Scrumptious!

[kgd]

A couple of backyard edibles that I tried for the first time today.

One are basswood shoots (leaves). Damn, I have a basswood tree in my backyard. Gotta try that.

hmmmm, Delic!!!! Very mild flavor, eating both the leave on those little bud pedals. No bitterness. This is a nice treat! First time I ate one of my own trees!

Now something more common...

Okay most people know this one as garlic mustard. If you squish the new leaves in your fingers you get a bit of garlic smell. I've used this in the past for garnish, but I didn't really know how to eat it.....

Its the shoots that are delish! Pull of the leaves and toss aside, but keep the little unopened flower buds if they are there. That shoot/stock tastes like a combination of broccoli and asperigus. Juicey and flavorful. Right now it would be easy to harvest a bunch of this stuff. Apparently not as great to eat after it flowers.

Thanks Mr. Thayer - two great books I'm enjoying tremondously.



PSSST - Rick (only 37d left to Blade.....better get back to the shop)

 

[Woods Walker]

I think there are some basswood trees in my AO but never knew the shoots were good to eat. Nice photos. I like edibles threads.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Hey kgd, Thayer's books are quite good.

Further to Basswood, from my notes:

"This is the Basswood tree. The bright red, waxy buds of the Basswood often served as famine food to the Native Americans during the Hunger Month of February. The buds may be eaten raw or cooked and make a very mucilaginous but agreeable food. (WL268) The inner bark was also used as a famine food. (WL307) On a brighter note, if you steep a handful of the flowers in a cup of water, it supposedly makes, at least according to one author, one of the best tasting herbal teas in the world, and a strong infusion is very relaxing. (WM63) It's been used for nervousness, stress, high blood pressure, headache, and insomnia, (WM63) and for many other ailments. There is a warning, however, that frequent consumption of flower tea may cause heart damage. (EC288) "

This, of course, does not take into consideration the technological uses.

Doc