freeze-dried shallots

What no Wal-Mart? Shallots everyday and not to expensive. Little red bag
near potato and onion section.

--
Emil Luca

"Rona Yuthasastrakosol" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am currently living in a place where shallots are difficult to find (and
quite expensive when one can find them). I prefer to use shallots rather
than onions in things like chicken/tuna salad sandwiches, pico de gallo,
guacamole, etc. so I'm wondering if freeze-dried shallots might be a good
substitute for fresh shallots. I don't expect them to have as much
flavour
as fresh, but do they at least have some flavour? Or are they a complete
waste of money? Anyone with experience using these things?

rona

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We
had
people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the energy to
go
back. We call them Canadians."
---Grover Norquist in Newsweek, November 22, 2004

"Emil" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What no Wal-Mart? Shallots everyday and not to expensive. Little
red bag near potato and onion section.

I don't think there is a Wal-Mart in Japan, where Rona is presently
living. I could be wrong...but even so, being a totally different culture
it (if it was there) wouldn't stock the same stuff as in North America,
because it wouldn't sell.

--
No Bread Crumbs were hurt in the making of this Meal.
Type 2 Diabetic 1AC 5.6mmol or 101mg/dl
Continuing to be Manitoban

Rona Yuthasastrakosol said:

I am currently living in a place where shallots are difficult to find

(and

Quoted message said:

quite expensive when one can find them). I prefer to use shallots

rather

Quoted message said:

than onions in things like chicken/tuna salad sandwiches, pico de

gallo,

Quoted message said:

guacamole, etc. so I'm wondering if freeze-dried shallots might be a

good

Quoted message said:

substitute for fresh shallots. I don't expect them to have as much

flavour

Quoted message said:

as fresh, but do they at least have some flavour? Or are they a

complete

Quoted message said:

waste of money? Anyone with experience using these things?

Shallot essentially embodies a very mild onion flavor with the
slightest hint of garlic. With the vast majority of recipes the white
portion of spring onions/scallions with a bit of garlic will
undetectably suffice. I will occasionally use shallots but only where
used raw, as in salads (tuna/salmon/egg)and in sandwiches (sardine),
and as a garnish for soups, very nice sprinkled atop a steaming bowl of
turtle bean soup.... I think cooking shallot wastes them, certainly a
waste of money. As for freeze dried, I consider all such products
strictly a convenience... as for their flavor worth the cost, only you
can decide, but generally as with all dried herbs their flavor is more
intense than fresh.

Rona Yuthasastrakosol said:

I am currently living in a place where shallots are difficult to find

(and

Quoted message said:

quite expensive when one can find them). I prefer to use shallots

rather

Quoted message said:

than onions in things like chicken/tuna salad sandwiches, pico de

gallo,

Quoted message said:

guacamole, etc. so I'm wondering if freeze-dried shallots might be a

good

Quoted message said:

substitute for fresh shallots. I don't expect them to have as much

flavour

Quoted message said:

as fresh, but do they at least have some flavour? Or are they a

complete

Quoted message said:

waste of money? Anyone with experience using these things?

Shallot essentially embodies a very mild onion flavor with the
slightest hint of garlic. With the vast majority of recipes the white
portion of spring onions/scallions with a bit of garlic will
undetectably suffice. I will occasionally use shallots but only where
used raw, as in salads (tuna/salmon/egg)and in sandwiches (sardine),
and as a garnish for soups, very nice sprinkled atop a steaming bowl of
black turtle bean soup.... I think cooking shallot wastes them,
certainly considering their cost. As for freeze dried, I consider all
such products strictly a convenience, nice to have at hand in the
pantry... as for their flavor worth the cost, only you can decide, but
generally as with all dried herbs their flavor is more intense than
fresh, so a little goes a long way.

