More garlic tips

Photo © by iLoveButter, published under a Creative Commons License.

Seems you can teach an old(ish) dog new tricks. Thanks to a recent comment posted by Dana McCauley, cookbook author, chef and food blogger, I learned a new use for my microplane. While I knew it could zest citrus fruit and mince anything hard — from chocolate to cheese — I never thought to try it with garlic.

So, I headed to the kitchen to see for myself. And the verdict?

Works like a charm. The next time a recipe calls for crushed garlic, I’m hauling out the microplane. Just be careful. The blades are sharp and it’s easy to lose your grip. Leave the stub on the bud for better handling.

And since we’re sharing tips, the old saying, “Roses love garlic” is true. For 12 years my Empress climbing rose has produced a few pathetic blooms. Last year I planted some garlic at its base and this year? Well, see for yourself.

No fertilizers, no special treatment. Just a bit of garlic stuck in the soil. If you look at the bottom right, you can see the green stalks. The only trouble? My climber no longer smells like roses.