A Dash of Garlic Powder

Some recipes do call for garlic powder instead of the fresh garlic. Garlic powder can be used as a seasoning component in dressing, pasta, pizza and grilled meat.

(Roasted garlic slices ready to be grounded.)

Attempted to prepare homemade garlic powder and share the simple preparation here.

Ingredients:

• 3 bulbs garlic

Method:

• remove the papery skins and slice thinly

• spread garlic onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

• roast at 150F for 2 hours

• cool garlic and grind in a mini chopper or processor

• store ground garlic in spice bottle or container

Note:

It is important to slice the garlic thinly otherwise it would take a longer time to dehydrate the garlic.

The garlic is ready for grinding if the slices are completely crumbly and snap easily in your hand.

I am to able to fill a recycled McCormick spice bottle(8 oz) and keep some slices for garnishing my hibachi side dish.

The side dish is a quick stir fry of sliced cabbage and bean sprouts. You can also use other quick cooking vegetables like zucchini, peppers, julienned carrots, etc. Top the cooked vegetables with the garlic slices. Yum!

I find garlic powder useful when making garlic bread. When I have a stale baguette, I will usually just slice it up, brush with a paste of melted butter, garlic powder, shaved Parmesan and chopped parsley. As usual, I will freeze the slices of baguette in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Then transfer into a container and store in freezer.

It takes only four minutes to toast these crunchy bread in an oven toaster. Great with pasta or some creamy wild mushroom soup. There is no need to fire up the oven. It takes up too much time and electricity.

(Bowtie tuna pasta with garlic bread for lunch.)

Another great idea for ground garlic is to combine with some salt to make garlic salt to flavour your stirfries and stews.