Goomba38 wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 14:08:50 -0400:

>> As a chemist, I learned how to use a mortar and pestle and I
>> still know how but you can keep the things! Practically
>> everything that involves incorporating damp things like
>> garlic can be done with the jar-blender attachment of my
>> Braun immersion blender. I used to have a mortar and pestle
>> but I was eternally losing one or the other. To tell the
>> truth I can't remember which is which but I suspect the
>> pestle is the thing you grind with:-)

> I remember when pharmacies all had one sitting on the counter
> for compounding medications. Who does *that* anymore?! It is
> rare.

Blenders and food processors are popular in India too.
..

> I think one of those would be kinda cool though.I'm leaning
> towards the mortar and pestle over power just because I'm a
> great believer in using elbow grease. I get a certain
> satisfaction out of doing things by hand slowly and as my
> ancestors might have done.

You can try grinding corn for tortillas in a metatl (did I get
that right?). It only takes a morning for a family meal :-)

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not