Dandelion - Not just a Pesky Weed! Pesto Recipe

Apparently when I was a child I would sit out in the yard and eat dandelions. This may seem weird but apparently my little baby brain knew what was up. As an adult, I've been incorporating dandelions into my diet in various ways: salads, juices, teas and pesto.

Here's why:

• Contains 112% of the daily recommended value of vitamin A & four times more vitamin A than lettuce.
• Higher in beta-carotene than carrots.
• The iron and calcium content is greater than spinach.
• 32 percent daily value of vitamin C per cup of leaves.
• Contains vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, inositol, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc, and many other trace elements and enzymes.
• Contains the antioxidant lutein, which is good for healthy vision.
• Rich in inulin, this is a prebiotic, which actually feeds and encourages the growth of the beneficial bacteria in the gut as well as balancing blood sugar and diabetes.
• The flowers contain lecithin, this helps the liver to break down fats and improves brain function.
• The milky sap found in the leaves and flower stems have been used to remove warts, corns, callouses and other stubborn skin maladies.
• Cleanses the blood and liver, and increases bile production.
• Reduces serum cholesterol and uric acid levels.
• Improves functioning of the kidneys, pancreas, spleen and stomach.
• Relieves menopausal symptoms.
• Useful for abscesses, anemia, boils, breast tumors, cirrhosis of the liver, constipation, fluid retention, hepatitis, jaundice, and rehumastism.
• Believed to help prevent age spots and breast cancer.  
• Cleanses the skin and eliminates acne.  

 Dandelion Pesto

• 1 handful dandelion
• 1 handful basil
• 1/2 tbsp miso
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• 1 cup of nuts (pine, hazelnuts, walnuts, and/or hemp seed - I like to switch it up for this blog I did mostly hazelnuts and a bit of pine)
• 1/4 cup olive oil (if you want to reduce oil split this with water)
• 1-2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp vegan parm (1/2 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup nutritional yeast and a pinch of sea salt - process all together until finally ground up)

Fun additions

• Kelp granuals
• Crushed red pepper

Directions

• Put everything in a food processor and run until smooth.
• If you want it a bit thinner add water until desired consistency is reached. 
• To eat this raw use as a dip for veggies or put over kelp noodles. Also fantastic with rice.  

Kelp Noodles

Wild and Basmati Rice

 This takes all of 5 minutes! What an easy way to make yourself a priority.

Facts from Tera Warner and Prescription for Nutritional Healing