The sweet basil was mentioned in this post. But the garden sage was recently dried. I make a sage stuffing for our Thanksgiving turkey and I always use my own home-grown organic sage.
As a young bride I was given the wooden one by my friend, Plantwoman. The inside has turned green from all the herbs that have been crushed in it. Several years ago I thought that a marble one would be nice. I don't like it: it is cold heavy stone and I almost gave up crushing my own herbs. I have gone back to the wooden one and just love the feel of it in my hands: the smoothness, the warmth and lightness of the turned wood brings back memories of past feasts shared with good friends.
The smells of the season are upon us.
Here's a question for you. Do you pronounce the T in pestle? I say yes, my daughter says no. Also is the bowl the mortar? I say yes, my husband says the stick thing is the mortar. I think yours are great. I have a stone one and a Japanese pottery one.
ReplyDeleteI have one made of stone that I use. It's okay. So you really like the wooden one? I would have thought it would hold the oils from one to the next batch of herbs. But now I may have to just keep an eye out for one.
ReplyDeleteMmm...I can nearly smell it from here.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful gift. I'll have to keep a pestle in mind when thinking up thoughtful and unique gifts.
You are NOT going to believe this. My word verification below is INFUS. Is that funny or what?!?!
Who knew? Interesting post, and I don't know which is the mortar and which is the pestle either?
ReplyDeleteThe mortar is the dish, the pestle is the stick. I use one I got from a science supply store (never use one that's actually been used in a chem lab, you could get some horrible stuff in your herbs!) and it works great, but it's not nearly so beautiful as yours.
ReplyDeletePaula
ReplyDeleteI know the wood one is hotter but here in Italy cookers use the one made of marble, because the first one steals a lot of taste, while with the second one it remains in the basil.
ciao ciao
How cool is that! I want one of these. Where might I find one?
ReplyDeleteI am going to bring in my sage now to dry. Basil is all done!
You are going to have to share the stuffing recipe. Stuffing is one thing that I have not Mastered yet...
ReplyDeleteI love your wooden warm one. I kind of separate my herbs into what I classify as "sweet", "aromatic", etc. I need to grown more of them as you do.
ReplyDeleteI have that same marble one, and since it's the only one I have I like mine. I'd love to try a wooden one to see what you mean, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly the fact that you love the person who gave it to you, that has a big impact on our likes.
ReplyDeleteI've already started cooking and freezing for Thanksgiving....I don't want to be stuck in the kitchen....LOL.....As for the mortar and pestle, I don't know what it is about wood but I think it's better. Just my opinion. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI have a marble one too and agree that it's too cold and "dead" feeling. Now it's just a decoration on the shelf. Your wooden set is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've got a stone one which I love, but I've seen olive wood ones for sale round here. Terribly expensive but I'd love one one day.
ReplyDeleteMum's got a marble one. She was given it a few years ago and it's so big and heavy she can hardly lift it.
That's wonderful, It brings back memories, there is nothing like fresh herbs, especially sage. (that stuff we buy is icky) Thanksgiving will be great at your house.
ReplyDeleteVicki