Edible Landscaping & Flirty Flavorful Flowers

Here is another list of plants that are part of my edible landscaping theme. Many have flowers that are beautiful and tasty. A couple I mentioned earlier, but they're really worth planting so I am repeating myself :)

• Anise Hyssop
  
• Arugula flowers
• Basil flowers
• Scarlet Runner beans (flowers too)
• Bee Balm
  
• Tuberous Begonia (begonia x tuberhybrida)
• Borage
• Broccoli (yes, flowers too)
• Calendula
• Chicory
• Chives
• Garlic Chives
• Chrysanthemum
• Daylilies
• Dianthus (pinks)
• Dill
• Elderberry
• English Daisy
  
• Garlic
• Hibiscus
• Hyssop
• Johnny Jump Up
• Lavenders
• Sweet Marjoram
• Mint (all)
• Mustard
• Nasurtium
• Orange (currently researching if lemon blossoms are edible too)
• Greek Oregano
• Pansy
• Parsley
  
• Peas
• Radish
• Roses
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Summery Savory
• Scented Geraniums
• Sunflower *recipe below
  
• Thyme
• Sweet Violet
• Sweet Woodruff
• Yuccas
• Zucchini

This is a list that I culled from the book "Lasagna Gardening with Herbs" by Patricia Lanza.

Sunflower 'Mock Artichokes'

Pick the Sunflowers while still in the bud stage. Clean and then boil for 2 minutes. Meanwhile bring a second pot of water to boil and transfer the Sunflowers to the fresh water (reduces bitterness). Boil until tender. Fry in a blend of olive oil and butter. You can add bread crumbs and salt if you prefer.


Disclaimer - I am by no means a leading expert on edible landscaping items, and if you poison yourself by eating the wrong thing it's your own dang fault...that's what www.google.com is for. These are merely *my* suggestions :)

Cheers!!

Homemade Popcorn

I've just recently rediscovered homemade popcorn.
I grew up with it and kind of hated it because it was a sign of being poor in my eyes...
That said, I'd forgotten how good it was.
I bought a 1/2# at Whole Foods the other day and made some from memory in a pan on my stove. It turned out alright, but I just found a recipe online that looks great. I will still use olive oil because that's all we have in the house.
I challenge you to discover for yourself how amazing homemade popcorn can be.
Oh and I should mention, it's about a thousand times healthier than microwave popcorn.
I'm not sure about the carbon footprint, but it seems like making popcorn on the stove would use a lot less energy that popcorn in a premade bag.
Seriously...go buy some popcorn kernels and make it.
You will thank me.
Cheers :)

'Round Soup' - your toddler will eat it!!

This is perfect for that picky toddler in your life…a fun soup where all the visible ingredients are round! You can substitute any number of round food items for the ones listed below as long as they taste good together and are round.

2 qts organic chicken broth
1 pkg turkey meatballs (Trader Joes)
2 small handfuls of round noodles (wagon wheel maybe?)
1 small sliced organic zucchini
1 small sliced organic carrot (thoroughly scrubbed)

Combine ingredients and heat until noodles are fully cooked (approx. 30 mins on med/low).

Make sure to exploit the ‘roundness’ to get your wee one to eat it.