Garlic always fresh and intact for 1 year: only cooks know this trick in the kitchen

Garlic is a small, pungent, super savory ingredient that adds a punch of flavor to meat, vegetables, rice and so much more. Learn how to store garlic, whole, cloves or peeled, along with tips on how to buy and how to make it last longer.

Make the most of your garlic and preserve its flavor for longer with these tried and tested storage tips!

I don’t think there is any other ingredient that can be compared to the small but mighty flavor of fresh garlic. It’s incredibly savory with a strong, pungent aroma that transforms into a sweet flavor addition.

My family and I love the garlic-y flavor and I put it in just about everything. Which is why I always have extra on hand. Because of this, I thought it best to share my tried and true tips on how to store garlic properly, to make it last longer.

And if you love this, be sure to check out How to Peel, Cut & Mince Garlic and make Garlic Paste, too!

Learn how to store garlic, whole, cloves or peeled, along with tips on how to buy and how to make it last longer.

Prep Time: 15mins

Total Time: 15mins

Course: Meal Prep, Spice Blend

Cuisine: Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, Thai

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 12 cloves

Ingredients:

1 head garlic

Instructions:

Garlic can be stored in a number of different ways – as a whole bulb, individual cloves, peeled or even as garlic paste. Follow any of the methods below, depending on your needs.

How to Store Fresh Garlic

Whole Bulb: Store the whole bulb in a cool, dark, well-ventilated cupboard. Garlic will last the longest stored in a temperature between 60 – 65 degrees F. Because of this, I keep it in a cupboard away from the stove and near the floor. The garlic should last a few months.

Individual, Unpeeled Cloves: Store these right alongside the whole bulbs of garlic in your cupboard. Use within 10 days.

How to Store Peeled Garlic

Break apart the clove and peel away the thin, papery skin. Place the peeled cloves in an airtight container or plastic storage bag, seal tight and store in the fridge. Use within 5-7 days.

How to Store Garlic Paste

To make garlic paste: Peel the entire head of garlic and slice off the stem ends. Place in a blender or food processor with 1 Tablespoon olive oil and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge to use within 1 week.

How to Freeze Garlic

Whole Heads and Individual, Unpeeled Cloves: Place the garlic in a freezer safe plastic storage bag, push out all the air, seal tight, label, date and freeze. The garlic should last indefinitely.

Peeled Cloves: Spread the individual cloves out on a small baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 1 hour. Wrap the frozen cloves in foil, then place in a freezer safe plastic storage bag, seal tight, label, date and freeze.

Garlic Paste: Place in a small silicone ice cube tray and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer the cubes to a plastic freezer storage bag, label, date, seal tight and freeze for up to 6 months.

Garlic intact for a year: how to store it

  • Experienced cooks will surely be familiar with this method of preserving garlic. First, take half a kilo of garlic cloves and soak them for about an hour in lukewarm water. After drying them, peel them and you will see that they will flake easily because the skin has softened.
  • Next, place all the garlic cloves in a sterilized glass jar. Next, pour in two tablespoons of coarse salt, this should make about 30 grams of salt. Now you can add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or, if you prefer, pour in the wine vinegar, this ingredient will help keep the garlic intact.
  • Finally, bring some water to a boil and let it cool. Before closing the container with its cap, cut a slice of lemon and place it on the garlic. Close the jar very tightly and shake it so that all the ingredients are mixed.
  • Thus, you will keep your garlic cloves for more than a year in perfect condition and they will not rot. Not only that, because you can consume them whenever you want, without having to peel them every time you need them. This method is used by many cooks, it is practical and above all effective.

Notes:

Keep the bulb whole. This ensures the bulbs stay cool and dry, which are exactly the conditions garlic needs.

Store in a cool, dark, uncrowded cupboard. Garlic will spoil under conditions of heat and light, so it’s best to keep it in the coolest part of your kitchen, ideally away from the stove and near the floor. A well ventilated cupboard or pantry works best.

