Eat Those Weeds!

[moonbaby]

Thought I'd share a recipe I found with everyone! :D

Dandelion Syrup Deux

4 cups dandelion tops*
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 quart water
2 pounds sugar
Place tops in water and bring to a boil. Let boil for one minute, cover, and let stand overnight. Next day, strain and extract excess water. Discard flower tops. Mix with lemon juice and sugar and simmer until most of the water evaporates. Do not bring to a hard boil.
Let mixture cool, then simmer once more until the thickness of maple syrup. Good for pancakes and flapjacks.

* Be sure to use only dandelions that have not been exposed to pesticides, lead, herbicides or other chemicals. This includes dandelions growing on the side of roads. Unless you are sure that the flowers are chemical free, don't use them!

[donybee]

If I let it ferment can I get high? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[gardenlady]

for shame dony!!!!!!!!! ;) :lol: :lol: :lol:

i know a lot of people like dandelion things and my mom used to eat dandelion salad in the spring but that is one thing i just can't do. i have tried several versions and just can't hack it.

[donybee]

My neighbor used to make dandelion wine from the blossoms I think. I remember it was quite potent. I miss all his exotic wines since he passed away. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[MohaveKid]

I love dandelions ... I add lots of garlic .. some black pepper and several dabs of oil .. a touch of salt ... add in some sliced bermuda onion and then throw in a few ice cubes and in the freezer for five minutes or so to chill .. get some good bread and make dandelion sandwiches. :D

Although i have not picked them from the yards in maybe 32 years ! :( I get mine at the market.

Good Day ... B)

[boo]

aw mohave <_< Hey bud :wub: You can pick the dandelions out of my organic lawn any time you want. We've got tons of them too. :P Even let you use my dandelion picker & give you a map of all the doggy poo areas to avoid.

[MaryG]

Well Mohave I have to admit that never in my life have I heard of a dandylion sandwich! I suppose it's good but probably won't be trying that anytime soon.

[HarleyGal]

Danelion wine!! :rolleyes: That sure brings back some memories! :D My folks had an elderly friend who used to make the stuff and though I was too young to try it myself, I remember they said it had a real kick!! :D I do remember they put a mason jar of it in our cooler once for the trip home and some spilled out on the way. When we took the lid off that cooler the fumes almost knocked us down!! :lol:

[MohaveKid]

Boo .. your a veggie tarrian type .. Am I correct ?? .. and you never eat dandelions sandwiches ??? ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ... on you :P :D

Everyone ... should try one and report back !!! :D

All right ... I see there is much work to do here .... ;)

Good Day .... B)

[MrSeedy]

Not to complicate things as I often do , but I guess most folk's sense of taste are quite a blend of various tastes , being it bitter, sour, sweet, spicey, salty etc. etc. and tangy , but I find some greens too bitter for my taste and dandelions were one of them. while at the same time I do like a slightly bitter taste sometimes. I think it also depends of how old those leaves are and the youngest ones in early spring are much less bitter and much tastier maybe?? Meanwhile I do like the taste of most things prepared with vinegar, and would that be considered in the "bitter" taste category?? Meanwhile it reminds me that my mom has always stuck to iceberg lettuce , while I much prefer leaf lettuces, which she claims are much too bitter, and yesterday not finding any iceberg lettuce at my local Krogers for her grocery list, I knew she would "bitterly" complain, should I buy her leaf lettuce in place of the iceberg. Oh well, I've tried to convince her the leaf lettuce tastes better, but she'll have none of it!!

[Rowan]

dandelion tops are quite different in taste to the greens -- those yellow petals are practically candy (well, to me anyway) My favorite is to add them to pancakes (actually in the batter).
:D it's actually a fond childhood memory -- being sent out to the lawn early in the morning to pick a big bowl full of the yellow petals (no green parts allowed) and then comming back into the kitchen to watch while the dandelion pancakes were fried on the cast iron griddle of the old wood cookstove -- mum always made regular round shapes, but pop would make spell out our names in pancake letters :D

[MrSeedy]

I have to admit , I'd known the flowers were good for wine , but not tried them on their own for salads, and I'll have to remember that come this spring, and will taste some. I do like the nasturtium flowers , but haven't tried many of the others, that are said to be good in salads. I have tasted the daylily flowers and those are sort of sweet to my taste buds, but otherwise very bland in my estimation!!

[MaryG]

Rowan that's a very sweet memory. I just might have to try some of the yellow petals this year in various cooking.