Roasted Garlic appetizers:

More and more I am converting to roasting and barbecuing vegetables. Take a  dozen garlic cloves, peeled and beheaded, 1/4-1/2 Tbs. butter, 1 Tbs. ea. of olive oil, peanut oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Individualize each clove with curry, cumin, paprika or cilantro, basil, oregano, toasted sesame to taste. YUM.

Heat the butter and oils in a casserole dish over medium heat. Add the peeled cloves, snuggled side to side, cut side up. Make sure they are well oiled. Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven. Add seasonings. I sometimes alternate slivered Ancho or Habanero peppers. Somewhat the same thing can be done over hot coals. Place the basted and seasoned garlic over hot coals. They are down when brown. Next attempt will be to tempura — and fry in peanut oil!  (I also do smelt in a similar rolled up way!)

Lonesome Lifestyle Garlic Soup.

1 Tbs. ea of Butter and olive oil. One dozen garlic cloves, crushed and chopped. 1 can of chicken or vegetable broth. 1 cup water or white wine. 1 tsp. ea. of salt pepper and cilantro. 1 bay leaf, 1 Jalapeno pepper or dried New Mexico Chili, seeded and chopped. 1 Carrot, 1 Celery – both finely cut. 1/2 cup of half-and-half or sour cream. Sourdough bread and Swiss cheese.   

Heat the butter (or bacon) and oil. Add garlic and sauté until soft and golden. Add the liquids, pepper’s, bay leaf and chopped vegetables Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the Bay leaf and pour into a blender and puree. Return to pot and pour in the half-and-half, sour cream or yogurt. Mix well, season to taste. I sometimes add a pinch of curry or cumin. 

Lightly smooth some olive oil on a hearty bread, toast lightly — same for pizza crust. Top with whatever … chopped olives, dried tomatoes in oil, sprinkle on the cheese and broil for 3 minutes.

I do the same for an onion soup, except I blacken in onion bits in a heavy skillet first, remove then sauté the vegetables. Add water seasonings and onions.

GARLIC — as an insecticide

Take 3 oz. of chopped garlic and let soak in 2 tsp. of mineral oil for 24 hr. Then slowly add a pint of water in which 1/4 oz of an oil based soap has been added. (Palmolive). Stir well. Strain the liquid through fine gauze and store in a glass container. Use in a dilution of one part to 20 parts of water to begin with, then one part to 100 of water after. Apply as a spray.

How Green is my Valium — when will someone give me my own garden as therapy program.