Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Dandelion greens have so many health benefits, and we add them to many dishes I prepare.  In the winter, however, I rely on buying them organic (if our freezer stash runs low). We are now down to only one store that sells them.  It is very important to not skip washing them either.  As you can see they contain a lot of dirt.  I simply blanch them, ice bath them, drain them, and freeze them for future meals. Blanching Dandelion Greens   © January 2025 by  Kristina  at  Pioneer  Woman at Heart

  I am saving this recipe to try this summer.  I thought I would share it.  Has anyone made this?  I am just now learning about it. I got some organic dandelion greens blanched and in the freezer.  There is only one store that sells them this time of year. It was another day at Mom's house.  I made two trips to the re-sale store in town (benefits area businesses).  It's been difficult, but the busyness keeps my mind off things.  I've been able to pass on some kitchenware to our Daughter K, for her new apartment. Clothing has been donated to a soup kitchen. My house is a crazy mess, so once Daughter K is completely moved out, we will start major repairs and updates.  We also plan to do a major clean up in the garage when the weather gets better.

These are hard to find this time of year, but I was thankful to get 3 bunches during my last shopping trip.  I blanched and got them in the freezer for the next few weeks.  My stash was very low (dandelion greens). I made a few "cans" of condensed mushroom soup.  One package of mushrooms goes a long way and they boost your immune system.  I tossed in some fresh thyme for medicinal purposes. I found out my car was never trailered to our handyman's house, and he has not been working on it.  Double grr.  Guess when this is all over, we will go get it somehow and just work on it ourselves when we can.....not that we can go anywhere right now. Our state has now closed spas, salon's, barbers, tattoo parlors, and all Jeep and other vehicle manufacturers, but my husband still has to work with 300 plus people.  They are told to get those touch-less temperature reading gadgets and use them constantly.  I am told by Hubby that they do no lack hand ...

The title is correct -  Calendula Cookies.  I added these flower petals to salads last year, and this year I am expanding.  I found several recipes in a book from the library, regarding edible flowers.  Something new to try this year, and new to blog about.  The cookie recipe uses about 18 flower heads.  I had flowers, and I had a hankering for cookies (when I shouldn't be eating any). 

Not to let this awesome birthday week end without another "bang" of goodness, I made.... Flourless brownies and whiskey butterscotch sauce for sundaes.  Yes, yes and yes.  I ate them both with organic ice cream (too lazy to make homemade ice cream).

Breakfast - potatoes, red bell pepper, dandelion greens and eggs. N o cheese.  It's delicious flavor ed with onions and /or s hallot pow der. Sorry this post is so long.  I didn't mean to keep writing, but I think I'm trying to procrastinate my exer cise today, ha ha!

I had one more butternut squash to use, and decided to make a recipe that is in one of my Root Cellar books. Warning:  lo ng blog post again (sorry) Hubby and I took a road trip Sunday, and I took along my Root Cellar book.  He is motivated more now that ever to get things done around here. Why?

I filled my new dehydrator with organic dandelion greens.  I still want to put more in the freezer, but I will be utilizing the dried greens too.  They dried faster than i n the old dehydrator too. The dried greens will be used for dog food, to make tea, to add to any dish we eat, to make dandelion vinegar, and other herbal mixtures.  I won't have to buy dandelion tea any more now.  Oh, I can use the dandelion for poultices too.

I'm up early although against my will.  Now that I am dog care taker number one, I have dog duty.  Most days he curls up with me, but today, he was up and begging to go out.  So up I am. I haven't have enough coffee yet, and already deleted a comment accidentally.  I hope that isn't a sign of how my day will be today, ha ha! Yesterday I put up the last of the dandelion greens into the freezer.  I was afraid they would go bad before my dehydrator arrived.  And like all things you try to plan, my dehydrator arrived after I froze the last of the greens.

Not sure how many interesting posts you will be blessed with this month.  After cranking out 34 00 words yesterday (bringing my total word coun t to 5200) , I literally ran to the porch to get some "me time" in, but did not even get there until 5:45pm,   Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs, and I had to make a fresh batch of meatballs, so time was of the essence.