Farmer Mike likes grazing in the yard

[FarmerMike]

I live on a farm in rural Iowa and enjoy grazing in my yard. Some of my favorites are grass, alfalfa, stinging nettle, and mulberries.

I like to incorporate naturally growing food from my yard in my cooking. My favorite thing to do is boil a few leaves of stinging nettle for a couple minutes and throw them into my bread machine to make the dough raise better. I use the leftover water too.

Farmer Mike

 

[pdswife]

Hi! Welcome to the group!

 

[FryBoy]

I trust you keep the phone number handy for your local poison control center!

Seriously, it's dangerous to eat random things you find growing wild. Know what you're doing.

 

[Half Baked]

Hey welcome, Farmer Mike. I can't wait to hear more about what you do with your yard 'food'.

 

[Andy M.]

Welcome aboard!

 

[jkath]

I can't wait to see some of your homegrown recipes! So glad you've joined us!

 

[licia]

Welcome to the site. Your post is very interesting and reminded me of a lady who wrote the book "I eat weeds". She came a few times to our garden club and helped us identify edible weeds. Most of them are very nutritious.

 

[cara]

I'M sure Mike knows what to eat..
I had a friend myself she was a kind of "Kraeuterhexe" (herb witch?) and knew alot about the so called weeds and made us a wonderful dinner with stinging nettle omelette, salad with chickweed and things like that.. *yumm*

so welcome on board, Mike ;o)

 

[mudbug]

I live on a farm in rural Iowa and enjoy grazing in my yard. Some of my favorites are grass, alfalfa, stinging nettle, and mulberries.

I like to incorporate naturally growing food from my yard in my cooking. My favorite thing to do is boil a few leaves of stinging nettle for a couple minutes and throw them into my bread machine to make the dough raise better. I use the leftover water too.

Farmer Mike

Bienvenue, Mike. If you boil it they will come???
Got any sassafras out dere in da yard for some tea? I always like that in the old days.

 

[FarmerMike]

I'M sure Mike knows what to eat..
I had a friend myself she was a kind of "Kraeuterhexe" (herb witch?) and knew alot about the so called weeds and made us a wonderful dinner with stinging nettle omelette, salad with chickweed and things like that.. *yumm*

so welcome on board, Mike ;o)

Identifying weeds is a natural part of growing up on a farm. Much effort and money is spent keeping the fields free of undesirable plants.

I have to say that a stinging nettle omelette sounds pretty good.

 

[Half Baked]

I had a survival course once and they taught us many things that could turn into a salad or dinner....or a juice/tea. It was so interesting.

 

[FarmerMike]

Hey welcome, Farmer Mike. I can't wait to hear more about what you do with your yard 'food'.

I tend to appreciate the things I forage for what they are. I'll cook up some nettle and have it as a side dish for a meal. Or, I'll throw some lambsquarter in with my salad greens. Clover adds a nice bit of spicey kick.

I think it's had a big influence on how I look at other foods. For example, tofu should be used in a recipe because the qualities of tofu are suited for the recipe. Trying to make tofu taste like a hamburger is just plain wrong.

I also enjoy traditional ingredients in an relatively unadorned fashion. This Cornmeal Porridge is a good example. (Is linking to a recipe off-site kosher here?) My cornmeal porridge is all about the cornmeal, not a bunch of sweet condiments.

 

[Half Baked]

Farmer Mike, I usually use milk in lieu of water in all my cereals. I am very interested in your recipes.

 

[karadekoolaid]

Welcome. Farmer Mike!
I think it's wonderful that you use the ingredients that surround you.
It's extraordinary the things you can find in the countryside which have been abandoned by modern society.
A good few years ago, an English guy wrote a book called "Food for Free" - I have a feeling his name was Richard Mabey, or something like that. Since I'd moved to Venezuela, it wasn't much of a help, but it may just be over there.

 

[FarmerMike]

Farmer Mike, I usually use milk in lieu of water in all my cereals. I am very interested in your recipes.

I'll try cooking my porridge in milk the next time I have a chance.

 

[MJ]

Welcome Mike!