topic Re: Be Honest...🤔 in Recipes

Be Honest...🤔

sidsmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:13:48 GMT

What does a Bay Leaf do?

Re: Be Honest...🤔

Lilysmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:22:18 GMT

@sidsmom, I smiled when I saw your post. I don’t think it has much effect so I use crushed basil leaves instead. At least there is a nice aroma from those. I also love fresh basil. LM

Re: Be Honest...🤔

sidsmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:29:32 GMT

I’m watch Saturday afternoon Create cooking lineup

and it seems everyone uses bay leaves.

And it’s always ‘don’t forget to take them out!!!’

If I can’t eat it, it ain’t goin’ in the pot! Ha

Re: Be Honest...🤔

proudlyfromNJ — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:31:11 GMT

I have two in my pot roast that is in the oven now.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:32:01 GMT

The last thing I used bay leaves in was some cauliflower soup. The soup was really good so I'm going to keep using the bay leaves.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

alliswell — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:34:16 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
What does a Bay Leaf do?

According to "Bon Appetite," magazine:

" If you smell a dried bay leaf, you might not get as much aroma as you would with a pinch of dried basil or thyme. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t flavor there. When the herb is infused into water, broth, or another cooking liquid, an almost minty flavor (somewhere between spearmint and menthol) develops, with subtle hints of black pepper and Christmas tree pine. They add a subtle bitterness that keeps heavy soups and stews from being so, well,heavy.

Are you going to be able to pick that flavor out of all the other complex flavors present in a bite of beef stew? Probably not. But would you miss it if it wasn't there? Yes.

While the flavor of things like chiles, dried spices, and browned meat shout, the flavor of the bay leaf whispers. Listen for a change, why don't you!"

Re: Be Honest...🤔

sidsmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:35:38 GMT

@alliswell

Bay leaf ‘whispers’.

I like that!

I guess my palette isn’t that sophisticated!

Onion & Garlic about as ‘fancy’ as I get.

🙃

Re: Be Honest...🤔

blackhole99 — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:38:04 GMT

I use bay leaves I get from Penzys and keep in the freezer, quite often. I wouldn't think of making many soups, stews and sauces without it.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

alliswell — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:46:39 GMT

@sidsmom I've seen "edible wreaths" made of Bay Leaves to hang in the kitchen. Believe it or not, bay leaves really add a subtle delicious flavor to soups and stews. I would miss not having it. I keep my bay leaf in the freezer too.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

DiAnne — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:46:57 GMT

Whenever I make chicken stock I always throw in a couple of bay leaves.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

Jtdmum — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:50:35 GMT

Can't make good beef stew without them. Fresh tomato sauce, have to put at least two in.

Bay is one of my favorite spices. Up there with thyme and basil. Love it.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

sidsmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:52:43 GMT

But what....taste does it give?

Re: Be Honest...🤔

Kachina624 — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:55:42 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
What does a Bay Leaf do?

@sidsmom. It imbues your pot roast with the wisdom of the ages. It will also keep weevils out of your flour cannister.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

sidsmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:00:14 GMT

Ahhhh...Unicorn ingredient....or maybe Fairy Dust?

🦄🧚‍♀️

Maybe I just need to see what it’s all about.

Doesn’t hurt to add a little spice to life, yes?!

Re: Be Honest...🤔

nomless — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:59:33 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
But what....taste does it give?

@sidsmom, according to the post quoting Bon Apetit, the flavor is minty, peppery, like pine, slightly bitter.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

Still Raining — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:11:35 GMT

It is a subtle sort of musty flavor. Not hot or sour or sweet. It is like a bass in music, rich.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

GenXmuse — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:17:57 GMT

I love bay leaves and use them in stews and soups. It really adds very nice flavor. If it’s not, the leaves are too old.

Re: Be Honest...🤔

phoenixbrd — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:28:50 GMT

Bay leaves have a definite scent when I add to a veggie stew, but to be honest I'm not so sure it makes a tremendous culinary impact in most dishes other than adding a bit of "earthy" flavor. I'm sensitive to herbs and seasonings. I use it sometimes in soups (always in lentil soup) and veggie stews, but typically not one of my go-tos.

@sidsmom wish you were here today, after our mainstay green salad today...we had red lentil chili over lemon rice and it turned out soooo goood! As you would say, all about the seasonings...lots of Frontier Mexican Fiesta, cumin, chipolte chili powder. and smoked paprika, fresh jalapeno, as well as roasted green peppers. Smokin'!

Re: Be Honest...🤔

sidsmom — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:28:39 GMT

@phoenixbrd

Oooooooo...you had me at ‘lemon rice’!

Smokin’! Cute...remember you are what you eat!

Re: Be Honest...🤔

fthunt — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:51:34 GMT

No clue ...........have wondered the same thing! (dried up brittle old leaf)