Today, I’d like to talk about cold sores.  Otherwise known as “fever blisters” (by people who are in denial that they have cold sores), or “facial herpes” (as my niece keeps reminding me).

Until two blissful years ago, I was a sack of poop who would say something along the lines of, “Gosh, I’ve never had one of those before.” to anyone expressing discomfort at the moistly pulsating scabs on their lips.  Then, I experienced my first cold sore.  The virus must have certainly been there awhile…buried and dormant, like Angelina Jolie’s painfully thin Russian sleeper cell character from the movie “Salt.”  And like the movie, my cold sore sucked something fierce.

It troubled me.  Every conversation I had, whether it was with a family member or total stranger, revolved around my rebirth as a person with a finicky, yet virulent, and contagious facial virus.

“I have a cold sore,” I’d start, making eye contact, hoping they could see beyond my weeping disfigurement through to the same, emotionally-stunted and insecure person I’d always been.

“I have a COLD SORE.”  I’d add, again, when they invariably steered the conversation away from my cold sore.

When all else failed, I’d fire out the question I really wanted to know; “Do you still love me?” (Which was mostly aimed at siblings and ex-boyfriends.)

Surprisingly, most people did not want to be drawn into the drama of discussing my HSV Type 1.  I mean, nobody wanted my face anywhere near them, but they treated it as a temporary disturbance.  On the faux pas scale of “full blown Ayn Rand obsession” to “spinach in the teeth,” the cold sore ranked closer to spinach.  Mostly, people want to talk about themselves, or ride the bus in peace.

Anyway,  I have another one.  I confided to one of my sisters the plan to share my not so secret secret with the three people who read this blog.  She told me, in no uncertain terms, that I should absolutely NOT write about my cold sore on a food blog.  She also said that I was still an attractive person who did not need people knowing all this junk about me.

So…you still love me, right sis?

Without further ado, here’s a recipe for Gochujang

Gochujang (Korean Hot Pepper Paste)

This stuff is great on any meat or vegetable, as a marinade, or mixed with mayo for a delicious dip.

It is a probiotic, which helps with gut health, which may help bolster the immune system of those with AIDS or cold sores.

• 1 cup water
• 3 TBS brown sugar
• 1/3 cup korean chilli pepper powder
• 3/4 cup miso
• 3/4 TBS salt
• 1 tsp rice vinegar

1. Sterilise a jar.
2. Mix water and sugar over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the chilli powder and blitz with a stick mixer if you desire a finer texture.
4. Mix in the miso until fully incorporated.
5. Add in the salt and rice vinegar.
6. Taste and adjust seasonings.
7. Put in the jar and it keeps very well.