Rona Yuthasastrakosol said:

I am currently living in a place where shallots are difficult to find

(and

Quoted message said:

quite expensive when one can find them). I prefer to use shallots

rather

Quoted message said:

than onions in things like chicken/tuna salad sandwiches, pico de

gallo,

Quoted message said:

guacamole, etc. so I'm wondering if freeze-dried shallots might be a

good

Quoted message said:

substitute for fresh shallots. I don't expect them to have as much

flavour

Quoted message said:

as fresh, but do they at least have some flavour? Or are they a

complete

Quoted message said:

waste of money? Anyone with experience using these things?

Shallot essentially embodies a very mild onion flavor with the
slightest hint of garlic. With the vast majority of recipes the white
portion of spring onions/scallions with a bit of garlic will
undetectably suffice. I will occasionally use shallots but only where
used raw, as in salads (tuna/salmon/egg)and in sandwiches (sardine),
and as a garnish for soups, very nice sprinkled atop a steaming bowl of
black turtle bean soup.... I think cooking shallot wastes them,
certainly considering their cost. As for freeze dried, I consider all
such products strictly a convenience, nice to have at hand in the
pantry... as for their flavor worth the cost, only you can decide, but
generally as with all dried herbs their flavor is more intense than
fresh, so a little goes a long way.

Emil said:

What no Wal-Mart? Shallots everyday and not to expensive. Little
red bag near potato and onion section.

I guess you didn't get to the part where I mention that "I am currently
living in a place where shallots are difficult to find (and quite expensive
when one can find them" (right at the beginning of my post). One would
think that I would know what is available or not available in my area.

As Alan B. replied, I am currently living in Japan. There is exactly one
Wal-mart in this country, but it's about 6 hours by train from my house, not
to mention Y33 000 return (US$300) by train. That would bring up the cost
of the shallots, should they even have them, substantially. Now, if you
would like to send me the money for the train fare, plus perhaps one night's
accomodations (I don't really feel like doing a 12-hour return trip in one
day), I'll be happy to check out the potato and onion section near my
"local" Wal-Mart. Just replace the .com with .ca to e-mail me, and I will
forward you my address. I am awaiting your e-mail and my cheque (although a
bank transfer would be preferable).

rona

__
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We
had people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the
energy to go back. We call them Canadians." ---Grover Norquist in
Newsweek, November 22, 2004

Well I guess the next best thing is a Burpee catalog for seed a big pot with
dirt in it and a place with moderate heat and sun to grow your own.

--
Emil Luca

"Rona Yuthasastrakosol" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Emil said:

What no Wal-Mart? Shallots everyday and not to expensive. Little
red bag near potato and onion section.

I guess you didn't get to the part where I mention that "I am currently
living in a place where shallots are difficult to find (and quite
expensive
when one can find them" (right at the beginning of my post). One would
think that I would know what is available or not available in my area.

As Alan B. replied, I am currently living in Japan. There is exactly one
Wal-mart in this country, but it's about 6 hours by train from my house,
not
to mention Y33 000 return (US$300) by train. That would bring up the cost
of the shallots, should they even have them, substantially. Now, if you
would like to send me the money for the train fare, plus perhaps one
night's
accomodations (I don't really feel like doing a 12-hour return trip in one
day), I'll be happy to check out the potato and onion section near my
"local" Wal-Mart. Just replace the .com with .ca to e-mail me, and I will
forward you my address. I am awaiting your e-mail and my cheque (although
a
bank transfer would be preferable).

rona

__
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We
had people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the
energy to go back. We call them Canadians." ---Grover Norquist in
Newsweek, November 22, 2004

Emil said:

Well I guess the next best thing is a Burpee catalog for seed a big

pot with

Quoted message said:

dirt in it and a place with moderate heat and sun to grow your own.
--
Emil Luca

Shallots grow from the bulbs, not from seed. They are not particularly
critical as to soil or climate, and if you plant them in the ground
rather than a pot they are likely to spread. Like garlic, usually
planted in the fall, harvested in the spring. We had a friend in
southern California who used to give away large bunches of them because
he couldn't control how they multiplied. We planted some once and they
did well but didn't come back the next year. I guess we had harvested
too thoroughly.

