Monday, April 18, 2016

Vampires, beware!

The myth than garlic deters vampires is commonplace thanks to Hollywood and popular literature, so today "Vampires, beware!" Did you know it is also thought to protect against the evil eye and to ward off jealous nymphs said to terrorize pregnant women and engaged maidens? In addition, despite its pungent odor and taste, garlic enhances the flavor of almost any kind of food anywhere in the world and is well known for its diverse medicinal properties.

Garlic, Nature's Wonder Drug

It has been credited with extending human longevity, preventing certain cancers, lowering cholesterol levels, reversing high blood pressure, resisting the common cold and overcoming fatigue.

The herb, which can also be deemed a vegetable too, is rich in protein, vitamins A, B-1 and C and contains essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron. It also contains 17 different amino acids.

WOW! Pass the garlic, please!

A Bit of Garlic History

Native to central Asia, garlic has a lengthy history dating back 6,000 years. Long a staple of Mediterranean diets, garlic was a commonly used seasoning in the cuisines of Africa, Asia and Europe. China is currently the world’s biggest producer of garlic followed by India, South Korea, Egypt and Russia.

Regarded as a force of both good and evil, the Egyptians are said to have fed the herb to workers building the Great Pyramid of Giza because they believed it boosted their stamina. In the Middle Ages, plague-phobic Europeans ate whole cloves of garlic to fight off the scourge known as the Black Death.
Source: National Garlic Day - Home

Garlic Trivia Tidbits

#1 Dubbed the ‘stinking rose’ because of its overpowering taste and smell, garlic is known for causing bad breath, which apparently can be neutralized by sipping milk or eating parsley.

#2 Stinky garlic smell on your hands? Wash with soap and water, then rub your fingers along a stainless steel object like your kitchen sink, faucet or a butter knife.

Garlic may be odoriferous but it is one of the best culinary discoveries known to man! To add flair to flavor, there are only 4 calories to each garlic clove!