Thread: Mountain Laurel and shelf life of spices

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, "Steve B"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?

What brand is this? Mountain Laurel is not another name for Bay
Laurel.
>
> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>
The nose knows! Take a whiff. I'd have more hope if you said they
had been stored in the refrigerator.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

In article <[email protected]>,
"Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote:

> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>
> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>
> Steve

Test them. I have spices and even teas that are years old that still
seem to be useable. A lot depends (imho) on how well they are sealed.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]

On Mar 7, 1:54 pm, "Steve B" <deserttra...@fishymail.net> wrote:
> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>
> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?

It's probably equivalent to bay leaves. Go here for everything you
wanted to know about herbs and spices:
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Laur_nob.html

Besides the most common uses of bay leaf in soups and stews and tomato
sauces, I also throw some into pinto and black beans. -aem

Steve B wrote:
> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>
> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>
> Steve
>
>
Bay leaf is laurel. I think Mountain Laurel is poisonous, or so
someone told me when I was going to plant it.

--
Jean B.

All truth passes through three stages.
First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently
opposed. Third, it is accepted as being
self-evident. --Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

In article <[email protected]>, "Jean B." <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Steve B wrote:
> > My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> > Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
> >
> > How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >
> Bay leaf is laurel. I think Mountain Laurel is poisonous, or so
> someone told me when I was going to plant it.

I've been thinking the same thing. The seeds are very toxic but I don't
know for sure about the leaves. They are a native plant to this area and
the blooms are delightful so they are a common landscaping plant.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, Steve B wrote:

> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>
> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?

Throw them all out. Save the bottles and refill them from the bulk
spice section of a Whole Foods or wherever. I only buy a few
tablespoons of any spice at one time. They cost about $.04 to $.20
each.

-sw

An easy test for shelf life is: does the aroma rise from the jar when
held a few inches from the nose? Age is less important than storage
(cool, dark, dry, absence of air). And when using them do not shake or
pour from the container into what you are cooking. The heat and steam
are deadly to shelf life. jh

On Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:03:20 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, "Jean B." <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>> Steve B wrote:
>> > My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
>> > Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>> >
>> > How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>> >
>> > Steve
>> >
>> >
>> Bay leaf is laurel. I think Mountain Laurel is poisonous, or so
>> someone told me when I was going to plant it.
>
>I've been thinking the same thing. The seeds are very toxic but I don't
>know for sure about the leaves. They are a native plant to this area and
>the blooms are delightful so they are a common landscaping plant.

The Texas Mountain Laurel is not the same as the eastern Mountain
Laurel.

Eastern is a member of the ericaceae family and the Texas version is
fabaceae.

The Mountain Laurel is in the same family as Azalea and Rhododendron.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

In article <[email protected]>,
The Cook <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:03:20 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>, "Jean B." <[email protected]>
> >wrote:
> >
> >> Steve B wrote:
> >> > My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> >> > Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
> >> >
> >> > How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
> >> >
> >> > Steve
> >> >
> >> >
> >> Bay leaf is laurel. I think Mountain Laurel is poisonous, or so
> >> someone told me when I was going to plant it.
> >
> >I've been thinking the same thing. The seeds are very toxic but I don't
> >know for sure about the leaves. They are a native plant to this area and
> >the blooms are delightful so they are a common landscaping plant.
>
> The Texas Mountain Laurel is not the same as the eastern Mountain
> Laurel.
>
> Eastern is a member of the ericaceae family and the Texas version is
> fabaceae.
>
> The Mountain Laurel is in the same family as Azalea and Rhododendron.

