Search Results - Mortar and pestle
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A mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix substances. The pestle is a heavy stick whose end is used for pounding and grinding, and the mortar is a bowl. The substance is ground between the pestle and the mortar. The English "mortar" derives from classical Latin "mortarium", meaning, among several other usages, "receptacle for pounding" and "product of grinding or pounding". The classical Latin "pestillum" led to the English "pestle", meaning "pounder". The Roman poet Juvenal applied both "mortarium" and "pistillum" to articles used in the preparation of drugs, reflecting the early use of the mortar & pestle as a pharmacist's or apothecary's symbol as described below.[1] The antiquity of these tools is well documented in some early literature, such as the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus of c. 1550 B.C.E. (the oldest preserved medical literature piece) and the Old Testament (Numbers 118 and Proverbs 2722).[2] Mortars and pestles were traditionally used in pharmacies to crush various ingredients prior to preparing an extemporaneous prescription. The mortar and pestle is one of the most common[citation needed] icon associated with pharmacies, along with a green cross. For pharmaceutical use, the mortar and the head of the pestle are usually made of porcelain, while the handle of the pestle is made of wood. This is known as a Wedgwood mortar and pestle and originated in 1779. Today the act of mixing ingredients or reducing the particle size is known as trituration. Mortars and pestles are also used as drug paraphernalia to grind up pills to speed up absorption when they are ingested, or in preparation for insufflation (snorting). Mortars are also used in cooking to prepare ingredients such as guacamole and pesto (which derives its name from the pestle pounding), as well as grinding spices into powder. Native American tribes used mortars carved into the bedrock to grind acorns and other nuts. Many such depressions can be found in their former territories. In Japan, very large mortars are used with wooden mallets to prepare mochi. A regular sized Japanese mortar and pestle are called a suribachi and surikogi, respectively. Granite mortars and pestles are used in Southeast Asia, especially Pakistan and India. In Malay, it is known as lesung. Traditional Mexican mortar and pestles, made of basalt, are known as molcajetes. Large stone mortars, with long (2-3 feet) wood pestles were also used in the Middle East to grind meat for a type of meatloaf, or kibbeh, as well as the hummus variety known as masabcha.
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Showing 1 to 6 of 6 Articles matching 'Mortar and pestle' in related articles. |
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1. Choosing A Pestle And Mortar
October 27, 2009
Thankfully we are seeing a return to using more fresh ingredients in the kitchen and cooking real food. Mortar and pestle sets are selling well again and this is great news.
What can be difficult for many people is choosing the right set to buy. So, what is the best pestle and mortar set? The best sets all need to have one thing in common and that is weight. They need to be heavy to make the use of them enjoyable and easy. As we are using them to grind spices and pound foods they need to be as heavy as possible within reason.
The weight simply makes them work better and makes the coo... (read more)
Author: Peter Piper
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2. Why Buy A Pestle And Mortar?
October 26, 2009
As spending more time in the kitchen preparing quality food is back in favor thanks to the many cookery programs now being shown many people are still reluctant to buy even cheap mortar and pestle sets.
There really are so many advantages to owning a pestle and mortar set it is hard to know just where to begin. For a start it simply makes the life of the chef so much easier. Anyone who wants to use spices in their cooking knows the benefits of using fresh ingredients and grinding them personally. We can buy electric grinders but they are prone to breaking and have a finite lifespan.
... (read more)
Author: Peter Piper
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3. Top 5 Quirky Kitchen Utensils
September 24, 2009
Here are some of my favourite quirky kitchen utensils which are not necessary but fun and useful. Sagaform 'Edge' Small Mortar This innovative design for a pestle and mortar is made by Sagaform a Scandinavian tableware and kitchenware designer. The base is made from a solid oak the sphere is made from pressed stoneware. You can use the small mortar to grind spices by rolling the sphere in the palm of your hand. It can also be a decorative item for your table and can be used to crush peppercorns and natural sea salt. Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 5 cm Price: £14.50 Materials: Oak,... (read more)
Author: Salamander Cookshop
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4. What You Need To Know About Herbs and Spices
May 04, 2009
What You Need To Know About Herbs and Spices
Years ago, I received a nice spice rack and 25 jars of herbs and spices for a wedding gift. I remember sitting there thinking to myself, how am I going to use these? Back then, I was not an educated cook!
Don't get me wrong, I was appreciative of this great wedding gift. However, I lacked the knowledge that I needed to know about using them.
As a new cook, I thought herbs and spices were the same thing and quickly discovered that they are different. According to Wikipedia, spices are made from a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf, or... (read more)
Author: Shelly Hill
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5. Homeopathic Acne Treatment That Works Wonders
April 24, 2009
When most people scoff at the idea of homeopathic medicine, they don’t realize that the overwhelming majority of homeopathic treatments have been around far longer than their better known modern medicine counterparts. Homeopathic medicine can trace its roots back centuries to a simpler time when people understood the environment around them, understood what the natural world contained, what it could do and how to use it properly. There is a reason why the pharmacist logo is a mortar and pestle: those tools were actually used for hundreds of years to grind, crush and manufacture cures and treat... (read more)
Author: Brent Crouch
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6. A Natural Acne Remedy Using Radishes & Radish Seeds
August 22, 2008
The common garden radish, and in particular, their seeds, contains a bleaching agent making it a wonderful natural acne remedy by helping to remove blackheads and freckles.
Making a Radish Seed Cleansing Paste
You can buy radish seeds at any garden centre. Grind up one or two spoonfulls of radish seeds using and mortar and pestle until they form a fine powder. Very slowly add water to the powder in order to make a paste. Add just one or two drops at a time until the mixture reaches a thick, smooth consistency.
Any unused mixture can be stored in an airtight container in a refri... (read more)
Author: Belinda Marshall
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