Edible Weeds

Dandelion: leaves and stems of the common yellow flower. Pretty bitter and can be eaten in a salad or cooked.

Lamb’s quarters: triangular leaf common in suburban lawns. Comparable to kale or Swiss chard.

Purslane: common in lawns, gardens and fields. Leaves, stems and flowers may be stewed or eaten raw.




Burdock: big, coarse plant with a hollow stem and toothed leaves. Popular in soups and stews with a similar look and taste to celery.

How to eat butter without directly taking a bite out of the butter brick...

Fried Butter Balls

Ingredients
2 sticks butter
2 ounces cream cheese
Salt and pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
Peanut oil, for frying

Directions
Cream the butter, cream cheese, salt and pepper together with an electric mixer until smooth.
Using a very small ice cream scoop, or melon baller, form 1-inch balls of butter mixture and arrange them on a parchment or waxed paper lined sheet pan. Freeze until solid. Coat the frozen balls in flour, egg, and then bread crumbs and freeze again until solid.

When ready to fry, preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.

Fry balls for 10 to 15 seconds until just light golden. Drain on paper towels before serving.

(Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, thefoodnetwork.com)

Aspartame... Why should you consider avoiding it?

Aspartame is composed of 3 chemicals.

• Aspartic Acid: When the body breaks down aspartic acid, it creates a chemical that can lead to degeneration of neurons. This can have a significant influence on diseases such as Alzheimer’s, MS and Parkinson’s.

• Phenylalanine: Increasing phenylalanine can reduce serotonin levels in the brain making you more susceptible to depression. Elevated phenylalanine has also been implicated in higher cancer risk.

• Methanol: This chemical compound breaks down to formaldehyde - a deadly neurotoxin!

Using aspartame to support a low carb diet may not be that effective if you are trying to lose weight. Aspartame is shown to:

• Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

• Increase carbohydrate cravings

• Increase your appetite

• Ruin your body’s ability to count calories

• Double your risk of obesity

• Reduce bacterial flora in the gut by 50%

As a healthier substitute you can try stevia or agave nectar.

*Source*