Dandelions

 * !!!I'm not a doctor. Please talk to your doctors before you try any of these. I'm only telling you about plants that have been used for centuries and what they were said to be used for. I do not recommend using wild foraged plants!!!*

 

Dandelions-  

Dandelions have been used by numerous different cultures for multiple different purposes. I used to eat them when I was little because my nana would add them to salads (and pansies!) and I used to love it because the salads were always so pretty. Like a lot of other plants, almost every part of the dandilion is useable. The leaves of this plant are said to be a natural laxative and the roots are said to help with the liver, kidney and gallbladder. There is some evidence that the roots and flower may also help lower blood glucose. 

The best part is that ALL parts of this plant are edible. The leaves are high in vitamins A, B, C, E and K. They are also a great source of Potassium, Calcium,  Iron and Magnesium. You can eat the leaves in a salad or even cook them the way you would other greens.The flower itself are great for making tea, wine, infusing vinegar and honey, and pickling. If you remove the petals you can add it to desserts (the green part is very bitter)

Recipes- 

Creamy Dandelion quesadilla:

•  4 cups dandelion leaves
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter or coconut oil
• 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste
• Flour tortillas

1. Saute the onion and butter in a small frying pan.
2. add in the minced garlic and saute for about 2 minutes 
3. Add in the dandelion leaves and allow to wilt for around 3 or 4 minutes
4. mixe the cream cheese, tomato, and cheese in another bowl and mix well.
5. mix in the dandelion leaf mixture into the cheese mixture. mix and add to warm tortilla
6. fold tortilla in half, cut and serve! 

Fried dandelion flowers: 

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt 
• 1 tablespoon black ground pepper
• 4 eggs
• 80 unopened dandelion blossoms, stems removed
• 1/2 cup butter

1. combine salt, black pepper and flour in a large mixing bowl. mix until fully combined
2. mix eggs in a mixing bowl, add in dandelions until fully coated
3. melt butter in a large skillet
4. mix dandelions in dry mix, dip in egg mix again, dip in dry mix again and fry in pan until golden brown
5. allow excess butter to drain off and enjoy!

Dandelion flower cookies- 

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1 cup dry oatmeal
• 1/2 cup dandelion flowers

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. blend oil and honey, beat in the eggs and add vanilla
3. stir in flour and blossoms (make sure the blossoms are washed and the greens have been removed)
4. drop the batter onto a cookie sheet by the spoonfuls and bake for 10-15 minutes
5. let cool and serve

Dandelion greens salad- 

• 1 Big big bunch of dandelion greens, about 4 cups when cleaned 
• 1 large leek
• 6 strips of bacon
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• ground pepper
• 4 eggs

1. Clean dandelions, remove the thick part of the stem
2. clea and chop leeks
3. boil salted water to poach the egg
4. add egg to boiling water
5. cook bacon but dont drain the grease
6. cook the leeks in the bacon grease until they are soft
7. add the vinegar to the leeks after they are cooked
8. add the leeks and the sauce in a large bowl, add ground pepper, maple syrup and oil
9. toss the warm leeks and sauce into the large bowl with the dandelion greens
10. add the poached egg on top of the salad and enjoy

I have included a link to buy dandelion seeds. If you use these recipes please post a pic in the Porcupine Homestead facebook and bablahblah groups, I would love to see! 

Dandelion seeds

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