Just Dandy

I love to try new recipes, and for some reason I always choose to try them when there is an occasion. For my kids’ birthday I decided to bake dandelion cookies. They’re cookies and there’s an abundance of of the main ingredient a few steps from my door, why wouldn’t I?

According to Nick, they’re amazing. Perfect amount of softness with a bit of caramelized crunch on the outside. It was fun watching my mom pick one up and proceed to try to pick the “hair” out of it. They’re fibrous, due to the petals. And they’re nummy. Mind you, its hard to find a bad cookie recipe.

This act of baking with ingredients in my own yard always brings me joy. When I get to harvest all the offerings nature gives, make something delicious and then I get to share it with those around me. There’s few acts that make me feel so peaceful. I feel more in touch with my surroundings.

However, this time of year always comes with its discord. How can people hold such animosity towards a plant? A plant, just doing plant things. In fact, these pretty guys do more good than most humans and definitely less harm. So why the mad panic to Kill! Kill! Kill! That’s right, because they’ve been deemed “undesirable”. By who, I don’t really know.

Have you ever noticed that the weeds in one region equals flowers in another? You think if the dandelion wasn’t in such abundance here it would still be treated like the enemy of civilization?