Trendy Roasted Garlic

The gumption of the first person who warily bit into a clove from a roasted head of garlic ranks almost up there with the nerve it took for the first person to taste a raw oyster. In recent years, a legion of fearless folks have tried it; they like the vegetable's subtle (yes, garlic can be subtle!), buttery mellowness, and have turned it into a trendy item. So how do you roast garlic, and, more importantly, what do you do with it once you've roasted it?

• 1 medium head garlic
• 2 tsp. olive oil

1. Peel away the dry outer leaves of skin from the head of the garlic. Leave skins of cloves intact. Cut off the pointed top portion (about 1/4 inch) with a knife, leaving the bulb intact but exposing the individual cloves.

2. Place garlic head, cut side up, in a small baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake, covered, in a 400 degree F oven for 25 to 35 minutes or until cloves feel soft when pressed.

3. Use the soft garlic paste warm or cooled. If serving warm, such as for a bread spread, use the tip of a knife to remove the paste from each clove. If using the paste as a seasoning, remove the cooled garlic paste from the head by cutting off its stem end. Use your fingers to squeeze the paste from each clove into a small bowl; discard the skins. Mash the garlic paste with a fork until smooth.

4. Roast several bulbs at a time to have on hand for seasoning. Freeze the paste in ice cube trays or wrap small portions in heavy plastic wrap; put into freezer bags and freeze. Thaw to use. Or, refrigerate the paste in an airtight container or wrapped in heavy plastic for up to one week.