What? A festival revolving garlic? Are you wondering what a garlic festival might be other than a group of people walking around with breath that leaves you weak in the knees? This garlic festival is a two day extravaganza of fun, great food, crafts, music, arts and of course buying garlic to eat and plant and learning how to grow, braid and cook the "stinking rose".
Nonetheless when we arrived you couldn't help but wake to the smell of garlic!
There was garlic laden food every step of the way at this festival including garlic burgers, dogs, corn on the cob, pork, and ice cream! Yes! Garlic ice cream which sounds a bit gross, but actually it tastes like a rich, vanilla ice cream infused with chopped garlic to confuse your senses! Then, there are these "Garlic Shooters" which I didn't have but
the "shooter" experience is reportedly followed by an immediate feeling of rejuvenation called the "shooter rush" and is the creation of the onion family. Garlic legend maintains that garlic is a stimulant which gives strength and protection. Modern research has begun to identify the ingredients in garlic which help prevent disease.Ingredients
1 clove garlic per person
1 - 2 slices lemon
Directions1 - 2 slices lemon
Chop garlic and scoop into a cup. Squeeze lemon juice into the garlic. Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of water. Swirl cup to achieve a circling motion and drink in one gulp.
I don't know... I just couldn't take my daughter up on her dare to try it..
Then there were the crafters, artists, music and fun!
Maybe one day I'll learn to braid garlic like this, but first I have to grow my garlic to the point where I can harvest garlic to braid!
Late last year I planted over 100 cloves of garlic and watched them slowly rot in my garden this year with all the rain we had all summer.
Next year I'm changing my entire garden to raised beds so the possibility of a good show of garlic is promising. Although, I do have to plant the cloves this year, I'll be coming up with a plan to make the most of the large amount of garlic I brought home this year.
I don't know... I just couldn't take my daughter up on her dare to try it..
Then there were the crafters, artists, music and fun!
For example this farmer who was teaching the art of garlic braiding!
Maybe one day I'll learn to braid garlic like this, but first I have to grow my garlic to the point where I can harvest garlic to braid!
Late last year I planted over 100 cloves of garlic and watched them slowly rot in my garden this year with all the rain we had all summer.
Next year I'm changing my entire garden to raised beds so the possibility of a good show of garlic is promising. Although, I do have to plant the cloves this year, I'll be coming up with a plan to make the most of the large amount of garlic I brought home this year.
For the serious garlic grower, what best to take a rest on than a garlic bench!
Did you know that some garlic even have legs?
Get back to your roots with this cool blue grass band!
Or, maybe you're into watching these dancers who practice old style dancing which was done in the fields way back when to chase away demons in the garlic fields! I'm wondering if that dance would have any effect on stink bugs?
Now for the main reason I enjoy this festival so much..
For the enormous amount of garlic one can buy for both cooking and growing! With over 60 varieties of garlic to chose from one can get easily overwhelmed with what type to buy! It's the only time I ever eat raw garlic as you really need to taste the different varieties before making your purchases. Some are mild, some are strong and some are just right. You can easily buy armfuls of garlic at every turn at this festival which is exactly what we did! We bought bag fulls of garlic for friends, for cooking and for planting! How can one resist?
The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival is presented by Kiwanis Club of Saugerties. This was their 23rd anniversary of holding this garlic lovers event. Every year they have a contest of who's artwork will bless the t-shirt sold at the festival. This years shirt was a painting of the founder of the festival, Pat Reppert.
Otherwise known as the "Queen of Garlic"!
If you've never been to a garlic festival you must go as it's a day of garlicky fun!
Garlic is one of the best natural antibiotics. I use it very often. Steeping an onion and a few gloves of garlic, drain and use the juice. A few tablespoons a couple times a day will halt a sore throat, ear infection or chest cold in no time.
ReplyDeleteIf you eat garlic regularly, you will not be bit by pests outside. No skeeters or biting flies. It's a good thing. :)
Now that looks like a fun festival! Really, garlic ice cream??? I know I could never get my husband to go. Garlic stays with him forever so I have never cooked with it. I only use the dried in my recipes. I think I would have enjoyed going to that.
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