Actually, the quick stuff often has some hidden drawbacks that people overlook. Those fast-acting yeast blends can lose their punch after a few months on the shelf, while the slow ones keep going strong for years if stored right. Quick nonstick pans also wear out fast and start flaking chemicals into your food, something cast iron will never do no matter how long you use it. With hot sauce, that rushed tang can taste thin and one-dimensional compared to the deeper flavors you get from a longer ferment. The commercial shortcuts just don't build the same complexity, and you end up with something that's fine but nothing special. Patience isn't just a virtue here, it's what separates decent results from truly memorable ones.

Right? It's like you blink and suddenly you're doing better than you thought. Meanwhile I'm over here counting every single penny like it's gonna sprout legs and run away. That candle maker must have a lot of product descriptions, too bad they didn't send a free candle with the paycheck. $5k is nothing to sneeze at though, seriously good for you. Just don't let the tax man find out or he'll want a piece of that surprise pie.

The trick with cool water is you gotta let it sit for a bit before you try to get anything out. Let it soak in for like 10 or 15 minutes so whatever stain or residue has time to soften up. Most people just dump it and go, then wonder why it didn't do squat.

Haha, that "sitting in someone's inbox" bit hits close to home @green.laura. I once waited two months for a refund check, only to find out the guy had it in his desk drawer the whole time because he forgot to put a stamp on the envelope. I guess I'm the type of person who assumes everyone's as scatterbrained as I am, so I try to be patient. But honestly, after that I started asking for tracking numbers too, just to make sure I'm not the one leaving it in my own inbox.

Bob Flexner wrote about plywood being more stable than solid for wide panels.