Comments on: Spring greens: peppergrass. http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/ Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:59:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Tammy http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19469 Tammy Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:59:56 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19469 This is one of my favorites!! I just discovered and identified it for the first time last fall, and now it is flowering everywhere. I added a bunch to our salad tonight. I always call it bittercress. Others I know call it cukoo flower. This is one of my favorites!! I just discovered and identified it for the first time last fall, and now it is flowering everywhere. I added a bunch to our salad tonight. I always call it bittercress. Others I know call it cukoo flower.

]]> By: Sally http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19494 Sally Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:58:11 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19494 We still have 3 ft. of snow covering everything (and a foot of ice under that). My biological clock says "spring", but my eyes see "winter". This is the time for sour or bitter to clean out our blood. Looks like it'll be another month for us though. We still have 3 ft. of snow covering everything (and a foot of ice under that). My biological clock says “spring”, but my eyes see “winter”. This is the time for sour or bitter to clean out our blood. Looks like it’ll be another month for us though.

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19519 crabappleherbs Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:02:28 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19519 Tammy -- That's one of my favorite things about common plants like this... they have so many lovely names! Sally -- Yes, my friends up in Vermont are still under the snow too. Don't worry, it'll melt before long! I know what you mean about sour and bitter, but I'm always careful not to use the word "clean" in this context, because I don't want to give people the idea that their bodies are "dirty" somehow. (I try to avoid reinforcing those subtle Puritan tendencies our culture has...) Tammy — That’s one of my favorite things about common plants like this… they have so many lovely names!

Sally — Yes, my friends up in Vermont are still under the snow too. Don’t worry, it’ll melt before long! I know what you mean about sour and bitter, but I’m always careful not to use the word “clean” in this context, because I don’t want to give people the idea that their bodies are “dirty” somehow. (I try to avoid reinforcing those subtle Puritan tendencies our culture has…)

]]> By: Jan S. http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19561 Jan S. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:38:00 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19561 I see from the view out your kitchen window that Spring has come to West Virginia! I confess to being a tad jealous. You are right about the snow in Vermont Rebecca, and Sally, I sympathize. The snow banks in front of our house are so high, my dog climbed one she could look across to our porch roof. That means there is about 8 feet or so of hard, dense, frozen, ice and snow between where she was standing and our purple crocus! Even out away from the mamouth snowbanks, there is close to 4 feet of hard enough to walk on, frozen white stuff!. I suppose it will be a while before I am collecting fresh greens, but how sweet that time will be when it comes! The price we pay to live in Vermont I suppose. When the snow does melt, should I expect to find peppergrass in Sharon, Vermont? I see from the view out your kitchen window that Spring has come to West Virginia! I confess to being a tad jealous. You are right about the snow in Vermont Rebecca, and Sally, I sympathize. The snow banks in front of our house are so high, my dog climbed one she could look across to our porch roof. That means there is about 8 feet or so of hard, dense, frozen, ice and snow between where she was standing and our purple crocus! Even out away from the mamouth snowbanks, there is close to 4 feet of hard enough to walk on, frozen white stuff!. I suppose it will be a while before I am collecting fresh greens, but how sweet that time will be when it comes! The price we pay to live in Vermont I suppose. When the snow does melt, should I expect to find peppergrass in Sharon, Vermont?

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19563 crabappleherbs Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:02:31 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19563 That's really quite some serious snow, Jan, even for Vermont! Yes, I think you will find peppergrass or one of its close relatives where you are. The Lepidium genus is rather ubiquitous. Here are the USDA Plants database maps of Lepidium species ranges (these are always just estimates, of course): http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEPID (Speaking of names, the USDA seems to call it "pepperweed.") That’s really quite some serious snow, Jan, even for Vermont!

Yes, I think you will find peppergrass or one of its close relatives where you are. The Lepidium genus is rather ubiquitous.

Here are the USDA Plants database maps of Lepidium species ranges (these are always just estimates, of course):

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEPID

(Speaking of names, the USDA seems to call it “pepperweed.”)

