DELIGHTFUL!!!

by Suzy
(Ekenäs, Finland)

Inspired me really!

Benji, I can really understand how do you feel. My whole life I had that breakfast table full of fruits...Papaya, mango, watermelon, grapes, peaches, coconut water. But, I understood that in rigorous weather I would need some more protein beside all that "fiber". I am still learning how to be used to frozen berries, some chiquitas (half green and unsweet).

Yes, the forests! They are great. Those mushrooms, berries, and lots of other resources of energy.

I found out that those Birk (the baby ones) leaves give a healthy tea. Also the raspberry leaves tea (the baby leaves) are tonic for women. The "granskott" (Swedish name, sorry do not know in English) sprouts are tasty. And that is the surprise: those horrible urtica (the leaves can not be touched because it really ITCHES), the nettle or "bränssäsla" (in Swedish), well, it happens that they can be used the same way as spinach in pastry or filling omelettes etc.

Dandelion leaves are used for salads,instead of lettuce. It taste like RUCOLA! But only the baby leaves,the old ones are bitter. Has many nutrients.

I understood that sometime, in Finland, it was needed to eat things from the forest. People needed to make flour from the Birk. And I know those people they are health grannies!

Well, from forest, not good to eat "things" that have legs ;) Specially the big 4 legged ones ;)

And I got a book named "Djungelgurka", about a lady trying to grow figs, papayas, grapes in Ekenäs. Who knows if I get to make a "semi-tropical" garden/green house someday and your friend, my son, will be able to have some of those "real food" some morning. I will let you know, so you can joy us!