What does Crustimoney Proseedcake mean?" said Pooh. "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain,...
What does Crustimoney Proseedcake mean?" said Pooh. "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me."
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**Introduction**
I thought it was about time for another of my herb ops, and as I use garlic so much (an not just for warding off those vampires) that I ought to make it my next choice.Although not strictly a herb it's culinary uses and properties and even growing nature gives me the excuse I need to count it in with my herb series of reviews.
Garlic,primarily used in cooking these days,is a wonderful ingredient to many dishes and also an extremely healthy plant.
Research has now shown that garlic is good for the heart, immune system, and even as an anti-carcinogen along with anti bacterial properties!!
**So what is garlic?**
Likely to be the oldest cultivated plant known to man, worshiped by the Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympians, this has been used for a variety of purposes since the dawn of civilization.
Belonging to the same family as leeks and onions,Allium Sativum species, it is a bulb based plant that grows the food part in the ground with it's scape (false stalk) growing skywards for air and sun.It's roots dangle downwards from the basil plate (true stalk) to reach water,The cloves grow around this stalk.
Growing by deviding and replicating it's cloves (the fleshy part we use), the garlic is relatively unusual.
**Growing garlic**
Growing
garlic is really easy and doesn't require much time, effort or space. Simply devide a bulb up,breaking off each clove and simply plant them in the ground any time between September and March. If the cloves are starting to sprout it is best, but not essential. Having planted your garlic, you are very likely to have a healthy garlic plant to cultivate the next summer. However,growing garlic in this way will not ensure very fat and fleshy cloves. For that you need to make sure the soil is kept weed free. Planting them in raised beds helps prevent deseise in wetter climates. Planting them at varying depths depending on how harsh a winter your location offers.2" deep in an area that gets barely any sub-zero temperatures or heavy prolonged snow, 4" for harsher wintered areas. Keeping several inches between each planted clove will also encourage larger bulbs.
**The benefits of garlic**
Using garlic in powdered or capsule form has produced results of an average of 12% cholesterol reduction in just a few weeks, and triglycerides by 17%.
Tests and trials have also found general frequent use of garlic in the diet also helps keep those afore mentioned levels lower than without its use. Along side those beneficial properties it helps to boost the immune system and helps to fight off bacteria.
Very rescent studies suggest that its properties can also produce substances that when injected can prohibit, even reduce the growth of cancer in the breast tissue, and whilst they are far from sure of how effective and exactly how it works, the general theory is that it acts as a blocker and that peliminary research shows very positive and firm results.
In pregnancy, trials have provided statistics that also show garlic can reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and possible decrease the risk of undersized babies.The results for the pre eclampsia showed recuctions of up to 68%. It has been known for some time that garlic helps the reduction of blood pressure and this can be linked to the effects of pre eclampsia.
Countries that use alot of garlic have much lower rates of coronary illness, and whilst this is not conclusive (due to many other dietary and environmental factors) it is an indication of its benefits.
Garlic supplements in tablet or capsule form are widely available and cost from £1 upwards for 30+ tablets. Available from chemists and supermarkets they are usually odor free and seldom have a taste.A good alternative to for those who dislike fresh garlic.
**Clinary uses**
There are so many dishes and recipes that can incorporate garlic into their ingredients. Almost any dish that uses a tomato sauce base lends itself to garlic.
Lamb also lends itself nicely to the garlic flavor.
Using garlic in cooking needn't mean that you will have a heavy garlic flavor to the dish. The longer garlic is cooked for,the milder the flavor. Baked garlic can make an excellent starter, and by simply wrapping it whole in tin foil and baking it for an hour or so in the oven ,you will end with a very mild flavor and soft flesh.
Buying garlic is easy these days as all supermarkets now stock it. Resonably priced, you can expect to pay between 20 and 45 pence for a bulb. If you use quite alot and want to buy larger quantities buying it on a string is a good option. The whole clove and it's flase stem are woven together in a plaited way.This helps keep the garlic fresher for a longer period. However you buy your garlic is should be kept in a cool and dry place.
Crushed, chopped or minced garlic is easy to use and small geadgets are available for around £2 to crush it easily from most supermarkets or kitchenware shops.
Peeling away the outer shell (skin) as you would to use it for cooking, you can place these cloves into a jar of olive oil.This not only lightly flavors the olive oil,but also preserves that garlic for longer periods.
**The odor**
Unfortunately garlic still remains most well known for its strong and pungent aroma.This like the flavour deminishes when cooked. Handling garlic when preparing it tends to leave a strong scent on your hands and there is little you can do about this except to wear gloves or use gadgets to minimize handling.
When eaten it also is renowned for it's smell. Certain herbs such as basil or parsley do help to lessen the smell,although nothing completely masks it. The most noticeable thing about garlic eaters is that once you have eaten it yourself you become unable to detect the smell on others. The good side to the aroma is that the more cooked the garlic ,the less the scent and many recipes that use it and are cooked for a long time, leave little or no smell when eaten.
**Conclusion**
It's healthy, versatile, tastes good (well ,at least to me) and it as affordable. How many more reasons do you need to put some in your shopping basket? There is so much more I could tell you about garlic, but I'd be here all day so I'll stop and finnish by recommending it whole heartedly as an important addition to your diet.
**Important information.(in good humor)**
I have to also conclude that garlic does indeed keep vampires at bay!! I've used and eaten garlic from a very small child and have never yet encountered a vampire!! Proof positive, me thinks!!!
**Useful links**
I've included a few links that provide information about garlic and recipes.
http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Alli_sat.html
http://www.mistral.co.uk/garlic/ - a site that can give info on medical benifits of garlic
Advantages: Dried marjoram can be stored for ages in the kitchen cupboard Disadvantages: Sometimes the fresh version can be sold out in the supermarket
planetchelsea 27.03.2009 ·
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