Do not store in a plastic bag, unless freezing. Garlic needs ventilation and air to breathe, which is why an uncrowded (or empty) cabinet is best. If you would prefer to store it in a bag, mesh bags are the best and paper bags are a close second. However, when storing in the freezer, use a plastic bag to keep all the moisture out.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:

Calories: 3kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Cream Puff Recipe

Perfect Cream Puff Recipe: These bake up light as air every time! Filled with sweet whipped cream & dusted with powdered sugar. The ultimate!

Just in time for the weekend, I’m bringing you a classic dessert recipe that just can’t go wrong, no matter the occasion or the time of year: cream puffs!

Like so many other French pastries such as Madeleine cookies, brioche bread, and macarons, cream puffs have a specific set of ingredients and a specific technique. But unlike those others, this recipe is very easy to make.

If you’re aware of the major pitfalls (more on that below), you’ll be able to make this cream puff recipe like a pro! It’s pretty much foolproof!

Prep Time: 20mins

Cook Time: 40mins

Total Time: 1hr

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: French

Servings: 12 cream puffs

Ingredients:

For the Choux Pastry Puffs:

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 eggs, large
  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for garnish
  • For the Cream Puff Filling:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese*
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 3/4 cups heavy cream, cold
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (extract can be substituted)

Instructions:

To Make the Choux Pastry Puffs:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Place the water, butter, sugar, and salt in a small pot and cook over medium-high heat until the butter is completely melted and the mixture is simmering.
  3. Add in the flour all at once, and continue to cook, whisking, for about 5 minutes, or until the dough gathers itself into a ball and a film begins to form on the bottom of the pot.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed.
  5. Drop in the eggs, one at a time, while continuing to beat. (Allow each egg to become fully incorporated before adding the next.)
  6. Pipe or spoon the dough in 1 1/2-inch balls onto the prepared baking sheets, allowing about 3 inches in between each puff.
  7. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until puffed, golden brown, hollow, dry, and light.
  8. Allow the pastries to cool completely, then slice open horizontally, sandwich with cream puff filling, and dust with powdered sugar.

To Make the Cream Puff Filling:

  1. Place the cream cheese and powdered sugar in a large bowl and beat on medium speed until smooth.
  2. Turn the mixer down to medium-low speed and pour the heavy cream down the side of the bowl in a very slow and steady stream, stopping every now and then to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula.
  3. When all the cream has been added, turn the mixer up to medium-high and whip until the filling holds stiff peaks.
  4. Fold in the vanilla.

Notes:

*Full-fat cream cheese in brick form works best.

Nutritional Info:

Serving: 1cream puff | Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 587IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

Honey Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil Recipe

THIS honey garlic butter salmon in foil recipe is an easy dinner to throw together on your busy weeknights or weekends!

A delicious 4-ingredient honey garlic butter sauce is baked with a whole side of salmon, wrapped in foil, baked and broiled (or grilled) for that extra golden, crispy, caramelised and flakey finish! The BEST Salmon In Foil IS RIGHT HERE! So simple with minimal mess to clean up!

 

Honey Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil in under 20 minutes, then broiled (or grilled) for that extra golden, crispy and caramelised finish! So simple and only 4 main ingredients, with minimal clean up!

Prep Time: 10mins

Cook Time: 15mins

Total Time: 25mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 people 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 4 large cloves garlic , crushed
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (juice of 1/2 a lemon)
  • 1.2 kg | 2 1/2 pound side of salmon
  • Sea salt , to taste
  • Cracked pepper , to taste (optional)
  • Lemon slices (to serve)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

Instructions:

  1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 375°F | 190°C.
  2. Line a baking tray / sheet with a large piece of foil, big enough to fold over and seal to create a packet (or 2 long pieces of foil over lapping each other lengthways to create your salmon packet, depending on the width of you fillet).
  3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat.
  4. Add the honey, garlic and lemon, and whisk until the honey has melted through the butter and the mixture is well combined.
  5. Place the salmon onto lined baking tray | sheet.
  6. Pour the butter/honey mixture over the salmon, and using a pastry brush or spoon, spread evenly over the salmon.
  7. Sprinkle with a good amount of salt (about 2 teaspoons) and cracked pepper.
  8. Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon to cover and completely seal the packet closed so the butter does not leak.
  9. Bake until cooked through (about 15-18 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish and your preference of doneness).
  10. Open the foil, being careful of any escaping steam, and grill / broil under the grill / broiler for 2-3 minutes on medium heat to caramelise the top.
  11. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with lemon slices.

