"Cork-N-Cap" wrote in message
oups.com...
I wanted to share my campden crushing hint.

I use an electric coffee bean grinder. Although mine is an old oster
brand, it looks something like this one at the following web site.

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=102654


I use an apothecary type mortar and pestle. You can buy one at oriental
import stores for $4 to $6 and they work great. Orientals use them to grind
up their herbal medicines.

Ray

In message , Ray
Calvert writes

I use an apothecary type mortar and pestle. You can buy one at
oriental import stores for $4 to $6 and they work great. Orientals use
them to grind up their herbal medicines.

I'm a cheapskate, so I put mine on a saucer, and crush them with the
back of a flattish tea-spoon. Sometimes I don't spray *all* of the bits
over the floor.
--
cheers, robin
Robin's Big Adventures In Oz:
http://www.robinsomes.co.uk/oz

Ray Calvert wrote:

I use an apothecary type mortar and pestle. You can buy one at
oriental
import stores for $4 to $6 and they work great. Orientals use them
to grind
up their herbal medicines.

If you really want to treat yourself to a very, very nice tool, check
out the Thai mortar and pestles he
http://importfood.com/mortarpestle.html. At the bottom of the page
(which you'll want to read through), they have other types, too.

When I first started dreaming of making metheglins, I ordered an 8"
Thai m&p, and it is awesome...a very satisfying experience. I use it
every day for all kinds of things I never thought I'd be doing. I
actually grind flax seeds now; before it was just too much of a hassle
using a machine grinder then having to clean it.

Diane

"dkistner" wrote in message
oups.com...

Ray Calvert wrote:

I use an apothecary type mortar and pestle. You can buy one at
oriental
import stores for $4 to $6 and they work great. Orientals use them
to grind
up their herbal medicines.

If you really want to treat yourself to a very, very nice tool, check
out the Thai mortar and pestles he
http://importfood.com/mortarpestle.html. At the bottom of the page
(which you'll want to read through), they have other types, too.

When I first started dreaming of making metheglins, I ordered an 8"
Thai m&p, and it is awesome...a very satisfying experience. I use it
every day for all kinds of things I never thought I'd be doing. I
actually grind flax seeds now; before it was just too much of a hassle
using a machine grinder then having to clean it.

Diane

Yea, Teach an old dog to suck eggs! My wife is Thai. We half a dozen or
more of those things. Some are ceramic, others stone, and some are wood.
They do work well and Thai's grind everything in them From hot peppers to
dried shrimp.

Ray

Ray, I didn't mean to offend you by making the Thai mortar & pestle
suggestion. I was making it to everyone, not just you. (I'll bet you
eat like a king, you lucky dog you.)

Diane

Oh, goodness. I came across wrong again! I guess I should have put in some
smiley faces somewhere. No offence taken. Just a left handed way of
acknowledging your comments on Thai cooking utensils. Yes, I eat like a
king and have for 35 years of marriage.

I do not know why the mortar and pestle is not a standard item in every
kitchen. Almost all dry spices will keep better if not powdered. Grind
them up when you use them and you will get more from them. One of the
reasons Thai cooking is so spectacular.

Ray

"dkistner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ray, I didn't mean to offend you by making the Thai mortar & pestle
suggestion. I was making it to everyone, not just you. (I'll bet you
eat like a king, you lucky dog you.)

Diane

Whew! That's good to know, Ray.

What's surprising to me is how therapeutic it is to grind with mine.
Like meditating or doing yoga or something. I feel so much more
connected to/tuned into the spice. It's almost a spiritual thing.
That's gotta be good for the mead!