we use LOTS of garlic. I put almost a whole head of garlic in most things I make (including omelets, but not in chocolate chip cookies) I grew up eating cholent from the blech and I think it tastes better but we use a crock pot here so this is what I do that makes it awesome:
sautee onion and garlic (lots)
add meat to pan and brown it ALL over.
I let it sit on the fire for a little bit and then dump it into the crock pot with the barley potatoes etc.
I also make rice using soup instead of water and cut chicken into little pieces and mix it in.