Nutritional Info:

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 753mg | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 3.2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Loaded Steak Quesadilla Recipe

Are you looking for an easy, filling, 30 minutes or less recipe for dinner? Simple prep and not a lot of clean up? Well, today I gotcha covered! Because I needed a nice, easy breezy meal that would keep me full, keep the kitchen decent, and not take me forever to make. And guess what? Success!!! Meet these 30 Minute Loaded Steak Quesadillas.

Loaded you ask? Not only are these steak quesadillas layered with a pound of top sirloin, there’s also black beans, fire roasted corn, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and of course, two layers of cheese. This amount of goodness brings the basic cheese quesadilla up a bit higher in the world wouldn’t you agree? Like “Instead of as a snack…I’m going to make steak quesadillas for DINNER!” level.

Total Time: 25 mins

Yield: 2 

Delicious, easy, family friendly meal done in just 30 minutes! Great for both an appetizer AND dinner!

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE STEAK

  • 3/4 – 1 lbs sirloin steak
  • 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mexican oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

FOR THE QUESADILLAS

  • 4 large flour tortillas
  • 2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup canned fire roasted corn kernels, drained
  • 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained
  • 1/2 an avocado, diced
  • Limes wedges and fresh minced cilantro for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 425˚F. Prepare a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together all spices and salt for the steak. Generously coat steak with spice blend.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear steak, no more than 3 minutes per side. The steak will cook more in the oven so make sure it’s just a sear! Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes while prepping quesadillas.
  4. Place 2 tortillas on the prepared sheet and sprinkle each one with 1/2 cup of the cheese.
  5. Top with tomatoes, corn, black beans, and avocado.
  6. Thinly slice steak against the grain. Place slices on top of the loaded tortillas.
  7. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese evenly over both quesadillas and cover with remaining tortillas.
  8. Bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes, until cheese is melted and tortillas are warmed through.
  9. Remove from oven and slice as desired. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges, a dollop of sour cream and your favorite salsa and guacamole!
NUTRITIONAL INFO:

Calories: 798kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 1156mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g

Easy Corn Arepas Recipe

For many, corn arepas are the favorite of the immense variety of arepas that we have in Colombia, due to the ideal contrast between sweet and salty in its composition. Just out of the fire they are a delight for the diner and combine perfectly with the scrambled eggs for breakfast, although I dare to assure you that they are enjoyed very well alone and at any time of the day.

The preparation of corn arepas dates back to before the time of the conquest, when the Indians kneaded the tender grains of the ears, which they later put on the fire. Currently, this kind of arepas is part of the diet of the inhabitants of the Antioquia and Cundiboyacense regions

Like all the typical mixes from my land, pre-cooked flours are already available on the market that facilitate the preparation of these delicacies. However, and as always, I share the traditional recipe. Of course, the quantities of the ingredients vary according to the taste of the diner. For a softer dough, a greater quantity of milk or butter can be added, the same happens when graduating the taste of sweet and salt.

Servings: 5

Prep Time: 15min

Cook Time: 10min

Total Time: 25min

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups of corn kernels
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 1 cup of cornmeal (the one used to make arepas)
  • 2 butter spoons
  • ¼ cup grated brown sugar (or brown sugar)
  • Salt to taste (optional)
  • White cheese (In the USA I use Cotija cheese or fresh cheese)

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. In the blender, mix the corn kernels and milk.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a container and add the flour, panela and salt to taste.
  3. Knead and check the seasoning.
  4. Make balls and flatten them to form the arepas.
  5. Heat them in a non-stick frying pan and let them cook until golden brown on both sides.
  6. A little before removing them from the heat, cover them with slices of white cheese and let it melt.

