Some of us may have heard of edible flowers before, but have not really tried to incorporate them into our meals for the pure reason that it sounds a tad weird. But, they are ideal in terms of adding a sprinkle of color into any meal and a great addition to any sweet or savory meal.

 Think of all the possibilities for these colorful beauties; throw them in salads, into pastries, or any cakes or desserts for that extra oomph of color and sweet flavor that I adore.

 

But before we go nuts ripping and eating every flower in sight, there are indeed a few basics that we should keep in mind. First and foremost, make sure these flowers are indeed edible, sounds simple enough and equally serious considering the act that some flowers can be very harmful to your body and poisonous.

 Next in line is making sure that the flowers were not sprayed with any chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or any other “cides” that are not only unhealthy but may as well be poisonous; and let’s face it, anything with “cides” doesn’t sound very appetizing in general.

 

Another aspect to consider when home-growing these edible plants is to make sure they’re hidden from fluffy little Toto so he won’t claim these blooming beauties as his own.  

 Now to get slightly on the technical side of things, some of the more popular edible flowers include peppery flavored nasturtiums, chive blossoms, pansies, violas, almond flowers, apples, borage, chamomile, chrysanthemums, daisies, geraniums, jasmine, lilacs, marigolds, and violets.

 

In terms of flavor chive blossoms are very mild and taste similar to sweet onions, pansies are also delicious with a grape-like flavor and how can I forget those sweet, sweet and perfume-like roses.

 One of the simplest recipes for candied flowers is to buy some edible flowers from a gourmet or organic supermarket, lightly whip up some egg whites to brush on each petal, sprinkle some colored sugar for that extra twinkle and store in a cool dark place. Then whenever you have a craving for something sweet, grab one of these bad boys.

So there you have it. Next time you feel like cooking and want something fresh and colorful, add some edible flowers to your dish that will surely impress any guest.