Ask Food Network, June 11

By Food Network Kitchens

Published June 10, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Can you eat bay leaves? - Tim B., Chickasaw, Ala.

If they're powdered or crumbled, bay leaves are perfectly safe to eat - and they're a good choice for quick-cooking dishes.

Whole bay leaves are better for long, slow dishes like stews and braises because they need a little more cooking to release their flavors. You can, theoretically, eat the whole ones, too, but their texture is pretty unpalatable.

Whenever I frost a cake, little crumbs ball up on the cake and my spatula. What am I doing wrong? - Wanda D., Knoxville, Tenn.

For a crumb-less finish, do what bakers call a "crumb coat." After the cake cools, apply a paper-thin coat of frosting over the entire cake, then place the cake in the fridge for about half an hour to let the frosting set up. Then, frost as usual - the first coat of frosting will keep the crumbs locked in, so they won't mess with the surface of your cake.

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