DYI Buttermilk & The Perfect Pancake

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DYI Buttermilk & The Perfect Pancake

September 19, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Understanding the Guns-and-Butter Curve & How It Works

“The Butter Churn” 1897 Ralph Hedley

Buttermilk is a tangy, dairy-based liquid often used in cooking and baking. It’s traditionally a byproduct of churning butter, but modern buttermilk is typically made by adding lactic acid bacteria to low-fat milk. This bacterial fermentation imparts its characteristic sour flavor and thickens the milk.

Buttermilk provides a pleasant acidity and moisture to recipes, especially in pancakes, biscuits, and marinades. It also aids in leavening, making baked goods rise. Additionally, buttermilk can be enjoyed as a refreshing drink on its own or blended with other ingredients for beverages and dressings, lending a delightful, tart quality.

School Lunch Milk

There is no single international standard for buttermilk, as its composition and characteristics can vary from one region to another.


Related:

“Buttergate”

Milk

ISO standards help ensure the quality, safety, and consistency of these products in international trade. Some ISO standards related to milk and dairy products include:

  1. ISO 7886-1:2005 – Milk and milk products — Determination of the protein content — Part 1: Test at 0.020 specific density (Reference method)
  2. ISO 1053:2006 – Milk — Enumeration of somatic cells
  3. ISO 21415-1:2006 – Milk — Enumeration of psychrotrophic microorganisms — Part 1: Colony-count technique at 6.5 degrees C
  4. ISO 11816-1:2013 – Milk — Determination of milkfat, protein, and lactose content — Part 1: Guidance on the operation of mid-infrared instruments

These standards cover various aspects of milk quality, testing methods, and safety parameters. Dairy products, including milk, undergo strict quality control and testing to ensure they meet the required standards for international trade and consumer safety.

The “Perfect Pancake” & DYI Buttermilk

Kitchens 100

Kitchens 200

Kitchens 300

“By All Your Saints Still Striving”

September 19, 2025
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Standards Indiana

This hymn is most often sung to the tune “King’s Lynn”, a traditional English folk melody collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906.  The hymn’s text was written by Horatio Bolton Nelson (1823–1913), an English priest and hymn writer.  It is commonly sung in Anglican, Episcopal, and sometimes Catholic churches, particularly in the Anglosphere, during feasts honoring saints, including the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29.

Sacred Spaces

World Census of Agriculture

September 19, 2025
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Much like its role as a discoverer of new knowledge and as a large consumer in the energy sector, education communities have a significant role in food security research and as a consumer in its school lunch programs, dormitory, athletic facility and healthcare enterprises.  Accordingly — in much the same way we follow the US Census Bureau’s monthly construction activity report — we follow a data point provided by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as one of our stars to steer by.

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates  is a monthly report published by the USDA that provides comprehensive forecast of supply and demand for major crops (global and United States) and livestock (U.S. only). The report provides an analysis of the fundamental condition of the agricultural commodity markets for the use of farmers, governments and other market participants.

 

World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimates | September 12, 2025

 

 

 

We maintain the WASDE report on our periodic Nourriture colloquia.   See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone


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Morrill Land-Grant Act

Family of Mr. Schoenfeldt | Sheridan County, Kansas
Source: Farm Security Administration Russell Lee photographer

Food Safety

September 19, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Overdoor, France, ca. 1825; | Smithsonian Design Museum

Education communities have significant food safety responsibilities.  Risk gets pushed around global food service counterparties; a drama in itself and one that requires coverage in a separate blog post.*

Since 2013 we have been following the development of food safety standards; among them ANSI/NSF 2: Food Equipment one of a constellation of NSF food safety titles whose provisions cover bakery, cafeteria, kitchen, and pantry units and other food handling and processing equipment such as tables and components, counters, hoods, shelves, and sinks.  The purpose of this Standard is to establish minimum food protection and sanitation requirements for the materials, design, fabrication, construction, and performance of food handling and processing equipment.

