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Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 10:00 am Post subject:
I've always found dandelions more bitter than I like. Left a bit of wild garlic in the car yesterday - smelt great this morning.

ButteryHOLsomeness

Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 12:48 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

In moderation you can eat all of them, save spindle, which I think is also Prunus. Don't go crazy, they do contain cyanide after all...

what's this spindle you keep talking about? never heard of it so i wouldn't know what to avoid

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 1:31 pm Post subject:
Spindle, it transpires, isn't a Prunus. I've been under that misapprehension for years since an archaeologist asked me what else other than Spindle was a Prunus. So now I know. Spindle is a tree also known as Euonymus. Various spindles are around. So no, I don't know any Prunus flowers you can't eat, proveded you don't eat loads and loads of them.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 1:32 pm Post subject:

Behemoth wrote:

I've always found dandelions more bitter than I like.

Left a bit of wild garlic in the car yesterday - smelt great this morning.

Dandelion is always a little bitter, but there seems to be a lot of variation in just how bitter it is. I couldn't find any I could eat near where I was staying in Cornwall a year or two ago, for example.

It's not something to have in a salad all on its own, but if you find some that isn't TOO bad, mix it in with lettuce and rocket for contrast. Works very well.

Or blanch it, if you must sweeten it. Just as you would for chicory.

thos

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 1139
Location: Jauche, Duchy of Brabant (Bourgogne-ci) and Charolles, Duchy of Burgundy (Bourgogne-ça)

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 1:37 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

Behemoth wrote:

I've always found dandelions more bitter than I like.

Left a bit of wild garlic in the car yesterday - smelt great this morning.

I was amazed to see blanched dandelion in my local supermarket last year. I cannot understand anyone wanting to pay money for it.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 2:08 pm Post subject:

thos wrote:

I was amazed to see blanched dandelion in my local supermarket last year. I cannot understand anyone wanting to pay money for it.

People pay money for the strangest things. I predict that sorrel is soon to be the leaf of the moment.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 05 6:52 pm Post subject:

It's Euonymus europaeus, and the wood was used for making... tantaraaaa... spindles! It's a beautiful tree, good autumn colour and wonderful (inedible) fruit: bright orange outside and bright pink inside! Unbelievable. Euonymus alatus has fascinating little wings along the sides of the stems. Bit off topic here, but it's rather a speciality! All the woodturners out there should look out for the wood.

We planted a Prunus avium last year, thought it was going to die but it's looking really good in the top of the top field: plenty of scented flowers.

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