Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

In article
,
James wrote:

Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
James wrote:

Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.

I usually pick dandelions as I make my tour of the garden for salad
greens. Adding them to a salad dilutes any disagreeable bitterness they
may have.

To reduce bitterness, pick only the small leaves (the size of your
thumb, 3" or less). Sensitivity to bitterness varies from person to
person. I don't mind large leaves.

See http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....cum+officinale for
health profile of dandelions, and domestic cultivars.

My better half sends her recommendation for "Day of the Dandelion" for
those who like mystery novels.

Halthy, tastey, and entertaining; what more can a common weed do?
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo...u-need-to-know

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
James wrote:

Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.

I usually pick dandelions as I make my tour of the garden for salad
greens. Adding them to a salad dilutes any disagreeable bitterness they
may have.

To reduce bitterness, pick only the small leaves (the size of your
thumb, 3" or less). Sensitivity to bitterness varies from person to
person. I don't mind large leaves.

See http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....cum+officinale for
health profile of dandelions, and domestic cultivars.

Cool, thanks!
I can pick wild greens from _my_ yard as I so rarely use any pesticides.


My better half sends her recommendation for "Day of the Dandelion" for
those who like mystery novels.

And pass on to her "Dandilion Wine". :-)


Halthy, tastey, and entertaining; what more can a common weed do?

Indeed...

Do look up Milk Thistle tho' and you will see why I am interested in it
as a salad green also. The young flower heads are edible too, as are the
seeds.
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
James wrote:

Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.

I usually pick dandelions as I make my tour of the garden for salad
greens. Adding them to a salad dilutes any disagreeable bitterness they
may have.

To reduce bitterness, pick only the small leaves (the size of your
thumb, 3" or less). Sensitivity to bitterness varies from person to
person. I don't mind large leaves.

See http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....cum+officinale for
health profile of dandelions, and domestic cultivars.

Cool, thanks!
I can pick wild greens from _my_ yard as I so rarely use any pesticides.


My better half sends her recommendation for "Day of the Dandelion" for
those who like mystery novels.

And pass on to her "Dandilion Wine". :-)


Halthy, tastey, and entertaining; what more can a common weed do?

Indeed...

Do look up Milk Thistle tho' and you will see why I am interested in it
as a salad green also. The young flower heads are edible too, as are the
seeds.

Om, you already identified my Border Collie (McNabb) Beau from trampling
plants in his trajectory. One of those plants was (is?) a "milk
thistle". I'm hoping it will come back in the spring. Anyone who swills
as much as I do, should be interested in "milk thistle":-)
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....lybum+marianum
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo...u-need-to-know

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
James wrote:

Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've
had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the
store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did
not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.

I usually pick dandelions as I make my tour of the garden for salad
greens. Adding them to a salad dilutes any disagreeable bitterness they
may have.

To reduce bitterness, pick only the small leaves (the size of your
thumb, 3" or less). Sensitivity to bitterness varies from person to
person. I don't mind large leaves.

See http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....cum+officinale for
health profile of dandelions, and domestic cultivars.

Cool, thanks!
I can pick wild greens from _my_ yard as I so rarely use any pesticides.


My better half sends her recommendation for "Day of the Dandelion" for
those who like mystery novels.

And pass on to her "Dandilion Wine". :-)


Halthy, tastey, and entertaining; what more can a common weed do?

Indeed...

Do look up Milk Thistle tho' and you will see why I am interested in it
as a salad green also. The young flower heads are edible too, as are the
seeds.

Om, you already identified my Border Collie (McNabb) Beau from trampling
plants in his trajectory. One of those plants was (is?) a "milk
thistle". I'm hoping it will come back in the spring. Anyone who swills
as much as I do, should be interested in "milk thistle":-)
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....lybum+marianum

lol Only because I HAVE a border collie so I totally understand! :-)

Yes, I enjoy imbibing too. Milk thistle extract capsules are part of my
daily supplements...
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein

On Dec 30 2007, 10:34*am, Omelet wrote:
In article
,

*James wrote:
Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? *Are gardan varieties better than wild? *I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." *-- Steve Rothstein

You should blanch them before eating. Just cover with an upturned
plantpot for a couple of days then they are much less bitter.
Unblanched, they can be cooked like cabbage, blanched eat raw in
salad.

The root can be used in much the same way as carrot and eaten raw or
cooked.

They were the staple food in the UK apparently before the introduction
of the potato.

Ros

In article
,
RosL wrote:

On Dec 30 2007, 10:34*am, Omelet omp wrote:
In article
,

*James wrote:
Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? *Are gardan varieties better than wild? *I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

Might be interesting to actually cultivate them so they may be more
tender, and perhaps less bitter? I've tried eating them once and did not
care much for them.

I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.

You should blanch them before eating. Just cover with an upturned
plantpot for a couple of days then they are much less bitter.
Unblanched, they can be cooked like cabbage, blanched eat raw in
salad.

The root can be used in much the same way as carrot and eaten raw or
cooked.

They were the staple food in the UK apparently before the introduction
of the potato.

Ros

Cool, thanks for the hint. :-)
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein

"Omelet" wrote in message
news
I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.
--

In one of the books I've recently accquired called 'Stocking Up' it says
that milk thistle is good(not sure what part though) for clabbering cheese
when you make it yourself. Will look tomorrow for the specific passages
about it.

