Chopped Garlic

Love garlic but hate chopping it up into little bits? Buy it pre-chopped in jars and never have smelly garlic fingers again! A half-teaspoon of chopped garlic equals one clove. For those who have little time or patience for cooking, a jar of chopped garlic adds loads of possibilities. Add a heaping spoonful to spice up a big jar of prepared spaghetti sauce (and add some pre-chopped mushrooms while you're at it). Steam the vegetable of your choice for a couple minutes in the microwave, then finish it off by stir-frying it in a pan with some cooking spray and garlic (or you can use vegetable or chicken broth instead of the spray for extra flavor - in that case, you can skip the steaming). Cook rice in broth and a bit of garlic, add a couple tablespoons of slivered almonds - yummy pilaf! Add it to mashed potatoes. Cook your chicken or fish with it. Studies have shown that garlic can help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, and that it has anti-oxidant properties. It also tastes great and enhances the flavor of loads of dishes (except for dessert, of course). A jar of chopped garlic will last several weeks in your refrigerator - but it's so easy to add to whatever you're cooking, you'll probably run out a lot quicker!