Happy Mothers' Day!

Do you like to give flowers for Mothers’ Day? Well, consider a new way share flowers with the people in your life. It’s always nice to have a centerpiece of flowers on the table, but don’t stop there. Why not add flowers to your meals as well? You can garnish (but eat your garnish!) with violets, dandelions, or chrysanthemums, or you can stuff squash flowers as part of your meal. The other day I added blue violet flowers to my salad and topped it with avocado dressing. It was tasty and beautiful, and nutritious --- violets are a great source of Vitamin C.

I encourage you to start cooking with flowers because many are very nutritious and make for wonderful presentation, but it’s important to realize that not all flowers are edible. Be sure that any flowers you intend to eat are safe and pesticide free (not from a nursery, but from your garden or purchased as edible flowers). Rather than include all those details here, I’ll advise you to check up on your favorite flowers before nibbling. Check here for some good, concise information on edible flowers Dos & Don’ts.

Do you toss aside the flower garnish at restaurants? Or are you someone who already cooks with flowers? If so, which kinds of flowers do you use, and how?

By the way, I saw an ad the other day for edible flowers bouquets, so if you forgot to send that Mothers’ Day or Birthday present (or just want to send another), ask your local florists about edible flowers options.

Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well.