Aglio
Boys hawking garlic and onions in old Napoli.
I've been learning more about the history of the relationship between human beings and garlic than I really need to know. Yet I wouldn't be an honorable Italian if I did not genuinely appreciate the ostentatious bulb. Many health benefits are attributed to garlic, such as its lowering of cholesterol and other things mean to your heart. I especially like garlic bread...though oddly I rarely have it. I guess my favorite and most common garlic preparation is spaghetti aglio e olio. It's simpler than simple...chopped garlic lightly sautéed in virgin olive oil and tossed with any al dente strand-pasta, served with lots of good grated cheese and pepper, black and red. Variations abound. Anchovies added to the preparation make it a kick-ass dish. Here's one detailed recipe. Bad breath be damned! Hell, I believe garlic can actually camouflage even terminal halitosis.