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Edible Flowers
We all love flowers for their beauty, but most people don't realize that there are edible flowers. .
For those of us that do eat some flowers, there also comes a word of caution with this practice.
There is nothing to say that flowers are there just for us to look at, so it was inevitable that one
day someone would try to garnish a favorite meal with them and eventually add them to that
meal. But you have to know a little about flowers to do this. There are several flowers that can be
served fresh on the plate or cooked into a meal. They are hard to purchase so it's probably better
that they were home grown.
When you see a flower used as a garnish, you shouldn't always assume that they are edible. Only
eat flowers when you are certain that they are safe to eat. Never eat flowers that have been
treated with pesticide. This is one way of ending up very sick and if you're growing your own
always pays attention to what pesticide you have to use and that it is labeled for food products.
When you come across a flower that is edible, just remember that it is only the petals that are
edible not the core or stems of the flower. The flavor will change with the season and growing
location. They should be harvested in the cool of the morning and if you plan to store them, then
cut them and leave the stems attached in cool water or a damp paper towel. You will find that the
refrigerator works really well for keeping them cool.
Some of the flowers that are edible are Borage, which has a cucumber smell and taste. It's vivid
blue color makes a salad that much more bold with color. Then there is the well known
dandelion which has been eaten by some people for a long time. These are especially good when
the dandelion is young and tender and can be picked right from your lawn, depending on whether
you have used a pesticide on your lawn or not. These are only a few of the flowers that can be
used in cooking today. The most important thing is to get informed before you start picking and
be sure of what you're eating when it comes to flowers.
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