Pick the Dandelions

Dandelions are tough, lawless vagrants. They may be the most infamous of weeds and the most resilient. They form deep roots and do not let go of the earth easily. Most of us try to rid our lawns of them to keep a manicured setting. It is easy to become distracted by the thing that doesn't belong, a compulsion, and sometimes guilty pleasure to grab hold and pull them out, if you're lucky to get hold of the whole root, but truly, a bit of color never hurts.

As it turns out, Dandelions can be quite tasty, their greens at least. I found a gem of a book at the "free store" we have adjacent to the town dump.  You can drop off stuff, and pick up stuff, everything from furniture, clothes, appliances, books, albums, you name it. We have found many a treasure.  The book I am referring to is titled The Home Gardener's Cookbook, written in 1974, by Marjorie Page Blanchard.  She discusses the relevance of each month to the garden.  In January, it is time to order your seeds, and she lists all her favorites.  In February, she entices the reader to start diagramming their garden plot and to consider adding a small orchard! March has the "maple moon" and in April, it's about the Dandelions.  Included in each chapter of each month is a recipe or two.  She recommends adding it to tired salads, as it is a welcome spring tonic.  Pick them young before the flower blossoms. And for those adventurous cooks here is an old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe for a dressing delicious on the bitter greens:

Bibs Brown's Dressing for Dandelions

Cut 4 slices of bacon into small pieces and cook.  Pour off all but 3 tbsp. of fat.  When bacon is crisp, add 1 heaping tsp. of flour and stir smooth.  Brown this mixture.  In a bowl crack 2 eggs and beat just enough to break yolks. Add about 1/2 tsp. salt and about 3/4 cup brown sugar and 3/4 cup vinegar.  Add 2 tbsp. milk or cream.  Mix all together and pour into bacon batter and cook. Add 2 chopped hard-cooked eggs.  Pour over dandelion greens.  Add more sugar or vinegar if necessary.

A friend of mine says a "weed is a wildflower looking for a home." My favorite thing about Dandelions is their snow when you blow on them, and their seeds scatter and sow a wish or two. Maybe these weeds can stay. Just maybe a bouquet of Dandelion blossoms will make your day.