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BANG FOR THE BITE
Organic edible flowers are pretty, nutritious, and can help your local farmer thrive, but be careful: for some asthmatics, the pollen could trigger attacks.
COCKTAIL FACT
Flowers as food are nothing new. Swiss archeologists have evidence that Stone Age man ate rose hips.
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home › tip library › Healthy Salad Recipes
Tired of the serving the same old salad at your dinner parties?
The Bite
Next time you entertain, dress up your salads, plates and cocktails with organic edible flowers. Toss a handful of blossoms into your next dish, and encourage your guests to give these nutrient-rich beauties a try.
The Benefits
- They won’t go to your waist. Rich in pollen and nectar, flowers are nearly calorie free, and many are packed with wholesome vitamins and minerals.
- Edible flowers must be free of any chemical residue. Many imported cut flowers contain residues from pesticides ruled unacceptable for food production in the U.S.
- Help organic farmers diversify. Farmers cannot make a living from edible flowers alone. Purchase the chemical-free blossoms along with other goods - herbs, specialty lettuces, and cut flowers.
Personally Speaking
Heather is planting her nasturtiums (her favorite edible flowers) as we write this tip. If she ever has time to throw a dinner party again, she’ll have her guests visit the blog and tell how they liked them.
Wanna Try?
Hit up your local farmers’ market to see what is available and check out these sites to learn more:
- The Edible Flower Garden - packed with planting schemes and recipes ($19).
- Edible Flowers, Desserts and Drinks - a good read to get prepped for an edible flower cocktail party ($11).
- Seeds of Change (Certified Organic) - an avid gardener’s dream, seeds to plant edible flowers.
- Home Cooking - chart on edible flower varieties, with information on what flowers to avoid.
Apr 07,2006
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Heather’s Favorite Edible Flowers
Toss on salads, cakes and cocktails:
- Violets
- Nasturtiums
- Pansies
- Lavender buds
- Sweat Peas
Go on - let us know yours. If the bizarre US weather of late clears up, just maybe we can all go throw some seeds in the ground this weekend.
-Heather... off to see a pre-screening of Too Hot Not to Handle...
Biter Comments...
One morning, when my kids were very young, my 6 year old son came running into the bathroom to tell me that there was a bat in the toilet. I have to say that I run on automatic pilot in the mornings and have a little trouble being able to comprehend anything new added to my ritual. So I am standing in the shower woundering how a base ball bat got into the toilet during the night. I gave the #1 response and said "Tell your father". The next thing that happened was my husband and my kids running in to tell me that there was a bat in the toilet. Being practical and at the same time realizing that my family couldn't deal with what ever had happened I put on my robe and went to investigate. Sure enough there was a cute fuzzy bat in the toilet. He appeared to be in shock. Placeing a soft towel over him I pick him up,dried him off and them took him out to my front porch. when I held his feet to the railing he grabed on and I gently let him go. He hung there for a few minutes in the morning light and then flew off for home. I love having bats around the house as they eat all sorts of bad insects and catch mice. I think that he must have flown through an open back door the evening before thinking that he had found a new cave. Once he got in he kept traveling up until he landed in the kids bathroom. The toilet seat was up so and didn't reflect his sonar so he flew into it thinking that it might be a way out - or hea maybe he was just thursty. I would have loved to hear his version of his adventure when he got back to the bat cave.
Journey
Mmmm...edible flowers. My mom & I have been eating edible flowers from a local greenhouse for over 6 years now! It's about time that someone spread the word, as people always give me a funny look. :)
My favourites are begonias, I think.
One night when my daughter was 5, she came running into our room to say something BIG was flying around her room. Of course we thought she was dreaming until we walked into the hallway and had to duck to avoid being hit by a bat. "Buford" (we had to name him after a day) hung out in our house for almost a week before we finally were able to trap him upstairs, open all the windows and doors one night and let him go free. Amazing how many small places they can find to hide out.
Interesting story. About bats..I am a member of Bat Conservation International and they do brilliant work. Bats, amazingly are very needed: they eat for most of them eat nectar and insects. They protect crops and pollinate plants...Go to their website:
http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp
You will not believe how cool they are. Join even...feel like the Batman...
what was the nameof the place that you arranged this through?
i'd love to be able to go and do that one day.
I found a recipe for rose petel salad when I was in High School and made it for my mother for mother's day. I have always wondered what oher flowers were edible and were to get them. This tip was perfect!
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Kassia | April 07, 2006 at 09:13 AM