Salads With Flowers, Add Color and Surprising Flavor

("Who would've thought those fast growing flowers in the yard could be used for salads? The article by Miss Murdock is brilliant!" Ree)

Flowers are, of course, used more for decorating than for flavor. Keep that in mind when spicing up your summer salads and don't go overboard. Remember that less is more when it comes to flavoring with flowers. There are many edible flowers and several herbs that have edible blooms. Chive and thyme flowers can be eaten, although the chive flower may surprise you with its strong onion taste.

Flower blossoms are often used in spicing foods and in blending herbal teas. The best-flavored ones are chamomile, hibiscus, lavender and violas. Be aware that the leaves or other parts of edible flowers may be toxic and may trigger allergic reactions.

There are a few rules you should follow when using flowers to dress up a salad. One is to use the salad dressing before adding the flowers. This avoids discoloration. Make sure you rinse your flowers first. Don't cut the flowers until right before serving the salad. Otherwise the flowers may wilt.

For an easy Edible Flower Dressing try the following: Combine ½ cup safflower oil, ¼ cup honey and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Whisk this together for a full minute. Toss the dressing in the salad and serve with a sprinkling of pretty flowers on top. It makes for an impressive and colorful presentation.

You you may be wondering if any of the flowers in your own yard can be eaten. You will be surprised at how many of them are edible. Often you can use parts of the leaves and still use the flower as an attractive garnish. Make sure your guests know which are just for show. For example, leaves of bee balm are used to make teas. They have a citrus flavor combination of orange and lemon and can be included in a salad. Their beautiful red flowers make a showy garnish, but should not be eaten.

Borage leaves and flowers are not readily available unless you happen to have them planted in your yard. The flowers are often used as an accent in punch bowls, however they can be toxic in quantity. The leaves taste like cucumber and can be used in potato or tuna salads, soups, teas and with vegetables.

Geranium leaves can be used on ice cream, puddings and other desserts. These leaves are also used to make jelly. The flavor is like a mixture of nutmeg, coconut and lemon, but will vary based on the kind of geranium you have. Try to refrain from munching on geranium leaves at your local nursery. You don't know what chemicals have been used on them.

Calendula and other marigold petals were once used as a cheap substitute for the expensive spice known as saffron. Use the petals only. Their aromatic, slightly bitter flavor is good with eggs, cream cheese, rice and vegetables.

Pansies and violas add a vibrant color when placed in a green salad. Make sure to remove the pistil, stamen and heel of the flower first. In other words, use just the petals. Johnny jump-ups are particularly good when served with peaches.

Well, now I can see that your interest is piqued. There are many other edible flowers, but make sure you do your homework and figure out which parts of the flower is alright to eat and which are not. Here are a few more that you can find out about: bachelor buttons, carnations, chrysanthemums, dandelions, daylilies, fuchsias, hollyhocks, honeysuckles, impatiens, lilacs, mint blossoms, snapdragons, squash blossoms and yuccas. Who knows, your edible flower garden may just turn into a salad garden before your very eyes.

Copyright 2011 by Linda K. Murdock. Linda Murdock is the best-selling author of A Busy Cook's Guide to Spices, How to Introduce New Flavors to Everyday Meals. Unlike most spice books, you can turn to a food, whether meat, vegetable or starch, and find a list of spices that go well with that food. Recipes and numerous charts, including one on edible flowers, are also included. To learn more go to bellwetherbooks.com

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Seven Tips To Make Your Beaded Flowers Look Alive

Even with top-notch materials and the finest craftsmanship, beaded flowers can look stiff and artificial. Here are some tips to help you make your French beaded flowers look alive.

Number 1: Vary your colors.

Have you ever really looked at a spray of roses, or any other living flowers all on the same plant? You might assume they're all exactly the same color. Take a closer look. There are sometimes wide variations in the colors of the flowers. Those that are just blooming may be a lighter color; mature blooms can be a little darker; and those that are past their best moment may be a darker color. Using different shadings of color in your flowers will help them look more authentic.

You may also see that mature blooms can pick up spots or other additional coloration. Use it!

Number 2: Keep all stems narrow.

Stems on living flowers are generally fairly slim in proportion to the flower head. You rarely see a "fat" stem on a flower. Keep this principle in mind when building your beaded flowers.

There are several ways to thin your stems. One way is to reduce the basic loop wires during construction of the petals. As you're finishing each petal, cut open the basic loop about an inch under the last row of beads. Straighten this wire, but don't cut it off. During assembly of the flower, this length of wire will add stability, like the tail of a kite adds stability to the kite.

Another way is to wire the flower together before taping. To do this, take some 32-gauge lacing wire, or regular 26-gauge wire if you don't have lacing wire. As you add each layer of petals to the main stemwire, wrap once tightly with the spool wire. When all the petals are added, wrap the spool wire very tightly down the main stem and secure at the bottom.

Number 3: Use tape sparingly.

Floral tape should cover all visible wire, but should not overlap itself at the edges so much that it adds bulk. Be sure to stretch tape before wrapping, then wrap to just cover any visible wires.

All petal and leaf stemwires must be taped. Not only does it cover the wires, it adds "tooth" so that the finished flowers will hold together better, and the elements won't slip or turn out of place or fall right out of the flower.
If you are making a very complicated flower, like a large rose that must be assembled in many layers, lightly tape each layer of added petal wires during assembly. The finished flower will look much more elegant and professional.
Number 4: Lace petals and leaves over 13 rows wide.

As with many other things, perfection is in the details. Lace your larger pieces right after construction and before you assemble the flower, and they'll look better for decades. Few things look worse than a beaded-flower petal or leaf that has become stringy and misshapen over the years, just for the lack of lacing
Number 5: The best living flowers aren't always perfect.

Take a really good look at a bunch of flowers. Not all of them are "perfect." Some may have a petal that turns in a different direction than the rest. Some might actually be missing a petal. Some may open a little too wide, or not quite enough. Use this in shaping your flowers. Give each one a little personality so they're not all cookie-cutter perfect.

Number 6: Arrange your flowers in an interesting way that looks spontaneous.
Borrow a bit of spontaneity from someone who just came in from picking wildflowers and stuck them in a vase in a hurry. The flowers won't be arranged just so; they'll look a little messy. Do the same with your beaded flowers. Make a trailing "vine" of leaves to spill down over the edge of your vase. If you have a group of beaded tulips - bend one downwards so the head is below the rim of the vase. Lilies? Turn one a bit so it looks off to one side or the other. Put one rose in with a bunch of hydrangea, or add an unexpected color to your bunch of flowers. Have fun with it!

Number 7: Use a touch of unexpected materials now and then.

Seed beads are not the only beads you can use, even if you are just learning how to make French beaded flowers. Use a few Swarovski crystal beads for a center; throw in a lampwork bead, or even a Pandora style bead now and then. You don't have to copy nature exactly.

Being a little spontaneous can bring lots of new creativity. Let loose and do something unexpected!

http://www.rosemarykurtz.com Rosemary Kurtz has been an award-winning French beaded flower artist for most of her life. For more information and her tutorial DVDs, please visit her website. For all the materials you will need to make a beautiful garden of French beaded flowers, please visit her Amazon store at http://www.BeaderSupplies.com

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