Re: [CH] Spice mill or grinder

[Guest guest]

I am seriously considering getting a grain grinder canister for my VitaMix. I've always used my spare coffee grinder or mortar and pestle but the more I think about it the VitaMix is so efficient and is kept on my counter. Plus I could then easily whip up some brown rice flour or other types of flour quickly and easily.TerrySent from my iPadI've tried making ground chile before, with varying degrees of success, mainly due (I think) to the more or less retail-grade coffee grinder I use to grind spices. I'd like to get something a bit more effective, particularly in making very fine grinds, but I'm at a loss. Does anyone have experience with either a powered or hand-driven spice grinder that they like?Thanks

[Guest guest]

I have the grain grinder aka dry container and use it for everything from

grinding grain to making powdered sugar to to making a copycat ranch dressing

spice mix.

I have to tell you tho that I don't think it does any better at dry grinding

than the wet container does. I like having the dry container b/c it seems when I

want to grind dry ingredients the wet container is always, well, wet, from

having been used recently. I also like that the dry container is shorter, so

that its easier to get out packed-in flour, sugar or other ingredients from

under the blades.

If you are looking for something to grind very small amounts, I don't think the

VM would be your best option because the spices would not reach the

blades....But LeaAnne could tell us for sure....

Beth

>

> I am seriously considering getting a grain grinder canister for my VitaMix.

I've always used my spare coffee grinder or mortar and pestle but the more I

think about it the VitaMix is so efficient and is kept on my counter. Plus I

could then easily whip up some brown rice flour or other types of flour quickly

and easily.

> Terry

>

> Sent from my iPad

> >

> >

> > I've tried making ground chile before, with varying degrees of success,

mainly due (I think) to the more or less retail-grade coffee grinder I use to

grind spices. I'd like to get something a bit more effective, particularly in

making very fine grinds, but I'm at a loss. Does anyone have experience with

either a powered or hand-driven spice grinder that they like?

> >

> > Thanks

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

could you give us the recipe for the copycat ranch dressing please..?

[Guest guest]

> > I like the idea of making confections sugar tho. You you grind up

> > the regular sugar and then add the corn starch??? I'd rather like

> > to be able to make more rice flour. It gives such a great texture

> > on things.

> >

> > ð Terry Pogue ð

> >

I make rice, bean, quinoa, nut, oat, and other flours in mine daily, as well as

powdered sugar. No need to add cornstarch if you are making small

amounts-cornstarch only serves as an anti caking agent, and can actually mess up

the texture of some of your recipes (especially if doing allergy free or gluten

free baking. If you make small amounts and store it in an airtight mason jar (I

seal mine with a jar vac) then no need for anything but plain sugar (very nice

to store a whole vanilla bean in the jar-gives you vanilla sugar-you can use the

bean as needed by scraping the seeds, then return the pod to the jar-yum) As

for small amounts of spice, I buzz them up in my Magic Bullet-a gimicky, but

worthwhile kitchen gadget! Works a charm on small amounts. If you want to use

the Vitamix for spices though, you can do larger amounts, then store the ground

spice in a mason jar-either vac seal it, or store in the freezer.

[Guest guest]

Glad to share the recipe but I can't take credit for it...I got it somewhere on

the web by searching for " Hidden Valley Ranch copycat. " I don't always have

onion and garlic salt on hand so I usually up the onion/garlic powder and add

salt separately. The recipe makes A LOT of spice mix which they say stores up to

a year in an airtight container--tho ours never lasts that long. You then can

add a bit of spice mix to buttermilk and mayo as needed. I also add it to sour

cream or greek yogurt and a little buttermilk to make more of a dip.

___________________________

For Spice Mix:

15 saltine crackers

2 cups Dry minced parsley flakes

1/2 cup Dry minced onion

2 T Dry dill weed

1/4 cup onion salt

1/4 cup garlic salt

1/4 cup onion powder

1/4 cup garlic powder

Put all ingredients in VM and process until well combined.

For Salad Dressing:

1 tablespoon Mix

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup buttermilk

Stir together. Tastes best if flavors have some time to 'come together' before

serving.

_____________________________

I find that my kids will eat anything with Ranch Dressing on it. This is cheaper

than store bought, and doesn't have anythign in it that I can't pronounce.

Beth

>

> could you give us the recipe for the copycat ranch dressing please..?

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Beth for that recipe. The nursing home that my husband is in is having a bake sale and I'm thinking that making up a few pkgs of this might sell well. I don't use my dry container at all, so will be keeping my eyes open for other ideas. I don't bake much anymore so it sits a lot.

tks again.... gail