Nasturtium

This pretty plant is really versitile ~ all parts of it are edible ~ the flower, the seeds and the leaves. The mustard oils in the plant are antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial ~ WOW! That is an impressive plant!

The parts of the plants are used in many ways, such as the seeds can be used as a substitute for capers. The leaves are a nice peppery addition to salads and will aid in digestion and can you imagine how pretty the flowers would be in a nice sorbet or floating in fruit punch or wine??

The plant is a strong source of vitamin C, as it helps boost the immune system and it supports the metabolism. Here's a nice salad recipe that I found:

1 1/2C fresh nasturtium leaves

1 bunch of arugula

1 bunch of scallions

2T balsamic vinegar

2t dijon mustard

6T extra virgin olive oil

2oz chunky parm cheese

some nasturtium flowers

salt and pepper

Mix the vinegar, salt, pepper, mustard and evoo together ~ pour it over the leaves, arugula & scallions ~ sprinkle the parm cheese and flowers and serve : )

As with everything ~ eat in moderation ~ too much can give you stomach problems..so take care!