~ Home ~ View my profile ~ Archives ~ Email Me ~ My Blog's RSS

Click here to check out the latest contests on the HSB Company Porch!!




Kitchen Moments ~ Edible Flowers con't

3:48 PM, Jul. 10, 2008
First of all, I would like to apologize for not having an article last week. There have been a lot of big changes going on over here and, while they are not a hassle in themselves, with five small children around, life has become quite the juggling act! Some things just fell by the wayside and I just wasn't able to do it all. So, my apologies to all.

To continue with the enjoyment of all the varieties of edible flowers the Lord has blessed us with, the following is a partial list of the many different blooms that can be found and what plants they are found on. But please remember, that if at any time you are uncertain weather a bloom can be eaten, play on the side of caution and do not eat it. 

Alliums (leeks, chives, garlic, garlic chives) - Known as the "Flowering Onions." There are approximately four hundred species that includes the familiar onion, garlic, chives, ramps, and shallots. All members of this genus are edible. Their flavors range from mild onions and leeks right through to strong onion and garlic. All parts of the plants are edible. The flowers tend to have a stronger flavor than the leaves and the young developing seed-heads are even stronger. We eat the leaves and flowers mainly in salads. The leaves can also be cooked as a flavoring with other vegetables in soups, etc.

   
Chive Blossoms - Use whenever a light onion flavor and aroma is desired.             Separate the florets and enjoy the mild, onion flavor in a variety of dishes.

    Garlic Blossoms -
The flowers can be white or pink, and the stems are flat             instead of round. The flavor has a garlicky zing that brings out the flavor of your     favorite food. Milder than the garlic bulb. Wonderful in salads.

Depending on the variety, flower range from pale lavender-blue to deep rose.  It has a flavor similar to licorice. Angelica is valued culinary from the seeds and stems, which are candied and used in liqueurs, to the young leaves and shoots, which can be added to a green salad. Because of its celery-like flavor, Angelica has a natural affinity with fish. The leaves have a stronger, clean taste and make a interesting addition to salads. In its native northern Europe, even the mature leaves are used, particularly by the Laplanders, as a natural fish preservative. Many people in the cold Northern regions such as Greenland, Siberia, and Finland consider Angelica a vegetable, and eat the stems raw, sometimes spread with butter. Young leaves can be made into a tea.


Anise Hyssop - Both flowers and leaves have a delicate anise or licorice flavor. Some people say the flavor reminds them of root beer. The blossoms make attractive plate garnishes and are often used in Chinese-style dishes

 

Arugula - Also called garden rocket, roquette, rocket-salad, Oruga, Rocketsalad, rocket-gentle; Raukenkohl (German); rouquelle (French); rucola (Italian). An Italian green usually appreciated raw in salads or on sandwiches. The flowers are small, white with dark centers and can be used in the salad for a light piquant flavor. The flowers taste very similar to the leaves and range in color from white to yellowish with dark purple veins.  Arugula resembles radish leaves in both appearance and taste. Leaves are compound and have a spicy, peppery flavor that starts mild in young leaves and intensifies as they mature.

Banana Blossoms - Also know as Banana Hearts. The flowers are a purple-maroon torpedo shaped growth appears out of the top of usually the largest of the trunks. Banana blossoms are used in Southeast Asian cuisines. The blossoms can be cooked or eaten raw. The tough covering is usually removed until you get to the almost white tender parts of the blossom. It should be sliced and let it sit in water until most of the sap are gone. If you eat it raw, make sure the blossom comes from a variety that isn't bitter. Most of the Southeast Asian varieties aren't bitter.

Basil - Depending on the type, the flowers are either bright white, pale pink, or a delicate lavender. The flavor of the flower is milder, but similar to the leaves of the same plant. Basil also has different varieties that have different milder flavors like lemon and mint. Sprinkle them over salad or pasta for a concentrated flavor and a spark of color that gives any dish a fresh, festive look.

Bee Balm - Also called Wild Bergamot, Wild Oswego Tea, Horsemint, Monarda. Wild bee balm tastes like oregano and mint. The taste of bee balm is reminiscent of citrus with soft mingling of lemon and orange. The red flowers have a minty flavor. Any place you use oregano, you can use bee balm blossoms. The leaves and flower petals can also be used in both fruit and regular salads. The leaves taste like the main ingredient in Earl Gray Tea and can be used as a substitute.

