Dandelions

After a rather long hiatus from posting, I begin again. My subject: Dandelions and all the wonderful things you can do with the flowers...

If you are looking for a quick snack you can eat them raw, as my kids have learned. :D  Be sure to avoid the green part of the flower, as it can be rather bitter.

Grandma McCarty would fry the dandelion flowers when I was a kid. After a try a few years back which turned into a nasty mush with a horrible taste, I learned that the oil has to be hot before putting them in (thanks momma :D). Here is how Grandma made them:

Dandelion flowers (be sure to remove the stems)

Flour

Salt & Pepper to taste

Soak the flowers in salt water. Heat oil (about 1/2 inch thick) in a skillet. When the oil is hot enough flour will sizzle in it. Roll the flowers in the flour mixture and place in pan. When the flowers have browned on one side, turn them over and brown the other. It just takes a few minutes. If you have ever fried mushrooms before, it is done the same way.

I also found this recipe on allrecipes.com http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fried-Dandelions-Appalachian-Style/Detail.aspx

Here are some other ideas to do with the flowers ... 

Dandelion Vinegar 

 http://www.ehow.com/how_4855702_make-dandelion-vinegar.html

I made this last week. Hoping it turns out good. Now to find ways to use it.

Dandelion Oil

I read that dandelion oil is great for sore muscles and joints. So ... I made some to try. I found varying recipes. Some said to sit it in the sun for two weeks (I live in North Dakota, the sun hasn't visited much yet). Some said to heat it for a while. One said to fill a jar with the petals, pour sunflower or olive oil over them (I used olive) and let it sit for six weeks. This is what I tried. For the first few days I would shake the jar and make sure that all of the petals were covered with oil. I added more oil a few times to keep the petals covered. For the next five weeks I'll keep it away from heat, then strain out the flowers and try it out.

Dandelion Flower Cookies

½ cup vegetable oil

½ cup local honey

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup plain flour

1 cup oatmeal

½ cup dandelion flowers

Preheat the oven to 375. Mix the oil and honey together and then beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Remove the yellow petals from the dandelion flowers and add them to the oil and honey mixture along with the flour and oatmeal. Drop the batter onto an oiled baking sheet in tablespoon sized blobs and bake for 10-15 minutes. 

I tried these also. They were okay. Nothing really special about them.

Dandelion Hair Rinse

Put 3 cups of dandelion flowers into a pot, cover with cold water and boil for an hour. Strain out the petals and cool the liquid. Pour over freshly washed (still damp) hair, then wrap the hair in a dark towel for at least 30 minutes. Rinse clean and dry as normal.

I haven't tried making the rinse yet. Not really sure what good it does. Any thoughts?

 

Dandelion Jelly
2 cups dandelion blossoms, separated from leave and bracts

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 ¼ teaspoons pectin

Boil flowers in water on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Strain petals from liquid. Return to pot, and bring to a boil. Add sugar, lemon juice and pectin (follow instructions on pectin label). Boil and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, skimming the foam, until the top surface becomes blobby and glasslike (2 or more minutes).

I tried this. I think that it needs a little more pectin; that or I did it wrong. There wasn't anything too special about the taste. It had the consistency of honey. My opinion: not worth the work.

Dandelion Honey/Syrup
4 cups dandelion petals

4 cups water

3 (1/4-inch) thick lemon slices

½ vanilla bean, split in half

2 1/8 cups granulated white sugar

Remove petals from the green bottoms by just pulling them apart, measure the petals only. Place petals in heavy sauce pan along with water, lemon slices, and vanilla bean. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 6 hours. Strain the dandelion tea through cheesecloth and dispose of the organic matter. Place in a heavy saucepan and bring to a low boil. Gradually add sugar while stirring until dissolved. Lower heat and let simmer to desired consistency (may take up to 4 hours). Can be used in the same way as regular honey.

Since my jelly turned into honey, I didn't try this.

All in all, I had fun finding different ways to use dandelion flowers. My favorite way is still frying them. If anyone has any other uses, let me know! Thanks! Enjoy God's amazingly wonderful & tasty creation!