Thank you. It gets a bit confusing sometimes when different species
have the same common name! Kinda like Mexican Oregano. Mine looks a
lot like Marjoram for instance, grows into a very large bush and blooms
with lovely lavender trumpet shaped blossoms for most of the year. It
is also an evergreen.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]

The Cook wrote:
> On Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:03:20 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> In article <[email protected]>, "Jean B." <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Steve B wrote:
>>>> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
>>>> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>>>>
>>>> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>>>>
>>>> Steve
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Bay leaf is laurel. I think Mountain Laurel is poisonous, or so
>>> someone told me when I was going to plant it.
>> I've been thinking the same thing. The seeds are very toxic but I don't
>> know for sure about the leaves. They are a native plant to this area and
>> the blooms are delightful so they are a common landscaping plant.
>
> The Texas Mountain Laurel is not the same as the eastern Mountain
> Laurel.
>
> Eastern is a member of the ericaceae family and the Texas version is
> fabaceae.
>
> The Mountain Laurel is in the same family as Azalea and Rhododendron.

Up here in the Boston area, the reference was, no doubt, to the
Eastern Mountain Laurel. I didn't check into that--just thought
it was kind-of bizarre, since I don't expect folks to be chomping
on random flora here.

--
Jean B.

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:11:18 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:

> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, Steve B wrote:
>
>> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
>> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>>
>> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>
> Throw them all out. Save the bottles and refill them from the bulk
> spice section of a Whole Foods or wherever. I only buy a few
> tablespoons of any spice at one time. They cost about $.04 to $.20
> each.
>
> -sw

damn it, the whole foods near me has no bulk spice section.

your bitter with citric notes pal,
blake

blake wrote on Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:46:17 -0500:

>> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, Steve B wrote:
>>
>>> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a
>>> bottle of Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this
>>> used for?
>>>
>>> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal,
>>> but capped?
>>
>> Throw them all out. Save the bottles and refill them from
>> the bulk spice section of a Whole Foods or wherever. I only
>> buy a few tablespoons of any spice at one time. They cost
>> about $.04 to $.20 each.
>>
>> -sw

> damn it, the whole foods near me has no bulk spice section.

Yes Blake, I was going to ask about that too. The only place I know with
spices in bulk is the Coop in Cabin John, which i know is not convenient
for you. Incidentally, there are companies in the business of providing
bulk spices and herbs to coops. I have seen large bags labelled "packed
for food coops".

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

"James Silverton" ha scritto nel messaggio
> blake wrote on Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:46:17 -0500:

>> damn it, the whole foods near me has no bulk spice section.
>
> Yes Blake, I was going to ask about that too. The only place I know with
> spices in bulk is the Coop in Cabin John, which i know is not convenient
> for you.

True, but they sell so many great things, or they used to, that arranging an
outing twice a year might be good. 'm not sure, but I think they had bulk
spices at "My Organic Market" or something like that in Rockville. I'll ask
my dd if she ever gets out of work again.

In article <g5s5vu0kb6ko.rfu2hjqqy7vp$.[email protected]>,
blake murphy <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:11:18 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, Steve B wrote:
> >
> >> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
> >> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
> >>
> >> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
> >
> > Throw them all out. Save the bottles and refill them from the bulk
> > spice section of a Whole Foods or wherever. I only buy a few
> > tablespoons of any spice at one time. They cost about $.04 to $.20
> > each.
> >
> > -sw
>
> damn it, the whole foods near me has no bulk spice section.
>
> your bitter with citric notes pal,
> blake

That is too bad. It really saves money! I've been able to use more dill
weed on veggies due to that. A small jar of dill was $5.00 and for
another $5.00, I was able to purchase bulk dill that re-filled that jar
6 times. :-) It's been a godsend for sausage making.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]

On Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:21:20 -0600, Omelet wrote:

> That is too bad. It really saves money! I've been able to use more dill
> weed on veggies due to that. A small jar of dill was $5.00 and for
> another $5.00, I was able to purchase bulk dill that re-filled that jar
> 6 times. :-) It's been a godsend for sausage making.

Only 6 times? I'd bet if you recalculate that, it comes to 20, not
6. Dried dill weed is $6/lb at CM South.

