So I just bought a mortar and pestle.

[wildeyed]

Now what do I do with them? I remember seeing the Naked Chef crushing stuff up with his but can't remeber exactly what for.

[Stepup2]

1. I love the one I have

I took awhile to "season" it I use it to crush garlic, and make guacamole in it too. I also grind whole spices in it

[thedailyshow]

2. It's good in crushing up garlic, peppers, spices, herbs, etc

[theHandpuppet]

3. Where did you find one?

I'd like to have one for herbs, especially to make my own pesto (the prices for store-bought are OUTrageous!) I grow plenty of herbs and though I've seen metal herb grinders, finding a mortar and pestle has been frustrating.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. I got one at Home Goods for very cheap

Or maybe I got it at Marshall's. One of them .....

It is a green marble. generous sized. I think I paid about ten bux for it.

[theHandpuppet]

5. I'm afraid those stores aren't in this area

So I'll have to keep looking unless someone here knows where to buy one online.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Surely you must have stores like them

They're ultra discount stores that sell "distressed merchandise" which really only means that they sell closeouts, overstocks, out of date, and discontinued merchandise. Ross is another store of the same ilk (but not too much on the way of kitchen gear).

[theHandpuppet]

11. Ha-ha!

I'm not sure where you think I live, but there ARE still places in this country where you're lucky to find more than a couple of shops, and one is probably a Wal-Mart -- where I won't spend a plug nickle of my money.

Sorry, but I had to chuckle at your astonishment that "surely you must have stores like them".

[wryter2000]

17. Ross

BTW, this past weekend in the San Leandro Ross (Bay Fair Center) there were a bunch of hand-crank pasta rollers for $18.00. IMHO, those do a fabulous job and take up less counter/cabinet space than the machines.

Hey, I'd better go make a separate thread on the subject.

[merci_me]

8. As someone said

Cost Plus should have them, possibly Pier One and of course Bed, Bath & Beyond and Linens & Things. If you have a Tuesday Morning and much willpower, that's a good place to check. Officially, Tuesday Morning is closed until Feb. but I just got an e-mail from them the otherday that they are now unofficially opened while they're restocking.

Mary

[theHandpuppet]

12. Don't have those stores, either...

Of course, I could drive to Maryland where I know there are some of those stores in Hagerstown.

Really, some of you folks are so urbanized you simply have NO idea -- LOL!! :D

[wryter2000]

16. Try here

www.chefscatalogue.com

Search for "pestle"

[politicat]

7. Links for a gajillion of them....

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=mortar%20and%20pestle&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&sa=N&tab=wf

I've seen them at Cost Plus, the asian grocers, Sur La Table, Peppercorn, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens and Things, Target....

The one I have and love is stainless, from the local hardware store that sells everything from bridles to camping gear.

Pcat

[theHandpuppet]

14. Ooooh -- some nice ones to choose from!

Thanks for the links!

[Stepup2]

9. I got mine at a Mexican grocery store

It is much larger and more heavy duty than many I have seen, it is granite and I payed 12 bucks for it.

I had to season it before using, which amounted to crushing rice and rinsing several times. I love it.It is large enough to use as a serving bowl for guacamole etc.

[NMDemDist2]

10. there's 9 pages of them on ebay

http://search.ebay.com/mortar-and-pestle_W0QQfromZR40QQsojsZ1

this one looks like it would work in my kitchen LOL

[theHandpuppet]

13. Thanks!!

I'll definitely check them out!

[franmarz]

15. The mortar and pestle is great in the kitchen--

I used to have a pharmists one, which was glass, but now I have a wooden one, which is great to crush my dried spices.
I like to grow my own tarragon, basil, oregano, pick them and dry -then crush them for cooking. Its just something I like to do, but spices in the store are just as good. Sometimes I buy spice seeds of celery and fennel and grind them as I need them.

[wildeyed]

18. The grinding of seed sounds like a good idea.

The herbs will stay fresher in seed form.

I grow my own herbs, too. I need to get better about drying them. Allot goes to waste in the winter. I did make pesto with the fresh basil and froze it last summer, so that was good.