Considering the economic conditions we are facing, perhaps it is time I revived some of the these moribund "survival" topics I started a long time ago. These were always "works in progress" anyway, but I got sidetracked from them by other priorities.
Well, it's time I get back to them.
DANDELIONS
A short little historic note here. Prisoners of war in Germany during WWII often supplemented their diet with dandelion greens. They're rich in nutrients, and sick or wounded soldiers and airmen seemed to recover more quickly with a few greens added to their daily diet.
They served another purpose, as well. When planning an escape, prisoners would set aside some of their daily meals for "escape rations," food to be consumed while making their way to friendly territory. However, they still had to keep their strength up for the actual escape. Scrounged foods such as dandelions did this nicely.
So, here's a couple recipes for dandelion greens. Try them out next spring.
Dandelion Greens Supreme
1 tbsp. butter or margarine
4 cups chopped dandelion greens
2 tbsp. beef broth
1/4 cup onions, chopped
1/4 cup fried bacon
2 tbsp. heavy cream
Melt butter in a deep skillet. Stir in dandelion, onions, and broth. Cover and cook over medium heat for 10 or 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in heavy cream and bacon, and cook until most of the liquid disappears. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Dandelion Greens
4 cups dandelion greens, washed
1/2 cup diced onions
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
Immerse dandelion in salted boiling water, and cook until water returns to a rapid boil. Drain and chop. saute onions in butter and mix in greens. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Dandelion Root
A couple survival books I've run across mention that dandelions have a deep taproot, and this root, when roasted, tastes a little like popcorn.
My advice: If you like popcorn, then buy some popcorn. It's just too much work digging out those freakin' roots.
So there's a couple recipes for you. Anyone have any more?
Onward and upward,
airforce
