h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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az

WHEN SPICES GO BAD

would make a great reality TV show

it could just be the fallout from a thursday night at the chinese/indian buffet, followed by a pub/kebab scene and then an episode on take-aways in the fridge

how about Craig Charles hosting it?

someone MUST pitch that 2 BBC 3

Yeah, there could be a "celebrity" version too. Being BBC3, it'll probably have to have someone from 2 Pints on it.

Thank you!Cheered me up no end...Now to go check out the BNP Party political Broadcast that's supposed to be on ITV about now.That should be worth a giggle or two.

I will throw my spices out if they are older than about 3 years mainly for the potency loss.

From this site:

http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blhelp9.htm


"Although herbs and spices won't "go bad," per se, they will definitely lose their potency with age, and seeds such as poppy and sesame will get rancid. Most whole herbs and spices will retain their flavor about one year, while dried and ground versions are best used within six months."

the fresher the better

windowboxes r magic and aren't that hard to look after

fresh chillies, ginger and corriander are a must for me

black pepper has to come from the corns

u can only buy a bit at a time

"fresh chillies, ginger and corriander are a must for me"

I'll second that. Dried coriander just tastes soapy and awful.

Actually I think the dried coriander folk are referring to are the seeds which are marvellous ground and added to roasted veg.They smell like orange peel to me...They are also a very important ingredient of curry paste/powder.

Ahh, ground coriander seeds are fine - it's the dried leaf that's vile.

Only dried herbs worth using are oregano and tarragon. Perhaps dill as well.

B

>>"... they will definitely lose their potency with age, and seeds such as poppy and sesame will get rancid. Most whole herbs and spices will retain their flavor about one year, while dried and ground versions are best used within six months."<<

Just about sums up life, doesn't it?

MMF

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I used to hate coriander until I finally tasted it fresh. No comparison. Now I love it. And on a recent trip to Portugal I was delighted to discover that they use fresh coriander in almost everything.

This thread has made me consider having a little herb 'garden' on my balcony. Any advice on this? Types of planters? Sun or shade? I'm thinking basil, coriander, parsley ... anything else?


az

I got a windowboxes out the garden centre and those plants you get out of the super market

they're so cheap

They like full sun. But you would have to be incredibly careful to keep them well watered in your climate, when in containers. They prefer a richer type compost, if you want the best flavour. If possible add some well rotted compost which enables the soil to be more moisture retentive. But you absolutely can't beat cutting the herbs fresh just before you need them.

Oh and I love dill with seafood. Thyme would also do great. They have tiny tight leaves that enable them to cope with hot dry conditions more than other herbs. They wouldn't need so much watering or such a richer soil as things like basil.

Schwarz are wrong about spices in beige top jars being over seven years old. Mine aren't, cos I refill the jars when they become empty.

Never mind beige lids - my mother has some spices which are in jars marked in old money.

(For younger researchers, in the olden days before the invention of the bar code, goods for sale used to be marked with what was known as a "price label" which told the prospective purchaser how much they would be paying for the item.)*

Well ... perhaps not marked in old money. But with something totally unrealistic like "5p".

We're not dead yet. But, I've no idea what they taste like, because the reason she still has them is because she doesn't cook with them very often.

Mol

*And loyalty cards were known as "Green Shield Stamps"

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chiken breast olive oil lemon and lime juice and sprinkle with dried coriander leaf and bung it it the oven....nice!!!!!