Walk on the Wildflower Side

By Colleen Walsh Fong

Spending time in the garden is a great way to relax. There’s something about the life-cycle aspect of plant cultivation that makes me feel so complete when I enrich soil, plant seeds, and mother them along with water and necessary pruning. This time of year spring flowers pop to life on trees and shrubs and in garden beds lifting spirits and casting an aura of optimism. Once I’m done with my daily spring cleaning in the garden my thoughts usually turn to what I’m going to cultivate in the kitchen. Images of the flowers I’ve mingled with outside work their ways into my culinary creations, too. And I have fun thinking of ways to deliver flowers to my kitchen table in an edible form. Since we’re in the midst of National Wildflower Week, it seems appropriate to share a few ways to work flower images into our meals.

Take It Literally

An easy and obvious choice is using cauliflower or broccoli florets. Roasting one or both of these veggies together in a hot oven with a little olive oil  and salt yields delicious results. The hot oven puts a light crunch around a melt-in-your-mouth veggie. 

If you’d rather keep it cool as the weather warms try making a salad of micro florets. Just cut cauliflower and broccoli florets into tiny “flowers” measuring no more than 1/2” in size. Mix them in a bowl along with some grated carrots and minced onion or chopped scallion, season with salt and pepper, and toss with a simple vinaigrette.

Shape Up!

Are you less literal and more visual? Then you may prefer to shape food like flowers. Flower-shaped foods can be especially pleasing to young eaters, and are easy to work into breakfast and desserts.

Take it to the Next Level With Accessories

When you want to throw caution to the winds go all out and use dishware, glassware, or linens with flower patterns or designs to turn your table into a garden.

And don’t be afraid to set your table with some fresh-cut flowers from your garden.

Bring National Wildflower Week to your table in three easy ways.

Photos Courtesy of Easy Weekly Meals

Find free recipes, more great food ideas and pictures from Colleen here.