Dandelions!

Dandelion Cordial

My husband looked at me like I had a screw loose when I begged him not to shoot the dandelions in our back yard with weed killer.

He'd spent the morning spraying the spiky behemoths in our front lawn, because his embarrassment over our lack of curb appeal had far exceeded my ability to convince him that our lawns need to be chemical-free.

"Why? And what are those plants doing in the sink?" He pointed to a mess of freshly-dug dandelions that were soaking in the kitchen sink.

"They're dandelions, and they're really good for you," I explained.  He was surprised, and agreed to leave the formidable patch in the back to me.

Dandelions are one of nature's best and most efficient tonic herbs.  The entire plant can be used, which appeals to my waste-not attitude regarding just about everything.

The roots nourish the liver and kidneys. They also encourage the body to flush itself out by promoting the flow of urine, which can assist in recovery from bladder infections and ailments accompanied by swelling.  The roots can be dug up and used anytime.

The leaves are packed with nutrients, and can be lightly steamed like spinach.  They are best when the plants are young, having just emerged from the earth, and bearing no flower.

The sunny yellow flowers are edible, but should be removed from the overly acerbic green base.

Double Dandelion Tea  

Dig up a few dandelions, liberating as much of the root as possible.  Clean them thoroughly (I like to soak mine in a sink full of water, as with spinach, leeks, and other veggies that tend to come home still bedecked with dirt, mud and sand).

Put two cups of water on to boil in a small pot.  Slice the roots, add them to the water, and gently boil for about ten minutes.

While the roots are boiling, make sure the leaves are free of dirt.  After ten minutes, add the leaves to the roots and water, and let the whole thing gently boil for a few minutes more.

Strain, and drink.  The roots can be eaten along with the tea.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try my Dandelion Cordial.  I concocted one of these after an afternoon of working out in the sunshine (digging up dandelions isn't a day at the beach!), and it was the perfect combination of Spring tonic and refreshing, relaxing cocktail.  Violets and elders are soothing, sweet-tasting flowers, which smooth out dandelion's bitter edge.

Dandelion Cordial

Fill a small wineglass or champagne glass about halfway with double dandelion tea.

Add a splash of Creme de Violette (I like Rothman and Winter)
Add a splash of Elderflower Liqueur (I like Thatcher's Organic)

Drop a few of the dandelion root slices into the bottom of the glass, and enjoy!



One word of caution:  It's never a good idea to ingest any plant that's been sprayed with chemical fertilizers or weed killers.  Instead, purchase dandelion products at your local health or whole food store, or ask a chem-free friend if you can help them out by digging up a few of their dandelions!