You'd Better Get Used to Seaweed!

It might be a major diet component in the coming decades...but for NOW, we're just going to discuss Kombu - a dried kelp that contains "umami" (specifically glutamic acid but what do you care?!?).  If you missed that post look it up!Kombu is used in Japanese (and my) cooking to enhance umami in many dishes - it can be found in Asian markets and these days quite a few grocery stores in dried form.  Kombu is also a vegetarian source of the brain function enhancing Omega 3 fatty acid.Just drop one 2x2 square per quart of liquid into soups and stews (think vegetable soup, tomato sauce) and pull it out when the liquid begins to simmer.  You don't want to forget it-  bitter compounds form at a full boil.  But you WILL add that indefinable "what is IN this that makes it so rich and tasty?!?" vibe if you pull it out at the simmer!  If you liked this tidbit you can get one weekly here!