Some recipes instruct you to grind herbs or spices. In our grandmother’s day, that meant using a mortar and pestle. In our mother’s day, it meant using the coffee grinder for herbs and spices.

Mom, a purist, had a second grinder for that purpose. Other folks had to first grind uncooked rice in their coffee grinder to remove minute particles of coffee, or else suffer coffee-accented spices.

Today, manufacturers are doing more to meet the needs of home cooks. McCormick, for example, sells four popular herbs—basil, Italian blend, oregano and parsley—in non-refillable glass grinder bottles (center photo).

On the spice end, McCormick has grinders for peppercorns and peppercorn-herb blends, seasoned salt blends and plain salt grinders.

There are herb mills and spice grinders, a.k.a. mills, but we especially like the new Kyocera “Everything Grinder” (bottom photo—more about the mill below). Technically, “mill” refers to the entire device and “grinder” to the grinding mechanism inside the mill.

FOOD 101: HERBS, MINERALS & SPICES—THE DIFFERENCE

Herbs, minerals and spices are three options to flavor foods.

 
THE KYOCERA EVERYTHING MILL

Now, one mill grinds everything: dried herbs, pepper, salt, seeds and spices: the Kyocera Everything Mill With Adjustable Advanced Ceramic Grinder.

The company states that its advanced ceramic burr mill mechanism, close in hardness to a diamond, will outlast any metal-based grinding mill. Is adjusts from fine to coarse grinds.

Top: Marble mortar and pestle from RSVP. Center: McCormick Spice Grinder. Bottom: Kyocera Everything Mill.

In addition to salt and peppercorns, you can grind celery, cumin, dill, flax, mustard and sesame seeds; any spices including red pepper flakes; and any dried herbs.

To grind pliant fresh herbs you’ll still need a mortar and pestle (preferably) or a spice mill/coffee grinder with a metal blade. We’ve tried both and strongly recommend hand-grinding with a mortar and pestle for the finest flavor. Metal blades tear the leaves in a way that releases the oil in a different way. You’ll also need the mortar or metal blades stop grind nuts.

But for most grinding, you can count on the Kyocera Everything Mill. There’s a color for every kitchen: Apple Green, Bright Black, Brilliant White, Candy Apple Red, Translucent Blue and Translucent Maroon.

At $19.95, they make good gifts for your favorite cooks. All colors are available on Amazon.com.
 
FUN: The History Of Coffee Grinders.

Use pretzels in a different way on April 26th, National Pretzel Day. Consider everything from mini pretzels and pretzel sticks to big, soft pretzels as:

 
If you come up with something nifty, let us know.
 
Here’s a recipe for Caramel Pretzel Doughnuts from Betty Crocker.

Alternatively, here’s an iced doughnut shaped like a pretzel.

And here’s a recipe to bake your own soft pretzels. Perhaps add a doughnut glaze (recipe below). Have fun with it!

 
PRETZEL HISTORY

Thanks to creative monks, man has enjoyed 15 centuries of pretzel snacks. Here’s the history of pretzels.
 
RECIPE: DOUGHNUT GLAZE

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan; heat over low until warm. Sift the confectioners’ sugar into the milk and whisk slowly until thoroughly combined.

2. REMOVE from the heat and set over a bowl of hot water to keep the glaze from hardening. Dip the doughnuts (or pretzels) into the glaze, one at a time, and set on a rack placed in a half sheet pan to drip. Let set for 5 minutes before serving.
  

Last spring we published a tip on serving foods in mini flower pots—the size that can be used to pot small succulents.

You can use them anytime: to serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, desserts and snacks.

You can find mini flower pots in terra cotta or terra cotta-colored plastic. Either can go into the dishwasher.

For Mother’s Day or other special occasion, why not start the day by using them to serve scrambled or boiled eggs?

Use wax paper, parchment or butterhead lettuce leaves (bibb, Boston, green leaf, red leaf) to plug the drainage hole on the bottom of the flower pot; then add the food.

Garnish scrambled eggs or peeled boiled eggs with:

 
Include a salt shaker (or flavored salt) and a peppermill.
 
DON’T WANT TO BUY FLOWERPOTS?

You can serve scrambled eggs in a Martini glass.

Don’t like eggs? Serve berries in the flower pots.

This variation tops scrambled eggs with bay scallops, and a chive stem for garnish. If the chives are flowering, great! Photo courtesy David Burke Fromagerie.

