Dandelions-Not A Weed! I made Tea! pg 3

[Jared77]

Just one more reason for the neighbors to think I've totally lost it. I love it! Thank you Bay I'm going to start stocking up so I can make dandelion jelly (cause we don't make enough already lol) Seriously we probably process a combined average of around 100 quarts of berries a year.

Thank you thank you thank you!

 

[seedcorn]

Does dandelion jelly taste like honey to everyone else? If so, will give it a whirl.

Dandelion pizza will be given a try as well

 

[digitS']

OMG!

Next you'll be putting arugula on something!

Steve

 

[seedcorn]

OMG!

Next you'll be putting arugula on something!

Steve
[url]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h22/Digit_007/Just%204%20Fun/runforhills.gif[/url]

If meant for me....no grew it for wife. Bitter. She didn't eat it either

 

[digitS']

At least we are willing to try new things, Seedcorn.

. . . and, learn from our mistakes!

Dang, that stuff nearly brings tears to my eyes and we are supposed to eat it raw in a salad. Now, I've had pretty good dandelion greens before but, have had to do like Hoodat suggests and pour off the 1st water. It would probably work for the arugula too but . . . as a salad ingredient?!

Bay' what about lamb's quarters and red-root pigweed? Sorrel? Any experience there? Sorrel (snicker), Bay (snicker).

S'

 

[baymule]

No Steve, (snicker)
No experience with lambs quarters (tasty, but lamb is so high and I can't have sheep in city limits), sorrel (I have a sorrel horse, does that count?), red root pigweed (huh?) snicker, snicker.

 

[digitS']

Now, don't go chewing on that sorrel horse! See, that's probably Bay's problem, her horse & mules are eating all of her weeds for her .

Sorrel, I don't know much about. It isn't a common weed around here. I just found a little patch of it invading a garden when I had one along the banks of the river. Maybe where it likes to live. Here is a little something from WiseGeek about sorrel. I suppose I should have tried it in a soup: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-sorrel.htm

Lambs quarters and pigweed are supposedly related but they can't be too close. They are both very tasty greens and, usually, so common that you can have a hard time beating them back with a stick (or hoe). Everyone who has an opportunity to try them at the table - should!

Lambs quarters is a cousin to spinach. Pigweed is an amaranth and so, 2nd cousin to beets and chard.

Steve

 

[hoodat]

Watch out for that sorrel. The sour taste can perk up a salad in small amounts but if you have any problems with kidneys (especially kidney stones) leave it out. Sorrel contains oxalic acid which can crystalize and collect in the kidneys.

 

[digitS']

Ouch!

I've wondered about the oxalic acid in rhubarb - if there is enuf in the stems to make problems for some people . . .

Sorrel doesn't seem to show up much of anywhere around here but I see little patches of it now and then.

I thought about taking a picture today of my self-inflicted weed. The purple orache reseeds itself (with my blessings) in great numbers but the plants are still small. I've got quite a patch of them in the last bed to cultivate and sow. Orache is really close to spinach in flavor & tenderness but the purple color is sensational! It will be the first veggie out of those gardens. I have to move some of it around so it doesn't all get trampled!

Steve

 

[seedcorn]

Ok Steve, tell me about this purple orache.