The +12 degree weather yesterday got me fantasizing about cherry blossoms and dogwood flowers.
Prematurely as i am NOT finished with winter, (probably for the first time in my life, thank you North Bay).
This letter is to Jenny who taught me how to make stinging nettle soup last year in Toronto.
We picked Nettle with many old women in High Park late April, it was wonderful.
Don't be afraid of stinging nettle! Pick it early in the season, while it's young before it flowers as it becomes gritty and can irritate the urinary track. After you have a bag of carefully picked leaves (wear gardening gloves!) throw it in your soup ( the nettle becomes exactly like spinach), or try this recipe!
Nettle is very high in iron, vitamins and has many medicinal properties.
Before eating you must release the histamines, best method is to place in boiling water, or directly in your soup. (You can also beat it with a rolling pin... and let it sit in the fridge)
Torontonians can find Nettle in High Park April -May!
Rachel loves dogwood flowers
Do you?
