Onions and Garlic

[carrie]

I have today been given 12 kilo of onions, with the shoots still on and 5 kilo of garlic tops on too, it is going to take me forever to eat it what's the best way to store it?

[Glyphdoctor]

Cut and remove the fresh (not dried up, wilted, or slimy parts) of the stalks and chop them up and you can make soup from them. I do this with my garlic and then tie the heads up in a scarf and have them hanging on the balcony door latches so it is ventilated but no insects can get in it and remove it as I need it.

[HEPZIBAH]

Some of the garlic you could prepare and store in oil - seasoned or unseasoned to your taste. That way you will have a ready supply of 'garlic oil' for salad dressings and cooking and the garlic can also still be used but won't have dried out at all.

[Glyphdoctor]

The garlic will keep until next year as long as you keep the insects out and allow it to be ventilated. I buy all my garlic when it is fresh in March and April and then store it for use until next season. Onions won't last so long. I've got a good recipe for French onion soup base that can be stored in the freezer for at least 6-9 months that you just add some soup to later to make soup that would help knock out some of the onions.

[HEPZIBAH]

Now you have me thinking about onions and I've just remembered that I didn't stock up on my usual onion relish (chutney) when I was in Sainsburys today.

[Chocolate Eclair]

Both of these are good for Mossie bites, if you cut one in half and bandage the flat side to the bite, it will be good quickly. So even if you have a lot Carrie, they can be used for more than just food, and the mossie season is starting to get busy.

I walked around with half an onion on my leg for 2 days, not a pretty sight or smell, but trousers covered it well. The result was amazing!!

[carrie]

Thanks a lot CE but I think I will stick to the cream, do you want me to lose my friends?

[Who2]

My kitchen terrace is surrounded by a lot of very nicely platted ropes of garlic all dried to mummification stage and I can safely say that I have not noticed any vampires around recently, only the odd mental vampire, and "I slay them..

[BBLUX]

Oh dear Carrie,
I think the whole village is going to smell your "toom and basil" soup cooking. Have you got a 100Lt cooking pot?