Roasted Garlic

Roasting gives garlic a buttery texture and a rich, sweet flavor. It can be used alone as a spread, or as an ingredient in most recipes calling for garlic.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 or more whole garlic bulbs
Olive oil for brushing

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Line a baking sheet or small pan with aluminum foil.
2. Gently remove the loose, excess papery skin from each garlic bulb. Trim off the top stem and 1/4 to 1/2-inch of the garlic head (exposing the cloves directly to the heat speeds up the roasting process), but leave the cloves intact. Brush the outer skin and top with about 1 teaspoon olive and place on the prepared pan.
3. Bake the bulb(s) for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cloves feel very soft when pierced with the tip of a knife. Remove the garlic from the pan and let cool.
4. To use, separate the individual garlic cloves; slice the bottom from each and squeeze at the end to release the roasted garlic. Keeps for up to 3 days wrapped in plastic or a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.

Makes ? servings.

Tip: To roast garlic in the microwave, place the prepared garlic bulb on a paper towel. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute; turn the bulb upside-down, then microwave for about 1 more minute.