Garlic Time and Garlic Oil Bread

Today I finished up the garlic braids, and cleaned up the rest of the garlic for using this year until next garden season. Someone asked on a garden post how long garlic last. It pretty much depends on how you use it, and how you store it. Generally around our home about 1 year. I have had some of mine dry out before the next garden season and when they do I make my own garlic power, and garlic salt. 

I recently learned you can actually freeze your garlic. I have not tried that method but if I felt like I was not using my garlic before it went bad freezing it is a good option. 

I am enjoying the look in my kitchen. Check out the hanging garlic braids... 

                                    

This year I am sharing a fun way to do your own garlic bread.  

Olive Oil And Herbs Garlic Bread

What’s the secret to good garlic bread? Garlic. Fresh Garlic. 

I usually make my own bread but (I buy it also) you can use french bread or ciabatta or any bread you like. And you can slice them however you’d like. 

Ingredients

• 1 loaf sourdough or ciabatta bread
• ▢1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢4 garlic cloves minced
• ▢2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
• ▢Freshly ground pepper to taste
• ▢4 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

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• Instructions

• Cut the bread into even slices and spread on a baking sheet (or two)
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• In a small jar, mix the olive oil, minced garlic and fresh parsley. Close the jar and shake to blend.
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• Brush or spoon the olive oil garlic mixture generously on the cut side of each slice of bread. Season with fresh cracked black pepper, if desired.
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• Sprinkle each piece with grated Parmesan cheese.
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• Broil in the oven until they are toasted and the cheese has melted, about 3-5 minutes.
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• Enjoy immediately.
  
  
  
  
  
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See my past post on different ways to store garlic. Wow, we have been growing garlic since 2011...

https://mygardnerguy.blogspot.com/search/label/garlic

Garlic Scapes, and harvesting the garlic...

Lets talk about Garlic Scapes

 What is a garlic scape? 

Garlic scapes are the stalks that grow from the bulbs of hard-neck garlic plants. If left unharvested, the scapes eventually bloom flowers when the garlic plant fully matures. ...

Every year we grow garlic. I'm a bit selfish with my garlic as I use it so much. And then, we learned about garlic scapes...now our garlic goes further extending it's many uses. 

I came across a recipe from Feasting at home that I am excited to try. It's an india scape chutney on grilled naan bread...https://www.feastingathome.com/grilled-naan-with-garlic-scape-chutney/

Eating Scapes
Scapes can be used in cooking anywhere you would use garlic cloves and other alliums like chives. They can be sauteed with olive oil and added to pasta or other veggies, pickled, or they can be pureed into a garlic scape pesto, which I am going to try this year along with adding it to a compound butter recipe. I am excited to be able to just grab some scape butter for garlic bread, baked potatoes, and topping a delicious steak. Tonight I roasted some and also added some to the meat I cooked up for our dinner. We enjoyed my version of a seven layer salad for chips. I believe the opportunities are endless with scapes. 

Grilled Scapes

Garlic Scape Butter

 

                     

I love Garlic, and My Gardner Guy grows a lot of it. I have dried it, minced it and packed it in oil for quick use, made my own garlic power for baking, pickled it for delicious snacking, and I cook with it almost daily....Did I say I Love My Garlic!!!! See notes below for storing garlic, drying and making your own garlic powder.

My many ways of using the garlic My Gardner Guy grows!!!

I needed another picture as I forgot the pickled garlic....it's my favorite!!!

Lots of the garlic Rose!!!

Pickled Garlic is one of my favorites!!!

For a great pickling recipe see the following link...I promise when you taste these you'll soon be adding more garlic to your Kitchen!!!

My Gardner Guy...Grow, Create, Cook and Eat...: Garlic...Garlic...and more Garlic and one more day until kitchen demolition!!!

Growing garlic in your garden? Drying it for long-term storage is a snap.

1. Place the entire garlic plant (bulb, roots and stalk) in a cool, dry place. You can tie the garlic in bunches and hang it, or spread your harvest out on a rack. Either way, good ventilation is a must.
2. Allow the garlic to dry for a few weeks (elephant garlic needs at least four weeks to cure). The outer wrapper will papery and shrunken when the garlic is dry.
3. Once dry, trim the roots close to the bulb (leave about a half-inch remaining).
4. Use a soft brush to remove any dirt from the bulb. The outer layer of the wrapper can be removed, if further cleaning is desired – but try not to remove much more than that.
5. Leave the stalks intact, if you plan to braid your garlic. Trim them to within an inch or two of the bulb if you plan to store your garlic loose.
6. Your garlic is now ready for storage! Keep it in a cool, dry place and it should stay fresh for months.

Tips:

1. Save some of your biggest bulbs for planting next year
2. Only undamaged bulbs should be dried for storage. If you nick a bulb while digging it up, you'll need to use it right away
3. Use some of your garlic to make your own garlic powder (See below)

What You Need

• Freshly dug garlic
• A soft brush for scrubbing
• Scissors

 

Homemade garlic powder is fresh, flavorful and surprisingly easy to make. Here's how to do it:

Ingredients:

• Garlic Cloves

Preparation:

1. Peel your garlic cloves, and slice them thin.

2. Then, place the garlic slices in a 150 degree oven or in a dehydrator, and heat until dry.

Tip: The garlic is dry when you can crush it in your hand and it crumbles easily.

3. Allow the garlic to cool. Then, grind with a coffee grinder, spice mill, food processor or mortar and pestle until you reach your desired consistency.

4. Store your finished garlic powder in an air-tight container in a cool, dry spot or freeze.

Garlic...Garlic...and more Garlic and one more day until kitchen demolition!!!

I have been busy getting stuff done so before we tear out the old kitchen and build the new one....Don't you love My Gardener Guy's garlic...

Canning fresh garlic cloves is an effective way of preserving them for a long period of time....




Instructions

Things You'll Need
1 water bath canner or steam canner
12 large garlic heads
1 large pot
3 cups white vinegar with 5 percent acidity
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pickling salt
10 half pint jars including lids and rings


1. Sterilize and clean the jars by either running them through a cycle in the dishwasher or by placing them in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes.


2. Remove garlic cloves from heads and peel off the outer layers. Rinse peeled cloves under cold water.


3. In the large pot, combine the vinegar, salt and sugar and bring to a boil. Add the peeled garlic cloves and let them boil for about one minute. Remove the pot from the heat.


4. Place the garlic cloves into the jars, making sure to leave about 3/4 inch at the top. Pour the pickling liquid over the cloves into the jars, leaving up to 1/2 inch of room at the top.


5. Place lids on the jars, then place the jars into the canner. Make sure that the water is at least 1 to 2 inches above the tops of the jars if using a water bath canner.


6. Cover the canner and bring the water to a boil. Process the jars in the boiling water for about 10 minutes.

I am going to enjoy cooking with this garlic come fall and winter!!!