Garlic Scapes and Daddy

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Garlic Scapes and Daddy

Ive been away awhile, I know. First I was sick with shingles and could barely walk for two months, then my dad passed away and I was home helping mom awhile. But Im back now and hope to start posting much more.

My dad was the other chef in the family. No he didn't

cook professionally as I did. But we often would talk about foods we

tried and shared recipes. I would take one of his and add more to it and

he would take one of mine and adapt it to cooking a different way. We

were always experimenting and trying new things. Dad was limited as to

what he could try since mom didn't like much. So in honor of my Dad, I

decided to dedicate this blog to him. It was an experiment and I found

out I love garlic scapes. I bet Dad would too.

I went to the Farmers Market Sunday and found garlic

scapes. Ive been hearing so much about them. I never had them before and

even when I picked one up and smelled it, it didn't

have much smell. So I thought, whats the big deal with these? But I

bought 3 bunches anyway. I read about garlic scape pesto so I thought Id

try that. I figured if I didn't like it I would just add basil, which I

also bought.

But I was in for a surprise! As you cut them they

do smell heavenly ......of garlic and almost grassy. My whole house

smelled of it while working on my recipes. I tasted it and OMG !!! and

so now its my new favorite thing. I'm hoping to go back this week and

get more cuz the season is very short for these things. For more info on

scapes: http://gardening.about.com/od/herbsatoz/a/What-Are-Garlic-Scapes.htm

I did some research on them before I did anything with

them and I'm glad I did. These funny looking things have a flower bud

and apparently you cut those off and discard. When I wandered online for

info, I never saw anyone say that in their recipes. So remember to cut

off the flower head and trim the bottom of the stem. Some stems are

quite tough. I found I would cut and it would be hard and pull a string

on it like when your cutting celery. So keep cutting till its ez to cut.

I found most stems only needed one or two cuts but there were a couple

that needed more. You want the tender parts.

Then I cut them into about 1in. lengths. I did this

because I was going to but them in the food processor to make pesto. I

have a small processor. I chopped all of them in the processor and

dumped it in a bowl, trying to figure out what to do with so many. I

thought OMG I bought too much...........wrong! After I started using

them, I thought OMG I need more! lol They are that good.

And so I

made Garlic Scape bread to have with dinner. And then I got carried

away with my chicken and tossed some chopped scapes on that too while

roasting. Finally I made the pesto. ...two batches. I have just enough

to make more Garlic scape butter and Ill freeze that.

Garlic Scape Butter for bread

1/2 - 3/4 c. chopped garlic scapes

1 stick of butter

1/4c. Parmesan cheese

Process all in food processor till blended. Taste (omg, yummy!) and add S & P if you like.

Spread

this on some nice crusty bread. I had a nice Ciabatta bread from the

market too. I bake mine at 400 degrees till it starts to get brown on

the edges and crusty on top. This will make the greenest bread you ever

than regular garlic bread. Its much more mellow and yet has quite a

garlic taste.

Garlic Scape Pesto Makes about 2c.

the oven temp to 400 degrees.

This is a one pot meal I served with the garlic bread and it was soooooooooo good.