Cooking lunch today, I noticed that my garlic had gone bad. Now, garlic is an absolute staple in our kitchen and I had planned something that was supposed to be just like always, one of the few dishes where I don’t freestyle.

Good news: it’s mild outside and the snow is gone. So I got the trowel out and went over to the parents’ kitchen garden:

That’s a kind of garlic. Usually we use just the green parts, but today the (tiny) bulbs were just what I needed.

Kitchen/vegetable gardens are awesome :D I wonder what the dish was though? What did you make that absolutely required fresh garlic?

@Tinkeringbell Mussels.

@Stephie what are muskels?

Disappointed! I was so certain that you must know some exotic wonderful dish I've never heard of. Something like pelmeni, but from some other country whose cuisine I haven't tried.

Well, it’s a recipe I got from a small Italian restaurant where hubby’s family went all the time when he was a teen and we as a young couple sometimes, when we had a little money for a romantic dinner.

so sweet!

The restaurant doesn’t exist anymore and now it’s the go-to prep method for mussels in our house. I wouldn’t dare to change this particular dish.

It starts with sweating some onions and garlic in olive oil, then a good splash of white wine. Reduced to almost nothing, then a can of crushed tomatoes, some thyme and a bay leaf go in. Again reduced well at high heat. Mussels go in and after a few minutes they are done and their juice together with the tomato mix makes a lovely broth ready to be soaked up with fresh baguette or similar.

Yummmmm.

Although I admit I don't really recall the taste of mussels. I've only eaten them once.

But I suppose the sauce makes them what they are, in that dish.

It’s a major element, yes.

It’s like an “italianized” version of moules marinières.

See, you know international dishes I'm not aware of, after all :)

Not sure what’s different this year though, usually this time of the year I could get mussels easily at all supermarkets. (Although I will never, ever buy them at one specific store again.) This year - nada. But trusty fishmonger to the rescue.

I'm slowly heading to bed, with a bit of book reading first. Went on a hike today, that always helps with early sleep.

Good night!

Good night!