Category: Spices

Fennel Seed, Fennel Frond, Fennel For Spice, And Beyond

Fennel seeds, fennel bulbs, fennel fronds–fennel is a vegetable, an herb, and a spice

Fennel seeds in various stages of maturation My mother, at some point in her cooking tenure, decided that fennel seeds were the ingredient which converted browned beef in tomato sauce from just that to pasta sauce.

To be clear, she was a Polish Catholic from Detroit and knew of Italian cooking only that which the Good Housekeeping Cookbook showed her.

I always enjoyed the fennel seeds in our pasta sauce. That licorice flavor was good and came to mean mom’s spaghetti sauce. A funny thing about regional colloquialisms: in Michigan, pasta was noodles. Always. Spaghetti, fettuccine, elbow macaroni are noodles. It is from there to ask, which kind? Like this: What’s for dinner? Noodles. Which kind? Spaghetti.

Clearance Sale

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How Many Thymes Have I Told You

Does Anybody Really Know What Thyme It Is?

With the possible exception of bay leaves, thyme is probably the most popular herb on the planet. Yes, I know parsley is an herb. I like parsley fine, but don’t long for a parsley infused stew or roast.

English thymeThyme has the unfortunate latin name Thymus Vulgaris, and, like many other herbs, is in the mint family. Common terms for thyme are English thyme, garden thyme, common thyme or thyme. It is an impressive ground covering, offers a pleasant aroma and has pretty flowers or purple or white.

Spindly thyme with pretty flowers
The spindly, challenging stems.

One of the interesting features is variation of how the stems grow and the ease, or not, of removing the small leaves from the stems. I’ve purchased thyme in which each stem was only that, and the leaves came off very easily. Then there have been times when a stem has a dozen or more branched from it and the leaves do not come off those branches well, for the branches are so fragile. Fragile branches are a frustration when seeking only the leaves, but the good news is they are edible and choppable. The woody, almost stick, stems do offer flavor and are good wrapped in a coffee filter to flavor stocks or soups, but cannot be eaten.

Maryland Blue Crabs

As flavor goes, the whole plant has thyme flavor. As palatability goes, the leave are far easier and more pleasant to eat than the sticks.

Defining A Flavor

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