SPICES
My beloved spice grinder finally breathed its last. We'd been together for almost ten years. Sniff. It got used so much the plastic top had worn off, but I continued to grind by poking the plastic grinding button with a knife while covering the top with a cloth or my hand so the spices wouldn't fly out. It was a true servitor of the Lord.
But no worries. Over the years, I'd been experimenting with another type of grinder, a stone mortar and pestle that I found on Amazon.com.
I got inspired to get one after discovering an awesome stone grinder in India but had to leave behind. I learned a few things from practice. It just takes practice. And patience. But seems to go more quickly over time.
POWDERED SUGAR Just add your favorite sugar and grind to a powder.
My beloved spice grinder finally breathed its last. We'd been together for almost ten years. Sniff. It got used so much the plastic top had worn off, but I continued to grind by poking the plastic grinding button with a knife while covering the top with a cloth or my hand so the spices wouldn't fly out. It was a true servitor of the Lord.
But no worries. Over the years, I'd been experimenting with another type of grinder, a stone mortar and pestle that I found on Amazon.com.
I got inspired to get one after discovering an awesome stone grinder in India but had to leave behind. I learned a few things from practice. It just takes practice. And patience. But seems to go more quickly over time.
When I grind spices, I find it helpful in many cases to start with a small amount, like a teaspoon full. It's especially less frustrating if you are new at grinding. But over time you'll learn what grinds easily and what needs more patience by doing little by little. Ideally, you'd want to do this first thing each morning or before every cooking session, just enough for that day or offering you are cooking, so you do not need to do a lot anyway. Then the spices are very fresh in flavor.
Move the pestle in a circular motion and from side to side. You can pound also, as needed. Or just dropping the pestle, using its own weight to break things apart (and not have it fly out of the mortar!). Place a towel under the mortar if it moves at all or is noisy.
More info in on the web. But mostly just practice to get a smooth grind. But it isn't necessary to compete with a machine, even a coarse grind can work great. And many spices get cooked anyway to soften them.
More info in on the web. But mostly just practice to get a smooth grind. But it isn't necessary to compete with a machine, even a coarse grind can work great. And many spices get cooked anyway to soften them.
POWDERED SUGAR Just add your favorite sugar and grind to a powder.