Borage-
Has lovely cornflower blue star-shaped flowers. Blossoms have a cool, cucumber taste. Wonderful in punches, lemonade, gin and tonics, sorbets, chilled soups, cheese tortas, and dips.

Broccoli Florets
-
The top portion of broccoli is actually flower buds. Given time each will burst into a bright yellow flower, which is why they are called florets. Small yellow flowers have a mild spiciness (mild broccoli flavor), and are delicious in salads or in a stir-fry or steamer.

 

Burnet - The taste usually is likened to that of cucumbers, and burnet can be used interchangeably with borage.

Chicken and Chive Pasta Salad
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 lb of pasta (bowties, shells, macaroni, rotini, etc.) cooked and well drained
1 small onion, diced
3 - 4 stalks of celery, diced
1 large handful of chives with blossoms
1/2 - 1 cup of cream or milk
1 - 2 cups of mayo
salt and pepper to taste

1. Put about 1/4 of the diced onion and diced celery in a blender. Cut the chives about 2" long and put into the blender. Cut off the flowers and set aside. Pour enough cream or milk into the blender to make it run smoothly. You don't want it soupy. Blend all together until well incorporated.
2. Put the cubed chicken and cooled pasta into a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the chive mixture and the mayo together until well blended. Add enough mayo to coat all the pasta and chicken. Add the pepper and salt.
3. Mix the dressing with the pasta and chicken until well coated. Cut the blossoms at the very top of the stem, but at the base of the flowers. Sprinkle over all the salad. You can keep some blossoms whole and place in the middle of the bowl.

The contrast of the delicate purple of the blossoms set against the bright green of the chive dressing is quite beautiful!

Jennifer Dewing has experience in the restaurant business. She turned in her chef's hat and donned the many hats of a stay-at-home mother 7 years ago. She is now the mother to 5 children, 7 years and under. She home schools her eldest two children. Her husband is a professional chef and in their house, food is a big part of their family. Come visit her and her family at The Days' Dewings


Comments
Curious about The Old Schoolhouse
  • Magazine but not quite ready to commit to a subscription without seeing it first? Check it out for FREE! We're so certain you'll love our publication that we'll gladly send a FREE sample to anyone new to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - we even cover the shipping!

    ... Click here for more information ...


  • { Last Page } { Page 821 of 3295 } { Next Page }



    About This Blog

    Welcome to the HSB announcement blogboard from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC. We hope you will enjoy the articles posted here by the Porch Team. Please feel free to leave comments!
    ~ Tia Linschied,
    Senior Editor of HSB



    Schoolhouse Planner Calendar



    Download N Go









    Come Shop With Us



    The Fall 2009 issue will be
    available soon!
    Click here to Subscribe!



    To see the current cover up close, click here

    TOS Homeschool Crew

    Promote Your Page Too






    Homeschool Gold

    Products of the Month


    - Get this E-Book FREE!


    - Schoolhouse Planner Module ($7.95)
    Out of This World!


    - Dec. Molly Digest ($4.95)
    Comfort and Joy for Christmas


    Sell Your Items Now!


    Living Heritage UK



    Homeschool Resources

    Cosidering Homeschooling


    Recent Entries

  • Featured Blogger ~ TOSAffiliatesCorner
  • Special Words for Special Needs ~ A Beautiful Christmas Project
  • Communication Corner ~ Countdown To Christmas!
  • Homeschooling Through High School ~ The Beginning of Wisdom (Part 2 of 2)
  • Taming the Gifting Chaos
  • Kitchen Moments ~ Christmas
  • Craft Corner ~ Christmas
  • Classical Education ~ Christmas
  • It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
  • Take Our Survey and Get 2 Free E-Books!
  • Communication Corner ~ When All Your Family's Not Christian at Christmas
  • Homeschooling Through High School ~ The Beginning of Wisdom (Part 1 of 2)
  • Taming the Chaos ~ Bible Time in Busy Seasons
  • Kitchen Moments ~ Cooking Biblical Foods
  • Classical Education ~ An Anchor for Homeschooling


  • ** NOW OPEN! **

    FREE E-News!

