Chickweed: Cooling herb and tasty too! Backyard Groceries

EAT IT RAW.....ON SALADS....COOLS YOUR HEAD IN THE SUMMER AS A COMPRESS RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND

What gets praise from some and cursed by others? Costs $15 per pound to buy and kill?

       THESE LITTLE WEEDS!

 

While reading online I realized some farmers are growing dandelions ON PURPOSE! Most local folks I know cuss this weed every summer as they try to keep it out of their manicured landscaping. I've been caught "looking normal" several times picking these weeds out of my yard too, but little do they know, I have been forcing my family to eat these little flowers, their leaves, and roots for a few years now.  Actually, I only had to "force feed" them once, then they were hooked!  "Tempura Dandelions" seems to be the favorite around here! And with our five year old, anything he can dip in ketchup is a BIG HIT!  Just get a Tempura batter recipe you like and dip the flowers and greens in the batter, fry, and you have a great snack that beats tater tots!  Plus, It's a great conversation piece!!  "What are you cooking tonight, Jane?"...."Oh, I don't know, maybe some yard clippings, Bob."  

If you're into the healthier non-deep-fried treat, not to worry, try picking a few of the leaves and new flowers to add to your favorite green salad for additional vitamins and color!  Also, the greens on these little weeds are great cooked just like spinach or sauteed with some olive oil and onion.   The flower buds can be made into pickles and there are numerous recipes for dandelion wines, jelly, root tea, and anything else you can imagine out there on the internet. 

Bewildering as it is, some people spend $15 per pound to kill the dandelions from their yard while others buy the teas and roots for about the same price to increase the health of their livers and digestive system....GO FIGURE! Actually, with the cost of Garden Weasels, Weed Whackers, Roundup, and intensive labor invested in the destruction of this deep rooting, fast growing plant, I'm sure the price-tag to destroy the dandelion FAR exceeds $15 per pound!  

So, let me offer you the following solution:  Take-a-break, America!  Sit back, relax with some dandelion root tea, enjoy the beautiful yellow speckled yards, mix up a pot of dandelion greens and BE VERY THANKFUL you never have to worry about killing this wonderful, culinary herb ever again!  

IT'S ABOUT TIME THE ELDERBERRY SHINED! GO MISSOURI SAMBUCUS!!

http://muconf.missouri.edu/ElderberrySymposium/

An International Symposium on Elderberry!! IT'S ABOUT TIME! These small tree's grow wild all over Missouri, I have a couple favorites along an unmentioned roadside here locally I like to harvest from. I'm always afraid ambitious road crew will chop them down. Maybe as the health benefits and uses gain international attention the plant will be a protected, cherished species instead of a disposable ditch weed!

http://postlogger.com/social/blog/view/6443/give-me-your-sambucus