Dandelions-the enemy to many’s lawns, for the fact that they just take over and with all those seeds out of just one plant it really is no surprise. When they are all yellow against the green grass it’s kinda neat, it’s just those gray seed heads that come after that really aren’t that beautiful. They pop up so fast it looks like you didn’t even mow yesterday when you look out. We don’t spray our lawn for them but then again our lawn is, O, one might say, “rustic”. We planted grass one year and most of it came up, but really if it is green and isn’t dirt or mud after it rains its ok with us. Perk to living in the country!
So this month’s blog, I decided to use some of the flowers and make cookies. I also made some sweet bread with them earlier this month. With most of our events being canceled this summer, we have been able to spend more time in the yard. I have enjoyed watching things pop up in the garden and planting my flowers pots with my favorite flowers!
Dandelions:
Open in the morning and close in the evening.
Come from the French phrase dent-de-lion, which means tooth of the lion referring to the leaves.
Are part of the daisy family.
Are made of 300 ray flowers that look like tiny petals at first glance.
Are edible in all its parts.
Rich in beta carotene, iron, calcium, and vitamin A.
Seeds can travel 5 miles.
Blossoms have been historically used for warts, to clear skin completion and heal blisters.
World Record for tallest was grown in Ontario September 2011. It was 70 inches.
Let’s make cookies!
Start with 1 cup of butter and 1/4 cup of sugar and cream them together.
Then add 2 cups flour,
1/2 tsp of cinnamon,
And 1 tsp of clear vanilla.
Your dough mixture should look like this. I had to add my dandelion blossoms later when I got home.
So while my husband and mother-in-law were mowing, I strategically picked a handful of flowers for the kitchen.
First, I use a scissor to cut off the blossom end. I try to discard as much of the green as possible as this tends to be bitter.
Here is my pile of dandelion flowers!
I used 24 flowers and got about 1/2 cup.
Ready for the oven.
Ready for a powdered sugar bath!
Even though it is useful, powdered sugar is one of my nemesis for keeping the kitchen clean. That and cornstarch, they both hate me!
Here is what they look like after there first dip in powder sugar, about 5 minutes after they come of the oven.
And here they are again after one last time in the powdered sugar, after they have cooled.
Sweet, buttery, cinnamony, and floral! Flowers are fun to bake or cook with and add nice color!
Dandelion Cookies
1 cup softened butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon clear vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup dandelion flowers
Powdered sugar
Cream butter and sugar together. Add flour to mixture. Then add vanilla, cinnamon, and dandelion flowers. Scoop into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. (I used parchment paper but it is probably not necessary.) Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes depending on your oven. You are looking for a little browning. Cool for 5 mins and roll in powdered sugar and again after they are cool.
Talk to you in June!
The transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly is just another amazing wonder of God’s creation. I have just recently see a few butterflies floating along on the breeze on the various hikes we have taken this spring. Monarch just yesterday. This butterfly was just brilliant as it fluttered along. When looking for a verse for this picture, I found this one very fitting in the fact that the old leaves of last year have passed away but all the new things are growing, becoming and a thing to behold!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17