Some Smoke Weed, Others Eat it

2011 Wasn't that yesterday? I am beginning to think that when I close my eyes a whole century goes by, and then I wake up to today. Odd.

Anyway in 2011 I wrote a post about Annie and her weed salad. I am reposting it here now.

Yesterday on my walk I noticed those weeds underfoot... I thought of Annie, how she loved to walk, did so every day until recently. I thought about how she collected her "weeds" for her salad and to cook them as well. I thought about how the weeds of spring are in full force and Annie is sitting in her home not able to pick them.

So today I took a plastic bag with me to collect weeds....

But first, her is Annie's Weed Salad Story (how many of you remember it?)

 

My friend Annie makes weed salad.

She gathers the weeds in a field.

Weeds.

She eats them.

And tells me, "..they are good for you, high in vitamins."

Weeds that I walk on without giving them a thought.

Bitterweeds.

 

Weeds with names such as:

Salade de Chasseur, or Hunter's Greens in English.

Fenouil, or Fennel's first shots. Not to be confused with older, later in the season's more substantial growth.

Pissanli (I won't tell you what that sounds like in French... oh dang I have to tell you... It sounds like Peeing in the Bed!) better known as Dandelion! Bitter is what it is!

And the fourth cutie weed... Much to my shame, I forgot its name.

 

I went over to Annie's yesterday to cut her hair.

Entering her kitchen there was an overwhelming garlicky aroma.

Annie told me she had made her Weed Salad. I tasted her weeds before without seasoning, and it was not my favorite. Annie reassured me, "...I know you don't like my wild salad...."

"You mean weed salad?""

"Yes, but you should taste it with my vinaigrette."

"Is garlic the main ingredient?"

She laughed, "Can you smell it?"

Annie collects the weeds, then trims, washes and seasons them:

Olive oil, salt, apple vinegar and a fist full of crushed garlic.

I love garlic. I have heard the reason escargot tastes good is because of the butter and garlic. Weed salad falls in the same category. The garlic won me over.

Annie was happy that I am now a fan of her weed salad. I'll never walk on a weed again without my tastebuds watering.... well, that is if garlic dressing is close behind.

************************************************************

 

Tomorrow I will fill you in on my adventure I should have smoked some!

Comments

[nancy w.]

I am already laughing.

[g]

corey honestly last night laying in bed thinking of people and intentions and lent one thought lead to another and the chain lead to the weed salad and the onion orange salad- the dressing sounds delicious!

[Rebecca from the pacific northwest]

yum, I love garlic too. and am thrilled now that I'm able to taste and smell it again at long last.

[Diogenes]

I was not expecting that headline when I came to your blog today, lol.

[Ana Maria]

How nice to read about Annie; how sad to read she can no longer take those pleasant walks with you. Is she bedridden? Hopefully she has someone caring for her on a regular basis. Please know that I pray for her. You are very blessed to have Annie in your life. You are a very special person and are surrounded by special people.

[La Contessa]

I do believe I remember this post!Although, I cannot believe I have been reading you daily for that long!
ANNIE knows BEST!

[Linda]

I'm convinced that you could eat a rubber tire if you put enough garlic and butter on it-as you do with snails. Onions too.

[Mardog]

How much does one pay per kilo for this weed?

[Merisi in Vienna]

Foraging in the fields, what better welcome to spring?

In Rome, "Erbe di campo" was one of my favorite springtime treats.

[Jeanne]

I love your Annie stories............and love all you share. I love garlic it makes everything tastes better.............
Love and hugs Give Annie big hugs and hellos for me

Blessings and love and smiles across the miles.
Love Jeanne ^j^

[Andrea]

For a week, I've been looking at a potted Nephrolepsis Fern I brought home a couple of weeks ago, thinking that it looks so tasty. I do have the ingredients for a good dressing, including lots of garlic. Hmmmm......to eat, smoke, or just gaze, that is the question.

[Judy]

I remember that Annie story and YES it does seem like yesterday. I remember it because it reminded me of my Grandmother--she made Dandelion Wine!

[Teddee Grace]

You are so lucky to have someone around who still knows which wild plants are edible. My mother used to gather these in the spring when I was quite young...I remember purslane and I think pepper grass and, of course, dandelion...she is now in the nursing home and I'm not sure even if I took my gatherings to her she would be able to distinguish one from another. Did you know you can eat the actual dandelion flower?

[Franca Bollo]

If you decide to smoke any of it, you can use your fancy roach clip.