I’ll start: pesto as a bagel topping.

  • I’m assuming you’ve had pickled garlic, then? I just picked up 2 jars of it recently. I have to stop myself from eating too much sometimes. Raw garlic is great for me when I have a bad cold and need to clear out my sinuses.

    • I have, and I’m with you - pickled garlic is so good. I also love that it’s super easy to toss in a few (or more than a few) cloves of garlic alongside whatever else is going in the pickle jar, or to put them in some leftover brine after the original batch of pickles is finished.

      Since you mentioned liking raw garlic for your sinuses when you have a cold, have you ever tried saving the brine from your pickled garlic for similar purposes? If not, I’d highly recommend it. I’ve found that sipping or gargling pickle brine works wonders when I need some relief from a sore throat, and if the vinegar is strong enough I’ve found it helps my sinuses as well.

      • I happen to be suffering from a sore throat right now from horrible allergies, so I’ll have to remember to try this as soon as I get home.

        As far as other pickled things, I ironically hate pickled cucumbers, but I love pickled eggs and pickled garlic and have been curious to try some other unconventional pickled foods.

        • I hope that the brine helped you with your sore throat!

          For other non-cucumber pickles, a great way to dip your toes in might be pickled onion (I like red onion best for this, but that’s my personal preference), or pickled carrots. Both of these make excellent toppings for sandwiches of all kinds, tacos, poke, basically anything that could use a little acid or some extra crunch

          I’m also quite partial to pickled cauliflower and pickled beets for general snacking