Fresh or dried, add a bay leaf (or two) to your next soup, stew, casserole or curry to add flavour to your dish.
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Curried red lentils, sweet potato, spinach, red capsicum and coconut milk tastes delicious.
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This old fashioned beef stew made in the slow cooker is loaded with hearty vegetables. Perfect for feeding a whole family of hungry tummies or if you are making beef stew for two, this dish can be frozen and eaten at a later date.
A gluten-free family classic by chef and author, Scott Gooding, that's irresistibly good.
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Cheesy herby dumplings added in the last half hour of cooking elevate this simple beef and wine stew into a filling and delicious dinner. Just add something green on the side for a complete winter meal.
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Melt in your mouth, slow-cooked Indian Madras beef curry.
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This slow-cooked chicken cacciatore is hearty and warming, perfect for any time of the year. The recipe uses chicken Marylands, and is easy to prepare – just pop it in the oven and bake until juicy and tender.
A tasty casserole with melt in your mouth flavours.
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No eggplant stacks here! Just a delicious meal packed full of vegies and suitabale for vegetarians and vegans alike by TIFFXO Founder, Tiffiny Hall.
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A Hungarian-style beef goulash recipe that is cooked in the slow-cooker with fresh herbs and spices. This allows the traditional style dish to develop beautiful, rich flavours.
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This chicken, potato and spinach curry is such a warming, filling winter’s meal. Marinate the meat, brown it off in a pan, then pop it all in the slow cooker and leave it to let the magic happen.
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Feed a hungry crowd with this hearty, slow-cooked dish by celebrity chef, Curtis Stone.
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An incredibly easy and delicious side dish that you'll crave time and time again.
Bay leaves can be used to flavour vinegars and pâtés, and in pickling and marinades. Long cooking draws out the aroma of this herb and most braised, poached and stewed dishes benefit from the addition of a bay leaf, as do soups, stocks and risottos.
Fresh bay leaves are going to give you more of a flavor boost, but they'll only last about a week if you store them properly (in a sealed bag in the fridge). Dried bay leaves, however, will stay good for several years if you keep them tightly sealed in a cool, dark place.
Dried bay leaves will keep for about 12 months. If you find fresh ones or you grow your own, you can dry them and store them in an airtight container. Alternatively, you can freeze the fresh leaves for up to 1 year. Adding fresh or dried bay leaves to your cooking liquid can enhance the flavor of your dish.
Bay is a popular culinary herb in many parts of the world. According to its proponents, the addition of bay leaves to a dish during (prolonged) cooking delivers a pungent (some say strong) combination of pine, clove (spicy), floral (lavender), and eucalyptus notes.
While some visually similar plants have poisonous leaves, bay leaves are not toxic and can be eaten without harm. However, they remain stiff even after cooking and may pose a choking hazard or cause harm to the digestive tract if swallowed whole or in large pieces.
Bay leaf water provides multiple health benefits when taken on an empty stomach. It helps manage diabetes by improving insulin and glucose metabolism. The drink also alleviates digestive issues, arthritis symptoms, respiratory disorders, headaches, stress, and anxiety.
Eating the whole, intact leaf is likely unsafe. The leaf can't be digested, so it remains whole while passing through the digestive system. This means it can become lodged in the throat or pierce the lining of the intestines. When applied to the skin: Bay leaf extract is possibly safe when used in cosmetics.
Bay leaves are considered to be safe for use in teas and when cooking. However, very high amounts can cause sleepiness, due to its ability to slow down the nervous system. It can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms, like diarrhea or bloating, as well as headaches.
The bitter plant is often used for it's fragrance in cooking, but, bugs hate the scent. You can use bay leaves to repel flies, moths, mice, earwigs and roaches.
Its history dates back to the legends of the Greek god Apollo - god of prophecy, healing and poetry. Legends say that Apollo was madly in love with a nymph named Daphne and to spurn him, she turned herself into a bay tree commonly found on the Greek isles.
In the realm of spirituality, bay leaves are seen as symbols of protection and purification. They are thought to ward off negativity and attract positive energy. This belief in the spiritual power of bay leaves has been present in various cultures and practices throughout history.
Tasters described the sauce made with the California bay leaf as "medicinal" and "potent," "like something you'd put in a cough drop." The sauce made with the Turkish bay leaf, on the other hand, was described as "mild, green, and slightly clove-like" and "far superior in nuance and flavor."
According to research conducted by Kansas State University, this compound is effective in eliminating bugs from the kitchen and repelling co*ckroaches and weevils.
Bay leaves have an expectorant effect that can help to eliminate accumulated phlegm and mucus in the respiratory tract. This can help to relieve congestion and make breathing easier, especially in cases of a cold, flu and bronchitis.
Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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