Get Perfectly Roasted Garlic in a Matter of Minutes by Maggie Reed on Creators.com

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Get Perfectly Roasted Garlic in a Matter of Minutes

There's nothing like slathering a piece of roasted garlic on a good piece of bread. But roasting a few cloves of garlic in a large oven is not only a waste of time, it is also a waste of energy.

The Roasted Garlic Express roasts up to three bulbs of garlic in 27 minutes, as opposed to the normal one to two hours in a conventional oven.

The new Stainless Steel Roasted Garlic Express comes equipped with a digital timer that counts down the minutes to assure perfectly roasted bulbs of garlic every time. Two small buttons on the roaster allow the addition or subtraction of minutes from the roasting time for customized bulbs to fit individual tastes and uses.

To roast, simply cut each garlic bulb upside down, add two tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt to taste. Put the bulbs in, close the lid and hit start. When the light goes off, open the lid, clip the handle to the cup, place on a heat resistant surface and enjoy.

Made in the shape of a garlic bulb, it is extremely compact with storage included for the cord; it fits into any home decor.

The Roasted Garlic Express includes a removable nonstick roasting cup with a detachable handle, a terra cotta ring beneath the roasting cup that requires a small amount of moisture to effectively roast the garlic and an automatic shut-off for safety that turns off when the cycle is complete. The nonstick interior makes cleanup a breeze.

Available in stainless steel, white gloss, black chrome and terra cotta finishes, suggested retail prices range from $35 to $50 and all units come with a one-year limited warranty. For more information, visit www.roastedgarlicexpress.com.

GARLIC BUDDIES

As with snowflakes, it seems there are no two garlic cloves alike. Thus, the Garlic Buddies.

When Todco, a subsidiary of the Hannon Group, started testing its Roasted Garlic Express it was discovered each had its own personality.

For example, some of the garlic bulbs were stubborn and would not roast at the same speed as others.

After modifying the design and adding a terra cotta ring to ensure consistent cooking, the roasting problem was solved.

But it gave Todd Hannon, president of the Hannon Group, an idea.

"Coming from a toy designer background, I thought it was a cute idea to make a plush character out of garlic," Hannon said.

Included in the group are Wilard (stubborn garlic buddy), Jo Jo (happy garlic buddy) and Annabelle (diva garlic buddy).

The set retails for $15. For more information, visit www.roastedgarlicexpress.com.

TO YOUR HEALTH

Garlic may not be the good choice for a first date, but it's a good choice for good health. According to numerous studies:

— Garlic boosts the immune system and increases resistance to allergies, colds, anemia and asthma.

— Rubbing the juicy side of a freshly cut clove on sensitive arthritic areas can alleviate the pain quickly.

— Garlic kills 60 types of fungi and yeast.

— People who consume garlic on a regular basis have a lower rate of stomach and colon cancer. Garlic contains vitamins that stimulate the immune system to eliminate toxins and combat carcinogens.

— Eleanor Roosevelt attributed her great memory to eating three cloves of garlic a day.

Maggie Reed may be reached at trocar2000@hotmail.com. To find out more about Maggie Reed and other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.