It is a relatively stable standard; developed to support conformance revenue for products.  A new landing page seems to have emerged in recent months:

https://www.nsf.org/testing/food

You may be enlightened by the concepts running through this standard as can be seen on a past, pre-pandemic agenda:

NSF 2 Food Safety 2019 Meeting Packet – Final Draft

NSF 2 Food Safety 2019 Meeting Summary – August 21-22 Ann Arbor NSF Headquarters

NSF 2 Food Equipment Fabrication Agenda – FEF – TG – 2021-01-12

Not trivial agendas with concepts that cut across several disciplines involving product manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance.  We find a very strong influence of organizations such as Aramark and Sodexo.   More on that in a separate post.

Ranchview High School Cafeteria / Irving, Texas

This committee – along with several other joint committees –meets frequently online.  If you wish to participate, and receive access to documents that explain the scope and scale of NSF food safety standards, please contact Allan Rose, (734) 827-3817, arose@nsf.org.   NSF International welcomes guests/observers to nearly all of its standards-setting technical committees.   We expect another online meeting hosted by this committee any day now.

Keep in mind that all NSF International titles are on the standing agenda of our Nourriture (Food) colloquia; open to everyone.  See our CALENDAR for the next meeting.

University of Indiana

Issue: [13-113] [15-126]

Category: Facility Asset Management, Healthcare, Residence Hall, Athletics

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Tracey Artley, Keith Koster, Richard Robben

*See “Food Safety Risk Management: Evidence-Informed Policies and Decisions, Considering Multiple Factors, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations”


LEARN MORE:

ANSI Blog | Changes to NSF 2 Food Safety Equipment Standard

NSF International Food Safety 2018 Meeting Summary – 2018-08-22 – Final Draft

2017 Food Code | US Food & Drug Administration

Hygiene Requirements For The Design Of Meat And Poultry Processing Equipment

ARCHIVE: NSF 2 Food Safety

Food Code 2022

September 19, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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“Fall Plowing” | Gant Wood (1880)

Food safety is an obvious priority for education communities, given the prevalence of school lunch programs, student residence meal services, university-affiliated hospitals, athletic and entertainment event concessions — too many to count.   We find food services in the interstitial spaces of traditional educational occupancies such as libraries and student recreation centers.  Many land grant colleges and universities were founded to develop agricultural programs for local food supply and safety.  It is fair to say that there are far more people involved in food preparation and delivery services than there are skilled tradespersons such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, software programmers, etc.

The food supply chain is an essential feature of education community infrastructure so we track the literature of food safety and sustainability here; starting with one of its foundational documents with the force of law.

FOOD CODE 2022

10 Tampa Bay

September 18, 2025
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Lakeland Florida high school offers free clothes and laundry facilities. Expansion of this concept to Saturdays for all students in the district would contribute to greater utilization of square footage that is normally unused. It may also lower energy cost and contribute to “family feeling” in the district.

Standards Florida

Schools install laundry facilities to help students in need, improve attendance

Masonry

September 18, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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“Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright:

Harvard University Dormitory Room | Smithsonian Museum | Thomas Warren Sears Collection

Today we sort through the best practice literature for designing and building education settlements with brick — the world’s oldest construction material.   Masonry is a term used to describe the construction of structures using individual units that are bound together with mortar. Brickwork is a specific type of masonry that involves the use of bricks as the primary building units.

We use the terms interchangeably reflecting vernacular use in the literature.  Brickwork in building construction lies in its ability to provide structural strength, fire resistance, thermal and sound insulation, aesthetic appeal, low maintenance, environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and versatility.

Use the login credentials at the upper right of our homepage.

 

Masonry is a construction technique that involves the use of individual units, typically made of materials like brick, stone, concrete blocks, or clay tiles, which are bound together with mortar to create walls, columns, or other structural elements. Masonry has been used for thousands of years and remains a popular method for building various structures, including houses, commercial buildings, bridges, and more.

The key components of masonry construction are:

  1. Masonry Units: These are the individual building blocks or pieces, such as bricks or stones, that form the structure. They come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, depending on the specific requirements of the project.
  2. Mortar: Mortar is a mixture of cement, sand, and water that is used to bind the masonry units together. It acts as both an adhesive and a filler between the units, providing strength and stability to the structure.
  3. Masonry Workmanship: Skilled craftsmen, known as masons, are responsible for arranging and securing the masonry units with mortar. Their expertise ensures the structural integrity and aesthetic quality of the finished product.

