Grinding Bay Leaves

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Sun 11 May 2008 10:41:35a, Goomba38 told us...
>
>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> I have a mortar and pestle, but I wouldn't even consider trying to
>>> grind up bay leaves in it. Too laborious. :-)
>>>
>> But..but.. Rick says to do it that way!!
>> I've never had a recipe call for ground bay leaves before, to tell you
>> the truth? At least I don't recall one....?
>
> I don't mind breaking with "tradition" or recommendations if I like the
> result the way I chose to prepare it. I've come to realize, after reading
> countelss cookbooks, that some procedures are performed in great part for
> effect.
>
> I don't think a lot of recipes call for ground bay leaves, but I often do
> grind them because I like the way it works in recipes. I also use them
> whole, depending on what I'm making.
>
>
>
Our bay tree finally got big enough I could start harvesting leaves.
Fresh bay leaves a different taste than the dried ones. Similar, but
enough difference to make me try it again.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

ChattyCathy wrote:
> On Sun, 11 May 2008 11:49:16 -0400, Goomba38 wrote:
>
>> Last night I made chorizo per the recipe in Rick Bayless' "Mexico, One
>> Plate at a Time" cookbook. It calls for you to grind the bay leaves with
>> mortar and pestle, which I don't own.
>
> You don't own a mortar and pestle? Good grief. We have two.
>
> Call yourself a foodie? For shame!
>
<standing up> Hi... I'm Goomba... I used to be a foodie until my dirty
little secret came out-I don't have a mortar and pestle! I have an
adorable and very user friendly little nutmeg grinder though.. does that
count? LOL

I never had a recipe that called for ground bay leaves before! Honest!
I always use them whole. I guess I should look into either the spice
grinder or a mortar/pestle. I can see other uses for one (I like those
bigazz Mexican ones) Since you own one, do you ever feel you needed a
powered spice grinder instead or was the ancient method totally adequate?

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Goomba38 <Goomba38@comcast,net > wrote in
news:6YGdnSYKqbjjsrrVnZ2dnUVZ_rninZ2d@comcast,com :

> ChattyCathy wrote:
>> On Sun, 11 May 2008 11:49:16 -0400, Goomba38 wrote:
>>
>>> Last night I made chorizo per the recipe in Rick Bayless' "Mexico,
>>> One Plate at a Time" cookbook. It calls for you to grind the bay
>>> leaves with
>>> mortar and pestle, which I don't own.
>>
>> You don't own a mortar and pestle? Good grief. We have two.
>>
>> Call yourself a foodie? For shame!
>>
> <standing up> Hi... I'm Goomba... I used to be a foodie until my dirty
> little secret came out-I don't have a mortar and pestle! I have an
> adorable and very user friendly little nutmeg grinder though.. does
> that count? LOL
>
> I never had a recipe that called for ground bay leaves before! Honest!
> I always use them whole. I guess I should look into either the spice
> grinder or a mortar/pestle. I can see other uses for one (I like those
> bigazz Mexican ones) Since you own one, do you ever feel you needed a
> powered spice grinder instead or was the ancient method totally
> adequate?
>

I have 3 mortar and pestles (small medium and large. A dedicated
motorized coffee err spice grinder. Plus a manual coffee grinder from a
lee valley kit modified to take my battery operated drill for quanities
of fresh ground pepper etc...

The mortar and pestles are great for wetish stuff like garlic cloves
spice blends and added oil. The spice grinder best on dried stuff. For
anything eles I use my stick blender with its'chopping attachment.

--

The house of the burning beet-Alan

A man in line at the bank kept falling over...when he got to a teller he
asked for his balance.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

On Sun 11 May 2008 10:40:11a, Goomba38 told us...

> ChattyCathy wrote:
>> On Sun, 11 May 2008 11:49:16 -0400, Goomba38 wrote:
>>
>>> Last night I made chorizo per the recipe in Rick Bayless' "Mexico, One
>>> Plate at a Time" cookbook. It calls for you to grind the bay leaves
with
>>> mortar and pestle, which I don't own.
>>
>> You don't own a mortar and pestle? Good grief. We have two.
>>
>> Call yourself a foodie? For shame!
>>
> <standing up> Hi... I'm Goomba... I used to be a foodie until my dirty
> little secret came out-I don't have a mortar and pestle! I have an
> adorable and very user friendly little nutmeg grinder though.. does that
> count? LOL
>
> I never had a recipe that called for ground bay leaves before! Honest!
> I always use them whole. I guess I should look into either the spice
> grinder or a mortar/pestle. I can see other uses for one (I like those
> bigazz Mexican ones) Since you own one, do you ever feel you needed a
> powered spice grinder instead or was the ancient method totally adequate?