In article ,
"Lilah Morgan" wrote:

"Omelet" wrote in message
news
I'm actually seriously considering cultivating milk thistle.
--

In one of the books I've recently accquired called 'Stocking Up' it says
that milk thistle is good(not sure what part though) for clabbering cheese
when you make it yourself. Will look tomorrow for the specific passages
about it.

Ooh! That would be interesting! :-)
I'd rather use that than natural rennit...

Vinegar or lemon works too, but it alters the flavor.

Thanks!
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein

Ok I was slightly wrong, it's the giant purple thistle that is used for
clabbering milk for cheese. It usually curdles milk overnight. This is
directly from the Stocking Up(which I strongly recommend) book:

The giant purple thistle is a very tall-growing species of thistle,
possessing all over very cruel prickles, so that no animals can eat it, and
only the bees visit it and the goldfinches carry off the downtopped seeds
for their nests and for food. The stems and foliage are grayish, and the
flowerheads a rich purple, and of typical thistle shape. The part used are
the flowerets when the thistlehead and the flowerets of which it consists
have turned brown. When the thistledown begins to appear it is getting too
late for the gathering, and the flowerets are less strong and soon will be
carried away over the countryside by the wind. The flowerets should be air
dried, either in shallow baskets or perforated brown paper bags, and then
stored in jars to last until the next summer.

The herb, in carefully controlled quantity, has to be prepared for adding to
the milk. It should be pulverized with a mortar and pestle. The herb is well
pounded, then a little warm water(or whey), merely enough to cover it, is
added, then left to soak for 5 minutes, pounded again for 5 minutes, soaked
again, repounded, usually 3 times, at least until dark brown-colored liquid
forms. The herb is then strained and then a heaping teaspoon of the herbal
liquid is added to every quart of warm milk. If too much herb is used, it
tastes strongly in the cheese, and it will cause indigestion, being a very
potent herb. Therefore, be careful not to add too much.

(Instead of making a liquid from the herb, you can also dip the whole herb
in the milk to make it adhesive, press the flowerets together, and bind them
with coarse white cotton thread into a sort of rough plait, leaving the long
end of the cotton hanging out of the crock, so you can pull out the herb
when the milk curdles, which is approximately overnight. Do not ad the herb
loose into the milk, as it is then like having hairs in one's mouth when
consuming the delicious soft curds and whey.)

In article ,
"Lilah Morgan" wrote:

Ok I was slightly wrong, it's the giant purple thistle that is used for
clabbering milk for cheese. It usually curdles milk overnight. This is
directly from the Stocking Up(which I strongly recommend) book:

The giant purple thistle is a very tall-growing species of thistle,
possessing all over very cruel prickles, so that no animals can eat it, and
only the bees visit it and the goldfinches carry off the downtopped seeds
for their nests and for food. The stems and foliage are grayish, and the
flowerheads a rich purple, and of typical thistle shape. The part used are
the flowerets when the thistlehead and the flowerets of which it consists
have turned brown. When the thistledown begins to appear it is getting too
late for the gathering, and the flowerets are less strong and soon will be
carried away over the countryside by the wind. The flowerets should be air
dried, either in shallow baskets or perforated brown paper bags, and then
stored in jars to last until the next summer.

The herb, in carefully controlled quantity, has to be prepared for adding to
the milk. It should be pulverized with a mortar and pestle. The herb is well
pounded, then a little warm water(or whey), merely enough to cover it, is
added, then left to soak for 5 minutes, pounded again for 5 minutes, soaked
again, repounded, usually 3 times, at least until dark brown-colored liquid
forms. The herb is then strained and then a heaping teaspoon of the herbal
liquid is added to every quart of warm milk. If too much herb is used, it
tastes strongly in the cheese, and it will cause indigestion, being a very
potent herb. Therefore, be careful not to add too much.

(Instead of making a liquid from the herb, you can also dip the whole herb
in the milk to make it adhesive, press the flowerets together, and bind them
with coarse white cotton thread into a sort of rough plait, leaving the long
end of the cotton hanging out of the crock, so you can pull out the herb
when the milk curdles, which is approximately overnight. Do not ad the herb
loose into the milk, as it is then like having hairs in one's mouth when
consuming the delicious soft curds and whey.)

Very cool. :-)

Thanks for sharing this!
--
Peace, Om

Remove - (dash) to validate gmail.

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein

We 'cultivated'some dandelions last year. Grew well but we were trying
for the roots to make coffee. result - yuck.

Couldn't tempt my wife and daughter to eat as a salad leaf although I
tried and though wonderful. Had better luck getting them to eat
nasturtium (spelling?).

Has anybody grow their own dandelion and made a passable coffee? If
so, whats the trick? Health benefits are supposed to be good from what
I have read.

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:28:05 -0800 (PST), James
wrote:

Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.

On Dec 29 2007, 6:28 pm, James wrote:
Saw some nice ones at the local supermarket @ $3 a one pound bunch.
Guess I'll continue to pick the wild ones when available.

Anyone here grow it? Are gardan varieties better than wild? I've had
a few grow in my beds that were almost as big as the one in the store.


I think it's hilarious that dandelions are sold in the stores. I have
to wonder if the dandelion farmers had trouble with grass growing
around their crop!

I typically fry the flower heads in a light batter for fritters.
--S.

You should eat before burning them. As long as the cover of a bend plant pot a couple of days so they are more bitter. Unbleached, they can be cooked like cabbage, peeled and eaten raw Salad.