    Our E-Newsletters give you wonderful, informative information about homeschooling, news bits, contests and PRIZES for homeschoolers, articles to encourage you, calls for writers, free unit studies and lesson plans, and just a lot of FUN. Bring the community to your inbox, and no worries, we never sell, trade or give your email or any other information out to anyone. Come join the homeschool party! The Homeschool Minute is our most popular newsletter, full of encouragement and support just for YOU! Subscribe to *FREE* newsletters offered by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.


    Visit the Porch Team Writers and Features


    Tia Linschied, Senior Editor

    Monday - Friday! Homeschool Tip of the Day by Christina

    Monday
  • Learning from the Master Teacher
  • Craft Corner
    by Taneil Linschied
  • Going the Distance
    by Amanda Suryan
  • Homeschool Nations Highlight
    by Tia Linschied

    Tuesday
  • Unit Study Adventures
    by In The Hands of a Child
  • Taming the Chaos
    by Dell
  • Kitchen Moments
    by Catherine Love

    Wednesday
  • Home Where They Belong
    by the HWTB Team
  • Languishing in Languages?
    by Suzanne Gose
  • Homeschooling Through High School
    by Lori Havens

    Thursday
  • Homeschooling is Life
    by Nancy Baetz
  • Communication Corner
    by JoJo Tabares
  • The Littlest Learners
    by Karin Katherine
  • Homeschool Hilarity!
    by Tia Linschied

    Friday
  • Homeschooling Only One
    by Donna Conner
  • Special Words for
    Special Needs

    by Heather
  • Notebooking on the Porch
    by Lisa Golda
  • Blogger of the Week
    by Tia Linschied

    News Alerts

  • HSB Tech Help
  • What's Bloggin'
  • HSB News
  • TOS News
  • Contests
  • General Interest
  • Updates from Germany


    Archived Features

  • Adoption Options
  • The Busy Woman
  • Classical Education
  • Education Through Imagination
  • The Experimental Zone
  • Geography Activities
  • Jamin's Internet Academy
  • Knitting



    Our New E-book ~
    On Sale NOW!


    Quick Links

  • The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
  • HSB Military Blog

    Growth of Blogs

    Sifry's Alerts - the blog of the owner of Technorati


    Homeschooling in the news
    provided by HomeSchoolBuzz.com



    Do you have the whole set of back issues from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine?

    Click here to view all back issues and read the themes - you will want to collect the ones you've missed!!


    In Memory

    Missey Gray
    Lorrie Gnos
    Peggy Barendregt
    Chrissy Murphy
    Colleen Moeller

    TOS Staff & Associates

    Mari Almon
    Nancy Baetz
    Lisa Barthuly
    Nancy Carter
    Donna Conner
    Michelle Eichhorn
    Christi Gifford
    Jamin
    Kate Kessler
    Tia Linschied
    Amy Osborn
    Kris Price
    Susan Spann
    Deb Turner
    Kim Wolf
    Dena Wood
    Deborah Wuehler


    Homeschool Nation Roll Call

    ** denotes a state needing a Coordinator - all states are needing several contributors each!

  • Homeschool Nation blog
  • Military Blog
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho**
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi**
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska**
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont **
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • Washington DC **
  • Guam
  • Puerto Rico**

  • Alberta, Canada
  • British Columbia, Canada
  • Manitoba, Canada
  • New Brunswick, Canada
  • Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
  • NW Territories, Canada**
  • Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Nunavut, Canada**
  • Ontario, Canada
  • Prince Edward Island, Canada**
  • Quebec, Canada
  • Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Yukon Territory, Canada**

  • UK
  • Australia
  • Spain
    ** need contributors for each of the following areas: North England, Scotland, South England, London


