Welcome and thanks for stopping by Forty Cloves! I’m Karen, food enthusiast and creator of this blog. I, mostly, blame my Italian heritage for my obsession with all things culinary. I start thinking about what to make for dinner before I’ve even eaten breakfast, I read cookbooks like they are best-selling novels, I talk food with anyone who will listen (and even some who don’t!), and my idea of a perfect day is one spent in my kitchen. That is how my skills, knowledge and interest in food developed and continues to grow – by reading, sharing with others and spending lots of time “playing” with food. My approach to cooking rests on my belief that cooking is a kindness we do for ourselves and others. No particular expertise is required - just quality ingredients, a few basic skills, a sense of adventure and a desire to share. My hope is that Forty Cloves will become the cozy kitchen where, together, we can cook, chat, eat and become inspired.
Why Forty Cloves?
Think of all of the wonderful things you can do with forty cloves of garlic: roast some until they become golden and nutty then spread them over crusty bread, sauté bright green beans with a few cloves sliced so thin you can see through them, smash a few and drop them into a simmering pot of chicken soup, mince several and combine them with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh parsley then drizzle it over pasta… is your mouth watering yet? Fresh garlic is a basic ingredient - easy to find, versatile, healthy, and full of flavor. It is something that I always have on hand because, well… because (a) I’m Italian, and (b) I am a student of my 100 year old grandmother (yes, you read that right!), who maintains that the secret to her health and longevity is…you guessed it, the garlic! To be fair, she also credits the use of fresh ingredients, extra virgin olive oil and healthy cooking methods. Some of the recipes that I’ll share are ones that she taught me. Others are my own. In all cases, the food is fresh, healthy, uncomplicated, and flavorful. And, yes, most of it includes a clove, or two, or forty!
If you'd like to contact me, my email address is fortycloves[at]gmail[dot]com.
I'd love to hear from you!
