EDIBILE FLOWERS FOR YOUR SUMMER SALADS

ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS
these are delicious stuffed with a cannelli bean medley, or in a salad with a raspberry vinaigrette.
Add color, texture and flavor to your salads, gently grill on the BBQ, add to your summer meals.
Zucchini is in. It is high in potassium which is good for your heart, too.

Here are some other blossoms to brighten up your meals, enhance your palette and decorate your plate.

ARTICHOKE also comes under the flower family. It contains polyphenols, which are disease-fighting compounds. The U. S. Department of Agriculture rates artichokes as one of the vegetables with the highest amounts of antioxidants. They contain vitamins C and K, magnesium, potassium, and folate. Be sure to enjoy the artichoke leaves as these have been reported to support lowering high cholesterol too.

ARUGULA FLOWERS – peppery, wheat grass flavor off white with wine and slightly yellow tint. Will Add extra peppery flavor to a watercress salad. They will enhance any dish.

BORAGE blossoms (oyster or cucumber flavor) Love the blue color of the petals. Excellent for a non-seafood dish with sea food flavor.  

BROCCOLI is a flower too. It is especially high in sulforaphane an organic sulfur compound identified in cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli has tested to contain the highest, most potent of all the cruciferous vegetables. This compound significantly impacts the reduction of high blood pressure.   

CALENDULA has an orange yellow color and peppery taste. They are and Anti-inflammatory plant and also helps to keep the skin soothed. They are a great addition to pasta, grains and egg dishes. Their flavor adds a spicy kick to any meal and an orange yellow color to the dish. 

CAULIFLOWER – it is a flower too and like broccoli will support cleansing your liver with natural enzymes by removing cancer causing substances. 

LAVENDER FLOWERS the sweet essence is a great addition to dessert recipes. These purplish blue flowers are excellent addition to a cup of tea or a glass of champagne. 

NASTURTIUMS these beauties tastes slightly sweet with a fiery spice and a little bitter too. Their bright yellow and orange colors with brighten up any meal. The make a beautiful addition to salads for color and varied texture. These little beauties are very nutritious too. They contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as well as carotinoids and flavanoids. 

PANSY BLOSSOMS makes a beautiful edible decoration on desserts. This adds color and minty flavor to salads. Brightens and enhances any dish be it vegetable, fruit, poultry or animal. 

ROSE PETALS give a little ginger essence. Is an excellent addition to agave and honey. Add to your fruit salad or sorbet.

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