Moving Forward - Wild and Weedy Edibles For Survival - Purple Dead Nettle

[suzanne sanders]

Self Defense Comes In Many Forms

If you could not buy food at a grocery store, what would you do? 

Moving Forward -Wild Edibles for Survival  

I will be putting up information on plants and the weeds that grow in your yard, that are full of nutrition and good for you.   

UNFORTUNATELY WITH LIVE IN A WORLD THAT SPRAYS TOXIC HERBICIDES AND MANY OTHER TOXIC AGRICULTURE CHEMICALS SO NEVER EVER HARVEST FROM AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN SPRAYED WITH ANY CHEMICAL, SUCH AS HERBICIDES, FUNGICIDES, LAWN FERTILIZERS ETC.   

Purple Dead Nettle

Purple Dead Nettle - Lamium purpureum Lamiaceae

Habitat:  Full Sun or Part Shade, Prefers, Rich and Fertile Soil

Culinary Uses:

Flower - raw in salad, butter and as a general garnish

Leaf, Tender Stem, Flower Spike - raw in salad, cooked in soup, potherb, stew, saute, frittata, casserold

Wilted Purple Dead Nettle Salad

6 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup chopped nuts, (preferably soaked and dried) pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts or almonds

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp. garlic, finely minced

1/4 cup chopped leak or onion chives

4 1/2 cups purple dead nettle chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice or raw apple cider vinegar

Pepper, optional

Parmigiano cheese, optional 

I personally prefer cast iron or stainless stain to cook in. 

Be aware of the toxins in your cookware.   You could be using teflon or aluminium pots and pans, which will cause havoc on your immune system.   I

Saute leeks in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. 

Add the rest of the olive oil after leeks have been saute'd 

Add the nuts and sea salt

Cook over medium-low heat for 7 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add garlic and cook for 1 minute

Immediately pour hot oil mixture onto purple dead nettle and toss thoroughly

Add lemon juice or raw apple cider vinegar

Mix Well

Taste and if you want more salt and pepper add 

Top with optional cheese

Serve right away

Purple Dead Nettle Butter

1 pound organic butter, softened at room temperature. 

1/4 cup minced purple dead nettle

1/8 cup minced onion chives

1/8 cup minced garlic

Optional:  sea salt and pepper to taste ( a few pinches)

Place soft butter in a bowl, add purple dead nettle, onion chives and garlic and optional sea salt and pepper.  

Stir until well blended, smooth and pretty 

Place in a container with a lid.  It is best to serve and use shortly after making.  

Soups: 

After soup has been made, add 4 cups of chopped purple dead nettle, simmer on low for 7 minutes.   Enjoy

Omelets

For a 4 egg omelet add 1/2 cup chopped purple dead nettle with your other ingredients.

Other options: 

You can puree them into a sauce

Add to a pesto recipe