Ever since I can remember Garlic has been apart of our lives and house hold.
It was always one of those food items that we made sure we never ran out of.
My Mother was a big fan of it and passed the love of all things garlic down to all three of us. It’s so much part of the way we cook and heal our selves, none of us could do with out it.
Now, I’m well aware we are not Italian or French and as Irish cuisine goes it doesn’t call for much garlic but I do know that we as an Irish family need it for our cooking and everyday use. It is some what of an Obsession I believe. It’s at the top of the shopping list, it is eaten everyday in many different ways and makes the most plain of food simply better.
In my Kerry home near Listowel my Mother was and still is known for her superior sandwich making skills. A Particular family favourite is tomato and onion with white pepper. So naturally it wasn’t a huge stretch to add garlic. Which we did in abundance. I’m not surprised we were never sick as children as we ate our way through kgs of tomatoes and onions and plenty of garlic bulbs every week. She always said if that’s all we ate she’d be happy. Every time we go home it’s the first bite of food we eat, tomato, onion and garlic on brown soda bread or a quick toastie and not forgetting the white pepper. She also makes a mean Bolognese and Beef Stew and needs plenty of garlic for them.
Garlic not only tastes good, it has the most amazing healing properties and I in particular reach for it when I’m feeling poorly. I was extremely sick with a flu January last year(which is rare thankfully) and as I’m not so great at taking tablets I turned to my trifecta of healing foods – Garlic, Ginger and Lemons. With these three I healed myself and also with the help of Oregano oil I haven’t even had so much as a sniffle since.
As I mention Garlic has amazing healing properties and has been used for thousands of years in many different cultures from Europe to China and even the ancient Egyptians used it, and is also used for many different reasons such as medicinal and for flavouring. There are many different types and species of garlic from wild to elephant. Some not even being true garlic more onion or leek but what ever type they are, they are all good for you.
Healing properties of Garlic.
1. It can help in curing and preventing Cold and Flu.
2. It is antibacterial and antispasmodic and can help aid stomach and gut issues.
3. It has many essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vit B6, Vit C, Magnesium and Zinc.
4. It is known to help with sore throats.
5. Used with Honey, Apple cider vinegar and Lemon it can be used as a daily health tonic.
6. It strengthens the immune system.
7. It is known in some instances to help with cancer, blood and heart issues
My first Home Grown Garlic Bulb.
I love Garlic so much I decided to give planting it a go last year. To my surprise it has been a breeze as it loves the Irish weather. I grew it on my balcony garden from an organic bulb I purchased and I was so delighted after a couple of weeks it had started to sprout. All it needs is a big pot, good soil and lots of water, a little insulating it the winter and you have your self some home grown pesticide free garlic. It can be grown in the ground also with little fuss. I planted this batch in August and let it over winter outside. It is a hardy plant and has produced some delicious tasty garlic. I just wish I had planted more. Go Figure. I will plant some more in the next week to hopefully harvest at the end of the Summer and again plant at the end of Summer and let the cycle continue.
Garlic after 3 weeks.
Garlic after 9 months
A few tips for growing Garlic-
- It needs space as the roots grow deep and can come up through the soil. I had a deep pot and added soil to it when the roots started to show above the soil.
- It needs lots of water and light so keep it well watered and in a sunny spot.
- I feed it with an organic veggie food about once every 2 to 3 weeks when winter was over.
- In winter I kept the soil covered with hay/straw as to keep it insulated.
- When you eventually pull it up, use all of it the green stalk and all.
- Keep one to re-plant to keep the cycle going.
- When its fresh is has a much milder and sweeter flavour to the garlic we buy in the shops which has been hung to dry and to keep.
- If you have a lot, hang it to dry for 3 to 4 weeks in a dry ventilated area with roots on and it will keep for ages.
What do I use Garlic for……
I think the question should be what don’t I used it for…..
I use it in everything from scrambled eggs see my wild garlic scrambled eggs here http://www.thegreengreengate.com/index.php/2017/04/26/wild-garlic-green-eggs-and-ham/ , to stews to soups hot and cold. A chicken broth and garlic soup with lots of veggies has helped with cold and flu. I make a delicious salad dressing out of it. All my pasta dishes include it and all my rice dishes wouldn’t be the same without it. We make a delicious crab claw and prawn dish with it and even a crab dip I make has a copious amount of garlic in it. My Blue Eyed Boy loves roasted garlic with a cheese board or melted Brie or Camembert whole melted with garlic and herbs stuffed in it and of course the good auld garlic bread.
I made a cold Almond and Garlic soup called Ajo Blanco recently for a friend’s birthday and it went down a treat. I will post it soon. It was so fresh, tasty and simple.
The one and only draw back to garlic, one I don’t really mind but I do know others do, is how it makes your breath smell. There are ways to combat that thankfully.
Eat cooked garlic not raw, eat it with parsley and lemon, drink plenty of cold water, drink fresh raw apple juice or an apple or chew on some mint after you consume it.
Any way you like to cook and eat Garlic is better than never eating it at all in my opinion
Kind regards
Sarah.