Dandelions

Dandelions are a weed, to be got rid of right?

Well, we know that every part of the plant is edible. And this evening, they've just been used to convert our tea from mediocre to delicious.

I made lamb meatballs in tomato sauce, with pasta.

The lamb meatballs were just minced lamb, a bit of finely chopped onion, garlic, rosemary and lavender. Formed into meatballs and shallow fried, before in went a cheap tin of chopped toms and a bit more garlic.

The pasta was just dried pasta, boiled in salty water.

I put a bit of grated cheese on top. All of this fairly standard, and quite nice, but, today, I put some chopped dandelion leaves on the past before putting the meatballs on top. It was delicious. I've eaten pasta dishes in nice restaurants that are not as good.

So, next time you're about to eradicate that dandelion, just pause and think for a moment, would those leaves go nice in tonight's tea?

 

If I dig them up they're given to our hens as greenstuff (but they prefer chard/brassica leaves).

 

Too many cats around here, I'm not risking it and besides I've got so many I've just put weed killer on them all!

 

I did have lots as in over 1,000 + if you would like some of mine your welcome to come and dig them up , free to good home, the fields around here are full of them,they wouldn't even miss a million of them

 

I'm sure FC will be most grateful

 

I used to dig all mine up but now leave them as the bees like them. I pull the flower head off though before they set seed. Or try to at least.

I think the seed head itself is still quite a work of art to admire.