Garlic!

-just picked varieties of Garlic! from the top- Belarus, Krasnador Red, German Extra Hardy, Spanish Roja, Music, Georgian Crystal and Chesnook Red.

  "I never knew there were so many different kinds of Garlic!" is what I usually here. And let me tell you that I have barely scratched the surface on the varieties of garlic that grow in Minnesota.

  Garlic has been a really fun adventure for me. I have gone to the Garlic Festival for the past 4 years now looking for new varieties that I don't have yet that I need to add to my little collection. And it has also been fun trying to figure out how to use garlic!

  Did you know you can use the scape? The scape is the long curly top that comes out of the plant late in the spring that will eventually be the bloom, like a chive. You can use it like you use a green onion, except it has a nice garlic flavor to it. One of my favorite things I found this year is to saute cut up scapes in butter until they are tender and then add sweet corn to them and saute it for 20 minutes more. Yum! I also tried Pickling Garlic Scapes to sell at the Farmers Market this year.

 Today I hope to be making some Garlic Jelly. I made this for the first time last year and that has been a big hit. You use it with crackers and cream cheese, pretzel sticks or on roast beef. Some spread it on toasted french bread with butter.

My varieties of garlic are-

Belarus-A mellow smooth flavor great for roasting.

Krasnodor Red- from Russia, a strong taste, for those who like to taste their Garlic.

Spanish Roja- My favorite! good flavor for many uses.

Georgian Crystal- rich, smooth, slightly smokey flavor.

Chesnook Red- best all around garlic for cooking.

German Extra Hardy- strong, full bodied garlic flavor.

Music- the taste is Medium to Hot.

for info on the Garlic Festival go to www.mngarlicfest.com