Garlic Bread

Happy Garlic Day!

I absolutely love garlic, I can't get enough of it, I probably eat some most days, its great at adding depth of flavour to a dish. I use fresh garlic, garlic granules, garlic salt and garlic purée and sometimes all of the above! 

Then there is always the pleasure of foraging for wild garlic also known as ramsons. You may have come across it whilst walking through a wood or along a stream. It has pretty white flowers and luscious green leaves. You will find it in most places where you find bluebells, it thrives in damp woodlands and partial shade.

Although it looks very similar to lilly of the valley, which is poisonous to eat, you will never get the two plants mixed up because of the pungent smell in the air when you're walking through it. If you're still in any doubt bruise the leaves slightly and if it doesn't smell of garlic then leave well alone! 

Although you can eat the bulbs and flowers, the leaves are what you're looking for. The leaves are not as intense as domestic garlic, and taste great raw or cooked. As soon as I get my hands on some I'll post some recipes for you to try.

Meanwhile, on with the great garlic show, this isn't a recipe as such, more like a refresher on how to make the most tasty homemade vegan garlic bread ever!

Ingredients
Bread of your choice, homemade or bought
6-8 cloves of garlic, depending on how strong you like it
A few glugs of good olive oil
Handfull of finely chopped parsley
Sprinkling of salt

Method
Slice your bread any which way you choose, I tend to slice it length ways as that's the easiest to soak up the garlicky oil.

Finely chop the garlic with a knife, adding a little salt as you crush it. Finely chop the fresh parsley and mix it into the chopped garlic.

Add a few glugs of good quality olive oil and mix it into the chopped garlic and parsley, spreading it out on the board to the same length as your cut bread. 

Soak up the garlicky oil by pressing the cut side of the bread into it, mopping up every last bit. Place the two sides of cut bread together and if there is any oil left on your board run the bread through it before wrapping in silver foil. Bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes depending on the crunch you prefer.

Enjoy!