Cookbook author and newsletter writer Caroline Chambers has replaced traditional floral arrangements with a more practical alternative: garlic braids. After years of sending flowers for birthdays and new babies, she grew frustrated by inconsistent freshness and short lifespans. A longtime reader introduced her to their family farm’s garlic braids, which Chambers now sends as thank-you gifts and special-occasion presents. The braids serve dual duty as striking kitchen decor and a versatile cooking staple, offering recipients months of culinary use rather than days of visual enjoyment.
(Illustration by Brooke Barker.)