pickled nettles

http://sallygardens.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/31/nettles.jpg Found this nettle recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter! if you are lucky enough to have a neetle patch nearby: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/newsletter/10/may/nettles.phpPickled Nettles Pack into glass mason jars with the fresh tender tops of nettle plants, and completely cover with vinegar. Add Peppercorns, peeled Garlic cloves, hot peppers, fresh herbs, or any other flavors that you desire. Cap tightly, and refrigerate for 8-12 weeks. Enjoy pickled nettles sprinkled over salads, with crackers and cheese, or as a fun garnish for hors d'oeuvres. The remaining vinegar will be calcium and mineral rich, so be sure to incorporate it into salad dressings, marinades, stir fries, and sauteed vegetables. You can even apply it as a hair rinse to cleanse and nourish the hair and scalp

miner's lettuce and dandelion salad today

Out walking yesterday I spotted Miner's lettuce coming up gang busters all over the place. Picked, along with chickweed and new dandelion leaves, it makes a splendid salad with some olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Nothing else like it!

Wild Coast edibles

Once the frosts come and the veggie patch lies dormant, I start foraging for edibles in our local forests and beaches. We are lucky here on the Island to have a (relatively) mild climate through the Winter months. I don't do much cultivating over the Winter to give the soil ( and me) a bit of a rest - just a bit of Kale, and mulching the root crops. An obvious choice for a readily accessible edible is dandelion roots - they can be chopped as finely as possible and roasted for a warming drink, or dried to use for a health -giving tonic tea. Here is a recipe for Dandelion Chai: http://www.prodigalgardens.info/dandelion%20coffee.htm I always make dandelion root vinegar which not only tastes good, but is a great healing remedy: "> http://crowsdaughtersherbs.blogspot.com/2008/01/dandelion-has-been-potent-ally-of-mine.html Up the coast, on some of the wilder, cleaner beaches, you can collect kelp - it's good dried and powdered to use on popcorn- here are some recipes: http://www.bckelp.com/SeaweedKelpRecipes.html After a frost is a great time to collect rose hips as well - I like to collect the wild rose hips (Rosa nutkana) that grow near the sea.Rose hips are very high in Vit. C, as well as Vits. D and E, essential fatty acids, and possess antioxidant properties.Rose hip tea is a traditional remedy to prevent and treat colds and the flu. Larger hips can be split in half to remove the fine hairs and seeds before drying - these must be removed, as they can become lodged in your throat and can be quite uncomfortable! Smaller hips can be dried whole, but must be put through a fine sieve or cloth after brewing. To make the tea, simmer 2 Tbs of dried hips in 2 -3 cups of water for about 10 minutes. You can add some dried spearmint and/or some honey to sweeten it, if you like, as it can be tart. (Which is how I like it). Rose hips are good for your heart, and will help to alleviate the stiffness and joint pain of arthritis. Eat Your Roses - rose recipes: http://www.springvalleyroses.com/inthegarden/roserecipes.html Here is a recipe for rose hip fruit leather: http://homecooking.about.com/od/jellyrecipes/r/blfruit15.htm And, you can make Rose Hip wine, which is good for your circulation: Rose hip wine stimulates the appetite and increases blood flow. Steep 3 ½ ounces of dried rose hips in 1 quart of strong, dry red wine for 2 weeks. Filter the wine. Drink 2 small glasses per day. Medicinal herb mixture for cold relief tea: * 1 ½ ounces rose hips * 3/4 ounce marsh-mallow root * 3/4 ounce mullein flowers and leaves This tea stimulates the immune system. When you have a cold or flu, the tea loosens bronchial mucus and makes coughs more productive. For a cup of tea, use 1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of the tea blend. Of course, mushrooms are a perennial favourite this time of year.I am not an expert mycologist, but am seriously considering buying a mushroom kit to try as an experiment.http://www.gourmetmushrooms.ca/ Chickweed grows pretty much year round in sheltered spots, and there are many more edible weeds - this book is a great resource: http://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-Edible-Weeds-Reference-Library/dp/0849329469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257041317&sr=1-1