The humble bay leaf was once quite prized; ancient Greeks and Romans celebrated the leaves of the Laurus nobilis tree, winding them into crowns for the victors of sporting events. Bay leaves have seen ...

Pity the bay leaf. Once a symbol of success and renown in ancient Greece and Rome, it now suffers a reputation as a pointless, potentially dangerous (choking hazard!), ingredient. Even Ina Garten, ...

In the kitchen, there are some ingredients that are staples - garlic, onions, salt and pepper, maybe some Lawry’s. Without them, your recipe wouldn’t be the same. But what about the bay leaf? Does it ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A bowl of dried bay leaves - Burcu Atalay Tankut/Getty Images Storing bay leaves often begins with the same few questions: Where ...

SO MANY things in recipes are optional. But if you live in Southern California, and you lack that bay leaf for a soup, stew or roast, it’s almost criminal to cook without it. This is the one place in ...

Bay leaves introduce an extra dimension to soups, stews, and roasts. The aromatic, savory leaves add notes of menthol, eucalyptus, and pine to simmering sauces while releasing a heady scent similar to ...

SO MANY things in recipes are optional. But if you live in Southern California, and you lack that bay leaf for a soup, stew or roast, it’s almost criminal to cook without it. This is the one place in ...

Ask people to describe the taste of bay -- even a group of renowned herbalists -- and they may come up short. "It's hard to describe," said a momentarily stumped Bill Varney of Fredericksburg Herb ...

Storing bay leaves often begins with the same few questions: Where should you put them? How long do they last? What can you do to preserve the flavor and aroma? The answers, first and foremost, come ...