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Teva Tip 3 - Delicious Springtime Treats
If it is May, then it must be springtime. And this is the time to get out and try some of the delicious, wild edibles the Creator has made for us.
You do not have to travel far to find free eats that not only taste good but also are extremely healthy for you. One of my favorite wild edibles is the dandelion. Just about every part of the plant is edible.
My all-time favorite dandelion dish is Frittered Flower.
Simply pick the open yellow flower (being careful to snip it off right where the petals enter the base of the plant) and dip into a fritter batter. Drop the coated flowers into hot oil and deep fry until golden brown. You can also pick the young leaves (2-3 inches), boil in water for a few minutes and season with a lemon butter mixture for a great side dish. And, for you people who are looking for a good tasting, non-caffeine drink, almost nothing beats the dandelion root. Collect a bunch of thick roots and wash the dirt from them. Dry in a sunny place until you can crumble the root between your fingers (or break into small chunks). Place a few teaspoons of the powder or chunks into a tea ball and add to a cup of hot water. Let it soak for 10 minutes and prepare as you would a cup of coffee.
This is also a good time of year to collect garlic mustard. Simple snip the plant in half and use pieces of it to season soups, meats, omelets or anything else you would normally use garlic on.
It is best to cook the leaves and stalk before eating or you might find the taste overpowering.
You can use any plant identification book to see what dandelions or garlic mustard look like.
No other plant looks like them so you will not have to fear eating something that could hurt you. Remember to feel thankful to the Creator for each and every plant you collect. Have fun and let me know what you think of dandelions and garlic mustard plants after you try them. Email me at karen@njycamps.org and call the subject matter JNC Edible Plants.
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