And I thought dandelions were only good for making wishes....

Our CSA started back up this week after a 1-week hiatus. 

*running around the room waving hands in the air* 

We are now into the "local" CSA for the next 20-someodd weeks. And I'll give you one guess what was included in this week's share.  

I'll give you a hint.  It's not easy being...

Carrots. Ok, yes we got crunchy carrots, plump potatoes, bright blueberries, tasty tomatoes, bunched beets, lively lettuce, sultry salad (can salad be sultry? how about savory salad...though I feel sultry after eating said savory salad, but only after I evacuate the dancefloor if you know what I mean.  whoa! TMI! I think I don't seem so sultry anymore.), back to food...and yes, we got green greens.  

*best Gomer Pyle voice* 

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

Before you even ask....I was born in the 70's.  It's called syndication, people.  

Ok, so we got greens. Don't get me wrong, I like greens. Really. But dandelion greens? Yeah, never made those before. So after googling, I found out a couple things:

1. You can actually eat dandelion greens. Who knew?  (Did you ever eat grass as a kid...and I don't mean in brownies *ahem*...I mean grass, grass.  I remember it tasting like onions. I think I just admitted to eating grass as a kid. And brownies.)

2. Every part of the dandelion is edible. I just thought you made a wish when you blew the little seeds into the neighbors lawns annoying the crap out of them for spreading weeds.

According to About.com: 

• Dandelion root can be roasted as a coffee-substitute, or boiled and stir-fried as a cooked vegetable.
• Dandelion flower can be made into a wine, or boiled and stir-fried as a cooked vegetable.
• Dandelion greens (i.e., the leaves) can be boiled, as you would spinach, and used as a cooked vegetable, in sandwiches or as a salad green with some "bite."

I tried the leaves raw and they were a little bitter for me. Sooooo I decided to make my own green concoction that I've made with kale and chard with pretty good success.  

I don't even have a title for it. Staples with Greens I guess.  Or maybe meat, potatoes, apples, and greens. Oh my.

Ingredients

Ham steak chopped into bite sized pieces or TJs turkey sausage

Potatoes

Apples (granny smith or gala)

Lemon juice (if you use granny smith)

Splash of Apple cider vinegar

1/4 c. brown sugar

Buttah

Greens of whatever variety

Salt/pepper to taste

Directions

Chop potatoes in bite-sized pieces. Cook with boiling water until tender. 

While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the greens.

De-stem and tear the greens in bite sized pieces. Blanch (boil with the potatoes) for a few minutes until limp, but still holding their color.  

In a sauté pan, melt some of the butter and add the ham and apples for a few minutes.  Then add the greens and potatoes in with the rest of the butter. 

Add the brown sugar, cider vinegar, salt and pepper and let simmer for a few minutes. 

This dish is one of those things that I wouldn't really add to a recipe book. It is tasty, don't get me wrong.  I mean, I've made it at least 3 times in the last couple months with various greens. It is a very "whole-foody" type of dish. The ingredients make it good. 


And it's as easy to make as say....brownies.  :)