Blessing # 601The Garlic Press
How is it possible that I have lived my life thus far and not really known about the glories and wonders of a garlic press? Of course, I always knew what a garlic press was, and I had seen people using them before, but I had never really experienced the joy of a garlic press until just a few weeks ago.
If my MIL is out of the country, which is about six months out of the year, I do most of the cooking in our family. I love cooking with garlic, and I love eating it. But I always prepared garlic the hard way---peel and chop, peel and chop, peel and chop. Why? I don't know--because nobody ever gave me a garlic press? Giancarlo's father, who is Italian, and his mother, who is Italian by marriage, never use a garlic press. They peel and chop, peel and chop. Are all Italians like this? Is using garlic press one of those things that Americans do that Italians look down their nose at, along with eating cold pasta salad, mac n' cheese, and cilantro?
Then along came Pumpkin Delight with her clever, observant, and thoughtful gift-giving ways. This last Christmas she gave me--you guessed it--a garlic press, among other things. And not just any old garlic press, this was a high end garlic press. I had mentioned to her earlier in the year that I didn't have a garlic press, and she couldn't believe it.
Well, not really knowing what I was missing, I didn't use my new gadget for a few weeks. Then, after Pietro and Elsa left for Mazatlan, I pulled it out of the drawer, took some garlic out of the fridge, placed a clove inside, and pressed. Yes, I pressed my garlic with my new garlic press. And then I came in my jeans.
.
How is it possible that I have lived my life thus far and not really known about the glories and wonders of a garlic press? Of course, I always knew what a garlic press was, and I had seen people using them before, but I had never really experienced the joy of a garlic press until just a few weeks ago.
If my MIL is out of the country, which is about six months out of the year, I do most of the cooking in our family. I love cooking with garlic, and I love eating it. But I always prepared garlic the hard way---peel and chop, peel and chop, peel and chop. Why? I don't know--because nobody ever gave me a garlic press? Giancarlo's father, who is Italian, and his mother, who is Italian by marriage, never use a garlic press. They peel and chop, peel and chop. Are all Italians like this? Is using garlic press one of those things that Americans do that Italians look down their nose at, along with eating cold pasta salad, mac n' cheese, and cilantro?
Then along came Pumpkin Delight with her clever, observant, and thoughtful gift-giving ways. This last Christmas she gave me--you guessed it--a garlic press, among other things. And not just any old garlic press, this was a high end garlic press. I had mentioned to her earlier in the year that I didn't have a garlic press, and she couldn't believe it.
Well, not really knowing what I was missing, I didn't use my new gadget for a few weeks. Then, after Pietro and Elsa left for Mazatlan, I pulled it out of the drawer, took some garlic out of the fridge, placed a clove inside, and pressed. Yes, I pressed my garlic with my new garlic press. And then I came in my jeans.
.
38 comments:
Jason I know one thing, my mom has never used a garlic press. She flips the clove upside down and pops the skin off of it then chops, chops, and chops. I love my garlic press. I have a pampered Chef on that you can put the clove in there with the skin. I think it's an Italian thing to do things the old and hard way. My family is the same way! lol!
i have a garlic press, but i must admit that since i've been in the states (for the last 2 months) i've been buying the little jar of already chopped garlic. it's just so easy. (tucks tail between legs and slinks away)
Bwah hahaha!! Your poor jeans! ;-)
OK, I can only speak for my (100% crazy dago) family, but I think I'm the only one who uses a garlic press. I have the Pampered Chef one, also, and it freakin' rocks!!! Actually, truth be told, I have three of them. (Gotta have one in the upstairs kitchen, one in the downstairs kitchen, and one in case, God forbid, either of those breaks!!) Had I have known you were a garlic press virgin, I would have sent one your way by overnight express!!! Oh, and of course, I bought one for the bar, too, for the food I make there. Now that I'm thinking about it, I actually have two or three "cheap" garlic presses (made of plastic) that I keep around for squeezing out play dough hair. It's a big hit at school with the babies ;-)
Oh, Natalie, for shame, for shame... ;-)
I love my garlic press too...keeps your fingers from smelling and from bleeding. ;0
You keep your garlic in the fridge? Am I supposed to do that too? I keep mine w/ my tomato's and onions in a bowl on the counter.
I'd better call Martha.
(whispering to Jason's readers) We had a garlic press when I was married to him but I got it in the divorce. Since I did the cooking back then, he didn't know he missed it. Shhh
I must be the odd one, here. I like to get my hands into whatever I'm cooking. And some of my people don't like garlic, so I smash the cloves with my monstrous knife and my fist, pop the skin off and toss it in the pan. Then the (stupid) garlic haters can pick the clove out and give it to me. I totally win.
I have a great garlic press, but I do like chopping garlic...it's so Italian to do it that way.
LOL! You are too funny! I have a garlic press...but I peel and chop chop chop chop... Maybe it's time to break it out! An orgasm would be good...
You are so funny and I so love the Queens comment and the others too.
I have a garlic press, but for time conservation I just scoop of few tablespoonsful out of my Costco Chrisopher's chopped garlic tub.
Ha. I love my garlic press too!! Fresh garlic makes me happy.
Well, Mom #2 uses a garlic press and real garlic. When I cook, I use garlic in a little jar.
But apparently using the real is quite an experience. I'm going to put on some dirty jeans and give it a try. ;-)
The Matronly orgasmic experience would be the kick-ass vacuum cleaner her ever romantic husband gave her two years ago. Oh my God. Can that thing rip up dirt. Garlic press is a distant second. Just go vacuum shopping and buy stock in jeans.
OOoohh! Your garlic press has a gadget within a gadget! I love the rubber bit that pushes the junk outta the holes! Hehe...
