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Thank You for Purchasing Our Mortar and Pestle! Congratulations and Welcome to the Family!

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Thank You for Purchasing Our Mortar and Pestle! Congratulations and Welcome to the Family! Thank you for purchasing our Mortar and Pestle! Congratulations and Welcome to the Family! We would like to thank you for purchasing the HiCoup Granite Mortar and Pestle. It is with immense pleasure that we welcome you into the HiCoup Kitchenware family. HiCoup Kitchenware is a new company whose goal is to provide premiere, professional- inspired kitchenware direct to consumers like you. We design and produce our own products and are always adding more professional level kitchenware to our lineup! We would like to congratulate you for your mortar and pestle selection because you now own one of the finest granite mortar and pestle on the market. The HiCoup Mortar and Pestle was built to last and has been made from high quality granite that will serve you well for years to come. The reason why the granite mortar and pestle has not entirely been replaced by modern electric grinders is that it does indeed produce a more delicious paste. Instead of grinding up the fresh herbs and spices with a metal blade, these ingredients are pounded to release and meld all their natural oils and juices. The metal blade merely cuts the ingredients up and mixes them. But the heavy stone pestle pounds the ingredients in a way that an electric device cannot. In this short guide, you will learn how to season your new mortar and pestle, tips and techniques on how to use your mortar and pestle, and finally how to care and how to properly clean a granite mortar and pestle so that it will provide you with many years of service. HiCoup Kitchenware prides itself in offering professional-inspired kitchen products and we hope you are 100% satisfied. If for some reason our product did not meet your expectation, please do not hesitate to contact us through Amazon or our website and we will do EVERYTHING in our power to make sure that we make it right for you. Again, thank you very much for your purchase! Sincerely, John-Paul Dechaneo Founder, HiCoup Kitchenware Table of Contents Our Mission ...................................................................................................................... 1 The Many Uses of a Mortar and Pestle ............................................................................ 2 Classic Genoese Pesto ................................................................................................. 2 Authentic Salsa and Guacamole ................................................................................... 2 Thai Curry Pastes ......................................................................................................... 2 Ras Al-Hanout ............................................................................................................... 2 How to Season a Mortar & Pestle .................................................................................... 3 Things Needed .............................................................................................................. 3 Step 1 ........................................................................................................................... 3 Step 2 ........................................................................................................................... 3 Step 3 ........................................................................................................................... 3 Step 4 ........................................................................................................................... 3 Step 5 ........................................................................................................................... 3 Basic Technique ............................................................................................................... 4 Read the recipe for processing instructions .................................................................. 4 Place the raw ingredients in the mortar ......................................................................... 4 Use the pestle to process to your desired consistency ................................................. 4 Store or measure out the ingredients ............................................................................ 4 Specific Techniques ......................................................................................................... 5 Use the mortar and pestle to grind ................................................................................ 5 Use pounding for large spices and seeds ..................................................................... 5 Use crushing to keep spices intact ................................................................................ 5 How to Care for Granite Mortar & Pestle .......................................................................... 6 Things Needed .............................................................................................................. 6 Step 1 ........................................................................................................................... 6 Step 2 ........................................................................................................................... 6 Step 3 ........................................................................................................................... 6 Step 4 ........................................................................................................................... 6 Warnings ....................................................................................................................... 6 Product Collection ............................................................................................................ 7 OUR MISSION In 2014, HiCoup Kitchenware introduced its first product, a professional rosewood waiter’s corkscrew. And although HiCoup Kitchenware may be a relatively young company, it has been making people across North America stand up and take notice as we provide them with some of the finest wine accessories and cookware products found anywhere in the world. We started our small family business with the belief that customers deserve a value- added shopping experience that exceeds their expectations – every time they purchase one of our products. And we have achieved that by taking exceptional pride in the quality that goes into every product we sell and by providing exceptional service that few can match. We take the time and care that’s needed to make sure every product delivers outstanding performance, good looks, ease of use and durability. And if for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your product, we will stand behind it with our lifetime “no questions asked” warranty. Just contact us and we will personally take care of your needs and offer personalized assistance. Not bad for a little family owned company from Toronto, eh! Pictured from left to right – John, Lori and Alex Dechaneo 1 THE MANY USES OF A MORTAR AND PESTLE The mortar and pestle may be the oldest of all culinary implements. As basic as two stones, this simple tool can be used in a staggering array of food preparations, from spice blends to fabled sauces. Here are a few notable examples from the world's cuisines. Classic Genoese Pesto The city of Genoa is one of Italy's great culinary capitals, and part of that heritage is its famous pesto sauce. Purists insist this classic sauce is best when prepared in a mortar and pestle, with the exceptional basil of the region. Begin by crushing garlic in the mortar with a bit of salt, slowly adding the basil and then the pine nuts, until the mixture is a thick paste. Add the cheeses, and finish the sauce by adding top-quality olive oil in small amounts until the whole mixture has a smooth and creamy texture. Authentic Salsa and Guacamole One of the characteristic fixtures in a traditional Mexican kitchen is the molcajete, a large mortar carved out of rough volcanic rock. Traditionally used for a wide variety of preparations, even grinding small amounts of corn into flour, today they are largely used to make traditional salsas and guacamole. Add ingredients such as onions, garlic and chili peppers first, and ground to a fine paste before adding the tomatoes or avocados. The interior surfaces of a molcajete are made of rough stone and must be prepared, or "seasoned" before using. Thai Curry Pastes Thai food was largely unknown in North America until recent decades, yet today there are few places so small that it is unavailable. The mortar and pestle are integral to Thai cooking, and especially so in the preparation of the curry pastes that are such a characteristic part of the cuisine. Made up of ingredients such as ginger, garlic, galangal, shallots and chili peppers in varying proportions, pastes also include spices and herbs. Although high quality commercial pastes are readily available, they are superior when freshly made. Ras Al-Hanout One of North Africa's culinary glories is its spice mixtures and pastes, such as the fiery harissa. Another classic mixture is Morocco's "ras al-hanout," meaning the best the spice merchant has to offer. There is no single standard mixture, though commonly- used spices include cardamom, cumin, coriander, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chilies and turmeric. Some blends include ingredients little-known in the Western world such as dried rosebuds and cubebs, a spice similar to pepper. It is best prepared in a mortar and pestle, though you may want to pre-grind tough spices like cinnamon and cloves. 2 HOW TO SEASON A MORTAR & PESTLE Before using a mortar and pestle
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