So a dandelion walks into a bar...

Dear friends, it has been a month since my last post and I can assure that I have not:
a.) retreated to the lower Chilean coast in search of rare minerals.
b.) become addicted to "scratch-n-sniff stickers" and spent a not-so-proud ten month stint in rehab
c.) decided to be a llama herder.
d.) moved to Iowa to open my organic strawberry preserves factory.

I have been busy with all sorts of stuff...too numerous (and raunchy) to mention. For this reason, I will keep the topic of today's post as down-to-earth as possible. I would like to discuss something very near and dear to my heart...but before I do, I want to remind all of tomorrow's significance: Green Thursday. If you grew up in PA Dutch country like I did, you know that the Thursday before Easter is Green Thursday and you must eat greens...well, not just any greens...one in particular: the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Those who know and love this divine weed, know of its delicious and versatile properties. You see, as a small child, we would arm ourselves this time of year with blunt kitchen knives and paper bags...head out to the wild unknown to hunt the elusive dandelion...well, actually just tramp across the neighbors' yards to find them...of course, you had to watch out for Mrs. Swanson's yard --- her dog pees too much...them best pickings for sure in the Snyder's yard.

So, to help the novice...some steps to dandelion picking perfection:
1.) find dandelion...green weed...make sure that it's only the green leaves...any sign of a flower and you're in Bitter-town, friend.
2.) holding the knife, gently poke under the leaves and proceed in circular motion to free the leaves altogether from the ground
3.) throw into bag
4.) bring home and rinse with cold water
5.) completely cover with warm bacon dressing (a hollandaise sort of thing with lots of bacon fat)
6.) ENJOY!

Since dandelion keeps popping up in the yard, feel free to let a bunch actually come to flower and pick the blossoms for some lovely Dandelion Wine (freeze if you don't have time to make some bathtub hooch at this moment).