Since I have both, and I do use both because some things just work better
in a mortar and pestle, for most things the bottom line is speed. In a
coffee grinder the results are almost instantaneous. Not so with the M&P.
You could also look at it as tradition vs. technology. I'll usually pick
technology every time, but there are exceptions. One other caveat about
the coffee grinder, you cannot incorporate moist ingredients (like garlic
cloves) with the dry ingredients. You can certainly do this in a M&P.
IMHO, it pays to have both.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 05(V)/11(XI)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Today is: Mother's Day, Pentecost
Countdown till Memorial Day
2wks 13hrs 15mins
-------------------------------------------
A dandelion for your thoughts *--
-------------------------------------------

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Wayne wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 17:49:34 GMT:

>> ChattyCathy wrote:
>>> On Sun, 11 May 2008 11:49:16 -0400, Goomba38 wrote:
>>>
>>>> Last night I made chorizo per the recipe in Rick Bayless'
>>>> "Mexico, One Plate at a Time" cookbook. It calls for you to
>>>> grind the bay leaves
> with
>>>> mortar and pestle, which I don't own.
>>>
>>> You don't own a mortar and pestle? Good grief. We have two.
>>>
>>> Call yourself a foodie? For shame!
>>>
>> <standing up> Hi... I'm Goomba... I used to be a foodie until
>> my dirty little secret came out-I don't have a mortar and
>> pestle! I have an adorable and very user friendly little
>> nutmeg grinder though.. does that count? LOL
>>
>> I never had a recipe that called for ground bay leaves
>> before! Honest! I always use them whole. I guess I should
>> look into either the spice grinder or a mortar/pestle. I can
>> see other uses for one (I like those bigazz Mexican ones)
>> Since you own one, do you ever feel you needed a powered
>> spice grinder instead or was the ancient method totally
>> adequate?

> Since I have both, and I do use both because some things just
> work better in a mortar and pestle, for most things the bottom
> line is speed. In a coffee grinder the results are almost
> instantaneous. Not so with the M&P. You could also look at
> it as tradition vs. technology. I'll usually pick technology
> every time, but there are exceptions. One other caveat about
> the coffee grinder, you cannot incorporate moist ingredients
> (like garlic cloves) with the dry ingredients. You can
> certainly do this in a M&P. IMHO, it pays to have both.

As a chemist, I learned how to use a mortar and pestle and I
still know how but you can keep the things! Practically
everything that involves incorporating damp things like garlic
can be done with the jar-blender attachment of my Braun
immersion blender. I used to have a mortar and pestle but I was
eternally losing one or the other. To tell the truth I can't
remember which is which but I suspect the pestle is the thing
you grind with:-)
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

James Silverton wrote:

> As a chemist, I learned how to use a mortar and pestle and I still know
> how but you can keep the things! Practically everything that involves
> incorporating damp things like garlic can be done with the jar-blender
> attachment of my Braun immersion blender. I used to have a mortar and
> pestle but I was eternally losing one or the other. To tell the truth I
> can't remember which is which but I suspect the pestle is the thing you
> grind with:-)

I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter for
compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is rare.
I think one of those would be kinda cool though.

I'm leaning towards the mortar and pestle over power just because I'm a
great believer in using elbow grease. I get a certain satisfaction out
of doing things by hand slowly and as my ancestors might have done.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Goomba38 wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 14:08:50 -0400:

>> As a chemist, I learned how to use a mortar and pestle and I
>> still know how but you can keep the things! Practically
>> everything that involves incorporating damp things like
>> garlic can be done with the jar-blender attachment of my
>> Braun immersion blender. I used to have a mortar and pestle
>> but I was eternally losing one or the other. To tell the
>> truth I can't remember which is which but I suspect the
>> pestle is the thing you grind with:-)

> I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter
> for compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is
> rare.

Blenders and food processors are popular in India too.
.

> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.I'm leaning
> towards the mortar and pestle over power just because I'm a
> great believer in using elbow grease. I get a certain
> satisfaction out of doing things by hand slowly and as my
> ancestors might have done.

You can try grinding corn for tortillas in a metatl (did I get
that right?). It only takes a morning for a family meal :-)

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

James Silverton wrote:

>> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.I'm leaning towards
>> the mortar and pestle over power just because I'm a great believer in
>> using elbow grease. I get a certain satisfaction out of doing things
>> by hand slowly and as my ancestors might have done.
>
> You can try grinding corn for tortillas in a metatl (did I get that
> right?). It only takes a morning for a family meal :-)
>
LOL, gives new meaning to the "Slow Food Movement" huh?

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

"Goomba38" <Goomba38@comcast,net > wrote in message
news:ML2dnTj-EKaoq7rVnZ2dnUVZ_sUAAAAA@comcast,com ...
>
> I'm leaning towards the mortar and pestle over power just because
> I'm a great believer in using elbow grease. I get a certain
> satisfaction out of doing things by hand slowly and as my ancestors
> might have done.

I'd recommend getting a mortar and pestle over a grinder if you are
going to get one or the other. For the bay leaves the results probably
wouldn't be much different with either. I think the mortar and pestle
is more versatile than those a coffee/spice grinders. It's worth
getting a mortar and pestle just to make pesto if for no other reason.

