Bay leaves, what are they good for?

Red beans. That's what they're good for.

If you don't put any in your tomato sauce you're a fool

I do put them in my red beans. Just get excited when I scoop one out only to remember they're not very edible.

I've started crumbling them up in the beans now so they go down easy

Mostly soups and stews

I hate it when bay leaves. I get so lonely.

seasoning fats that eventually go into foods. kinda like garlic. the oil/fat abstracts the aromatics/flavor. So like if you were gonna make some queso dip. you might melt a little butter and throw in some finely diced peppers and a bay leaf. After rendering a little bit take the bay leaf out and then add your cheese and cream. Garnish with pico and cilantro. Now you have bay leaf abstract queso dip

I use them in my salted pasta water while it is heating up. It adds an excellent additional depth of flavor that is subtle but elevating.

Remove them before putting your pasta in so you don't accidentally serve one in someone's serving. I damn near choked to death on one many years ago in some pasta. Doesn't seem like something you can choke on, but trust me, you can.