Childhood Insult

[Nyboy]

I grew up in a very Italian neighborhood, A lot of parents and grandparents spoke English as a 2nd langue. In the spring groups of woman would go along the highway and pick dandelions, the slang name for them was cichoria pickers. calling someones mother that was a big insult, you where calling them weed eaters that where to poor to buy food. 45 years later, I keep passing a empty lot on way to work. The lot is unkempt filled with weeds, I know no one sprays anything on weeds. The lot is filled with dandelions, Harvey my rabbit loves dandelions so much I have picked both home and work out of them. This morning I was running about 20 minutes early, has I pasted the lot I thought how many dandelions can I pick in 20 minutes? next thing I knew I was bent over in lot with cars passing buy. Then it hit me I was now a full scale cichoria picker !!!!!!!

 

[aftermidnight]

We have a lot of Chicory growing on the roadside just across the street from us, every spring several ladies arrive knife in hand and harvest the leaves which look very much like dandelions only when they bloom they have blue flowers. I don't think for a minute they are poor they just like chicory, just like some people harvest nettles, said to be tasty, I don't know I have never tried either, I've always wondered how they use or cook both of these, anyone know?
Annette

 

[digitS']

Get over it, NyBoy.

My brother and I would stand in the corral in our rubber boots and yell insults at each other, "You farmer!" He has had a hobby farm nearly all his adult life. I have worked in ag, the periphery of ag, and been a truck farmer wannabe!

Yes, dandelions are in the chicory family, altho the Italian dandelion seed you can buy is closer to the chicory weeds with their lovely blue flowers. I have been motivated by your post to have a cup of chicory root and coffee, this morning .

Harvey ... umm Steve!

Oh! And, alfalfa grows wild around here, especially along roadways. I think it's smart when I see people out harvesting it to take home to their rabbits or whatever.

 

[digitS']

chicory, just like some people harvest nettles, said to be tasty, I don't know I have never tried either, I've always wondered how they use or cook both of these, anyone know?
Annette

I have never eaten chicory except for the root as a beverage. I have had dandelion root that way - I can't really taste a difference!

Dandelion greens I don't care much about. Maybe the changes of cooking water resulted in overcooking.

Nettles are good! Taste like spinach to me.

Remember the song "Poke Salad Annie?"

Steve

 

[Nyboy]

Saute in olive oil with onions and garlic

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Miner's lettuce around here is delish. You'll find me munching on it from a yard, or on a hike.

 

[ninnymary]

I don't know, for me picking up something at curbside even picking up leaves makes me feel embarrassed and poor. I try to pick up things as fast as I can so that fewer people can see me. I even go picking leaves in the dark! Perhaps it's because we were poor growing up.

 

[digitS']

Mary,

I rake pine needles in the park.

If you wear work clothes ... .

Steve

 

[Nyboy]

Mary I have push people out of the way on a crowed NYC street for good garbage find. Of course I said excuse me when shoving them.

 

[aftermidnight]

I'm sure I've embarrassed my DH at times, I've made him hold up traffic so I could jump out and pick up a roadside treasure, if you snooze you loose . Someone was moving and they had a perfectly good aluminum bistro set sitting on the curb with a free sign on it. You betcha, I'm not proud, I hopped out of the truck almost before it stopped and snagged that while hubby was crouching as low as he could behind the steering wheel.
Annette