I'm with you as far as doing things by hand is concerned. We both
might be stupid for feeling that way, but I enjoy doing things by hand
anyway.

-Mike

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Mike Pearce wrote:

> I'd recommend getting a mortar and pestle over a grinder if you are
> going to get one or the other. For the bay leaves the results probably
> wouldn't be much different with either. I think the mortar and pestle
> is more versatile than those a coffee/spice grinders. It's worth
> getting a mortar and pestle just to make pesto if for no other reason.

shhhhhh... I use my cuisinart for pesto. Don't tell the cabal!
<wink!>

> I'm with you as far as doing things by hand is concerned. We both
> might be stupid for feeling that way, but I enjoy doing things by hand
> anyway.
>
> -Mike

Yes, very satisfying. And I'm usually still functional when the power
goes out.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

On Sun 11 May 2008 01:29:26p, Goomba38 told us...

> Mike Pearce wrote:
>
>> I'd recommend getting a mortar and pestle over a grinder if you are
>> going to get one or the other. For the bay leaves the results probably
>> wouldn't be much different with either. I think the mortar and pestle
>> is more versatile than those a coffee/spice grinders. It's worth
>> getting a mortar and pestle just to make pesto if for no other reason.
>
> shhhhhh... I use my cuisinart for pesto. Don't tell the cabal!
> <wink!>
>
>> I'm with you as far as doing things by hand is concerned. We both
>> might be stupid for feeling that way, but I enjoy doing things by hand
>> anyway.
>>
>> -Mike
>
> Yes, very satisfying. And I'm usually still functional when the power
> goes out.

hehehe... When the power goes off, we go out to eat! In an all electric
home, there aren't that many options.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 05(V)/11(XI)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Today is: Mother's Day, Pentecost
Countdown till Memorial Day
2wks 10hrs 30mins
-------------------------------------------
Oh, my God! ARTHUR, I HAVE POCKETS!
-------------------------------------------

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Goomba38 wrote:
> James Silverton wrote:
>
>> As a chemist, I learned how to use a mortar and pestle and I still
>> know how but you can keep the things! Practically everything that
>> involves incorporating damp things like garlic can be done with the
>> jar-blender attachment of my Braun immersion blender. I used to have a
>> mortar and pestle but I was eternally losing one or the other. To tell
>> the truth I can't remember which is which but I suspect the pestle is
>> the thing you grind with:-)
>
> I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter for
> compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is rare.
> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.
We have two compounding pharmacies in the area and they make a great
many of the drugs they sell with the mortar and pestle. My doc sends me
over there every once in awhile.
>
> I'm leaning towards the mortar and pestle over power just because I'm a
> great believer in using elbow grease. I get a certain satisfaction out
> of doing things by hand slowly and as my ancestors might have done.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

George Shirley wrote:
> Goomba38 wrote:

>> I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter for
>> compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is rare.
>> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.

> We have two compounding pharmacies in the area and they make a great
> many of the drugs they sell with the mortar and pestle. My doc sends me
> over there every once in awhile.

Yes, but compounding pharmacies are becoming the exception rather than
the rule, anymore.
I just found a 6.5 inch pharmaceutical mortar/pestle for aprox $8. The
shipping was $9.50, LOL.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

Goomba38 wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>> Goomba38 wrote:
>
>>> I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter for
>>> compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is rare.
>>> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.
>
>> We have two compounding pharmacies in the area and they make a great
>> many of the drugs they sell with the mortar and pestle. My doc sends
>> me over there every once in awhile.
>
> Yes, but compounding pharmacies are becoming the exception rather than
> the rule, anymore.
> I just found a 6.5 inch pharmaceutical mortar/pestle for aprox $8. The
> shipping was $9.50, LOL.
I have an unglazed porcelain mortar and pestle that I believe came from
Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Don't know price, it was a gift from one of my kids.

Re: Grinding Bay Leaves

On Sun 11 May 2008 11:08:50a, Goomba38 told us...

> James Silverton wrote:
>
>> As a chemist, I learned how to use a mortar and pestle and I still know
>> how but you can keep the things! Practically everything that involves
>> incorporating damp things like garlic can be done with the jar-blender
>> attachment of my Braun immersion blender. I used to have a mortar and
>> pestle but I was eternally losing one or the other. To tell the truth I
>> can't remember which is which but I suspect the pestle is the thing you
>> grind with:-)
>
> I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter for
> compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is rare.
> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.
>
> I'm leaning towards the mortar and pestle over power just because I'm a
> great believer in using elbow grease. I get a certain satisfaction out
> of doing things by hand slowly and as my ancestors might have done.
>

LOL! I don't. :-) I believe in doing things as simply and quickly as
possible, without sacrificing quality of course. The only elbow grease I
use is when I polish the silver or scour and polish the SS sink.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 05(V)/11(XI)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Today is: Mother's Day, Pentecost
Countdown till Memorial Day
2wks 10hrs 30mins
-------------------------------------------
Oh, my God! ARTHUR, I HAVE POCKETS!
-------------------------------------------