Dandelion Weed or Usable Plant

Spring is here... no greater time to take a look around and see and hear all the wonderful works of God that are happening. I once was in a play as a child and sang a song "Gods Coloring Book" oh it was a song about how things are made by God from the flight of a bird to the beautiful fluttering of the butterflies. Simply take a look around and take note of all the beautiful buds and blooms of spring.

It seems that nature lives by its own calendar. If you take a look it all happens with a sort of timing to the blooms on the tree, the grass growing and the dandelions coming along. Those cheerful spring yellow flowers that shares the message that summer will soon be there. Some may think of the dandelion as a weed others as a flower but God has created them to be an essential source of food for insects However, gardeners do not especially like to see dandelions take root in their lovely lawn.

The dandelion begins as a tiny little featherweight seed that is carried in from the tiniest breeze and somehow finds the perfect or imperfect place to take root. It does not choose to be planted in a certain area and yet it often lands where it is greatly noticed. Whether you love them or you are one that loathes them dandelions have been here longer than you or me.

If you are an individual that think of dandelions as a weed then allow me to make the case against your point. A weed may be defined as a plant growing "out of its area" sort of an alien invader growing in the lawn or garden. For example the queen Anne's lace growing in the flower bed or the chickweed growing in the lettuce patch.

The Dandelion is a member of the Taraxacum species of plant. The French botanists that discovered the plant originally named it "dent de lion" due to its jagged toothed leaves resembling a lions' teeth. It was in North America that the plants name changed to Dandelion. These flowers grow in high abundance in the Eastern United States. Thus allowing the beauty of the dandelion to grow where many live even if you are not one that appreciates them they are a type of superfood.

When you stomp, pull, or spray a dandelion to destroy it like other weeds we are destroying a plant that can be used in a variety of ways. The roots and leaves of the dandelion can be used as herbs for making tea, coffee, in salads or in soups and stews. Ancient Egyptians used the dandelions by drying the roots and grinding them up like coffee to brew to help relieve stomach aches. Native Americans have used them as a diuretic and the white milky juice could be created to treat warts. Take a look at the variety of recipes that you can make from dandelion greens such as wine, jelly, stews. 

Dandelion Greens with Double Garlic

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

6 cloves of garlic, sliced

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 pound dandelion greens with stems, washed and roughly chopped

½ cup vegetable stock

1 clove of garlic minced

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced garlic, pepper flakes, and some salt and black pepper and cook for about 1 minute. The garlic should soften and become fragrant.

Add the greens and stock. Cover and cook until the greens have wilted slightly, about 5 minutes.

Remove the lid, but continue to cook and stir until the liquid has all but evaporated, about 5 more minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Adjust seasonings and serve.

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