Recently, dandelions have been popping up all over! With the advent of spring, the warm air and sunshine have caused these beautiful harbingers of spring to appear. Every part of the plant can be eaten, from the roots, to the leaves, to the flowers!
Historically, the leaves and roots of the plant were used as a tonic. It was supposed that it removed toxins from the bloodstream and served as a mild diuretic to improve digestive functioning. Some today still harvest this Asteraceae for the same reason. Today, we know that the “dents de lion” is enriched with Vitamins A, E, and C, as well as iron, zinc, and calcium. The French thought that the shape of the leaves resembled a lion’s tooth, thus the name.
Samuel, in his diligence, gathered a mess of the flowers to bless the family with fried dandelion blossoms. These blossoms are the only flower to represent three celestial bodies during the phases of its life cycle – the sun, moon, and stars. The early blossom of yellow that we eat, resembles the sun. The white globe of the “puff ball” or “blow ball” resembles the moon. When the seeds mature and disperse, the dandelion resembles stars. The seeds can travel up to five miles away!
Samuel made the entire dish of fried dandelions all by himself! After washing the flowers and patting them dry, he dipped them in beaten egg, floured them, and fried them up in a cast iron skillet. Needless to say, they were delicious!
~Rhonda
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