the day. Ooh, the avos should help oil that!

[karadekoolaid]

sensation - from medieval latin sensatio - to sense.
"a general feeling caused by something that happens to you, especially a feeling that you cannot describe exactly"

So a wipe round the bowl, if you´re English.
About 4 cloves if you´re Italian or Spanish??

[scullion]

Well, I was thinking it might be enough to make someone standing next to you wonder where the 'aroma' was coming from!!!

[TeresaFoodie]

Frozen avocado update from me...

I scoured my local Iceland yesterday but couldn't find them, asked a young shop floor person who started rifling amongst the frozen berries. Needless to say he didn't come up trumps either! I found them eventually in with the green beans. It took me half an hour to walk home then before refreezing I popped one half onto a plate at room temperature then sliced and had on seeded bread with sliced tomato. Absolutely gorgeous and no difference to eating fresh. I'd say probably better than fresh as it was just soft enough to slice easily, no skin or stone to deal with and not overly ripe or squishy or bruised. I will be buying again.

[KC2]

Frozen avocado update from me...

I scoured my local Iceland yesterday but couldn't find them, asked a young shop floor person who started rifling amongst the frozen berries. Needless to say he didn't come up trumps either! I found them eventually in with the green beans. It took me half an hour to walk home then before refreezing I popped one half onto a plate at room temperature then sliced and had on seeded bread with sliced tomato. Absolutely gorgeous and no difference to eating fresh. I'd say probably better than fresh as it was just soft enough to slice easily, no skin or stone to deal with and not overly ripe or squishy or bruised. I will be buying again.

Great, thanks for the update Tezza

Did you say you were "refreezing"? I hope that works out ok.

[TeresaFoodie]

When I said re-freezing I meant that by the time I got them home they were partially thawed but as there are eight in a bag not fully, so I left one out before popping the others in the freezer. I have just taken another out to have with Ryvitas for dinner later on so will report back if there is any change from the first one.....

[KC2]

Ah, fine, next time I go to Iceland I'll definitely pick some up. I imagine they would be fine for guacamole too, which we love.