Cooking with Native Plants of San Diego

1. Cooking with Native Plants of San Diego Lisa Chaddock

2. Where to Gather?

3. Where to Gather? Rules: 1. Always ask first. Most parks are off limits.

4. Where to Gather? Rules: 2. Always stay 50 feet off the roadway. The runoff from roads is unhealthy.

5. Where to Gather? Rules: 3. If it’s sunny, watch for snakes, poison oak, and other “hazards”

6. Where to Gather Again, snakes

7. Where to Gather Again, Poison Oak

8. When to Gather • Springtime • Leafy greens – Miners Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)

9. Where to Gather

10. When to Gather • Springtime • Naturalized • Fennel

11. When to Gather • Summer • Elderberry – (Sambucus Mexicana) • DO NOT EAT STEMS – they are poisonous • Wait until the berries are fully ripe • Wash your hands after picking • These MUST BE COOKED before eating – do not eat them right off the tree

12. When to Gather • Elderberry – (Sambucus Mexicana) • Vit. C and Antioxidents • Use a comb to get them off the stems Freezing makes this easier to do.

13. When to Gather

14. When to Gather

15. When to Gather • Summer • Flat-top Buckwheat (Eriogonum Fasciculatum) Pull off the flowers when they turn brown. Then, put into a blender to make flour.

16. When to Gather

17. When to Gather Summer – Currents (Ribessanguineum glutinsoium) Pick and eat, dry for scones and snacks.

18. When to Gather • Summer • Mesquite beans • 30% sucrose • Stabilizes blood sugar • 7-10% fiber • 39% protein • Open the beans and cook like you would any other bean! YUM!

19. When to Gather

20. When to Gather • Autumn • Oaks-Acorns (Quercusagrifolia, Q. Kelloggii)

21. When to Gather • Acorns • 6% protein • 14% Omega 3 • High in fiber Shell by cutting and peeling then cook to release the tannins. Boil in water, drain, repeat. When the acorns are in clear water, drain and dry. If there are holes in the acorn, it’s wormy. Skip it. *Amino Acid score122; iron, manganese, magnesium

22. When to Gather

23. When to Gather You can also roast the acorns first, then put into water to leach out the tannins. Then, grind and slowly dry the flour. Refrigerate – Acorns contain oils that will turn if left at room temperature.

24. When to Gather

25. Black Oak (Q. Kelloggii)

26. When to Gather

27. Seasonings

28. Grow your own

29. Why Native Plants? Ahem, BIRDS

30. Why Native Plants?

31. Why Native Plants?

32. Beauty that we share

33. Water in San Diego Use less water, use less energy Use less water, leave more for the wildlife Use less water, grow more native plants for food

34. Recipes for Native Plants

35. Cooking with Native Plants of San Diego http://www.cookingwithnativeplantsofsandiego.pbworks.com New recipes every season Cookbooks benefit the San Diego Audubon Society, San Diego Botanical Garden, Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden, and California Native Plant Society.

36. Thank you San Diego Audubon Society!