Wild edibles

Now, for sure, I know I am a full-fledged raw foodist. During a walk today, I stopped by a lovely babbling brook. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the scent of pine was in the air. I took a deep breath, admired the beautiful surroundings, and said to myself...I wonder if those pretty green leaves are edible!!!!


















Of course, you must be very careful when foraging for food in the wild. Some plants are extremely poisonous. Today, the only edible wild plant I knew for sure were the dandelion greens. Click here for some health benefits.













Last year I used some in salads and smoothies. Try to find a field guide to wild edibles or an expert in your area if you are interested in foraging. Click here for a site with lots of information. Check out this page for pictures of many common plants. The pictures may help identify safe wild edibles:) Here is a site with many recipes , some are raw. You may also search 'wild harvesting' or 'wildcrafting plants' for more information. This site looks like it has some great resources.

Here is a salad I made today. I picked the dandelion greens in the woods, where I know they don't spray, and it is far from any traffic.

Dandy salad with sweet orange dressing












for salad combine:
2-3 cups mixed baby greens
1 cup dandelion greens
1 sprig mint leaves, torn
3 strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup red raspberries
1/2 a navel orange, peeled and cut up

for dressing:
1/2 orange, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon agave, or a soft, pitted date
pinch of salt and pepper, optional

combine all dressing ingredients in magic bullet until creamy.

You may notice I am trying out my to-go ware:) They hold more than I first thought, more than 4 and a half cups (liquid measure) in each level!

Here is a website that has another brand of tiffin.
Check these out, too!
One more:)

Hidden Treasures

Since the warmer weather is here, I wanted to get another reusable container for transporting my raw yummies. We often go on day trips in the summer months, and I don't really like to eat out more than once a day . You may recall I have a large square container and a small single lunch size. Instead of getting one like I already have, I thought it would be nice to have a different size like the two tier To-Go Ware. Of course I can order them online, but sometimes I like to see the item in person. A quick search on their website showed me a nearby bed and breakfast that has a gift shop that stocked them! I made a slight detour in my travels back from Lake George today, and found myself on a two lane road with not much more than trees and an occasional glimpse of a river for several miles. Was I on the right road? Several minutes later I noticed a gift shop sign on a quaint log building...yes, I found it! The girl in the shop sweetly welcomed me as I looked around. Tee-shirts, post cards, candles, moose welcome signs, pine cone picture frames....and To-Go ware! There, hidden among the charming "Adirondacky" souvenirs were my coveted containers.

















They also had two different sets of bamboo utensils, and the cute sidekick containers. The fork, spoon, knife, and chopstick set was lovely, however I figured I could easily just bring along a set from home:) I was thrilled at the weight and size of the containers, just what I needed! I picked up a little sidekick, as it looked like the perfect size for salad dressings. As I drove away, I was thinking of all the things I would fill my new tiffin with. When I got home, I unpacked the box. The quality was great, the top doubles as a plate, and inside the top level....another sidekick! I did not realize that it came with one:) I guess you never know where you may find a hidden treasure.