]]> By: AnneTanne http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19564 AnneTanne Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:04:32 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19564 This looks very much like our European Cardamine hirsuta ('kleine veldkers' in Dutch, meaning 'small fieldcress'). You find pictures of this herb <a href="http://www.annetanne.be/kruidenklets/2008/02/08/winterannuellen" rel="nofollow">on my blog</a>. Also the European Barbarea vulgaris (Barbara kruid, Winterkers - Barbarawort, wintercress), another member of the Brassicaceae, has the same kind of foliage. Both herbs are very welcome as salad greens in late winter and early spring. I also use them to make a 'winter pesto', and add them to herb-pancakes (made with buckwheatflour) This looks very much like our European Cardamine hirsuta (’kleine veldkers’ in Dutch, meaning ’small fieldcress’). You find pictures of this herb on my blog.
Also the European Barbarea vulgaris (Barbara kruid, Winterkers - Barbarawort, wintercress), another member of the Brassicaceae, has the same kind of foliage.

Both herbs are very welcome as salad greens in late winter and early spring. I also use them to make a ‘winter pesto’, and add them to herb-pancakes (made with buckwheatflour)

]]> By: Tammy http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19566 Tammy Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:30:59 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19566 Actually I just noticed the latin name of Lepidium. The ones I have, which look about identical, are Cardamine Hirsuta, http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAHI3 . I just assumed they were the same by the picture. Well, that accounts for the different names I have for this plant :-) Actually I just noticed the latin name of Lepidium. The ones I have, which look about identical, are Cardamine Hirsuta, http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAHI3 . I just assumed they were the same by the picture. Well, that accounts for the different names I have for this plant :-)

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19567 crabappleherbs Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:52:44 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19567 Well, now. Looking at the USDA photos, I think that this little one might be Cardamine hirsuta as well! I have to do some more detective work when I have a little more time... perhaps this afternoon. I do have all sorts of little mustards and cresses around here, and I'd identified a lot of them as Lepidiums last summer, so I was thinking of them all in that category. Sigh. I'll let you know as soon as I've identified this one properly. (The nice thing about common names, of course, is that peppergrass is peppergrass. I grew up calling all these sharp little cresses peppergrass, and that still holds regardless of the Latin name!) Well, now. Looking at the USDA photos, I think that this little one might be Cardamine hirsuta as well! I have to do some more detective work when I have a little more time… perhaps this afternoon. I do have all sorts of little mustards and cresses around here, and I’d identified a lot of them as Lepidiums last summer, so I was thinking of them all in that category. Sigh. I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve identified this one properly. (The nice thing about common names, of course, is that peppergrass is peppergrass. I grew up calling all these sharp little cresses peppergrass, and that still holds regardless of the Latin name!)

]]> By: rich http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19580 rich Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:22:25 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19580 what is the other plant in the upper left called? what is the other plant in the upper left called?

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19604 crabappleherbs Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:53:42 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19604 OK -- Thank you AnneTanne and Tammy! It is indeed a Cardamine of some sort (see the update I added to the post). Jan -- Here's the equivalent link for Cardamines / bittercresses, if you're interested: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CARDA AnneTanne -- Cress and buckwheat pancakes sound lovely! I'll have to try that. Do you use a thick or a thin batter? (Oh, and yes, these cresses make lovely pesto.) Rich -- The plant in the upper left of the photo is a deadnettle (Lamium spp.). It's another one that comes up everywhere this time of year. OK — Thank you AnneTanne and Tammy! It is indeed a Cardamine of some sort (see the update I added to the post).

Jan — Here’s the equivalent link for Cardamines / bittercresses, if you’re interested:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CARDA

AnneTanne — Cress and buckwheat pancakes sound lovely! I’ll have to try that. Do you use a thick or a thin batter? (Oh, and yes, these cresses make lovely pesto.)

