Anyone Familiar with Dandelion?

[sevgi]

I thought I would pass on a recipe I inherited from my great grandmother. Although Turkish, she lived in the Greek island of Rhodes and later moved back to Turkey. The dandelion was very popular and was eaten for it's health benefits. I have found that most people are not familiar with it and it's hard to find. I usually find it at the international markets.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

*2 Bushels of Dandelion

*Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*1 Lemon, Juiced

*Salt to Taste

Preparation

*Wash carefully. You may need to triple wash it.

*Cut off any hard stems.

*Fill a pot with water. Boil the water.

*Cook for about 10 minutes.

*Drain. Add cold water to cool off and to stop the cooking process.

*Add it to a serving dish.

*Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Mix.

*Serve: Cold.

[Mama Mangia]

Italians live on dandelions in the spring. Summer dandelions are tough. You have to pick them when they are "just right". Sad part - soils are contaminated and everyone in the neighborhood has a bunch dogs that fertilize all the lawns - no more dandelions for us!

[sevgi]

LOL! There's a new perspective on dandelions!

[jglass]

We grew up eating dandelion greens often here.
Same as where Mama is stray dogs everywhere so no more dandelion greens for me.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

That is the reason you gotta wash them 3 times girls!!! Darned dogs! LOL

[Mama Mangia]

and don't forget about the chemical sprays that are used on lawns - they do one lawn in the neighborhood and the chemicals seem to make it to all the others as well............

[sevgi]

I love my dandelions! Although now I can't help but think of the dogs next time I make it