Things your Grandpa never told you about Garlic

By Josephine Holistic Health Consultant, NC, FDN, RHN © 2015

The principles in creating a good garden are an inviting entry, something to focus on and a continuity of form.

My Italian grandfather, referred to as nonno, spent most of his days tending a garden that supplied all of these elements, and yet  he never read a garden manual, never joined a garden club and, as a matter of fact, never read a home and garden magazine. And yet, to visit his garden was to visit a small part of paradise.

Nonno used his inborn heritage and instincts when creating his sprawling gardens. It was with these same instincts that he decided what he would grow. For eye appeal, the garden would have many flowers, but more important than external beauty the herbs that grew in nono's garden would provide his family and friends with curative care. One of the essentials to this curative care was nono's bountiful garlic grove.

At the entrance of his garlic garden stood four huge pergolas, ascending them were tenacious sweet peas and Hyacinth bean vines. The huge, impressive, poles stood like bastions in the garden, as if set there to protect nonno's beloved garlic plants. Webster's dictionary defines garlic simply as "a plant related to the onion; strong in flavor and aroma. "But to nonno the flavor and benefits of the garlic bulb was much, much more. Nonno believed that the aromatic garlic clove was meant to be appreciated and enjoyed by all those who loved food.

Most backyard gardeners are well aware of this bulbous perennial's reputation and its many attributes. They also know this fragrant plant has one of our garden's prettiest blooms. A relative of the lily, its huge ball- like blossoms are fused with hundreds of tiny lavender blooms that- like their bulbs- are rich in sugar and almost as pungent in fragrance. With little attention, this aromatic bulb returns years after year.

Ancient Romans believed strongly in the power and value of garlic, attributing more than 60 different medical cures to its benefits. They believed the eating of garlic made their workers strong and their soldiers brave. Medieval ladies believed in the power of garlic so much that they ate it to make the skin more beautiful and smooth. Down through the ages, people have used garlic to treat toothaches, sore throats and earaches and even to ward off snakes, witches and vampires.

I'm not surprised to learn that garlic was held in such high esteem by the citizens of ancient Rome. I grew up in a family that used garlic both as a seasoning and as a medicinal cure for just about everything.

I remember an old recipe my mom concocted for us kids every time we had a bad cough or cold. It took some doing to convince me to swallow garlic, especially during the flu season when my mom and nona insisted on giving us kids a big spoonful of this old recipe before we left for school in the morning.

We didn't catch cold that year- possibly because our breath was so strong no one dared get close enough to pass on a germ - but nonetheless, we all stayed hardy and healthy. ( Hint: parsley is a good remedy for garlic breath. Also, rubbing your fingertips over stainless steel or rubbing fresh coffee between your fingertips will help remove garlic's lingering odor.

BENEFITS OF GARLIC

The founders of modern medicine, Hippocrates and Galen, spoke highly of garlic's attributes, it's only recently that modern medicine is rediscovering the curative powers of this plant. Researchers are finding that garlic contains allyl, an antibacterial agent that seems to affect harmful bacteria. Because of its curative powers, many people use garlic to treat the cold virus, diarrhea and poor blood clotting and to lower blood pressure.

Garlic's aromas and flavors are almost medicinal to me, satisfying both my biological and psychological needs. 

Down through the ages, people have used garlic to treat toothaches, sore throats and earaches and even to ward off snakes, witches and vampires. 

ROASTED GARLIC SOUP WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

• 26 garlic cloves (unpeeled)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 2 1/4 cups sliced onions
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 18 garlic cloves, peeled
• 3 1/2 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
• 1/2 cup whipping cream (optional -fast oxidizer)
  

• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.

• Place 26 garlic cloves in small glass baking dish.

• Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat.

• Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is golden brown and tender, about 45 minutes.

• Cool.

• Squeeze garlic between fingertips to release cloves.

• Transfer cloves to small bowl.

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat.

• Add onions and thyme and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes.

• Add roasted garlic and 18 raw garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes.

• Add chicken stock;

• cover and simmer until garlic is very tender, about 20 minutes.

• Working in batches, purée soup in blender until smooth.

• Return soup to saucepan;

• add cream and bring to simmer.

• Season with salt and pepper.

• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring occasionally.)

• Divide grated cheese among 4 bowls and ladle soup over.

GROWING HINTS

The garlic plants need room to grow, they have a huge flower and a long neck, the plant is anywhere from 3 to 5 feet tall at maturity and the flower ball 6 to twelve Incas around.

I would suggest planting them one or two to a large container, 12 ", or more around..The plant is a lovely leafy plant and it's bloom a sweet attraction to honey bees. three or four plants may be grown in a larger, two foot round container the blooms are spectacular!