Monday, July 12, 2010




Flower Power Contest

Are you an avid gardener? Interested in aromatherapy? Crafts? Edible Flowers? Carnivorous Plants? For a chance to win a personalized PDF copy of Flower Power just leave a comment. The contest will be running from July 5 through July 17th. The winner will be announced the 18th.

Edible Flowers

Edible flowers can be traced back thousands of years. The Romans used violets and roses in their food dishes. Carnation petals were used in a seventeenth-century French liqueur. And dandelions were referred to as bitter herbs in the Old Testament.
Today edible flowers are enticing haute cuisine. In a single sensory moment, flowers can splash our palate with pleasure and turn the ordinary into a sensual extraordinary experience. But before you light the candles and toss rose petals into your pink champagne there are a few basics you need to be familiar with.
If you know it’s been treated with pesticides, don’t eat it.
If you aren’t certain a flower is edible, don’t eat it, even if it’s on your dinner plate as a garnish.
If you are going to be adding flowers to your drinks or food be sure to remove the stamen and pistils.
If you have allergies, check with your doctor before eating flowers.
If you are purchasing flowers to eat, don’t buy them from a florist or a nursery.
If you are buying your edible flowers from a grower make sure the grower knows that you have purchased them for consumption. Or buy from an organic gardener.

5 comments:

Mindy said...

Hi Sandra :)
Your post about Flower Power is great!
Some years ago (Tweener) I was into edible flowers/plants. My favorite was Mayapple fruits (they taste like bananas).
Please enter me in your contest.

Mindy :)
Birdsooong@aol.com

Beth Caudill said...

I have seen them use flowers all the time on Food Network. I have no real desire to eat them.

While I understand using herbs...I'd rather look at my flowers than eat them. On a wedding cake, I'd prefer royal icing roses to real ones.

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Mindy! Thanks for entering. I haven't had Mayapple but they sound yummy.

Hey Beth! I can't argue with anyone who prefers to ingest sugar over flowers:)

Sherry Gloag said...

What an interesting blog. I have used nettles as tea and veggetables, the tea is very refreshing and the cooked nettles taste simmilar to spinach. Nastursham(sp) leaves are a great additive to salads.
Thanks for the additonal info.

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Sherry, I've heard of nettles for tea but never tried it.