Masonry construction offers several advantages:

  • Durability: Masonry structures are known for their longevity and resistance to fire, weather, and pests.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: Masonry can be used to create intricate designs and patterns, making it a popular choice for architectural and decorative elements.
  • Energy Efficiency: Masonry walls have good thermal mass, which can help regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy costs.
  • Low Maintenance: Masonry structures typically require minimal maintenance over the years.

Masonry can be categorized into different types based on the materials and methods used. Some common forms of masonry include:

  • Brick Masonry: This involves using clay or concrete bricks to build walls and structures. It is widely used in residential and commercial construction.
  • Stone Masonry: Natural stones, such as granite, limestone, and slate, are used to create walls and structures in this type of masonry. It’s often used for historical or architectural projects.
  • Concrete Block Masonry: Concrete blocks are used to construct walls in this form of masonry, and it’s commonly seen in industrial and commercial buildings.
  • Reinforced Masonry: Steel reinforcement is incorporated into masonry walls to enhance structural strength.

Masonry is a versatile construction method that can be used in various applications, and it continues to be a fundamental part of the construction industry.

More:

College of West Anglia: Bricklayer Apprenticeship

North Carolina State University Industry Expansion Solutions: Fireplace & Chimney Safety

Salt Lake Community College: Brick Mason

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Fall Protection

Crisp, Cinnamony Waffles & Nitro Cold Brew

September 18, 2025
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Boston University Financial Position 2023: $8.3B | Campus Planning & Operations

Marsh Chapel

Like many educational settlements in the United States, the original inspiration for the 1839 founding of Boston University by the Newbury Biblical Institute of the Methodist Episcopal Church was to train ministers. In 1867, it relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, becoming the Boston Theological School. By 1869, under the leadership of founders Isaac Rich, Lee Claflin, and Jacob Sleeper, it transformed into Boston University, expanding beyond theology to a broader liberal arts curriculum.

By 1869, under the leadership of founders Isaac Rich, Lee Claflin, and Jacob Sleeper, it transformed into Boston University which, in the fullness of time, morphed into a liberal arts settlement that supported Howard Zinn; inspiring student Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among others.

Despite the historical body count of Marxist-Leninist governance regimes, knowledge workers generally, and at Boston University specifically, confound the claim to Christian roots.  (Reference Sir Roger Scruton: “Why Intellectuals are Mostly Left”)

BU Today: Our occasional series picks up with your morning pick-me-up

Standards Massachusetts

Related:

Nitro Cold Brew

Microwave Apple Crisp

Bollards & Sidewalk

September 18, 2025
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Winter Walk | Lynette Roberts

Pedestrian bollards protect walkways from vehicle intrusion, guide foot traffic, snow plows and can provide heating and illumination.   They should be positioned in front of energy utility services (such as natural gas and electrical power switchgear). at sidewalk entrances, crosswalks, and near pedestrian-heavy zones.  Join us today at 16:00 UTC when we examine best practice literature and a few construction details as time allows.

International & General Standards

ASTM F3016 – Standard Test Method for Surrogate Testing of Vehicle Impact Protective Devices at Low Speeds.

ASTM F2656 – Standard Test Method for Crash Testing of Vehicle Security Barriers.

ASTM A53 / A500 – Standards for steel pipe and tubing used in bollard construction.

ISO 22343 – Vehicle security barrier standards.

U.S. Codes & Regulations

ADA Standards for Accessible Design – Ensures bollards do not create accessibility barriers.

IBC (International Building Code) – Covers structural requirements for bollards in buildings.

Vehicular Impact Protection – IBC Section 1607.8.3

Accessibility Considerations – IBC Chapter 11 & ANSI A117.1

NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) – Addresses fire lane access and emergency egress.

DOT (Department of Transportation) Guidelines – Covers bollard placement in public roadways.

Local municipalities may have additional regulations governing bollard installation and safety compliance.

Vermont State University | Lamoille County

Related:

Standard Site Bollard Detail

Illuminated Bollard Riser similar to Pedestrian Light Pole Base 

Campus bollard lighting solution

Pathways 100

7th Edition (2018): Geometric Design of Highways & Streets

Wayfinding

Wayfinding and Signage Manual

Great Cities Begin With Sidewalks

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