June Switzer Edible Flowers

 

On August 16th June Switzer taught us about edible flowers and shared some delicious food made with flowers. 

·         Eating flowers

o   Not all flowers are edible

o   Do not harvest from the roadsides are you do not know what they have been sprayed with

o   Use plants that you have grown yourself or from seed (greenhouses treat/spray)

o   Remove stamins before eating

o   Shake the flowers to remove bugs, wash and drain on the paper towel

o   If you seal them in an air tight container they can keep up to 10 days

·         Preserve petals by candying them with egg white and sugar

o   Using a clean paint brush paint the petal with egg whites and then dip in ultra-fine sugar.   Let dry for 24 hours and then put them into a sealed container

o   Petals that work well are lilac, roses, primula, pansies, lavender, mint, nasturtiums

o   https://www.thespruceeats.com/candied-flowers-521325

o   https://farmhouseandblooms.com/how-to-make-edible-candied-flowers-sparkling-blooms/

·         Way to use them

o   Decorations of cakes (cornflowers pulled apart, pansy’s, peony petals)

o   Pre press the petals in parchment paper so they lay flat

o   Top shortbread cookies with white icing and place the petals in the icing

o   In an ice ring or ice cubes for a punch bowl

·         Carnations – use the petals only

o   Use in scones or cookies

o   Has a clover, nutmeg flavour

·         Clover – used whole in salad, don’t use and brown flowers

·         Dandelions – Pick young and sweet only

o   Honey like flavor

o   Make jellies or wines

·         Honeysuckle use only the flower

·         Allium – all parts are edible

·         Calendula – Poor man’s saffron it has a peppery taste

·         Sunflowers – petal only

·         Petunia – tastes sweet and spicy

·         Gladiolus taste like lettuce

·         Hibiscus – use in teas or tea biscuits – has a cranberry flavour

·         Begonia – leafs, flowers and steams

·         Rosehips – have 50% more vitamin C that oranges

o   Pick when bright red or purple

o   Steep in boiling water to make rose hip jelly

·         Pansy – salads, desserts and soups

·         Squash flower – remove the stamins

·         Lavender – the flower is edible and is great added to ice creams, cookies etc

·         Roses – sweet flavor & slight spice

o   Remove the bitter white portion

o   Darker petals = more flavor

·         Naturisms – taste peppery