My first success!

As a kid, I loved picking plants and mashing them up into my "experiments". I loved to "cook" with seeds and leaves that I found. Recently, I've become intrigued with the adult version of the same thing- foraging. I always grew up going asparagus hunting with my grandma. She taught me a few obvious plants. Since she passed, my sisters and I spent every mother's day looking for a few plants to eat. Just as grandma always had. On this last trip, we found a couple morels, a bunch of asparagus and a TON of wild onions. I started to do a little digging. I found a few groups on social media that helped me identify plants in my yard. I looked for ways to use those plants and found a couple of them were used in tea to help symptoms of Grave's. I recently found a great doctor that has been helping me, but it is always good to have a back up! So, I picked a few violets (to help with insomnia), prickly lettuce (for insomnia and anxiety), mint (for stomach problems), and even found A TON of catnip for my kitty. Worst case, none of it works and I got my yard weeded. Best case, I got free medicine! In my super tiny yard (I can walk the entire thing in about 45 seconds) I was pulling in buckets and buckets of useful plants. Because my little yard produced so much, I wondered what else I could find in my neighborhood (in the public areas). With the help of social media, I identified a HUGE patch of garlic mustard. I did some research and found that they are a massive pest. People can't seem to get rid of the stuff. It was originally brought to the Americas for its culinary uses. This boggles my mind. Something was brought here because it was prized for its flavor. Now, its a common weed. What changed? Why did people stop using it? Why are people killing it when it used to be cultivated and sold as crop? I'm not saying let it choke out your garden by any means. I'd definitely rather have some gorgeous green beans and bell peppers. What I AM saying is: You're pulling it anyways. Why not utilize it? Well, I decided I was going to give it a shot. Which brought me to my first successful food made from plants I found.

Garlic Mustard

While looking for an identification, someone mentioned Garlic Mustard Pesto. I LOVE pesto. I could probably live off of that and bread. It is by far the most amazing food (okay, slight exaggeration). I try to eat it in everything. Why not switch it up and try Garlic Mustard pesto? What did I have to lose? A bit of olive oil and some cheese? I have it all in my house anyways on any given day (except today because I used the last of it for this). Plus, it is amazingly easy and super nutritious.

Before giving you the recipe, I do have to say, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR IDENTIFICATION!!!! I know Garlic Mustard is relatively easy for identification purposes, but do it anyways. Better safe than sick!

Now, onto the good stuff.

Ingredients:

-3 cups garlic mustard leaves

-3/4 cup walnut

-3 cloves garlic

-3/4 cup olive oil

-1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a food processor, place leaves, walnut, and garlic cloves. Pulse "chop" button. Add about half of the olive oil and continue to pulse until thoroughly chopped. Mix in Parmesan and you're done!

You can put it in an ice cube tray and freeze or freeze in a jar to preserve it as well. That way, you have GOOD pesto all year long! YUMMMM!!!