Gourmet Flavor and No Costs Involved!

Gourmet Flavor and No Costs Involved

The other day I was visiting a good friend and she had a huge patio pot sitting on her porch, full of lovely green onions growing like crazy.  What a wonderful idea, just steps from the kitchen and you can easily pull a green onion or two!  The best part?  She got them for free because she had bought a bunch of green onions, cut the tops off and planted the left-over bulbs.  And she was keeping them going by cutting the greens to use in her dishes and letting them grow!

Another good way to get a mild onion or garlic flavor into your cooking is with Chives or Garlic Chives.  I’ve had a stand of both in my flower bed for many years.  Once you plant, they return every year.  Both are perennial.  A milder version of the green onion, they can still be used in every dish you would use green onions in.  You can add them to stir-fries, sauces, egg dishes and more.

Chives are super easy to grow.  I generally cut mine back late spring after they have finished blooming, and they come back lush and green within a week.  Garlic Chives too are easy to manage.  They have white blooms; the regular Chives have lavender-colored blossoms.  The Chives have dark green spears just waiting to be snipped and added to dishes and they impart a mild onion flavor.  The Garlic Chives or Chinese Leeks as they have been called, have flat blades and have a mild garlic flavor.  Neither takes up much room and once it gets going. 

Here's a recipe for a quick, easy dinner using Chives:

Alfredo Sauce

4 tablespoons Butter

2 Large Garlic Cloves (minced)

¼ cup All Purpose Flour

3 cups Whole Milk (warmed)

2 cups Parmesan Cheese

½ teaspoon each Salt and Pepper

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Chives

Make a roux by melting butter in a skillet and adding the minced garlic (let cook about 1 minute).  Once melted, add the flour and cook about 1 minute to get rid of the flour taste.  To this roux, add the milk and cook until bubbly and thick.  Stir in the parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and chopped Chives. 

Grab some left-over grilled chicken and cook some noodles.  Toss everything together and snip some Chives on top.  Serve with some warm crusty bread and a nice side salad, and you have a great economical meal in minutes!