What is the Best End?

from Elliott
My son-in-laws like most South Africans like Biltong so I have had to learn a bit about this cultural phenomenon. I know it comes from many different kinds of meat - kudu, ostrich, bok, beef, etc and I know there are many different cuts of each animal.

I was not sure though what the 'best end' might mean. Knowing how sensitive people are about their biltong I did not ask the store owner for an explanation for fear I might offend.

Which is the best end of the kudu?

There is a Mystery in the Meat

from Elliott
We read a lot of labels in the market. In some cases, it is simply for education or to choose the best value and other times so we do not make a mistake. There has been a lot of conversation in the media about new government rules regarding the amount of water they put in chicken. Since much of it is sold by weight the amount of water makes a big difference in how much chicken is left in the pan once it is cooked. It can range from 6 - 25% so it is one more variable to consider when looking for the best value or just buying the proper amount for the recipe.

This one though is more concerning. 

Yes, there is a lot of water in this mince but I am more concerned that there is 10% of an unknown ingredient since the beef and water only add up to 90%. What is the rest? Certainly, the spices and preservatives don't add up to 10%

In an unfamiliar culture, that unknown could make a real difference in what you are consuming!

Concrete or Contrite?

from Elliott

Driving along the tarred road is always interesting. You never know what you may see. Sometimes it is interesting scenery, oftentimes goats or cows, always there are interesting people. Many things are self explanatory while others require a bit more thought.

On a recent drive we saw a large truck carrying concrete blocks and mortar mix - just what you need to make a block wall. That all made sense but the company name was a bit puzzling. "Conrite Walls" 

Sometimes the confusion is just a misspelling but with this one I was not sure if they meant 'Concrete' or 'Contrite'. Concrete would make sense for they were carrying block and mortar. 

But could it be Contrite? Maybe something was getting lost in translation. 

Contrite is an adjective which makes sense but it means caused by or showing sincere remorse or filled with a sense of guilt. And it gets more confusing. Contrite is from the Latin contritus meaning 'worn out, ground to pieces"   

How much would you pay for a wall that was 'worn out, ground to pieces and do you want a wall that is filled with a sense of guilt? Guilt over what - keeping people out?

Still puzzled!