the simple things that make me feel rich
this is not a gratitude list
On Wednesday afternoon I started sneezing; loud, violent sneezes that signalled something a bit more serious. You know that moment when you realise you’re getting sick? The dread of it! I cooked bolognese and while it bubbled I sipped on a powdered vitamin C drink and then crunched a few raw garlic cloves feeling sorry for myself.
My intuition was obviously telling me something earlier in the day when I started making chicken broth for chicken soup which I planned to add to the freezer as a nutritional insurance policy for the dark, cold months ahead. I added a ladle-full to the bolognese and then poured some into a cup and sipped on it for the rest of the night. It was warming and peppery. A tonic.
In April I planted Tasmanian purple garlic clovers in the garden and now the bed has erupted in lively green shoots. Of course, I can’t see how the garlic is fairing; I’ll have to wait till summer when the shoots are yellowed and drooping to pull them out and measure my success or failure. I’m hopeful.
Purple garlic is small and potent and because it’s grown locally I buy whole paper bags full of it and tuck it in the recesses of the cupboard to protect it from the light. It is one of the most important ingredients in my kitchen and it may be why it’s been nine months between head colds. I add it to most meals — at least three cloves. I like to think I’m bolstering the whole family with potent plant immunity. Having these bulbs on hand makes me feel rich.