Wild Garlic, Music and a Glass of Wine
Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The wild garlic is in flower again and, though some people think it’s a weed, I love to see it spreading around the garden. It tells me Summer can’t be far away.
Wild garlic spreads at a gigantic rate and it fills the garden with delicate white flowers through March and April. Every part of the plant is edible, and it has wonderful medicinal properties, including the ability to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. Everyone should eat it.
I dug up a big pile of wild garlic at the weekend, and I’ll be happy to give it to anyone who wants some. A lot of people took up my offer already so I’m going to be busy with deliveries, but I don’t mind. Why would I mind? It’s good. I might even manage to barter the garlic for something else. A couple of fish or a few carrots, maybe. Who knows? Life is full of possibilities.
Not only that, but it creates connections between people with a shared interest in food and cooking, which is always good. I love cooking, though I wish I was a better at it, but I’ll keep trying.
Today I made a delicious soup with roasted peppers, tomatoes and the wild garlic stems. I made a nice pesto from the bulbs and added a little bit to the soup too. I had it with croutons and a nice glass of Montepulciano.
Now I’m full so I might head out to the garden and finish the wine while I watch the sun going down.
After that, I think I’ll head into town. People will be playing music in my pub of choice and I feel like a chat and a couple of pints.
Life is hard.
Stumble it!
YOU'VE BEEN SHOUTING ABOUT ...
April 30th, 2008
Wild garlic grows all over my garden here in San Francisco. Some days the smell is pretty strong. Never used it to cook though. Must try. Mmmmm a pint. That sounds good. I’ll be back in Ireland for a short visit in a few weeks. A visit to my favorite Limerick hostilieries is in order.
April 30th, 2008
……. only someone like me would click and enjoy a blog about wild garlic lol…… don’t you mind the smell of onions though? I might write a poem about it! We have loads of it here on the moorland river banks. I did write a poem about the snowdrops - its on Get Writing BBC NI
April 30th, 2008
Bet you enjoyed posting this.
May 1st, 2008
‘Drinking wine outside while watching the sun go down.’ What country do you live again? ;)
May 1st, 2008
Yes - wild garlic brings cheer this side of the pond too. I love the smell of it. Yum - wild garlic pesto.
May 1st, 2008
John: Give me a shout. No doubt you’ll be catching up with Mr Darwin.
Inspired writing research: I see
Green Ink: Correct. I enjoyed it very much.
Audrey: I live in Limerick, which is a town in Ireland. I don’t know if you looked out the window today, but it was nice and sunny.
Rockmother: You see? Writing about food gets them all excited. It’s amazing.
May 1st, 2008
Looks like just the ticket. I’ve had a crap day and that soup would sort me out beautifully.
I bet it tastes even better tomorrow after the flavours have been allowed to mingle all night.
May 1st, 2008
I love soup.. and homemade soup is the business.. nice post..
Cheered me up after that match last night..
May 1st, 2008
Aha, I’ll have to check out my local supply. Incidentally, did you dig yours up from the wild and stick it down in the garden?
May 1st, 2008
Sam: Why don’t you make it for yourself? I’ll send you the recipe. (it would be easier than putting the soup in an envelope).
OD: Glad to be of assistance.
Conan: I didn’t plant it. The stuff just seems to grow everywhere.
May 1st, 2008
Will do Bock. That would be a fun night.
May 1st, 2008
It wasn’t the cooking - it was the wildlife!
PS My hands have the smell of onions, drat it - from weeding round the bluebells! It’s not in flower yet, the buds are still closed - after flowering I might dig up a lot of it and move it down the end of the garden to the woodlandy bit under the laurel hedge!
Today I put an old blackbird’s nest in there in the hope of attracting an over-wintering mouse! (All of this when I should have been writing!)
May 2nd, 2008
They look like wild chives to me Bock. Oh yeah the last picture looks more garlicky. Good stuff either way.
May 3rd, 2008
Okay, I’m deeply allergic to garlic but that still sounds good anyway.
May 3rd, 2008
So I’m a few days behind, but I have to say I’m mad impressed Bock! YUM!
Am taking the girls foraging tomorrow… hoping to find some wild garlic too! You sharing any recipes? ;-)