Maple seeds .... It's whats for dinner!

I knew you could eat these seeds, and I have eaten them raw before but knew if I took a little time with them I could find a better way to eat them.  We went out to eat last night and my husband ordered edamame and I thought, : yes! that is what I need to do"  I am all about less work, more fun, so it was perfect.  I boiled them for a moment or two in salted water, threw them in a little cup, added some soy sauce to the bottom of the cup to dip each one in and then just suck the seed out of the case.  It was so good!

New use for old VHS boxes

As both a dumpster diver and a seed saver, I found a great use for these blockbuster castaways a few years ago. A perfect way to organize your seeds. Even if you are someone who purchases spring seeds in the spring and wants to save them for planting in the fall as well this is a great way to have a relatively tidy system for doing so.

Lambsquarters flour and seed preservation

I went over to help my son clear a lot and noticed a tall stand of lambsquarters which had gone to seed.  What a find!  I helped clear the lot and gathered food for the coming winter.... food that is high in nutrition, no pesticide, organically grown :-)

Everything Hot

A day for creating hot things. Hot salsa, pickled jalapeños, pickled mouse melons and purslane stems and black nightshade, and last but not least habanero hot sauce. Remind me not to touch my eyes :-). Don’t worry I wore gloves :-)

Making a healing Salve

I have used comfrey for a very long time for healing.  I have used it to immediately stop bleeding from cuts, and to stop bruising.  It can even make an already bruised area decrease or disappear.  It is pretty amazing.  I think everyone should have one if these growing at their house.  Here I am extracting the healing properties of the plant so that I can use the infused oil in making a healing balm that can be used throughout the year when the plant looses its leaves in the winter.  I have also thrown in a little plantain, rosemary, lavender, also grown in my yard.

Making tea

I found out last year that there are tree leaves in my yard that can be used in cooking for flavoring and in tea.  I was really surprised especially by the fig leaves.  They have a very distinctive coconut scent and flavor.  I am not much of a griller but I bet they would be a great addition to someone wishing to smoke a chicken or some other meat that they might wish to add a hint of coconut to.  My mother in law has asked that when ever we come to visit that we bring a branch from our mulberry tree as it is one of the trees that her African Grey bird is allowed to eat, berries, leaves, bark and all.  Anyways here is my little drying contraption.  I also added a bit of lemon grass and mint to the mix.

A meal for a mouse

 I was in the garden picking things for a big person mail when I ran across these tiny things fit for a mouse. There were mouse melons, and that’s what they’re really called,  and black nightshade that taste like little tomatoes and then there are berries called Goji berries which are the little red berries in this picture. I don’t really like them much but I’m going to dry them and add them to soups and things in the winter but the rest are perfect mouse size and I thought they were cute. All of these fruits and berries are the size of my thumb or smaller...