So you may have a few of these yellow beauties (yes, hear me out! :) ) popping up in your lawn or field so I thought I’d share a few things that you might not know about dandelions. First, and foremost, my grandmother used to make an amazing dandelion jelly. Who would have thought, right? She sold it (among other kinds) at craft shows and what a hit it was! Us grandkids were even lucky enough to help her pick them.
So if you didn’t know that dandelions are edible, well, here’s the scoop. Mother Earth News states that all parts of the dandelion are edible. The roots can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried and the flowers can be added into salads or made into jelly or wine (mmmm). The greens can also be added into salads, but should be picked before the first flower blossoms. The leaves actually contain lots of Vitamins A & C, potassium, and antioxidants.
Before you decide to eat any though, it’s best to make sure they are from a wild, pesticide/chemical free location. Here’s a link to a few recipes including battered and fried dandelion blossoms! Also, if you are feeling extra adventurous, why not try this delightful dandelion lip balm? Perhaps we can share in a new appreciation for the many uses of dandelions and maybe even stop trying so hard to get rid of them!
Photo By: emoedgars
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My lawn is covered with dandelions! Nice to know there are some options for these flowers other than mowing them down every week :) Thanks for the great suggestions.