Some
consider them a scourge, especially when they pop up on a well-manicured
lawn. But dandelions offer an astonishing number of possibilities
when it comes to cooking, health, even art. Cultivated for hundreds
of years in European kitchen gardens, the dandelion made its way
to the New World in the hands of settlers who could not imagine
life without them. Native Americans and pioneers made great use
of all parts of this sunny plant. Today dandelions appear in everything
from cookies to coffee—not to mention jewelry, dye, and homemade
paper. Children readily appreciate the dandelion’s beauty. What
mother hasn’t been the proud recipient of a handful of these golden
flowers? And who hasn’t made a wish upon a fuzzy, gone-to-seed dandelion
head? Fortunately, despite the flower’s reputation as a weed, plenty
of us still appreciate the great versatility of this highly useful
green. In the following pages, I share with you some of my favorite
dandelion-inspired craft ideas and recipes. Who knows? They may
have you raiding your neighbor’s yard for more of these cheerful
little flowers.
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