T.K. Bish - Episode 20
I just love the sound of this shorthand, T.K. Bish. Has a nice ring to it. It stands for Tera Kaia Bishop and it is the company this week’s guest, Bridget, co-created. (The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well even in these precarious times. Just love that!) She walks us through how her interests led her desire to design something that is functional. And how her commitment to be a sustainable company has been balanced with the need for women to buy the products - consumerism. If you want to check them out: https://www.terakaia.com. Be your outside self.
Unique.
Intuitive.
Confident.
— Bridget
Why I Own 7 Pairs of Allbirds
Thoughts from T.K. Bish
I am far behind Bridget when it comes to knowing more about sustainability and how products impact the environment. But I’m learning and I want to know more. I (try?) to balance this with with my occasional need to shop. Ok, it’s been a bit more prevalent in these COVID times. It seems almost magical to get on your computer, look some stuff up, put it in your cart, pay, and the next thing you know is it’s at your door. Pretty convenient.
Let me explain a few things about myself. I am not a big shopper. I don’t really enjoy it all that much but I DO enjoy being organized and feeling like I have what I need. That brings me great satisfaction. So that could be the Enneagram #1 at work in me. It’s more about being accomplished and prepared than the thing itself. I think.
The other thing about me is I’m a minimalist. You will not see lots of stored boxes or mounds of things that need to be organized. (Except old photos. Still wrestling with that one.) I am constantly purging or “culling” as my Aunt Mary called it. When it comes to clothes I can’t tell if I have about the same amount as my peers or less. I think less. I heard a fashionista friend recently say that you should have 10 pairs of good jeans ready to wear. Uh-oh! I’m way off. I have two.
So if I’m not a big shopper and a minimalist to-boot, why do I own seven pairs of Allbirds? The short answer is I LOVE THEM. The longer answer is they seem to be doing the thing I want businesses to do: think things through, value sustainability, have a modest price-point and equally as important: make cute shoes! I’ve reached an age though where cute is NOT enough. There must be a strong, immediate, comfortable component. I no longer have the patience, or willingness, to “break” anything “in.” If it doesn’t feel GREAT the moment I try it on, it’s on to the next pair, no matter how cute the first pair was. And that is the case with Allbirds. They are pillows for your feet, heavenly. I honestly cannot promise I won’t buy more! (They know nothing of my enthusiastic endorsement and that should say even more. Yet here I am sharing their website: https://www.allbirds.com. Check out the cool videos about the materials they use in the shoes. Impressive.) #allbirds
Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.
— Marilyn Monroe
Black Garlic
Bridget’s recipe:
Black garlic is cooked very slowly causing a sweet caramelization. The taste is sweet, much like balsamic vinegar, and the texture is soft and chewy. It can take some time and tweaking to get the conditions just right.
What you need:
- garlic bulbs
- rice cooker with locking lid and "keep warm" option
- clean rocks
- paper towel or foil.
1. Locate a spot for your rice cooker. You need a plug and the area should not be in your house, unless you want your house to smell EXTREMELY STRONG like garlic. A garage or cellar is best.
2. Place the rocks at the bottom of the rice cooker to create a platform.
3. Cover the bottom with foil or a paper towel.
4. Place your garlic bulbs in the rice cooker. Add as many as you like, the more you include the better yield.
5. Wet a paper towel and place it over the bulbs.
6. Tuck the paper towel around the sides if the bulbs.
7. Lock the rice cooker and set to "keep warm."
8. For the first week or two the garlic smell will be very strong!
9. Continue to check your garlic until it reaches a rich black color. Also check the moisture levels to make sure they are not too wet or too dry. Conditions in your cooker should feel moist and humid but not sopping wet.
10. It could take anywhere from 3 weeks - several months depending on the conditions and temperature in the environment.
Once cooked you can use the black garlic in pasta dishes, salads, or just on its own. I recommend blending it with butter to make black garlic butter which is a great base for pasta sauce!
