Thursday, June 2, 2011

Forage/Love

Our garden is full of arugula, beans, peas, fennel, nasturtiums, and on and on! But while I pluck weeds from alongside our rows I find myself always looking for a wild thing.

Purslane, a little known, humble succulent, grows all over Michigan. It is tender, chewy, tart, and perfect in summer salads and soups. Purslane especially loves corn fields and wide open spaces, but, if I'm lucky, one or two purslane plants will creep up next to my arugula. If not, I'll be forced to find an obliging cornfield.