| Flowers can be an integral part of cooking. While | | | | should be separated into petals. Most recipes for |
| most of us are aware that violets can be candied | | | | candied flowers call for the use of raw egg |
| and nasturtiums can be eaten in salads, there's a | | | | whites. Using a confectioner's powdered egg white |
| bounty of flower varieties that are both edible | | | | instead reduces risk of salmonella. |
| and delicious. | | | | Mix powdered egg white according to package |
| Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth with Flowers | | | | directions (equivalent of one egg white). |
| Violets are not the only flower that can be | | | | Spread a cup of superfine sugar in a flat |
| candied. Many spring flowers with small, delicate | | | | bottomed pan. Carefully dip each flower into the |
| blossoms have a sweet, somewhat spicy flavor | | | | egg white, then press into the sugar. Use a fork |
| that is enhanced by dipping them in sugar. It goes | | | | to gently turn the flower so that all surfaces of |
| without saying that any flowers that you gather | | | | the petals are covered. Lift out of sugar and lay |
| for eating should have been grown without the | | | | on a screen or drying rack till completely dry. |
| use of pesticide - by growing them yourself, you | | | | Apple and cherry blossoms can also be candied |
| can be sure that they're untreated. A Candy | | | | the same way. |
| Flower Garden that blooms throughout the | | | | A Soup, Salad and Savory Flower Garden |
| summer can include: | | | | Early summer squash blossoms may be dipped in |
| Violets - Purple, blue or white, violets are among | | | | egg and flour, then fried in olive oil with garlic. The |
| the first flowers to bloom in the spring. They | | | | blossoms have a sweet, nutty flavor that is like |
| spread easily, and grow happily when transplanted | | | | nothing else. Other garden flowers that are |
| into a garden bed - and you do want to confine | | | | delicious in soups and salads include: |
| them to a bed unless you love the look of a full | | | | Borage - Like the leaves, borage flowers are |
| carpet of blooms spreading across your lawn. | | | | delicious in salads and cold soups. They have a |
| Pansies - A relative of violets, pansies are just as | | | | cool, cucumber-like taste that translates well from |
| delicately flavored and can be used as a | | | | flower garden to kitchen table. |
| substitute in recipes that call for violets. They | | | | Carnations - The flavor is as spicy as the scent. |
| make beautiful border flowers to boot. | | | | Carefully separate the petals from the bitter |
| Angelica - These delicate, lacy white flowers can | | | | white of the flower's base and sprinkle in salads |
| be sprinkled in salads - but the stems and shoots | | | | for a surprising touch of color and spice. |
| make a delicious traditional candy that tastes a bit | | | | Daylilies - Like squash blossoms, day lilies have a |
| like licorice with a hint of mint. | | | | mildly sweet, nutty flavor that many people think |
| Roses - Candied rose petals and rose syrup were | | | | varies by color. Dredged in flour and dipped in egg, |
| mainstays in Victorian cooking. Sweet delicately | | | | fried daylilies are quite succulent and unique in |
| flavored rose syrup gives baklava its | | | | flavor. |
| characteristic flavor, and is a perfect foil for | | | | These are just a small sampling of the many |
| cardamom in Indian recipes. | | | | edible flowers from your garden. Be careful in |
| To candy flowers from your garden: | | | | your taste-testing. If you are not sure if a flower |
| Violets and pansies can be candied whole. Roses | | | | is edible, do not eat it. |