Roasted Pickled Garlic Aioli

Some of you may remember my post on Pickled Garlic. If not you can click on the link and review it. Well, I wanted to do a garlic mayo, so I decided to use my pickled garlic. What could be better?

5-6 large cloves of pickled garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil

2 egg yolks**
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons lemon juice
½ cup light olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place garlic cloves in an aluminum packet. Drizzle with oil. Place in the oven and roast for 25-35 minutes until the garlic is soft. 

They look like they are burnt,

but that is where the bruises were,

and they took on a burnt color.

Once cooked, pinch cooked garlic out of each clove.

Since mine was already peeled,

I ran it through my garlic press a few times.

That caught the tougher skin and ends.

In a food processor, place roasted garlic, egg yolks, and lemon juice. Process the mixture until smooth. Very slowly, drizzle oil into the processor with the motor running. To ensure proper emulsification, pour the oil in very, very slowly. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

The Aioli may be kept 5-7 days

in the refrigerator.

** If you are not sure of your eggs, or are cautions about using raw eggs. Coddle the eggs... Coddling Eggs

Spring Fever

Since we brought our new dog home, I've had no choice but to spend more time outside. YAY! She is a German Pointer and is very laid back, but she really needs a lot of exercise so she doesn't get bored. I haven't been able to cook as much as I'd like, but I've started taking the camera out on our walks. I've been stopping to take a good look around the yard and the fields, noticing what's in bloom and what's budding out... Yesterday I took pictures of the Lemon Balm growing around my fish pond...

If you have your own lemon balm, here are a few recipes for it's use...

Lemon Balm Butter

6 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons lemon balm, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped

Combine the butter, lemon balm and chives. Using a piece of waxed paper to help mould, shape into a log. Cover and refrigerate overnight to blend the flavours. May be frozen. Use on seafood or vegetables.

Lemon Balm Spread 

Combine 1/4 cup finely chopped lemon balm leaves, 1 teaspoon lemon rind and   8 oz cream cheese. Use on crackers or to stuff celery sticks.

Lemon Balm Lemonade 

1/2 cup sugar 

3 lemons
1 1/4 cups boiling water
2 large sprigs lemon balm

Peel the rind thinly from the lemons and add, with the sugar, to the boiling water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and then add the chopped leaves of lemon balm. Cool, then add the freshly squeezed juice of the lemons. Stir well, strain and chill. Dilute to taste with chilled seltzer or soda water and garnish with the lemon curls. Serves 2.

Honey and Lemon Balm Biscuits 

1 cup butter
1 cup honey
3 eggs
3 cups self-raising flour
1 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
4 springs lemon balm, chopped


Cream the butter with the honey, add eggs, beat well. Add remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees.


Other interesting uses and facts:



It helps relieve anxiety attacks, palpitations with nausea, mild insomnia and phobias, and when used as a sedative it is good for children. It combines well with peppermint to stimulate circulation, and can also be used for colds and flu and is most effective in the early stages of a cold. The tea is used to treat headaches and tiredness, mild depression, laryngitis, colic and dizziness, and is reputed to enhance the memory. It calms a nervous stomach, controls high blood pressure, relieves menstrual cramps, promotes menstruation and treats insomnia. Fresh juice is used to treat goitre and Grave's Disease. It is especially suitable for children, and makes a good substitute for chamomile. A crushed fresh leaf applied to insect bites eases discomfort. As a poultice it treats sores and tumours. In ointment, it is good for cold sores.

Lemon Balm attracts bees to the garden. Use in Potpourri. An infusion of leaves makes a refreshing skin toner and can be used in rinse water for clothes. A stronger infusion makes a good rinse for oily hair. Use as a facial steam for dry skin and to treat acne. Use in furniture polishes, or just rub a handful of crushed leaves on wooden furniture for a beautiful shine. Rub on a fresh leaf to soothe insect bites. Use in sleep pillows, and add to soaps. Used to bathe discharging eyes in puppies. Used to bring down retained afterbirth in farm animals. It has also been used for farm animals for eye ailments, nervous and brain disorders, heart abnormalities, uterine disorders, to increase milk yield and to prevent miscarriage.

Pumpkin Butter

Have any cans of pumpkin left over from the holiday? Here's an idea... It's great on pancakes, biscuits, muffins and even ice cream!

29oz can Pumpkin
1 1/2 cups Apple Juice
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 1/2 t Cinnamon*
Pinch of Ground Cloves

Whisk ingredients together. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
*Add 2 t for more intense cinnamon flavor.

Pimento-less Cheese

I found out a long time ago that I cannot eat bell peppers of any kind. Even the smell brings on a level of heartburn that is miserable. I do however, love the flavor of a lot of the dishes that contain them. I have had to re-invent recipes to satisfy my craving for these dishes. Lately, I've seen many recipes for pimento cheese and read the raves on the wonderful tastes. So... I decided to make a pimento-less or 'mock' pimento cheese spread. I think it turned out really well! However, if you are a die hard pimento fan... add it in and you'll be very pleased!



Ingredients:
2 cups cheddar cheese
8oz cream cheese
2 T sour cream
1 tsp lemon juice
4 cloves roasted garlic
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp sea salt

Cream cheese goes in...
This recipe gave me a chance to use my new Cruisinart
PowerBlend Duet... "free" from the Pig!
"Free" means they made me pay the taxes on it :-(

The roasted garlic left over from
the chicken night before last.

Add the garlic, cheese, sour cream, lemon and seasonings...

Process until well combined...

I toasted it and made a sandwich!

A Twist on the BLT for the Superbowl Weekend

This weekend is sure to be filled with parties, Bar-B-Ques and Tailgaters! This recipe can be used in a lot of different ways. Use it as a dip for crackers, chips or toast points. Use it as an appetizer mixing everything together except the tomato and stuff the tomato with the dip, or use it as a spread on subs, sandwiches and even burgers. There are all kinds of ideas for this tasty recipe! Enjoy and have a safe weekend!

BLT Dip

6 slices cooked Bacon, crumbled

1 cup Sour Cream

1 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup chopped & seeded plum Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper to taste
Lettuce
Crackers for dipping

Mix bacon, sour cream, mayo, and tomatoes. Cover and put in frig for about an hour. Hollow out a tomato and spoon dip into it. Place on the lettuce leaves and surround with Crackers.
Note: You can substitute a 3 oz jar of real bacon bits for sliced Bacon.