Foraging

Bacon Parmesan Dandelion Salad Recipe

June 12, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

Those pesky dandelions growing in your backyard are one of Nature’s greatest gifts. Put them to good use by making this zesty Bacon Parmesan Dandelion Salad. You’ll love it!

This Bacon Parmesan Dandelion Salad recipe post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

BACON PARMESAN DANDELION SALAD RECIPE VIDEO

This nourishing salad couldn’t be simpler to make. If you’re new to the Kitchen, my videos are done with a vintage twist. If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

DANDELIONS = NATURE’S GIFT

At some point in history, someone decided to go to war against the dandelion. Troops of herbicidal homeowners were riled up to destroy this sunny plant and the war continues to this very day. I really don’t understand it, because dandelions are one of the healthiest plants out there, and they’re FREE!

Dandelions are truly God’s gift to humankind because they are brimming with vitamins and minerals. These nutrient-dense weeds are full of vitamins A, B, C, K and E, and pack more potassium than a banana. Sulphur, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron, and silicon, are just some of the other minerals found in dandelions. One thing that might turn some folks off from eating dandelions is that they are bitter, but not so fast!

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Why Everyone Should Forage (and beginner tips)

June 5, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 8 Comments

Are you thinking about raiding Nature’s pantry? Here are four simple reasons for why everyone should forage and the best practices to keep in mind.

This post on Why Everyone Should Forage may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

A DISCLAIMER

No matter how fun and exciting foraging can be, I am not an expert and am not responsible for any foraging misadventures. Always proceed with caution before consuming any of your finds, making sure to double and triple-check with different sources before sampling anything new.

WHY EVERYONE SHOULD FORAGE: THE VIDEO

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THE FORAGER’S PATH

My foraging journey began two or three years ago when I lived by a forest trail. It was a beautiful respite from busy living and I walked there frequently, delighting in the rich canopy of green. Sometime after Pokemon Go came out, I was walking through the woods trying to catch Pokemon (I am SO ashamed to admit this) when I stopped dead in my tracks and came to my senses. Why was I putting so much time and energy into imaginary critters when I didn’t even know what was growing around me? I loved the woods, but I was a stranger. Why was it that I could identify Pokemon, but not something real and tangible? Something needed to change!

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Foraging for Garlic Mustard and How to Use It

May 5, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 7 Comments

Garlic mustard is an invasive species that was brought over to North America by European settlers at the turn of the 19th century. Foraging for garlic mustard not only helps the native plant species in affected areas, but it’s fun to play with culinary-wise, too!

This Foraging for Garlic Mustard recipe post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

FORAGING FOR GARLIC MUSTARD VIDEO

Watch me forage in my backyard for early spring garlic mustard. Next, I painstakingly clean my hard-earned prizes and turn them into garlic mustard pesto and horseradish. If you’re new to the Kitchen and like what you see, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

WHAT’S GARLIC MUSTARD?

If you’re new to foraging, garlic mustard is an invasive plant species that was introduced to North America at the turn of the 19th century. The European settlers valued it for its medicinal and culinary properties. Today, it’s seen as a weed and for conservationists, one that’s threatening native species. In forests, garlic mustard is starving native plant species by robbing them of the soil fungi they need to thrive. This is why conservationists are starting to encourage people to pick this plant. Some other names that it goes by include Penny Hedge, Poor Man’s Mustard, and Garlic Root.

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Wild Violets and 5 Things to do with them

June 7, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 1 Comment

Roses are red, violets are blue, do you have a lot of violets and not know what to do? There are a surprising number of things you can do with these pretty purple flowers, so read on!

This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

5 THINGS TO DO WITH WILD VIOLETS VIDEO

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A MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE

Wild violets were the last thing I was expecting to find in my backyard when winter melted away into spring. It was late September when I purchased my home. All there was to see out back was a dwindling garden patch with the last stragglers of a tomato harvest. It was December when I moved in, and by then there was a thick blanket of snow on the ground. Winter passed by me, and as it started warming up, I was eager to see what I had to work with. Finally, the snow melted and the drab brown lawn turned emerald. One day, I looked outside and was delighted to see hundreds of wild violets coming into bloom.

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