Another fun, food holiday … It’s National Garlic Day.
According to The Professional Chef, garlic is a small bulb, 2-3 inches in diameter with papery white or red-streaked skin, encasing 1/2 to 1 inch long cloves, also covered with papery skin. Garlic is part of the onion family. Along with shallots and onion, garlic shares a pungent aroma that is used as an aromatic in stocks, soups, sauces, braises, stews but can also be roasted and pureed. When buying, choose garlic that are heavy for their size and have tight-fitting, dry, papery skins then store them in a relatively cool, dry area.
Many research studies show that garlic has potent healthy, medicinal properties:
1. Acts as an antioxidant
2. Lowers blood pressure
3. Lowers LDL cholesterol
4. Helps to reduce atherosclerotic buildup (plaque)
5. Helps to regulate blood sugar
6. Helps to prevent blood clots from forming
7. Helps to prevent cancer, preventing the further growth of certain tumors while reducing the size of others
8. Raw garlic is a potent natural antibiotic
9. Has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties
10. Reduces yeast infections due to Candida species
11. Has anti-oxidant properties
12. Is a natural source of selenium.
Some believe that garlic can protect us from evil. An Irish superstition says that cloves of wild garlic are planted on the thatch over the door, for good luck while a Scottish superstition tells us that Garlic, hung about the house on All Hallows Eve, will keep away evil spirits.
(A Dictionary of Superstitions)
No matter what you conclude about garlic, it is tasty.
What will you be making with garlic today?
Here are some great blog posts about garlic …
Roasting Garlic by Girli Chef
National Garlic Day by Life in the Slow Lane at Squirrel Head Manor
Parmesan Ice Cream by No Plain Jane’s Kitchen
National Garlic Day by Burnin’ Love
National Garlic Day by Cooking With Vinny
Perfect Hummus by The Happy Girl Experiment
National Garlic Day by Gerry’s Kitchen
National Garlic Day by Wooleylot’s Blog
I wrote an educational post on garlic, too. Love, love, love that stuff. So good for our health! Had I known it was garlic month, I would have made everything with a dose of it!
Bren … Did you happen to catch the Green Garlic guest post? If not, you should check it out at http://foodstoriesblog.com/2012/04/27/green-garlic-scrambled-eggs-with-sliced-avocado/ :-)
I love garlic. Love it love it love it
Me too … Thx for stopping by the site, Kayle!
Garlic is such a staple in my kitchen! I can’t even think of a dinner recipe I make that I don’t through some into :) Love love love all of the info! I didn’t know it was National Garlic day either, yum!
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for posting, Kristina!
I think some innovative blogger out there needs to start a club to keep us all advised of what foodie holidays are coming up. I had no idea it was National Garlic Day. Were the banks closed? :)
I can’t believe I missed it.
You’re totally cracking me up! Thx for stopping by, Eliot.
Eliot, I forgot to mention that I do have a list of food holidays that you can view. Once a week or so, I post, “what’s your food story?” in an effort to invite guest bloggers to submit interesting recipes and stories. It always includes a list of upcoming food holidays to help with story ideas. You can check out the most recent post at http://foodstoriesblog.com/2012/04/13/whats-your-food-story/
Wow, I am honored to have come across this site and find my blog listed. Thanks for that :-) I ma big BIG fan of the garlic and use it daily for cooking. Love your site here. Lots to explore !!
Thank you, Tina Marie. I wanted to just highlight a few bloggers posts about garlic and yours was one that I was able to find. Thx for stopping by and I hope you’ll return!
Garlic is so handy. I use it in everything.
I know what you mean. I use it in everything, too.
I’m a garlic goddess…I eat it every day, just love it!
Garlic Goddess, I love that. Thanks for stopping by, Rhonda!
We love garlic, if I cook something savory most likely I will use garlic, or over use it since we like the flavor so much :)
I hear you … I love garlic and I can go overboard pretty easily. Thx for stopping by, Catalina!