Julia Childs Easy Peel Garlic Food

JULIA CHILD'S BAKED CUCUMBERS WITH ALL VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Peel the cucumbers.
• Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
• Cut into lengthwise strips about 3/8 inch wide.
• Cut strips into 2 inch pieces.
• Toss the cucumber in a bowl with the vinegar, salt and sugar.
• Let stand for 30 minutes to several hours.
• Drain and pat dry in a towel.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Toss the cucumbers in a baking dish with the butter, herbs, scallions and pepper.
• Set uncovered in the middle level of the preheated oven for about an hour, tossing 2-3 times, until cucumbers are tender, but still have a suggestion of crispiness and texture. They will barely color during cooking.
• Variation One: Parslied Cucumbers.
• In a warm vegetable dish toss with 2 Tbsp minced parsley.
• Variation Two: Creamed Cucumbers.
• Boil 1 cup whipping cream until it has reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper, fold into the hot baked cucumbers, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

JULIA'S AMERICAN-STYLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and slice each one lengthwise in half, or in quarters if very large; then cut crosswise into half-round or quarter-round slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Put the slices in a saucepan with water just to cover and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt per quart of water. Heat to a simmer, and cook the potatoes for 5 to 6 minutes, or until just cooked through. It is essential that they be just cooked through. Bite into a slice or two to be very sure. Immediately remove from the heat and drain the potatoes into a colander, but save a cup of the cooking liquid for dressing the potatoes. Transfer bowl. Stir the cider vinegar with 1/3 cup of the potato water or chicken stock and drizzle this over the potato pieces, turning them gently to distribute it evenly. Let sit 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
• Add the prepared onion, celery, bacon, pickle, hard-boiled eggs, and chives, and season carefully, to taste. Top with 2/3 cup of mayonnaise (or a mix of mayonnaise and a bit of sour cream) and, with a large rubber spatula, gently fold everything together until well blended. Taste the salad and add more salt, pepper, or mayonnaise as needed.
• Cover the salad and set aside in the refrigerator for at least an hour or so before serving. If it is refrigerated longer, let it come back to room temperature before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning again.
• To serve, line a bowl or a platter with red-leaf lettuce or other greens, and mound the salad on top. Decorate at the last moment, if you wish, with any or all of the optional garnishes.

JULIA CHILD'S EASY PEEL GARLIC

Steps:

• Remove all the cloves of garlic from the head.
• Take a smallish saucepan and heat to boiling about a cup or two of water; add the cloves of garlic and simmer for 1 minute.
• Drain the water and peel the garlic (which should be softish and should peel easily) - peeling an entire head can take about 5+ minutes, depending on how accustomed you are to doing it.
• Use in whatever recipe(s) you'd like!
• You can store the peeled garlic in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
• Note: you can, of course, even do a single clove in this manner - I just like to do a bunch at a time.

JULIA CHILD METHOD OF PREPARING GARLIC

Steps:

• Remove all the cloves of garlic from the head.
• Take a smallish saucepan and heat to boiling about a cup of water; add the cloves of garlic and simmer for about 1 minute- drain, peel the garlic (which should be softish and should peel easily) and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter together with the olive oil over medium heat.
• Reduce the temperature low, then add the peeled garlic cloves to the butter mixture; stir well.
• Saute slowly on lowest heat until tender and golden, at least 20 minutes (but it can take as long as 30, depending on your stove), stirring and checking occasionally to make sure they do not burn.
• Remove from heat, drain, and use in whatever recipe you'd like- I enjoy salting them to taste and spreading them on crisp crackers at this point!

JULIA CHILD'S PUREE OF PUMPKIN AND WHITE BEANS (ADAPTED)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425.
• Cook the first three ingredients in 3 Tbsp butter until tender.
• Add the garlic, herbs, and 1/4 cup water.
• Boil slowly until the liquid has evaporated.
• Remove the bay leaf.
• Pulse the squash and beans with the the onions, celery, and carrots in a food processor until you have a puree.
• Beat in the eggs, cream and all but 2 Tbsp of the cheese.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Use 1 Tbsp butter to butter a oven proof casserole.
• Spoon in the puree.
• Dot the top with the remaining cheese and butter.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the upper third of the oven.
• The puree should be bubbling and the top brown.

JULIA CHILD'S ASPARAGUS SIMMERED IN ONIONS, GARLIC, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Before peeling asparagus, start on the marinade. In a heavy saucepan, cook onions slowly in the olive oil with garlic, zest, herbs, and bay leaf. When tender (about 10 minutes), add peppercorns, wine, lemon juice, water, and salt. Cover and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes.
• Peel asparagus. Lay in a flameproof casserole dish and pour marinade over so asparagus is just covered with liquid (more water may be added if needed). Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer slowly for 20 minutes, or until asparagus is tender. Take out asparagus and arrange on serving platter. Boil down the cooking liquid until lightly syrupy and spoon over the asparagus. Sprinkle with parsley.