Recently I made this image for CTV's  WeatherPIX and decided to include it in a few few current emails that I was writing. I ended up sending it to my niece who responded with this "Ha, Ha, Ha! I love the pic. You put a nasty weed in a beautiful light. You are truely talented and I am not being sarcastic, for once! Love ya. Jessica.

Then, I started to wonder how truly it was a shame that people didn't see the dandelion as a great gourmet green salad like the Greeks do. They actually swear by them and hence dandelion greens  are a staple in the Greek diet.

Now I know the wild variety here in North America can be very bitter and it has taken me many years to learn to love their flavor.

The secret is in the preparation and the dressing including the right choice of vinegar and olive oil. Write me and I'll send you how I do it or rather how gourmet chef Byron Ayanoglu does it

in his New Medittereanean Cooking.

I imagine and hope that one day  things will change and people will say things like eating Dandelions saved my life because they are great for the intestines and regular eating of them helps prevent colon cancer and other stomach problems.

It might be a menace for the allergies but it really is one of the truly great foods of any educated diner. Plus they are easy to grow and packed with antioxidents galore... So the next time your thinking maybe I should try them...march yourself over to any respectable Greek restaurant and order a plate.

Maybe next year you'll be a little greener by letting them grow and providing yourself with one of the worlds best medicines.

Dandelion Greens !