-aem

aem said:

Emil said:

Well I guess the next best thing is a Burpee catalog for seed a big

pot with

Quoted message said:

dirt in it and a place with moderate heat and sun to grow your own.
--
Emil Luca

Shallots grow from the bulbs, not from seed. They are not

particularly critical as to soil or climate.

Incorrect on both counts... shallots, as all alliums, can also be grown
from seed... and soil/climate conditions, as with all crops,
significantly affect production. With the high demand for shallots
these days, most is grown from seed (sowing seed is far less labor
intensive).

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/horticulture/5229.html

[excerpt]
"The true shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) is grown primarily for
its bulb although the green tops may also be consumed. Its' bulb is
compound consisting of several cloves (Figure 2) which are ideally
about 30-40 mm in diameter with brown skins and a purplish tinge inside
the bulb. True shallots are used in place of onions as they have a
delicate yet distinctive flavour that persists after cooking.
Traditionally, these have been propagated using bulb material and thus
the intensiveness of production has meant they have only been produced
on a minor scale. More recently with changes in culinary tastes there
is renewed interest in true shallots. Seed companies have now produced
varieties that can be grown directly from seed."

Sheldon

Sheldon said:

Incorrect on both counts... shallots, as all alliums, can also be

grown

Quoted message said:

from seed... and soil/climate conditions, as with all crops,
significantly affect production. With the high demand for shallots
these days, most is grown from seed (sowing seed is far less labor
intensive).

You can get pedantic, can't you? Yes, seeds are now available, but
home gardeners nearly always grow onions, garlic and shallots from
bulbs because it's so much easier than getting seeds to sprout. Yes,
commercial operations strew seeds from their machines, but that is not
the default case for rfc-ers. And of course soil and climate always
affect production to some degree just as a gas oven set at 350° bakes
differently from an electric oven set at 347°. That said, in
comparison to very many other home garden vegetables, all the alliums
are quite forgiving.

Most of you know this, but Sheldon often needs help distinguishing
between what the books say and what people actually do.

-aem

aem said:

Sheldon said:

Incorrect on both counts... shallots, as all alliums, can also be

grown

Quoted message said:

from seed... and soil/climate conditions, as with all crops,
significantly affect production. With the high demand for shallots
these days, most is grown from seed (sowing seed is far less labor
intensive).

You can get pedantic, can't you? Yes, seeds are now available, but
home gardeners nearly always grow onions, garlic and shallots from
bulbs because it's so much easier than getting seeds to sprout. Yes,
commercial operations strew seeds from their machines, but that is

not

Quoted message said:

the default case for rfc-ers.

What a low IQ idiot, *assuming* rfc'ers grow their own... the vast,
vast majority of all consumers, including rfc'ers, buy commercially
grown produce... very, very few rfc'ers grow anything but mouldy
cheese, you puny pontificating penis!

In article <[email hidden]>,

aem said:

Sheldon said:

Incorrect on both counts... shallots, as all alliums, can also be

grown

Quoted message said:

from seed... and soil/climate conditions, as with all crops,
significantly affect production. With the high demand for shallots
these days, most is grown from seed (sowing seed is far less labor
intensive).

You can get pedantic, can't you? Yes, seeds are now available, but
home gardeners nearly always grow onions, garlic and shallots from
bulbs because it's so much easier than getting seeds to sprout. Yes,
commercial operations strew seeds from their machines, but that is not
the default case for rfc-ers. And of course soil and climate always
affect production to some degree just as a gas oven set at 350° bakes
differently from an electric oven set at 347°. That said, in
comparison to very many other home garden vegetables, all the alliums
are quite forgiving.

Most of you know this, but Sheldon often needs help distinguishing
between what the books say and what people actually do.

-aem

I dunno...
For the past two years, I've tried growing onions from "sets".
I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but none of them are making it. :-(

I'm ready to try onions from seed.......

And Shallots are a favorite of mine! No need to grow them tho' as I can
get all I want from the oriental market in Austin!

