nemo@rochester.UUCP (Wolfe) (07/31/85)
>> Saffron is the stamens(or is it the pistils?) >>of a particular crocus. How they ever figured out to use such a thing >>in cooking is beyond me. >> > Whaddya mean? Flowers are pretty, people eat flowers, maybe someone > threw some flowers in their rice and it turned all yellow? > I call for a discussion of recipes for flowers. I know > people eat them, I think I remember being served squash blossoms.... > Hey! Squash blossoms are a good way to while away the time waiting for the squash to start coming. Generally the plant will produce large quantities of male blossoms (on a long stem with no pre-squash at the base of the flower) before the female blossoms start. We tried some fried squash blossoms last week, with good results. After washing and stuffing with some cheese (more on this later), parsley and sauteed onion, they were dipped in a souffle-style batter (you know - the kind with the beaten egg whites like you use for chile rellenos) and fried in 2" of 380 F oil. We had previously cut up a little zuccini and fried it with the same batter, keeping the pieces warm in the oven. Very tasty stuff, going well with teriyaki dip (soy, water, wine, ginger, honey, garlic, pepper) or salsa. About the cheese - the recipe called for chevere (goat cheese) but we used ricotta - not a good idea. The water in the ricotta boils and begins to blow out of the squash blossom into the hot oil. Then all hell breaks loose. So use a drier cheese (cheddar or jack would be fine). You can also eat nasturtiums (nasties), their blossoms, leaves and seeds. The seeds can be pickled like capers, and the leaves have a peppery taste sort of like radishes. Not only are they lovely and easy to grow, but you can also spice up and spruce up that dull salad with some real color! Marigold blossoms have also been used in salads. (Don't forget brocolli along with your artichokes) Nemo -- Internet: nemo@rochester.arpa UUCP: {decvax, allegra, seismo, cmcl2}!rochester!nemo Phone: [USA] (716) 275-5766 work, 232-4690 home USMail: 104 Tremont Circle; Rochester, NY 14608 School: Department of Computer Science; University of Rochester; Rochester, NY 14627