Moist Lemon Loaf Recipe

This moist Lemon Cake Recipe is fluffy, tangy and so easy to make from scratch! Every bite of this supremely moist pound cake is bursting with fresh lemon flavor and the easy lemon glaze on top will have you hooked after just one bite.

This homemade lemon pound cake tastes even better than the Starbucks Lemon Loaf!

If you like the Starbucks Lemon Loaf then you’ll love this delicious, moist lemon cake recipe that’s made completely from scratch in less than 10 minutes. It’s one of my favorite afternoon or breakfast treats and it always gets rave reviews, everyone loves it! It’s gone in minutes whenever I make it.

This batter is made with freshly grated lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. When it the cake comes out of the oven it is infused with a homemade lemon syrup to give it an extra lemon kick, and then after cooling down the pound cake is topped with the most delicious lemon glaze.

This easy lemon cake is not dry and not fudgy, it’s perfectly moist while still being fluffy and it keeps fresh for a few days! A perfect cake for every occasion. If you like lemon desserts, you have got to give this cake a try!

Tips and Tricks for Making This Easy Lemon Cake Recipe

You can also make this recipe in a bundt pan. It looks prettier than in a loaf pan but make sure to grease your bundt pan generously so that your cake will come out of the pan.

Don’t leave out the lemon zest, that is what gives it the wonderful lemony flavor! I always use organic lemons and my favorite grater that I’ll like below.

For the best flavor use freshly squeezed lemon juice! Don’t use the bottled stuff, trust me fresh lemon juice tastes so much better.

When you make the lemon glaze for this pound cake don’t add too much liquid. You want the glaze to be nice and thick not runny. Start with 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp milk and add the remaining 1/2 tbsp as needed.

This cake keeps well covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

This moist Lemon Cake Recipe is fluffy, tangy and so easy to make from scratch! Every bite of this supremely moist pound cake is bursting with lemon flavor. If you like the Starbucks Lemon Loaf then you’ll love this homemade lemon pound cake!

Prep Time: 15minutes

Cook Time: 45minutes

Total Time: 1hour 

INGREDIENTS:

For the lemon pound cake:
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice about 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk see below for substitution
For the lemon syrup:
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • 3 Tbsp powdered sugar
For the lemon icing:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 1.5 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×5-inch (or 8×4-inch) loaf pan (see note).
  2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using an electric mixer), cream the butter and sugar together at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 4-6 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
  4. With the mixer running on low-speed, add the eggs one at a time, then beat in the vanilla extract and lemon juice. Beat on medium-high speed until combined.
  5. With the mixer on low, add about one-third of the flour mixture and mix until almost combined, then add half the buttermilk and mix until just combined. Repeat with another third of flour mixture and then the last half of the buttermilk, ending with the last third of the flour. Beat until just incorporated.
  6. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-55 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out mostly clean with only a couple moist crumbs. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours.
  7. Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes in the pan. Stir together the lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar for the lemon syrup. Carefully invert the loaf pan, and transfer the cake to a cooling rack, then brush the syrup on the cake while it’s still warm. Allow cake to cool completely.
  8. When the cake is cooled, combine all the icing ingredients, start with 1 tbsp lemon juice and milk and add the remaining lemon juice as needed. The icing should be thick and not runny. Pour icing over cake and let dry before serving.

NOTES:

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by combining 1/2 cup of milk with 1.5 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes until it starts to curdle.

The longer you beat the sugar and butter, the better the result will be because this process incorporates air into the batter and makes the cake fluffy and tender

I recommend using fresh lemon juice but you can also bottled lemon juice

This cake would also taste great with lime juice or orange juice

NUTRITIONAL INFO:

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 98mg | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1.1mg