Grind it baby!

I am both a strong believer in using the right tool for the right job and a sucker for tools in the kitchen. Several years ago my father passed away. I know that I learned my passion for good food and for cooking from him and while there was not many items in his house that I coveted, I found several items in the kitchen that I knew were top on my list.

The heaviest, by far, was his granite mortar and pestle. Granite. Mmmmmmm. The weight and solid feel in your hand makes you know you have a “real” tool.

The main purpose of this tool set is to grind dry spices into powder. Want a slightly better mix of pepper? Throw in some mult-colored peppercorns and end up with a nice mix. Want a smoother texture? Grind it longer.

I have also used it both in cheese making (to crush up the rennet tablet – one of the enzymes) and in making chili. Purchase some dried chili peppers and grind into fresh powder. The flavor is much more intense and you can get a nice mix of varied peppers.