I was putzing around the local discount store (any discount store within 200 miles is "local" to me!) and found some Knorr bouillon cubes with all Spanish words on them and a picture of a ham. Guess what, ham bouillon! I bought the whole bunch (about 20 pkgs). Makes all that dried pea soup taste like it has ham in it. This product is not available in any of my (non-Hispanic) local supermkts, and I didn't know it existed. Probably is available in all Hispanic supermkts. Get some if you're storing beans/peas/etc! Does anyone else have any "finds" from ethnic stores they can share?

-- judy (wednesdayschild@hotmail.com), August 14, 1999

Answers

Judy, I, too, have been looking for the "ham base" (as the product is called in the restaurant industry) at grocery stores. When I was in the restaurant business several years ago we used chicken base, beef base, and ham base. My wife manages a school cafeteria and she says they use the ham base there. Ham base is not quite the same as boullion; it is much more concentrated and very salty. The chicken base and beef base are the same way. We use a lot of the chicken base.

We are going to make a trip to the wholesale grocery supplier to get it and some other things available to the food service industry that is not available to the public at grocery stores. Such as dried onions (not powdered), powdered whole milk (not the non-fat stuff), and a powdered cheese sauce.

Another restaurant originated product you might want to try is called "Kitchen Bouquet" (not sure of spelling). It makes great gravies. When used with a rather weak broth, it really pumps up the natural broth flavor, and it only takes a small amount; about two teaspoons of the K.B. to make a rich, dark, beef gravy. Beef broth (or just water if you have none), seasoning salt, garlic powder, and corn starch to thicken it results in a great clear brown gravy.

Gerald

-- Gerald R. Cox (grcox@internetwork.net), August 14, 1999.

[snip] We are going to make a trip to the wholesale grocery supplier [snip] does anyone in southern california know of a good grovery wholesaler who will sell to the public? Thanks in advance.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), August 14, 1999.

Most of the big supermarkets in Cincinnati carry soup base in a 1 Lb. Jar. $2.49 Ham is available as well as chicken, beef,turky,french onion and tomato. If you don't see it they will order it for you

-- FOX (ardrinc@aol.com), August 14, 1999.

I have not seen ham soup base here in the NW, nor do I know of a whole sale grocery outlet around here. My next try would be a search engine.

I bought some powdered sour cream thru Custom Dried Foods:

http://housekeeping.com/cdfstore/pricelist.htm

and then at the local store purchased some Stroganoff Mix, this would make a nice 'special' dinner. Also purchased canned beef.

For spices I have all of the usual and unusual array, but I did make sure I had lemon peel and orange peel for that extra variety ;->

-- Sammie (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), August 14, 1999.

Since I have never seen any for sale, I was under the impression that there was no such thing as ham or pork bouillon. I wonder why it is so hard to find?

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), August 16, 1999.

Winn-Dixie carries it in the south. Its in with the ethnic foods. Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), August 18, 1999.

Superior Touch, Ontario Ca. 91761 They make several diffrent Bouillon,s and will sell by mail. The ham is good and keeps well, 1 year after opening with refgigeration, 2 months with out.

-- && (&&@&&.&), August 18, 1999.