OK, I only came back to read the rest of the comments, but then I HAD to leave a comment for the simple fact that my word verification word is "rambo." Swear to God!!
I just used mine today and I'm so jealous that yours has the cleaner thing. I was especially jealous while I stood over the sink pushing the garlick bits out of the hole with a toothpick. Only the best for you my dear! Glad you liked it!
Is that the press she got for you? Verrry nice. In defense of my fellow peel/chop/peel/choppers... the slight disadvantage to using a garlic press is that it magnifies the flavor of the garlic (because you're essentially extracting the garlic), so you have to be careful about how much you're using.
Sigh. Isn't google an amazing rationalization tool? OK, now, I'm going to go type in "Eating Four Reeses PB Cups at Midnight Advantages."
Love your blog, btw. ;-)
What do you know, this is one culinary tool I have been using for years! Out of all your brothers I am probably #2 in their cooking abilities but I guess when it comes to the degree in garlic press usage and technology I have you beat! How cool is that? This really made my day. However, I must admit, you introduced Heidi and I to the salad spinner.
Paul has mentioned that he remembers you chopping garlic when he would watch you cook and he remembers the big chunks of garlic in your food, and I remember specifically thinking that is was peculiar that you painstakingly chopped it by hand (which if you use half as much garlic as my mom and I, it would be a nightmare to chop it all without a press). I have actually thought of you hand chopping your garlic on several occasions, and I just assumed that you preferred doing it that way, but I should have asked, or I would have sent you one ages ago. Sorry.
I have a garlic press that I have used forever...and I purchased a garlic press for my kids to take to college...why do I love my garlic press? My hands do not smell like garlic! (Like my breath!)
I have to disagree. I loathe a garlic press (well as much as anyone can loathe a kitchen appliance for crying out loud). They are difficult to wash, and worse they make the garlic taste all sharp and yucky. imho.
I'm going to have to join the small group of press haters.. sorry, maybe it's the Italian in me? Actually, it's because I hate peeling garlic, chopping it is no big deal but the peeling.. ick. So a press wasn't any help to me. I used to use the prechopped jars but stopped buying it after I learned the smack-em and chop method. There is something very satisfying about smashing the cloves to bits with my big knife.
Oooh, there's nothing quite so satisfying as squeezing that oily pulp through those little holes, is there???
But do you flip it around and clean out the press? Or are you in such a state of after-glow you forget it? (that's what my husband does.) Nothing so yucky as dried-up sticky garlic remains in a garlic press.
Heee heee!Your post made me laugh.
EEEEWWWWWW. I wasn't excpecting that last comment. Now I have a visual. Thanks.
Love the garlic press. But I don't LOVE it..you know what I mean....Hahaha
although Im almost positive it never made me come in my jeans, I, too, am a newly converted garlic press lover. Ive never been a cook...and til now my idea of garlic was something that was shaken from a big ole plastic jar. But FRESH garlic...OMG...I crush it up and mix it with butter for rolls...dress up store bought pasta sauce with it. Even used it to crush shallots for a homemade salad dressing.
It makes you wonder what OTHER marvelous little gadgets are out there that remain undiscovered.
And now what you do, is press out an entire jar of garlic, and have it in your fridge for when your folks come back..... they'll never know.....
dun... dun... dun.........
Damn you!
Again with the water on my computer screen!!! That last line did me in!!
I am sooo jealous of the press.
Hope the sleanup want to sticky :)
peace
#2
Im Italian, make my sauce from scratch and totally use a garlic press...I love it!
by the way, my word verification is, "Tardsto" LOL.
Oh Jason, it really is the simple things in life that get us going. I had a new vacuum evoke a similar reaction once. Oooh wee. BTW, I've been in a cave or something, because I really thought I was keeping up with your blog better, but I totally missed your birthday!!! Happy belated birthday, looks like everyone had a virtual blast!!!
I love a nice garlic press : ) The only thing I don't like is trying to pick everything out with a toothpick when I am done using!
That last line was a little too much for the Christian Girl in me : ) but I LOVE you LIKE crazy ANY way : ) AND I have NO idea WHY i AM capitalizing EVERY other WORD still. I am SO wierd. : )
Yes, I pressed my garlic with my new garlic press. And then I came in my jeans.
And this, my dear friend, nearly made me pee in my pants! Heeheeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Isn't the garlic press a lovely thing? I have one from Pampered Chef and couldn't live without it. I put the clove in there, skin and all. I'm guessing that's what you did since you creamed your pants just as the garlic was coming out of the press. OMG, i'm still laughing!
Justine :o )
I had no idea they were orgasm inducing, too!
I'm really missing out.
Does it press garlic through fine and extra-fine holes? 'Cause the one I bought for my oldest daughter's partner, Adam? Has press-y-thing-a-ma-doodles in two sizes.
Not that I'm saying Adam's is better, or that I'm da bomb kitchen gadget buyer. I'm just saying that a good garlic press is important.
I'll leave now.
The garlic press must be the best thing since sliced bread. I too have the Pampered Chef press. Triple love it. It has a little gadget that cleans the holes out so that you don't have to use a tooth pick.
But, depending upon what I am cooking, I still do the peel and chop routine too.
Love your enthusiasm about your press. Glad you jeans had a lovely time in kitchen!
Cheers..
Holy smokes lol Wasn't expecting that. Now you have to watch this.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/47604/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-j-in-my-pants
oh lawdy be italians are tricky things, aren't we? yeah. so we're die hard and we peel and chop and curse and spit. it's the italian way. wave a butcher knife in your husbands (or childs, yes, scary, but true) face and spit and curse and peel and chop and walla, dinner. and you best kiss my ass for that dinner too. cuz italian cooks are the shiz, duh, and you owe us your life bc i cooked you ziti. from scratch. booyah.
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