Rich — The plant in the upper left of the photo is a deadnettle (Lamium spp.). It’s another one that comes up everywhere this time of year.

]]> By: AnneTanne http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19663 AnneTanne Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:07:15 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19663 I think you can call it a thin batter. I have the impression that European pancakes are much thinner than American ones, when I see the latter on pictures. My recipe (I try to convert the units): 150 gr buckwheat flour (5.3 ounce) 100 gr whole wheat flour (3.5 ounce) a pinch of salt. beat 2 eggs with a bottle of beer (I'm Belgian after all ;-) - instead of beer you can use a cup of sparkling water) mix with the flour, and add milk until you have a batter 'en ruban' (a batter that drips from the spoon as if it were a ribbon) Leave it for half an hour. Now you can pick your herbs. I pick a large saladbowl full of spring green: dandelion leaves (lots of them), all kinds of cresses, rocket, yellow rocket... chick weed, yarrow leaves, a very small amount of common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) - never more than 2 or 3 leaves, a handfull of chives, or wild garlic, or bear's garlic, or.... Chop the herbs, and mix with the batter... eventually, you can add some more milk if the batter is too thick now. I think you can call it a thin batter. I have the impression that European pancakes are much thinner than American ones, when I see the latter on pictures.
My recipe (I try to convert the units):

150 gr buckwheat flour (5.3 ounce)
100 gr whole wheat flour (3.5 ounce)
a pinch of salt.

beat 2 eggs with a bottle of beer (I’m Belgian after all ;-) - instead of beer you can use a cup of sparkling water)
mix with the flour, and add milk until you have a batter ‘en ruban’ (a batter that drips from the spoon as if it were a ribbon)

Leave it for half an hour. Now you can pick your herbs. I pick a large saladbowl full of spring green: dandelion leaves (lots of them), all kinds of cresses, rocket, yellow rocket… chick weed, yarrow leaves, a very small amount of common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) - never more than 2 or 3 leaves, a handfull of chives, or wild garlic, or bear’s garlic, or….
Chop the herbs, and mix with the batter… eventually, you can add some more milk if the batter is too thick now.

]]> By: Sarah in VA http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19687 Sarah in VA Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:40:11 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19687 Thank you for the post, my kids and I have been nibbling this stuff for about a week now and I kept meaning to look it up and find a few recipes to bring it into the kitchen...I was thinking of using it for a cream of watercress soup. I love the idea of omlets and salads too. When my 6 yo introduced it to the 3yo picky eater she proudly came to tell me " It tastes like food!" Thank you for the post, my kids and I have been nibbling this stuff for about a week now and I kept meaning to look it up and find a few recipes to bring it into the kitchen…I was thinking of using it for a cream of watercress soup. I love the idea of omlets and salads too.
When my 6 yo introduced it to the 3yo picky eater she proudly came to tell me ” It tastes like food!”

]]> By: Leanne http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19722 Leanne Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:14:00 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19722 Thank you! I've been trying to correctly identify every little wild thing in my yard (with the exception of my toddler), and I just haven't been able to put my finger on this one. Your blog is wonderful. Thank you! I’ve been trying to correctly identify every little wild thing in my yard (with the exception of my toddler), and I just haven’t been able to put my finger on this one. Your blog is wonderful.

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19788 crabappleherbs Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:30:14 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19788 AnneTanne -- That sounds so tasty! I'll have to try it soon. Sarah -- That quote is priceless. It does indeed taste like food! Leanne -- Thank you! AnneTanne — That sounds so tasty! I’ll have to try it soon.

Sarah — That quote is priceless. It does indeed taste like food!

Leanne — Thank you!

]]> By: Belle http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19829 Belle Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:39:52 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-19829 I was excited to see this post today. I found some in my greenhouse yesterday and couldn't decide if it was a weed or part of the lettuces I had planted. It didn't quite look like lettuce, but I liked the peppery flavor so I threw some in the salad. Yum. I was excited to see this post today. I found some in my greenhouse yesterday and couldn’t decide if it was a weed or part of the lettuces I had planted. It didn’t quite look like lettuce, but I liked the peppery flavor so I threw some in the salad. Yum.

