Growing Garlic

Garlic varieties will fall into two main types: hardneck and softneck. You can tell the difference easily by looking and feeling for a rigid, pencil-like stalk in the center of the garlic bulb. The hardneck varieties will have this stalk. Softneck varieties will have paper-like skins covering the cloves within the bulb. Grocery store garlic will be a softneck variety because it can be stored for up to 18 months. Hardneck varieties will generally only store well for up to 9 months.

Roasted Garlic Scape Hummus

Garlic Scape Hummus Recipe - Rusty Plow Farms

I created this quick and easy garlic scape mock hummus recipe as a delicious snack for dipping with pita chips or bagel chips. Unlike a traditional hummus, this garlic scape hummus recipe uses sunflower seeds instead of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) as the base. You could substitute the sunflower seeds with garbanzo beans if you prefer.

5 Ways To Cook With Garlic Scapes

Garlic Scapes - Rusty Plow Farms

Here are my five favorite ways to cook with garlic scapes. When using the scape, I prefer to remove and discard the flowering tip of the scape. It tends to be more fibrous and it leaves my pesto with a stringy texture the first time I didn’t remove the bulbous tip.

Healthy Carrot Muffins

Healthy Carrot Muffins - Rusty Plow Farms, Marysville, OH

When carrots are abundant, I like to shred them, measure out 2 cups and vacuum seal them using my FoodSaver vacuum sealer. Then I pop the shredded carrots into the freezer so I have them on hand for when the baking mood hits me. We really like this recipe for carrot muffins. They make a great, quick breakfast and after-dinner snack.

Perfect Hard Cooked Eggs Using The Instant Pot

Hard cooked Eggs - Rusty Plow Farms

After many attempts, I’ve finally developed the best method for hard-cooking farm-fresh eggs. Ready? I steam them in my Instant Pot! Consider one if you don’t yet have an electronic pressure cooker appliance. It has replaced my slow cooker, rice steamer, and my old-fashioned stove-top pressure cooker, so I justified the expense on the space savings.