Daily Archives: May 31, 2012

Does anyone remember what this is?

Yes, it is the original ice cube tray that used to come with every refrigerator made until someone realized that plastic would be cheaper. For me cheaper is not better. I don’t know about you, but I think plastic ice cube trays smell … no make that STINK. I keep my freezer clean. It doesn’t smell of anything other than cold. But the plastic ice cube trays smell … musty. I’ve washed them, soaked them in baking soda and set them in the sun, but they still smell. And I think they make the cubes frozen in them taste … OFF. Ice cubes aren’t supposed to have a taste of anything other than water.

Let me explain, I realized quite a few years ago that I had a very acute sense of taste and smell. This was confirmed when the US Army sent me to the Veterinary Food Inspection School where they teach you how to use your senses to inspect and grade food. It’s sort of like being a wine taster, only it’s done with milk, butter, fish and several other foodstuffs. I was the only person who was able to identify every off taste that can affect the grade of butter from alfalfa to manure. Trust me, you don’t want butter that has a manure taste — but then most people wouldn’t even taste it. I can usually tell you all the spices that were used to flavor a dish. So that’s why I had a problem with plastic ice cube trays.

So I started looking for an old fashion metal tray. None of the regular stores had them. So I went on line and discovered that many of the old ice cube trays were made of aluminum. Unfortunately aluminum is a heavy metal that leeches out into the food or liquid you put in it. They think this is one of the causes of Alzheimer’s. In other words they’re not using it pots, pans, water bottles or ice cube trays anymore … unless they’re made outside the US.  The recommended metal is now stainless steel. And I did find a number of sites that offered a stainless steel ice cube tray. They weren’t cheap, and at most of the places they were out of stock. But I did find one place that could supply me with one. Not two, but ONE! This didn’t bother me, because one tray would supply me with 18 large ice cubes. Heck, that would be enough for three tall glasses of beverage, and I seldom drink more than two at a time. So I order the tray and it arrived today. Note … or abnormal heat wave ended yesterday. But now I’m ready for the start of summer.

So I made my first tray of ice in a stainless steel ice cube tray today.

COOL, CLEAR ICE!

And I used filtered water to make them. Mlle. Renee had to have one, too.  But she took hers outside and dropped it on the ground to lick on it. So she probably got a little dirt on hers.  Dogs aren’t picky that way.