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August 19th, 2025

Small Bites: Garlic Girl Summer

  1. Small Bites: Garlic Girl Summer Christine Van Bloem 11:35

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Join me in the Empty Nest Kitchen as I share expert tips and techniques for cooking with garlic. From selecting the perfect garlic bulbs to using raw and roasted garlic in various dishes, we'll covers it all. Learn how to store garlic properly, the benefits of different garlic forms, and even get a sneak peek into my mini course 'Just Add Sauce'. Discover how to bring out the best flavors from this magical ingredient and enhance your culinary skills.

00:00 Welcome to the Empty Nest Kitchen
00:34 The Magic of Garlic
02:14 Choosing and Storing Fresh Garlic
03:57 Alternatives to Fresh Garlic
06:31 Using Raw Garlic
08:29 Roasting Garlic for Deeper Flavors
10:22 Experiment with Garlic
10:40 Join My Mini Course
11:14 Conclusion and Farewell

Find more information on Just Add Sauce: The No-Cook Mediterranean Fix

Hi! I’m Christine, and I’m super stoked to be cooking, writing, and helping everyone sink into to a better life. If you’re looking for healthier recipes for one and two, or want to add more delightful cocktails into your repertoire, you’re in the right place.

My philosophy is simple:

It’s a meal, not a mortgage.

Real food is the most important factor in good cooking.

If you’re going to drink, drink in moderation and always drink the good stuff.

I’ve been teaching cooking for a long, long time, and I am still excited to cook, teach, and share with you. If you’ve got a question, I’ll work hard to give you an answer so that you’re better and more confident in the kitchen. Hey, it’s a meal not a mortgage, so there’s nothing to stress about and only fun to be had.

With a heart attack in 2020, loss of my brick & mortar cooking school business of 15 years, broken bones, and even my husband having a stroke, and all within just a couple of months, I've been through it! BUT, I’m a lucky gal with endless support and a deep gratitude for everything that I do have. It’s not always easy, but I’m working to make sure that it stays fun.

Post heart attack, I’m reforming my butter-loving, heavy cream worshiping ways by making changes to how I cook, taking things in a healthier direction, without doing a complete 180 and still keeping things flavorful and delightful. The key here is healthier. I’m not afraid of butter, but I’m using a touch instead of stick. A tablespoon or two of cream or half-and-half, not a cup, and so on and so forth. And now that the kids are grown and living lives on their own, I’m re-learning how to cook for two.