Laughing Dog Arts

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Free salad

Here is another wild plant that is abundant around here and quite delicious. Miners Lettuce. It carpets the ground in places in the forest and around the edges. I believe it is called Miners lettuce because it is one of the first edible greens that come up in the spring and the miners, maybe gold miners and such, living out in the wild, would be starving for some greens and eagerly picked this tasty plant. It has a slightly peppery taste but is quite mild.  I suppose any people who went without greens all winter would welcome this plant in the early spring.
It can be picked bare handed, unlike the stinging nettles. I didn't even need to wash it because we have had so much rain here, it was clean as could be. I did check it for bugs but it was ready to eat as is.
Or with some home made dressing. Yum! Notice my fork. Isn't that a beautiful design?  I just love my old silver ware. This pattern is called Evening Star even though it is a flower design, no stars. Eating with old silver ware is so much nicer than using modern stainless steel, to my mouth, anyway.

Bon Appetite!!
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11 comments:

Marlene said...

Interesting, I have never been one to learn about the edible plants in our state, you make them sound delicious though. It is snowing at my place today, some Cinco De Mayo - I did not get an entry done for my favorite, life just kept getting in the way. Maybe next time.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I wish I knew more about the wild edibles here, though I have to admit, with as much chemical as is sprayed anymore....I would think twice.
I miss Spring mushroom hunting the most. We used to be able to find the morels right along the side of the road, along R.R. tracks, on the sunny banks of hills plus in woods.
Now most of the woods I knew are gone, and the State feels the need to mow everything....so many plants lost.
Love these posts on the indigenous plants in your area!

XXOO!!
Anne

sjmcdowell said...

Hi Jan,

I have never heard if Miners Lettuce but it does sound really nice to eat.
I had an idea...You could write a little book about your native edible plants around your home and incorporate some of the leaves and flowers in your own artistic way.
It would be an artistic and natural view point of natures beautiful edibles!!

Ha ha...just a thought!!...

Ciao
Susan xxoo

Crazy Mama said...

looks and sounds tasty! if i were stuck out in the wilderness i'd surely starve within days. i know nothing about plants. i admire those who do though...it amazes me what's out there!

yoborobo said...

Hi Jan! I didn't know you could eat miner's lettuce, but I guess that make perfect sense. :) It looks like baby spinach. What does it taste like? xo Pam

Jan said...

Thanks for your comments. Be careful if you try picking wild foods, not that I need to tell you all that.

Maggi said...

I love the way that you are able to go out and pick food from the wild. I do so agree about silver cutlery - why does food seem to taste so much better when you use it - must be a psychological thing?

audrey said...

YUM!!! Salad is right up there at the top ~ the BEST of foods!!!
These greens look so fresh and juicy. How blessed you are to have these things close by, Jan.
♥ audrey

Deborah said...

Oh how wonderful! I remember my childhood in New Jersey...we would go into the woods and pick wild berries of all sorts. Not too much here in the desert growing naturally that you would want to put in your mouth! OUCH. Everything has needles.
**happy smiles** Deb

sjmcdowell said...

Hi Jan,

Oh thankyou so very much for sending out the CD's, they came today. I have been listening to one this afternoon and really like it so far!!!!

Wishing you a Great Day!!

Hugs,
Susan

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Yum Yum! This time of year in Iowa we get morel mushrooms, they are wonderful eating. This was not the best year for them but we had a few.