Dandelion Honey & other wild food recipes

WhiteCat_4

We just scavenge the dustbins:)

redballoon_2

I think you may have burned the sugar. I have just made some. I removed all green bits (i only had 75 ish flower heads) and boiled them slowly, then strained, used another saucepan, heated it up, added half a bag of sugar and gently warmed uthe liquid up and its lovely and golden clear now.

donna73

im glad yours worked red balloon, how long did you cook it for?, do you think i should have cooked it at lower temp?

i was so excited about the idea, i think i'll try it again, but will have to get some more dandelions as we used up all ours from garden today

redballoon_2

i cooked the flower heads for about 20 mins and then with the sugar for about 20 mins until all the sugar was disolved.
I removed all green from the flower, including the bit around the yellow petals.
Give it another try. Worth it!

martindow

I've just tried eating a dandelion flower. Easy to do as you hold the stalk and the green sepals and eat the yellow petals. Not bad and has some sweetness but also a slightly bitter after taste. Maybe an acquired taste or perhaps the bees locally had taken all of the nectar. Give it a try while idling away your time sunbathing - just reach out and pick one!

redballoon_2

Hum, not sure about eating the flowers "raw" but thanks for reporting !

the_optimist

martindow wrote: »

I've just tried eating a dandelion flower. Easy to do as you hold the stalk and the green sepals and eat the yellow petals. Not bad and has some sweetness but also a slightly bitter after taste. Maybe an acquired taste or perhaps the bees locally had taken all of the nectar. Give it a try while idling away your time sunbathing - just reach out and pick one!

Just make sure it hasn't been used as a dog's toilet :rotfl: (I think I give it a miss)

donna73, sorry to hear your honey didn't turn out as planned, but at least you didn't waste expensive ingrediences. Hopefully next time lucky!

redballoon, have you eaten some of yours yet? As expecteted?

We just scavenge the dustbins

What for, WhiteCat, dandelions or free food???

WhiteCat_4

the_optimist wrote: »

Just make sure it hasn't been used as a dog's toilet :rotfl: (I think I give it a miss)

donna73, sorry to hear your honey didn't turn out as planned, but at least you didn't waste expensive ingrediences. Hopefully next time lucky!

redballoon, have you eaten some of yours yet? As expecteted?

What for, WhiteCat, dandelions or free food???

Yes for wild food - but those weeds get EVERYWHERE!:D

donna73

hi optimist, i'll definately give it another go, it smelt delicious as it was cooking(until it burnt!!!!!!!) how do you know for sure if its been cooked long enough will it be the consistency of bought honey? or is it runnier then thickens as it cools?
you're right about cheap ingredients though

and my 2 year old daughter thought it was great fun helping to pick all the dandelions first

i think i'll wind my father in law up by telling him i'm going to set aside a plot specially to grow them , he'll be horrified!!!

the_optimist

donna73 wrote: »

hi optimist, i'll definately give it another go, it smelt delicious as it was cooking(until it burnt!!!!!!!) how do you know for sure if its been cooked long enough will it be the consistency of bought honey? or is it runnier then thickens as it cools?

Yes, it does thicken when it cools. Mine was still VERY runny when I stopped, but now looks just like bought runny honey (I don't like the thick one)

i think i'll wind my father in law up by telling him i'm going to set aside a plot specially to grow them , he'll be horrified!!!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: