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cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 05 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Surprised you didn't like the cherry blossom. Use the whole flower, taking off the sepals and leafy bits, and if the ones on your tree aren't up to much go foraging to try them elsewhere.

Daisy flowers are there just to be pretty, and dandelions you either love or you don't 'get'. I love them.

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 05 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

cherry blossoms are the abundant pink ones in bloom now aren't they? i always assumed these were cherry blossom but don't want to eat them if they're not

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 05 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

what is the scientific name for the edible cherry blossoms? i can get a look on google if i have that info and then find out if the ones we have are the same thing

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 05 3:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ButteryHOLsomeness wrote:
what is the scientific name for the edible cherry blossoms? i can get a look on google if i have that info and then find out if the ones we have are the same thing


Prunus something... Errm... Can't remember... But as long as you avoid spindle, I'd say you ought to be fine sampling any of the Prunus flowers.

Res



Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: Allotment Shed, Harlow
PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 05 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ButteryHOLsomeness wrote:
i had a look at that article, think i'll copy and paste it into a document to save, thanks!


Check!

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 05 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

a google search using prunus and cherry brought up loads

wild cherry is Prunus Avium
Prunus padus - Bird Cherry the related cultivated version of wild cherry


Ornamental Cherry 'Amanogawa' (Prunus serrulata)
if these are ornamental, does that mean you can't eat the cherries or the flowers?

hmmmm a further search tells me that other members of the prunus family include:

peaches
nectarines
plums
almonds
apricot

if this is the case, can you eat their blossoms as well?

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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...

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well, we sat next to out stream after a country walk and ate some primrose flowers, quite refreshing and nice to see the kids getting stuck in.

The Dandelion leaves I found bitter, might try it again after blanching and then refreshing.

Behemoth



Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 10:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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)
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.


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.


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

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 05 6:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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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