[2] Stir-fried spaghetti from Annie Chun..

[3] Stir-fried bowtie pasta, Asian-style. Here’s the recipe (photo © Kaluhi’s Kitchen).

You can use any un-sauced pasta or noodle with any other ingredients, and give it the spin you want—Italian versus Asian, for example. You can use pasta with tomato sauce if you select add-on ingredients that would taste good together in an omelet.

You can use any ingredients you have on hand. We’ve used sausage and fresh mango, and ham and pineapple, for example.
 
 
RECIPE #1: STIR-FRIED PASTA, FREESTYLE

Here are options for free-styling (combining whatever you want). Or follow the measured recipe below.
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. ADD the olive oil and vegetables to a large pan. If using dark sesame oil, add a small amount—it is very strong. Sauté over medium heat until the veggies are al dente.

3. ADD the pasta and meat/seafood and mix well. Add the fresh herbs, stir and serve.
 

RECIPE #2: CRISPY LEFTOVER PASTA WITH EGGS, ONIONS & PEPPERS

This recipe from PatsaFits.org uses ingredients most of us have around the house. You can also use leftover pasta with a tomato sauce in this recipe.

Ingredients For 4 Main Servings

 
Preparation

1. HEAT a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add the oil and sauté the onions and peppers until softened and starting to brown (about 3 minutes).

3. DIVIDE among 4 bowls, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.
 
 
MORE FRIED RICE RECIPES

Have leftover grains instead of pasta? Here are three ways to stir-fry them.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

[1] First, take a head of cabbage (photo ©y Good Eggs).

[2] Next, slice it, grill it and garnish it (photo © McCormick).

[3] For better flavor, chop quality blue cheese instead of using packaged crumbles (photo © KitchenHealsSoul.com).

It can be a side, a vegetarian main, or part of a grain bowl. It’s just as delicious as cauliflower, and less expensive.

This recipe from McCormick adds more flavor to the thick cabbage “steaks” with a zesty marinade. Crumbled bacon, blue cheese and green onions (scallions) are popular toppers. But if you prefer a vegetarian dish, use any toppings you like, from vegetarian bacon and cheese to grilled tofu and cherry tomatoes.

An average head of cabbage can be cut into six steaks. Prep time is 10 minutes, cook time is 20 minutes.
 
RECIPE: GRILLED CABBAGE STEAKS

Ingredients For 6 Servings

 
For The Marinade

 
For The Garnish

 
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*Marinade mix comprises pre-selected seasonings, to which you add your own oil and vinegar. It’s easy to make a “freestyle” marinade from whatever you have on hand. Here’s a basic recipe: 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon each of three herbs of choice (basil, hot chile flakes, oregano, rosemary, thyme, or another favorite. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (hold the pepper if using chile flakes). Or substitute lemon zest for an herb and/or lemon juice for part of the vinegar.

1. COOK the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the drippings. Crumble the bacon and set it aside.

2. MIX the marinade packet, oil, vinegar, maple syrup, and the reserved bacon drippings in a small bowl until well blended. Place the cabbage steaks in a large resealable plastic bag or a glass dish. Add the marinade and turn to coat well.

3. REFRIGERATE the cabbage in the marinade for 30 minutes; longer for extra flavor. Then remove the cabbage steaks from the marinade, reserving any leftover marinade (see the next section).

4. GRILL the cabbage steaks over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until tender-crisp, brushing with the leftover marinade. Garnish with the bacon, blue cheese, and green onions, and serve.
 
Next up: Brussels Sprouts Kabobs?
 
 
CAN YOU RE-USE MARINADE?

For a meat or fish marinade, the answer is no. Potentially harmful bacteria that are killed during cooking will remain in the marinade. If you really want to re-use it, you can boil it first to kill the bacteria: Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Vegetables do not harbor harmful bacteria, so can be re-used or frozen for later use. The marinade will lose flavor each time it is frozen and defrosted, so check it after two additional uses and spruce it up with seasonings as needed.

Here’s detailed information on marinade safety from FoodSafety.gov.
 
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†The plant genus of cruciferous vegetables, Brassica, contains nutritional powerhouses that are packed with potent, cancer-fighting phytonutrients (antioxidants). Brassica members include arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, horseradish/wasabi, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, rapeseed/canola, rapini, rutabaga and turnips, among others. Eat up!