rel="nofollow" This is one of my favorite spices, and a cornerstone of my Five Pillars of Greatness blend. These berries from Java look like black peppercorns, but with a little tail. Their flavor is somewhere between black pepper and Juniper. Picture what a peppercorn would taste like if it grew on a pine tree, or were soaked in gin. I've found they are a nice addition to the pepper grinder because they seem to enhance the pepper flavor and add a little extra interest. They are less hard than black pepper, although I rarely add them whole, and chewing on one produces a cooling sensation, followed by a sudden bitterness in the center; a flavor which does not come through when they are used in a dish. I buy them in bulk on amazon and I go through them quickly. A highly recommended spice. If you find yourself needing to substitute for Cubeb in one of my recipes, Use black pepper and a splash of Gin or a pinch of bay.

As much as I like to cook and eat food that isn't disgusting, every once in a while I just have to eat junk food. Sometimes I just need to make a run for the border. Taco Bell historically has been a place where you would have to request no onions on most things you order, but since the great e-coli scare of '06, even their nachos come without green onions, or Grons as they will be henceforth referred (in reference to their abbreviation on the receipt). Be cautioned that Taco Bell isn't a true onion free zone, but they have shown enough improvement that their food has vastly increased in edibility. Chalk up a defeat for the enemy.