Bay Leaves

When Tiberius lounged around his villa on rainy days on Capri, he wore a wreath of bay laurel leaves, thinking that it would save him from being struck by lightning. This dated back to a belief held by the Greeks who so cherished the plant that they placed crowns of the leaves on the heads of heroes, making them laureates. Use this herb sparingly in cooking. The leaves impart a very assertive flavor and should be removed before serving, since they are not fun to eat. Bay leaves are grown in all the Mediterranean countries.