[Sca-cooks] Nettles (was viking cook book)

[LadyAngustias at aol.com]

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In a message dated 9/25/2001 6:16:24 AM Alaskan Daylight Time,
smithson at mco.edu writes:


> I have to contradict you.  I am originally from the UK although now living
> in the US.  I have eaten nettles.  Nettles are edible but only when they
> are young.  I have harvested them in spring when the plants are less than
> 4" high.  Once you cut them down to the ground they resprout and you can
> cut them over and over again.  They are not eaten as a stem vegetable, more
> as a leaf vegetable.  The most widely available substitute is actually
> spinach.  Once you cook the nettles they loose their stinging property and
> cook way down (start off with a big bag of greens, end up with enough to
> feed 4 people).
> Helewyse
>
> Would these be similar to fiddlehead ferns?  We have a plant here in Alaska
> known as Fireweed that we harvest for the greens in the spring and later
> use the blossoms  to make honey with.   Would this plant also work?
>
> Angustias