To the gal in Japan:

I am willing to ship you some at cost! I do ebay so mail stuff world
wide all the time, and have sent stuff by global priority to Japan, and
it gets there in usually 10 days or less! If I pack these right for you,
they should do well since the weather is cold right now. :-)

Let me know? I get beautiful ones at that Oriental market!!! Nice and
big and flavorful.

I'm learning to almost prefer them to onions! I generally mix the two.

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

As we go through life thinking heavy thoughts, thought particles
tend to get caught between the ears causing truth decay- so be sure
to use mental floss twice a day. -- Swami Beyondanada

Quoted message said:

,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sheldon said:

aem said:

Sheldon said:

Incorrect on both counts... shallots, as all alliums, can also be

grown

Quoted message said:

from seed... and soil/climate conditions, as with all crops,
significantly affect production. With the high demand for shallots
these days, most is grown from seed (sowing seed is far less labor
intensive).

You can get pedantic, can't you? Yes, seeds are now available, but
home gardeners nearly always grow onions, garlic and shallots from
bulbs because it's so much easier than getting seeds to sprout. Yes,
commercial operations strew seeds from their machines, but that is

not

Quoted message said:

the default case for rfc-ers.

What a low IQ idiot, *assuming* rfc'ers grow their own... the vast,
vast majority of all consumers, including rfc'ers, buy commercially
grown produce... very, very few rfc'ers grow anything but mouldy
cheese, you puny pontificating penis!

Sheldon dear, serious question!
What are the best soil, water and sun conditions to grow onions from
seed? I'd like to try growing a bunch of white onions this year.

Thanks!
Kat

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

As we go through life thinking heavy thoughts, thought particles
tend to get caught between the ears causing truth decay- so be sure
to use mental floss twice a day. -- Swami Beyondanada

Quoted message said:

,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

Sheldon said:

Shallot essentially embodies a very mild onion flavor with the
slightest hint of garlic. With the vast majority of recipes the white
portion of spring onions/scallions with a bit of garlic will
undetectably suffice. I will occasionally use shallots but only where
used raw, as in salads (tuna/salmon/egg)and in sandwiches (sardine),
and as a garnish for soups, very nice sprinkled atop a steaming bowl
of turtle bean soup.... I think cooking shallot wastes them,
certainly a waste of money. As for freeze dried, I consider all such
products strictly a convenience... as for their flavor worth the
cost, only you can decide, but generally as with all dried herbs
their flavor is more intense than fresh.

I guess I'll have to take the plunge and buy a pack. That they more be more
intense may be a plus. I was worried about another cilantro incident
(cilantro is also very, very difficult to find in Japan so I brought a big
bag of dried--it's useless!).

rona

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We
had people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the
energy to go back. We call them Canadians." ---Grover Norquist in
Newsweek, November 22, 2004

Katra said:

I am willing to ship you some at cost! I do ebay so mail stuff world
wide all the time, and have sent stuff by global priority to Japan,
and it gets there in usually 10 days or less! If I pack these right
for you, they should do well since the weather is cold right now. :-)

Let me know? I get beautiful ones at that Oriental market!!! Nice and
big and flavorful.

I'm learning to almost prefer them to onions! I generally mix the two.

Thanks, but I don't think Japan will let them in! Silly customs people have
actually been checking packages, lately, too!

I do prefer shallots to onions. My family has always used a lot of shallots
(my dad's Thai and shallots--or something similar--is frequently used in
Thai cooking) so I've always loved them. That's probably why I miss them so
much now!

rona

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We
had people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the
energy to go back. We call them Canadians." ---Grover Norquist in
Newsweek, November 22, 2004

In article <[email hidden]>,

Rona Yuthasastrakosol said:

Katra said:

I am willing to ship you some at cost! I do ebay so mail stuff world
wide all the time, and have sent stuff by global priority to Japan,
and it gets there in usually 10 days or less! If I pack these right
for you, they should do well since the weather is cold right now. :-)

Let me know? I get beautiful ones at that Oriental market!!! Nice and
big and flavorful.

I'm learning to almost prefer them to onions! I generally mix the two.

Thanks, but I don't think Japan will let them in! Silly customs people have
actually been checking packages, lately, too!

