sf wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:44:59 -0400, "kilikini"
> > wrote:
>
>> sf wrote:
>>> On Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:06:25 -0400, "kilikini"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> just us wrote:
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> Am new to this group so I hope I am not going over an old topic.
>>>>> We garden and have lemon grass growing. I am not really sure how
>>>>> to use it for cooking ( have in the past bought pre crushed lemon
>>>>> grass for currys etc ) . It seems very very tough - any help and
>>>>> advise would be appreciated.Thanks
>>>>
>>>> I use it with coconut milk and remove it before serving. I grow
>>>> it, too.
>>>>
>>> I've never cooked with it, but I think I remember seeing a tv cook
>>> take a hammer or mallet to it. Is that what you do?
>>
>> I just toss it in with whatever I'm simmering. I use it like a bay
>> leaf. Does that make sense?
>>
> Meaning you take it out before serving. So you don't bruise it in any
> way? Are you using particularly young shoots?
>
> I should try growing some, how much cold can they take? How much
> water do they need? Remember, this area doesn't get much (any) summer
> rain.

Well, it does like water and mine is in a planted in a pot, so I'm not sure
how it would differ from being in the ground. But, no, I don't bruise it
before I use it in a dish. I treat it exactly as I would a bay leaf. Toss
a few blades in and remove before serving.

Not too long ago, my husband came home with a bag of live mussels. I was
racking my brain as to what to do with them and then I realized, tada! I
had coconut milk and lemongrass. Done deal.

Here's a picture of the lemongrass with onions, garlic and butter simmering
in a pot:
http://i31.tinypic.com/9jodch.jpg

The coconut milk added:
http://i29.tinypic.com/2val36w.jpg

The final dish (yes I didn't remove the lemongrass, but it's easily picked
out):
http://i31.tinypic.com/2bwv92.jpg

Afterwards I still had mussels and broth left over so I made a chowder out
of it sans lemongrass:
http://i31.tinypic.com/2vwy4d2.jpg

It was all yummy! :~)

kili