Finally, this year, I found a few bay leaf plants at my local nursery. Yes, I know bay is a tree, but these were about 4 inches, tall and they're slow growers, and I'll keep them pruned, so I think I'm okay. I could try and tell you all about growing it, but this link from Veggie Gardening Tips tells you pretty much everything you need to know. (Which reminds me, perhaps I should have went there when attempting to grow my scarlet runner beans, then maybe I would have ended up with "beans" and not "a bean").
But what I wanted to show you was one of my bay leaves! Look at the size of that thing! That is my hand, and I am no shrinking violet (I am 5 foot 8, and have long fingers, so that is not some dainty hand you are looking at). They are incredible and oh-so-pretty. I kept my plant on the porch all summer and fed it like my other houseplants with some fish emulsion fertilizer and it has grown about 6 inches! It's now inside, and I won't feed it in the winter, so I suspect it's growth will slow down.
Also, if you are looking at my hand and noticing the bandaid, and your nodding your head, thinking, oh look at chef Pam, she cut her hand wielding her handy dandy chef knife. Wrong. That was me after a knock-down drag-out fight with my three hole punch that sits on my desk at school. Let's just say the hole punch won and move on, shall we.
22 comments:
I have always been curious about bay leaves. I would like to see a photo of your tree, please.
Sorry the hole punch got the best of you. Ouch!
I've just gotten some fresh bay leaves too! I made a Spanish-style stew last night and threw a few leaves in and the aroma was incredible!
Cool!! I haven't seen them for the longest time!
that thing is huge! about twice the size i used last night!
here's a mommy's kiss for your boo boo finger! ;)
You can punish that 3 hole punch. Stuff it in a drawer and see how it likes that!
I can just smell that leaf! Amazing growth. BTW I am passing on the Kreativ Blogger award to you -- please come by and pick it up sometime. :) http://www.clevergirl.org/2009/10/175-kreativ-blogger-award.html
I know I was thinking it was using your handy dandy chef knife...
*#@+(%! hole punch!
Never had fresh, and the dried ones I have last forever!
Ahh..I have 2 in pots in the house also..One almost died w/ the abundance or rain we had this summer so I am nursing it back to health..Clients I met last yr..have theirs in their kitchen..it's up to the ceiling and looks like a ficus!! Truly..lush and full like a tree! Your leaf looks so healthy..I hope I am a good nurse:)
You're 5'8"! You lucky gal. Oh, I'm jealous. Two out of three of my kids will be much taller than me. My daughter wore my shoes to school today ... we've now crossed that bridge. I hope your height gives you an advantage over your 8th graders. I'm kind of stunned at how tall kids are. I don't remember my classmates towering over their teachers like so many kids do now.
Sorry about the run in with your hole puncher. If you were at my house, you'd be sporting a Hello Kitty bandaid. :-)
I've never once used a fresh bay leaf. Is the flavor much different from the dried variety?
It's nice to know that you can grow them in your garden. I keep seeing everyone using fresh bay leaves on TV, but I never see them in stores. Sounds like you had great success with it.
I planted Bay this year too.. and a few weeks ago it disappeared! The whole plant. I accused hubby of thinking it was a weed and pulling it, but he is not confessing. Could a bunny have stolen it? I will try again next year.
I'm sorry about the run-in with the hole punch, my only advice is to watch out for the stapler - these gadgets tend to look out for each-other!
The bay leaf tree is a great idea! I have a rosemary plant that is out of control! I used to have ficus trees, but I killed them all, are the bay trees harder to kill? Would they hate Oregon? As to that nasty little hole punch, you could threaten it with replacement.. I notice that your palm lines are many... My hands are just like that, sign of an old soul!
It may be too late to prune my Bay tree to a manageable height. It was already 50 ft. tall when I bought the property.
The upside is that there are always volunteer offspring growing about, providing more accessible leaves as needed.
Mike
I've never tried fresh bay leaves only dried. Sorry about your finger.
I love fresh bay leaves the ones we get here from the Big Island are large but not quite as big as these.
RE: the hole punch incident, I can injure myself on most any tool so I share your pain. ;-)
I have been growing my bay in its pot for many years. Like you I am amazed at the size of the leaves. Twice the size of those dried up grey specimens in the supermarket. Non-schoolies do not understand the inherent dangers of government issue stationery supplies. You were lucky to come away just needing a bandaid.
Bay leaves add so much flavor to dishes, you are so lucky to have a "tree"! The difference that they make always amazes me.
It's really nice post. Keep posting on similar stuff.
The first time I ever had fresh bay leaves was on my trip to India. I never imagined they could be so fragrant! Totally different from their dried counterpart. It never occurred to me that I could grow a bay tree as a house plant (per Table de Nana), and I think that will be my next addition...
How does the flavor compare compared to dried? You must have to go real light with it, I would guess.
You've lost respect around the office. I heard the copier snickering as you walked by :)
Fresh bay leaves have a subtle perfume that melds whatever its cooked with with a sweet, almost delicate flavor not entirely unlike mint.
Some suggestions:
* Steep in 1 cup lightly sweetened heavy cream. Strain. Discard bay leaves. Use as a dessert sauce or as a base for creme anglaise or ice cream.
* Place 10-15 fresh bay leaves in a roasting pan and pair with potatoes and fennel. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and roast for one hour at 375 F.
* Coat in sweetened batter, deep-fry and sprinkle powdered sugar. These are buñuelos. The leaves infuse the dough with their aroma and are not meant to be eaten.
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