Most everyone is familiar with the bright-yellow wildflower that grows in lawns and meadows throughout the temperate regions of the world. Dandelions open in the morning and close in the evening, and there are few children who haven’t picked the feathery, cottony seed heads and blown them off the stem with a puff of breath. Gardeners usually consider the dandelion a troublesome weed.
So how would you like a nice, scrumptious dandelion salad? Sounds like a joke, doesn't it? But actually, people in many places enjoy this unusual treat. There are fine restaurants in the United States and other countries that offer it on their menus. Dandelion leaves are served not only in salads, but are used in other recipes as well.
These include dandelion soup, pancakes, dandelion gelatin, coffee and sweet dandelion juice. Actually dandelions are healthful, having vitamin C, iron, potassium and other important minerals in their leaves. It also is quite possible that at some future time there may be dandelion medicines for certain kinds of sicknesses.
To meet the demands of these restaurants, as well as people who want to use their own dandelion recipes, there are farmers who now grow great quantities of these plants. They are grown in greenhouses where they are carefully irrigated and protected from harmful insects.
This all started about thirty years ago in Vineland, New Jersey, which is now called the “Dandelion Capital of the World.” Dandelions are also grown in Ohio, Texas and a few other states, including California. Many supermarkets and specialty food stores now sell them.
Young leaves of the dandelion plant are used for most recipes, but the flowers are sometimes added to a salad or hot food. The roots are dried and ground up to make a good-tasting coffee substitute.
Actually, many other flowered plants have long been used as food, prepared in restaurants in other countries. These include rose petals, marigold blossoms, hibiscus flowers, nasturtiums, violets, Johnny-jump-ups and others, as well as the blossoms of some trees.
We don't recommend picking dandelions or other wildflowers and eating them. It is hard to tell if there are harmful insects or even poisonous spray on them. Markets must get them from farmers who have carefully grown them in licensed greenhouses.
The Bible verse quoted above reminds us of the care the Creator gives to all living things. We can be thankful that He has given us so many more varieties of food than what wild creatures enjoy. When we think of the wonders of His ways with us, we agree with the psalmist who said, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord” (Psalm 145:9-109The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. (Psalm 145:9‑10)). Have you ever thanked Him for His goodness to you?
ML-05/25/2008