Green Group discussion

Let's share our organic food recipes.

I'm starting with author Sheila Roberts' newsletter. She tells us about using edible flowers in salads, infusions, and more.
She doesn't specify organic, but I think they have to be because nobody would spray pesticide on a flower one day and eat it the next. If you can grow the plant in organic soil, all the better. She says:



GARDEN GOODNESS
Nasturtiums
These babies are great for bladder and urinary tract infections and sinusitis (with no risk of antibiotic resistance). They’re also loaded with anti fungal and antibacterial compounds. Their bright colors and peppery taste make them a great addition to salads.
Violets
These pretty little flowers are rich in vitamin C and have more vitamin A than spinach. They’re also good for preventing infections and breaking up congestion. And guess what? They’re often a common ingredient in herbal couch and cold remedies in Europe.
Lavender
Besides being fabulous in scones and cakes and wonderful in lemonade, lavender is also good for aiding digestion. Its natural chemicals stimulate the secretion of bile to help break down food, which helps cut down on gas, indigestion and bloating. Also, its anti-inflammatory and relaxing properties can calm stomach cramps and soothe queasiness.
Pansies
These sweet flowers have a minty flavor and contain about 20 mg of the antioxidant rutin per flower. Rutin ups blood flow by strengthening capillaries and increasing blood vessel flexibility, helping prevent or revers spider and varicose veins. I read that there’s even evidence that rutin cuts the risk of blood clots and glaucoma. (However, if you’re on blood thinners don’t be stoppin’ those. Your doctor would not be happy with you. Or me!)
Squash blossoms
Okay, I know, these don’t really count as a flower but I wanted to mention them anyway. The blooms on zucchini and yellow squash help keep skin young thanks to their high content of beta carotene and vitamin C. They also contain lutein (good for the eyes) and B vitamins, which help protect against age-related memory loss.

You can do some fun things with your flowers. Remove stems and toss the flowers over summer salads or make a pretty appetizer (place a dollop of guacamole or herbed goat cheese in the center of a nasturtium, tuck the petals closed and serve on cucumber slices). You can also infuse your flowers by pouring 3 cups of vodka, vinegar or olive oil into a large Mason jar. Add 2 tbsp of flowers. Close the jar tightly and let sit for 48 hours then strain to remove the flowers.
SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT. You may not have a big yard or you may be in an apartment or condo, but you can still plant some of these yummies in pots to add color to your balcony or patio and give you some extra goodness for your culinary creations.

Want to give growing some edible flowers a shot? Here’s a website I found where you can buy a mix.

https://www.americanmeadows.com/wildf...?
Editor's note: these are American seeds so people living in other countries should buy native plants from local seeds for the best results.

Not necessarily organic, so it is up to you to buy organic if you can find it. A vegan Thanksgiving feast - so seasonal fruits and veg, good food, tasty recipes.

https://www.ecowatch.com/vegan-thanks...

Buckwheat with apple, chili and pumpkin seeds.

https://www.thenest.com/content/begin...

Ancient medicine used to work; if you get an Amazonian tea plant, I would think it would be organic.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-1...

"One of the main natural components of ayahuasca tea is dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which promotes neurogenesis —the formation of new neurons—according to research led by the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM).

In addition to neurons, the infusion used for shamanic purposes also induces the formation of other neural cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

"This capacity to modulate brain plasticity suggests that it has great therapeutic potential for a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases," explained José Ángel Morales, a researcher in the UCM and CIBERNED Department of Cellular Biology."

More information: Jose A. Morales-Garcia et al, N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo, Translational Psychiatry (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01011-0
Journal information: Translational Psychiatry

Presuming if you are buying organic food, or growing your own, you don't want to waste any.
Great tips to avoid food waste.

https://www.ecowatch.com/zero-food-wa...

If your back garden (backyard) is organic, you can grow these flowers and eat them, according to this article.
Spring is here!

https://www.ecowatch.com/edible-backy...

Pasting just the first flower to give you an idea of the versatility and variety.

"Native to central and eastern North America, both the leaves and flowers of common blue violets can be eaten (the leaves are blander, the flowers sweeter).

Violet leaves are comparable to spinach in both texture and taste – containing twice the vitamin C of oranges and twice the vitamin A of spinach – and thus are delicious when cooked or used as a green in salads. Early summer leaves will have a softer, less bitter taste. The flowers too can be added to a salad for sweetness and a bit of color.

Violet flowers are also a delicious addition to desserts; violet sugar and violet flower syrup can preserve the sweet, floral taste from the delicate blossoms, and crystallized violets are an especially beautiful candied topping for desserts."

Make Use Of gives us a page of phone apps that help you lead a more plant based lifestyle. You can find veggie or vegan restaurants near you, get tips to swap an unhealthy food for a healthier one, or join a community discussing recipes.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/vegetar...

Not food, but often food-based, tips to keep insect and other pests out of your home. Plants include lavender, basil, cucumber, citrus...

https://www.ecowatch.com/natural-ways...