I'm pretty set in my ways in the kitchen...which is not to say I won't try new foods or flavors, but when it comes to technique, I pretty much already have what works for me. It's not the fanciest and it sure isn't the prettiest, but at this point in my life learning a new technique seems like too much work...and we've already established that I don't like change much anyway. However, every once in a while I find a new something or other that DOES in fact make it's way into my kitchen...and I gotta just admit it makes me downright giddy. Auntie and I were paging through a cookbook by David Tanis called A Platter of Figs, and I stumbled upon a blurb that he wrote about peeling garlic. He recommends skipping crushing the garlic under the blade of a knife, which is what I normally do. Instead, he says to pinch the garlic clove on the top and bottom between your thumb and forefinger. "Yeah, right...if you have burley man hands", I scoffed. I decided to give a try the next day...and you know where this is going...it WORKED! The peel practically comes off in one whole piece. And since the clove isn't really crushed in the process there is no sticky garlic juice on your fingers.
Now, you probably already knew about this little garlic trick, but I have been frustrated with sticky fingers from peeling garlic since I was a kid. Confession time: I often purchase the less flavorful pre-peeled garlic at our local market just to avoid the frustration. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have discovered this little trick, so I can use the full-flavored fresh garlic without getting crabby in the kitchen. Another thing I discovered though,is that it's hard to take a picture of your own hand doing said garlic trick without a bit of blur...sorry 'bout that. :)
Now, you probably already knew about this little garlic trick, but I have been frustrated with sticky fingers from peeling garlic since I was a kid. Confession time: I often purchase the less flavorful pre-peeled garlic at our local market just to avoid the frustration. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have discovered this little trick, so I can use the full-flavored fresh garlic without getting crabby in the kitchen. Another thing I discovered though,is that it's hard to take a picture of your own hand doing said garlic trick without a bit of blur...sorry 'bout that. :)