    Front Porch BlogRoll

    - ... and his ministers a flame of fire
    - 21st Century Reformation
    - As for me and my house,
    - Aspiring PolyMathis
    - Back of the Envelope
    - Be Bold, Be Gentle
    - Bear Witness
    - Beyond The Rim...
    - Bird of Paradise
    - Blog for Books
    - Blogcorner preacher
    - Blogotional
    - Brandywine Books
    - Broken Masterpieces
    - Burkean Canuck
    - Captain's Log - IntellectualPrivateer.or
    - Carol's Storybook
    - Cerulean Sanctum
    - ChoosingHome Blog
    - Christian Home School Teachers
    - Christian quoter
    - Classical Education 4 Me
    - Classical Education in Paradise
    - Comment Me No Comments
    - Confessions of a Homeschool Dad
    - Crazies from the Crazy lady
    - Daddypundit
    - DaisyChain Farmstead
    - Damascus Road
    - DANDELION SEEDS - Scattering inspiration
    - Danny Carlton
    - Dan's Journey
    - Day By Day
    - Defiant Lamb
    - Dignan's 75 Year Plan
    - DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS
    - Dr. John Mark Reynolds
    - ESPRESSO ROAST
    - Exiled Preacher
    - Faith at the Front - Blog
    - Fellow Random One
    - Freedom of...
    - Gerald Yuen: Home
    - Gratuitous Advice
    - Grizzly Mama
    - Hard Starboard
    - Hatless in Hattiesburg
    - Holy Fool
    - Home Maker ~ Proverbs 14.1
    - Home Where They Belong
    - Homeschool Mom Blog
    - Hux
    - Isn't It Rich
    - Jack Of Clubs
    - Janne's Jabberwocky
    - jeffmcfadden.com
    - JivinJehoshaphat
    - Journal of a Domestic Athlete
    - Journeying...By Grace Alone
    - Julie's Life in Living Color
    - Junto Boyz
    - Kramjam Reiterates
    - Ladies in Training
    - Lessons Learned On the Farm
    - Light Along the Journey
    - Linda's Thoughts
    - Logicus bLogicus
    - Magic Statistics
    - manasclerk's The Power Struggle
    - me autem minui
    - MediaCulpa Blog
    - Midnight Hour | Do you not know there co
    - Mike Perrigoue
    - Monopedilos - having but one shoe
    - Neumatikos
    - Northern 'burbs blog
    - Off the top
    - Ogre's Politics & Views
    - Old Path, New Song
    - Our Little Homeschool Farm
    - Patricia Ann's Pollywog Creek
    - Paultastic Musings
    - Pete The Elder
    - Power of Change...
    - Principled Discovery
    - PRMAMA: Marketing to Go!
    - prosthesis - technology and science
    - Pruitt Communications
    - PR Ideas
    - Pseudo-Polymath
    - Quiet Life
    - Random Yak
    - RazorsKiss.net
    - Redirect
    - Reed's Blogged Arteries
    - Reformed Politics
    - Revenge of Mr Dumpling
    - RightFaith
    - Rooftop Blog
    - RootleWeb
    - Scotland Diaries
    - secundum Christum
    - Shades of Pink
    - South of the Gnat Line
    - Sprittibee
    - sprucegoose
    - Spunky Homeschool
    - Spurgeon Collection: Sermons and Writing
    - Stones Cry Out
    - such small hands
    - Sudan Watch
    - Sunny Side Up Academy
    - Susan Wise Bauer's blog
    - Tami's Blog
    - Texas Raisins
    - The (In)Scrutable Observer
    - THE CALVINIST POLICE GAZETTE
    - The Common Room
    - the evangelical outpost
    - The Greatest Pursuits
    - The Grey Shadow
    - The Official HSB Community Blog
    - The Prattling Pastor's Wife
    - The Rogue Angel
    - The Young Evangelical
    - Then Jesus told his disciples
    - This Little Light Of Mine
    - Through a Glass Darkly
    - Through It All
    - Through the eyes of HappyApple
    - Tim Thompson . . . Reflections
    - To Tell You The Truth
    - Trying is Bravery
    - Under The Sun
    - US Navy Retired
    - Vibrant Woman Writer
    - View From The Pew
    - Walking Circumspectly
    - Wesley Blog
    - Wired Wisdom
    - Wittingshire
    - wooQ: Theological Christian thoughts and
    - Writing's of an exceptional being
    - Raising Three Knights and a Princess


    free geoip
    hidden hit counter web page hit counter

    Education and Training Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

    Subscribe in a reader



    The title of this blog, "Company Porch," is credited to Jay Ryan ... thanks, Jay!