Try these 5 variations of garlic butters to celebrate our favourite bulbs today!
Today is National Garlic Day, but here on our farm, every day feels like a garlic day! Over the past three years, our soil has grown rows upon rows of hard neck garlic. Needless to say, we love garlic, so let's celebrate!
The fragrant bulbs have always been a favourite flavour of mine. The phrase "that's too much" has never been uttered in my kitchen, not once! It should come as no surprise that garlic has quickly become my favourite crop to grow. My first garlic cloves were planted in the fall of 2018. There were roughly 100 bulbs harvested, with some of the most exceptional flavour I had ever tasted, and the following year I planted close to 1000 cloves! After those rows were pulled, I was hooked! My dad and I soon joined forces to plant nearly a full acre of garlic and have continued to expand every year since. There have been a lot of trails and errors in our journey, but every part of it has been nothing short of amazing! In the process of increasing our garlic plots, we have been able to implement a rotation schedule that will allow us to utilize the land for a hay crop in the off years, provide a safe haven and food source for many species of animals on our farm, and ultimately grow towards a more sustainable future!
Garlic is planted in the fall, harvested during the last legs of summer, and is processed throughout the winter. As a gardener, my job is incredibly seasonal, resulting in 4-6 months of extremely labour intensive work followed by downtime in the colder months. Here in Alberta, the off season can frequently last longer than our growing season, and as someone who hates being idle, I am constantly searching for a new project. Enter garlic. Aside from providing myself with an endless supply, our garlic crop has also created the opportunity for a steady stream of offseason work! The goal in mind is to prolong the shelf life of the garlic, and to provide Albertans with accessibility to a local (and delicious!) source year round!
Our family farm has seen five generations of farmers on it, and each has brought something unique to the table. For myself, that includes my garden full of homegrown produce, honey bees, and now garlic. The original vision for my business has grown into something I never thought possible, and I am so grateful for the opportunities this crop has brought to me! I am looking forward to a summer full of markets and face-to-face time with our customers, as well as farm to table dinners, and a few more exciting projects currently in the works! It's perfectly fitting to celebrate garlic today!
Garlic is one of those veggies that can be enjoyed in a simple recipe just as easily as in an extravagant one, so that's why I thought today I would share these 5 variations on a classic - Garlic Butter! Whether you slather fresh bread with one, or use it as a dipping sauce for lobster, these butters will entice your tastebuds!
Garlic Butter
5 Variations
Smoked Black Garlic & Maple Syrup - 1 cup butter, softened - 3 cloves Smoked Black Garlic - 1 tbsp maple syrup
Garlic Scape Pepper with Herbs - 1 cup butter, softened - 1 tsp garlic scape pepper - 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped finely - 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped finely
Smoked Garlic - 1 cup butter, softened - 1 tbsp Garlic Supreme
Garlic Goddess - 1 cup butter, softened - 1 tbsp Garlic Goddess dip mix
Honey Garlic - 1 cup butter, softened - 1 tsp granulated garlic - 1 tbsp creamed honey
For any variation, combine ingredients and mix until well combine. Option to roll in wax paper to shape; butters also freeze well. Enjoy!
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