James Silverton said:zxcvbob wrote on Sat, 02 Jun 2007 09:48:49 -0500:
z> Andy wrote:
??>> I was watching some TV chefs and their excessive (imho)
??>> use of mint in several dishes.z> I like a little dried mint in quick spicy dishes, tabbouleh
z> (sp?), hummus, etc. It kind of reminds me of bay leaf.I wonder if bay leaves are in a category like cilantro with many
different responses including none. I have religiously put in bay leaves
when called for but, a while ago, I discovered the jar was empty and
just went ahead anyway. I did not notice any difference. It's doubtless
my own defect but I can detect a small odor when I sniff the uncooked
leaves. Perhaps, there is a recipe that uses a lot of them that I could
try.James Silverton
Potomac, MarylandE-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
Maybe your bay leaves were getting a little old? Dried bay leaves from a
freshly opened jar have a distinct aroma that brings the memory of my
mother's "Italian Pot-roast" to my mind. Now, if we were talking about
"flavorings which have no flavor" I'd have to go with ground paprika.
The grocer could be selling me red sawdust, and I'd never know the
difference... Save that sawdust has more aroma.
As for mint, I haven't used it in cooking or eaten it in a
restaurant-prepared dish. I can guess that some people just love the
stuff though, just as some do cilantro or imitation smoke flavoring.