I am a bit scared of Herman

[galois]

One of my friends gave me some gunge in a margarine tub last week. Apparently it he is called Herman and it will become part of a cake. I have been given an instruction sheet with him, which tells me to stir him every day, talk to it and some days feed it milk, sugar and flour. And keep him at room temperature. For ten days.

If you're confused, see this - scroll down for Herman's instructions

The whole milk and room temperature thing is making me feel a bit queasy. I make my own yogurt on occasion, but I boil the milk first and refrigerate the yogurt when I've made it. This Herman thing contains milk at room temperature for 6 days. Then you mix it up into a cake and eat it apparently. And you save a bit of it to give to another friend in a margarine tub and they feed it and feed it, and then make it into a cake with 16-day old uncooked milk. Or 26-day old or 36-day old depending on how many friends Herman has visited. I know that the original Herman gets diluted as you go along but AIBU to boak a little, make a nice cinnamon cake for the family and release Herman into the wild to start a new life in the compost bin? Or will I be rejecting this kind offer of slightly stinky and fermenting friendship?

You're all bonkers

:o

I committed Hermancide this morning. Washed him down the sink. He smelled a bit.

I am feeling some guilt.

Friend who gave me Herman is coming round on day 10. I am hoping to make a cinnamon cake which I will pass off as Herman. Will I get away with it?

I committed Hermancide this morning. Washed him down the sink. He smelled a bit.

I am feeling some guilt.

Friend who gave me Herman is coming round on day 10. I am hoping to make a cinnamon cake which I will pass off as Herman. Will I get away with it?

poor Herman. Was he still growing, what did he smell like?

Bump to say my Herman is growing well. We are on Day 7 and will be baking in a couple of days.

Have a list of 17 friends and family who want a baby Herman. When I've got through them, if anyone wants some, PM me and I'll post it out :)

I've got a Herman on the go at the moment.

I was hankering after a coffee-flavoured version, but annoyingly none of the recipes that come up actually feature coffee as an ingredient.

Seems that Americans use the term "coffee cake" to describe any cake that may (or presumably may not) be eaten while drinking coffee. How unhelpful is that.

I was very underimpressed with Herman. He smelled, needed a lot of attention, and the same cake recipe made without the sourdough bit (I'm gluten free so couldn't have the starter) was just as nice.

Lizsanderson - you might find the article in the Times2 today, on Herman, to be useful.

Surely cooking it in the oven would kill off any (bad) bacteria that formed anyway . And if as one poster suggests its alcoholic then I reckon you are probably safe.

Never had one myself-but I'd probably forget to kill it-I'm still getting used to remembering to feed the kids 3 times a day and the eldest is 7 now .

Thank you SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius, I have seen that and it was very helpful. Now all I have to do is find people who have cooked a Herman, I have posted a proper request on the media page if anyone might have a minute to chat to me...

I felt v guilty when a friend gave me Herman and I just forgot all about him whilst we went to a family funeral. So we had to have a Herman funeral too. Sorry friend.

I like this idea. Can you start a Herman from scratch or is it not the done thing? If not, I will be PMing Sarah!

Thank you-idly scrolling through Aibu and luckily found this thread. Had forgotten poor herman today-I blame the Christmas chaos! Baking tomorrow-he'd better be good after crossing the country with us. Quite fond of him-but I am giving away the three quarters I don't use as I think the novelty might wear off. And not all cakes take over a week to brew!

My Herman was shit. However, DP has been making sourdough bread over the last week and it is delicious.

I got my Herman today.
He smells like crap but I am going to try and keep him alive so I can chop up the leftover Christmas chocolate and chuck that in with him before I cook him.

What is leftover chocolate?

I used to make sourdough bread, but DH kept throwing away my "sponge." I wasn't very happy.

My lentil weaving parents used to make kefir in the 1970s, on the same principle as Herman - you grew the culture and gave a bit to friends. Unfortunately, one day I accidentally ate the starter. We moved onto yogurt and bean sprouts at that point, but I don't think my father ever entirely forgave me.

Erm...just checked dates think I missed a day of stirring of herman. Will he survive if I just stir today and divide up a day late? Help!

My Herman will be ready to cook on Friday, I haven't offered his siblings to anyone yet, so if anyone wants one then let me know, I'm not sure they would survive being posted... I'm near gatwick airport if anyone is local

Yes my herman was REVOLTING too but I think i made him in too big a loaf tin and all the fruit sank
Wish I'd made him from chocolate

We made a Herman a few months ago.

It was LUSH.

At the end we stirred in apple, chocolate chips, cinnamon, cherries, pineapple and pretty much anything else we could find knocking about the kitchen.

It was HUGE and DELICIOUS and worth the effort

You are all being unreasonable!

Is just chain letter bullshit.

Bin'em!

I received a Herman from an aquantaince of dubious hygiene, I couldn't bring myself to carry on with it.

My Herman was divine and I am devastated that my friend chucked him away!!

I killed my Herman, I didnt know where he had been and I hadnt asked for him. I don't feel guilty.