Garlic Is Very Popular And Many Cultures Use This Herb
Garlic is a member of lily family. This specie
is one of the most popular herbs used today.
It dates back thousands of years ago and was
grown throughout Syria and Egypt. The Chinese have also
used the herb for centuries. Back in time, Roman
athletes ate the herb for strength.
Garlic isn't hard to grow and in northern climates
you can plant in early spring. Southern climates
can plant in the fall and the spring. The first step is to take
the bulb and separate each clove. The onion plant
is also done the same way.
The soil should be rich, sandy
and moist.
A good rule of thumb is to plant the cloves
about two inches in depth and about three inches apart.
The pointed end should be pointed up. This herb can
be fertilized and the area needs to be free of weeds. The
soil should also be kept cultivated.
Depending on your geographic location, either late summer
when the tops die down or May through July, the herb should
be pulled from the ground. Take the the foliage and bulbs and
dry them in open air for two to three weeks. It is very popular
in Italy to see braided strings of garlic hanging from fresh
markets.
There are so many different uses for a full bulb. The cloves
are used fresh daily in just about any dish imaginable.
The bulbs grown in Europe tend to have a milder flavor than the
bulbs grown in North America. It is kind of fascinating because
Americans tend to be skimpy with the amount of garlic they
use as compared with Europeans.
In Greece, many workmen make a clove a part of their everyday lunch. I could name hundreds of different dishes but a couple do come to mind.
A tomato base sauce is best with a fresh clove. This herb is very popular with shellfish as well as many flavored soups,
meats, pickles, and poultry. The fresh cloves can be stored in olive oil for easy access to any meal preparation.
Garlic salt and powder are also very popular with today's cooks. The salt is made from dried cloves and sodium chloride.
The powder is freshly made from dried cloves that have been
crushed. I have fresh salt and powder available at any time
in the kitchen. I will use one or the other depending on what I am preparing.
Two or three cloves of garlic and leaves from other herbs can create a wonderful herb vinegar.
Herb vinegars add so much flavor to cooked greens and
cabbage. You can plant this herb in any size
garden,
or just make it part of your outdoor herb bed, or even
in a planter.
The cloves also have medicinal benefits and have
had for years. The oil can be used in helping an ear
infection as well as muscle pain and sprains. It is a
good maintenance for heart patients. It is known to
destroy some types of cancers. It can also help in reducing blood
clots as well as blood pressure. Be sure to consult a health care professional before using garlic for medicinal purposes.
Some people find this herb very strong and hesitate to use
it. Chewing a fresh sprig of parsley after having this wonderful herb will cleanse the breath and palettes. This is one of my
favorite herbs to have handy and I will use a clove or
two in a lot of sautés. Do you have a garlic
recipe you would like to share with us? For all you garlic
lovers, time to share your favorite recipe with us. Feel free to
send the recipe and I will share it with others to enjoy!
Share With Others Your Favorite Herb Or Spice Recipe
There are some really good recipes that chefs and everyday cooks use daily. Do you love to cook with herbs and spices and wow your family and friends with those delicious dishes? If you are a culinary student, write down your own recipe below and give other visitors on this page a chance to try out your masterpiece. If you have never cooked with herbs or certain spices check out the variety of recipes and play around with them. Begin to add some great herb flavors to a lot of different dishes.
