3 garlic cloves means you take a head (bulb) of fresh garlic and take off three of the pieces (cloves) and peel them, then follow the recipe instructions. You will find the heads of fresh garlic in the produce section of the grocery store. You can also buy garlic that is already peeled, but it loses flavor over time. Whole cloves are actually a totally different spice. You will find them in the section of the store where all the spices are, in a little spice jar.