]]> By: Sarah Head http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-20601 Sarah Head Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:12:10 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-20601 Hi Anne I'm sorry I don't speak dutch, so I hope you get this message! I tried to leave this on your blog, but I can't understand your antispam mechanisms! I love your recipe for buckwheat and spring greens pancakes and I wondered if you would mind if I posted the recipe on the UK Herb Society forum. Many thanks Sarah P.S. Thanks Rebecca for your blog and for the Forum - it's wonderful! Hi Anne

I’m sorry I don’t speak dutch, so I hope you get this message! I tried to leave this on your blog, but I can’t understand your antispam mechanisms!

I love your recipe for buckwheat and spring greens pancakes and I wondered if you would mind if I posted the recipe on the UK Herb Society forum.

Many thanks

Sarah

P.S. Thanks Rebecca for your blog and for the Forum - it’s wonderful!

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-20905 crabappleherbs Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:52:26 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-20905 Belle -- It's a tasty one, isn't it? Sarah -- Did you succeed in getting in touch with AnneTanne? Belle — It’s a tasty one, isn’t it?

Sarah — Did you succeed in getting in touch with AnneTanne?

]]> By: Robin Rose Bennett http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-21125 Robin Rose Bennett Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:59:09 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-21125 Hi Rebecca! I have this little spicy green all over my land, too and love it...and believe it is cardamine hirsute. the first time I saw it a few years ago was in the wettest part of our land and I thought it was watercress. Well, it's a cress, anyway. thanks for ther USDA link. today I saw the first flowers, it's almost too small to gather any, but the key word there is almost!! It's yummy in just about anything...am so enjoying the first wild greens of the season...this weekend I gathered and sauteed some nettles, this cress, garlic mustard, some tiny dandelion leaves, a garlic scape or 2 and tomato slices in olive oil, added some shitake vinegar and fresh marjoram then topped 'em with some kefir and opened 2 eggs on top, cooked sunnyside...it was a VERY well received breakfast! And you say it makes great pesto, too? that's exciting! do you use another green with it, or on it's own? Happy Spring and Green Blessings, Robin Hi Rebecca!

I have this little spicy green all over my land, too and love it…and believe it is cardamine hirsute. the first time I saw it a few years ago was in the wettest part of our land and I thought it was watercress. Well, it’s a cress, anyway. thanks for ther USDA link. today I saw the first flowers, it’s almost too small to gather any, but the key word there is almost!! It’s yummy in just about anything…am so enjoying the first wild greens of the season…this weekend I gathered and sauteed some nettles, this cress, garlic mustard, some tiny dandelion leaves, a garlic scape or 2 and tomato slices in olive oil, added some shitake vinegar and fresh marjoram then topped ‘em with some kefir and opened 2 eggs on top, cooked sunnyside…it was a VERY well received breakfast!

And you say it makes great pesto, too? that’s exciting! do you use another green with it, or on it’s own?

Happy Spring and Green Blessings, Robin

]]> By: crabappleherbs http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-21166 crabappleherbs Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:58:29 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-21166 Hi Robin! The pesto I do is very very simple -- just peppercress, salt, olive oil, and garlic whizzed in the blender. It's incredible as a dip for bread, a sauce for vegetables, or even on pasta like basil pesto! Hi Robin!

The pesto I do is very very simple — just peppercress, salt, olive oil, and garlic whizzed in the blender. It’s incredible as a dip for bread, a sauce for vegetables, or even on pasta like basil pesto!

]]> By: Robin Rose Bennett http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-21175 Robin Rose Bennett Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:13:27 +0000 http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/09/spring-greens-peppergrass/#comment-21175 I will try this for sure...I like incredibly simple...thanks! I will try this for sure…I like incredibly simple…thanks!

]]>