(Sorry if I seem arrogant, but I now the price of everything in
Austin - even between the different HEB's and Cm's. But I don't
know the price for BJ's on Rundberg)

-sw

In article <qc52wqpdn7r1$.[email protected]>,
Sqwertz <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:21:20 -0600, Omelet wrote:
>
> > That is too bad. It really saves money! I've been able to use more dill
> > weed on veggies due to that. A small jar of dill was $5.00 and for
> > another $5.00, I was able to purchase bulk dill that re-filled that jar
> > 6 times. :-) It's been a godsend for sausage making.
>
> Only 6 times? I'd bet if you recalculate that, it comes to 20, not
> 6. Dried dill weed is $6/lb at CM South.

It might. I tend to be conservative on estimates. But I think it's more
than $6.00 per lb. Now that I see the Chiro' every Monday, I guess I
need to stock up there. Thanks for the heads up. It's right across the
street from Advanced Rehab'.

>
> (Sorry if I seem arrogant, but I now the price of everything in
> Austin - even between the different HEB's and Cm's. But I don't
> know the price for BJ's on Rundberg)
>
> -sw

It's why I depend on you to set me straight. :-)
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]

On Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:57:22 -0500, James Silverton wrote:

> blake wrote on Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:46:17 -0500:
>
>>> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, Steve B wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a
>>>> bottle of Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this
>>>> used for?
>>>>
>>>> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal,
>>>> but capped?
>>>
>>> Throw them all out. Save the bottles and refill them from
>>> the bulk spice section of a Whole Foods or wherever. I only
>>> buy a few tablespoons of any spice at one time. They cost
>>> about $.04 to $.20 each.
>>>
>>> -sw
>
>> damn it, the whole foods near me has no bulk spice section.
>
> Yes Blake, I was going to ask about that too. The only place I know with
> spices in bulk is the Coop in Cabin John, which i know is not convenient
> for you. Incidentally, there are companies in the business of providing
> bulk spices and herbs to coops. I have seen large bags labelled "packed
> for food coops".

yeah, i looked into that when you mentioned it. i could get there, but it
would be a pain.

your pal,
blake

On Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:21:20 -0600, Omelet wrote:

> In article <g5s5vu0kb6ko.rfu2hjqqy7vp$.[email protected]>,
> blake murphy <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:11:18 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:54:10 -0800, Steve B wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife had LOTS of spices when we got married. I found a bottle of
>>>> Mountain Laurel. It is full leaves. What is this used for?
>>>>
>>>> How long do spices last if in their jars, not original seal, but capped?
>>>
>>> Throw them all out. Save the bottles and refill them from the bulk
>>> spice section of a Whole Foods or wherever. I only buy a few
>>> tablespoons of any spice at one time. They cost about $.04 to $.20
>>> each.
>>>
>>> -sw
>>
>> damn it, the whole foods near me has no bulk spice section.
>>
>> your bitter with citric notes pal,
>> blake
>
> That is too bad. It really saves money! I've been able to use more dill
> weed on veggies due to that. A small jar of dill was $5.00 and for
> another $5.00, I was able to purchase bulk dill that re-filled that jar
> 6 times. :-) It's been a godsend for sausage making.

for me, it's not so much the price per unit, but that i'd be able to buy in
a quantity i could reasonably use before it goes stale.

your pal,
blake

In article <re69cbtxuaqv$.2cfefa72n646$.[email protected]>,
blake murphy <[email protected]> wrote:

> > That is too bad. It really saves money! I've been able to use more dill
> > weed on veggies due to that. A small jar of dill was $5.00 and for
> > another $5.00, I was able to purchase bulk dill that re-filled that jar
> > 6 times. :-) It's been a godsend for sausage making.
>
> for me, it's not so much the price per unit, but that i'd be able to buy in
> a quantity i could reasonably use before it goes stale.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Spices, if stored properly, do not go bad as fast as you might think.
Imho anyway!

All bets are off of course if weevils get into them. <g>
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]