Forgetting Things!

I apologize to anyone who actually reads my blog. I forgot to post yesterday and thought I did because I had the day's idea in my head. Do you ever do that? Think you did something or told someone something because you thought about it to extent? So, here was yesterday's nature lesson for me.

I found out something really cool today. I learned how to spot (some) things that you can eat in the wild if it were needed. These things are edible and to my surprise, taste rather amazing! I will list my two favorites here and you guys can tell me if you are willing to try them or if you refuse to based on principal. 

First, Dandelions. I know, I know, gross. They surprisingly aren't. I learned two things about Dandelions. The leaves, which don't look real inviting, can be used as a salad. All you have to do is pick the leaves. They will have sort of a sour taste because as you can imagine, dandelions are strong. To get rid of this, boil the leaves and then lay them to dry. An hour later, voila! I promise you it tastes just like salad, and I didn't load it down with dressing before you ask. I tried it with barely any so I could see how it actually tasted. The second thing to do with dandelions, is use the flower(or weed, however you look at them) and roots for tea. Wash them off really well, unless you don't mind the extra protein from bugs. ;-) Let the roots dry before continuing. Grind both the flower and roots up and put in two-three pints of water. Bring the water to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Add a tsp of baking powder and mix. Let it cook for 25 minutes and add a little cinnamon! It is really good. 

Second, Nettles, also known as Stinging Nettles. Now you all think I am really crazy. Once picked, they lose their "stinging," quality. Okay, so you will want to pick these with a glove or something to prevent yourself from touching them. After you get them picked, wash the leaves and get rid of the stems. Put them in boiling water for 5 minutes, or until the leaves look sort of wilted. Get rid of excess water and you have a salad. No, I am not kidding. 

So now I am learning to eat directly from the earth. There is something amazing about getting back to nature!