Yeah... sending veggies as gifts can sometimes be a problem. :-P

Quoted message said:

I do prefer shallots to onions. My family has always used a lot of shallots
(my dad's Thai and shallots--or something similar--is frequently used in
Thai cooking) so I've always loved them. That's probably why I miss them so
much now!

Would it be possible to find some for sale on line locally?
Japanese websites? :-)

Quoted message said:

rona

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

As we go through life thinking heavy thoughts, thought particles
tend to get caught between the ears causing truth decay- so be sure
to use mental floss twice a day. -- Swami Beyondanada

Quoted message said:

,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

Katra said:

I dunno...
For the past two years, I've tried growing onions from "sets".
I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but none of them are making it.

:-(

Quoted message said:

I'm ready to try onions from seed.......

I haven't tried them from seed, but I'll bet the big catalog seed
companies will give you good sprouting directions. As to your past
lack of success all I can offer is some quotes from an old but reliable
USDA pamphlet, "Growing Vegetables in the Home Garden."

"Onions thrive under a wide variety of climatic and soil conditions,
but do best with an abundance of moisture and a temperate climate....In
the South [[U.S.]] the onion thrives in the fall, winter, and spring.
In the North, onions are primarily a spring, summer and fall
crop....Any type of soil will grow onions, but it must be fertile,
moist, and in the highest state of tilth. Both compost and commercial
fertilizer, especially one high in phosphorus and potash, should be
applied to the onion plot...Sets...are usually employed by home
gardeners....The home-garden culture of onions from seed is
satisfactory in the North where the summers are comparatively cool...."

Not quoted but understood is that while a lot of heat is not desirable
they do want plenty of sun.

Dunno if any of that may help you, but I hope you keep trying. Few
foods are as satisfying as those you grow yourself.

-aem

In article <[email hidden]>,

aem said:

Katra said:

I dunno...
For the past two years, I've tried growing onions from "sets".
I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but none of them are making it.

:-(

Quoted message said:

I'm ready to try onions from seed.......

I haven't tried them from seed, but I'll bet the big catalog seed
companies will give you good sprouting directions. As to your past
lack of success all I can offer is some quotes from an old but reliable
USDA pamphlet, "Growing Vegetables in the Home Garden."

"Onions thrive under a wide variety of climatic and soil conditions,
but do best with an abundance of moisture and a temperate climate....In
the South [[U.S.]] the onion thrives in the fall, winter, and spring.
In the North, onions are primarily a spring, summer and fall
crop....Any type of soil will grow onions, but it must be fertile,
moist, and in the highest state of tilth. Both compost and commercial
fertilizer, especially one high in phosphorus and potash, should be
applied to the onion plot...Sets...are usually employed by home
gardeners....The home-garden culture of onions from seed is
satisfactory in the North where the summers are comparatively cool...."

Not quoted but understood is that while a lot of heat is not desirable
they do want plenty of sun.

Dunno if any of that may help you, but I hope you keep trying. Few
foods are as satisfying as those you grow yourself.

-aem

Direct sun and plenty of moisture... Too much moisture! We've been
getting an unusual amount of rainfall for the past couple of years!

All my onions rotted in the ground before they got larger than 1"
across. <sigh>

Even my tomato vines met an early demise from blight due to the overly
wet weather last year, and I usually have grand tomatoes! I am trying
them inside the greenhouse this year where they will be protected from
too much rain. :-)

Thanks!
Kat

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

As we go through life thinking heavy thoughts, thought particles
tend to get caught between the ears causing truth decay- so be sure
to use mental floss twice a day. -- Swami Beyondanada

Quoted message said:

,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

In article <[email hidden]>,
Katra <[email hidden]> wrote:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Even my tomato vines met an early demise from blight due to the overly
wet weather last year, and I usually have grand tomatoes! I am trying
them inside the greenhouse this year where they will be protected from
too much rain. :-)

Murphy will ensure there is not enough rain this year; and plants in
greenhouses will go grey! ;-)

Cheers, Phred.

--
[email hidden]