Roasted Garlic Bulb

1 large/jumbo garlic bulb
Kosher salt
Olive oil
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Grab your garlic bulb and carefully trim the tips off.... 

...so that all garlic cloves are exposed.

Place the bulb on a piece of foil large enough to wrap the bulb in.  Sprinkle generously with kosher salt.

Drizzle generously with olive oil

Gather the foil from the bottom up and then twist at the top.  Place foil covered garlic bulb on small oven proof dish or pan in the preheated oven for 1 hr. 15 minutes.

When it's done, undo the foil at the top, open just enough to let out the steam and the wonderful aromas.  Once the bulb is cool enough to handle, take a spoon and start scooping out the cloves one at a time.  Don't throw away the foil just yet, drizzle any leftover olive oil over the cloves.  This oil is full of caramelized, luscious garlic flavor.  Now, this is a fun part although a little sticky and messy, I love the way the cloves slide and pop out.  Make sure to empty the whole bulb.

Once all the cloves are out start smooshing (is that a word?) them with the back of the spoon to make the paste.  Take out any tough skins.  If you'd rather put it in a food processor and mix it up that way, that's fine too.  Make sure to store it in a very tight lid container.  Yields about 3-4 tbsps.

So, now you're asking, "What in the heck do I use this for?"  Try it in your mashed potatoes.  Here's how:

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

5 lbs. potatoes, cut in quarters.

1/2 stick of butter, softened.

Kosher salt

Pepper

2 cups whole milk (or 1 cup cream and 1 cup milk)

Garlic paste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Boil your potatoes the way you usually do.  When the potatoes are done boiling, scoop them out and place them on a large cookie sheet then place them in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.  In the meantime, in a small saucepan heat the milk then add two tbsps. of the garlic paste.  Mix and stir until well blended and heated through.  Simmer for a few minutes being careful not to burn the milk.  When the potatoes are done in the oven, take them out and place them in a large bowl, add the butter and start mashing.  Add the heated milk mixture a little at a time just until you reach the consistency you like.  Salt & pepper to flavor.  Serve to your family and don't forget to say thank you what with all the compliments you'll be getting!  :)
(Store any leftover garlic paste and use in whatever other recipes you can think of ~ share some with me if you'd like :)  )

I had a wonderful time in my kitchen this past Thanksgiving.  I made all my usual dishes:  Roasted Turkey|Ham|Green Bean Casserole|Garlic Mashed Potatoes|Giblet Dresssing|Candies Yams|Cranberry Sauce|Yeast Rolls.  Grandma brought her famous Corn Casserole and Amy Grace brought her delicious Blueberry Pie to go along with the my  Pumpkin and Chocolate Cream Pie.  A feast indeed!! (Click on "Roasted Turkey" to see what recipe I used).

The only thing I'm sorry about is that on Thanksgiving Eve, I dressed the turkey and oh she looked SOOOOO beautiful.  Here she is:

Is she beautiful???  Dressed to kill!!  But did I take a picture of her when she was done??  NOOOOOOO!  I'm so mad at myself.  I simply got way too busy (as you may imagine) and time just slipped away and the next thing I know, she's all sliced up and placed on the platter :(  wahhhhh!  She really was beautiful too when she came out of the oven.  Perfectly uniform in a luscious roasted brown color!  She was also VERY delicious, got many compliments on her, especially on one family member who doesn't like turkey but took a bite and really liked it.  Mission accomplished!!  ~isavortheweekend

Happy Thanksgiving, from our house to yours!