I use violet leaves and flowers in salads, make a great violet syrup, and have dried for tea. Since it's violet "season", just wondering if there are other uses you might suggest.

-- Judy (JMcFerrin@aol.com), May 04, 2002

Answers

I've brushed them with a diluted honey mixture then sprinkled sugar on them for cake decorations. In the 'good old days' we used an egg white wash instead of the honey syrup, personally if it's just for my family & it's my own homegrown eggs I still do but for safety the honey mix works too. Blessings, Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), May 04, 2002.

I love violets and they are so good for you! I am not eating mine because I am trying to get them well established first. I don't think the yellow ones taste as good as the purple ones.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), May 04, 2002.

ok i am new at this violet eating thing. but they sound good i am going to get them a try any sugestions for first timers?

-- lindsey (lindsey_sham1@hotmail.com), May 04, 2002.

Yes, Lindsay, I have some advice. Eat only organically grown violets that have not been recently fertilized, but I give that advice about all garden stuff. :)

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), May 04, 2002.

We have a great many violets on our place, of many colors. Is there a particular "stage" of blossom that they are best eaten?

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), May 04, 2002.

Diane, fully open (but only just) and most fragrant - preferably picked early morning, but just after the dew has dried off - not only do they look best, but a lot of the appeal is the amount of scent they retain. I've seen a pure sugar syrup used as well, followed by finely granulated sugar. Honey is nice, but it adds honey flavour, whereas pure sugar syrup just adds sweetness.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 05, 2002.

How do you make the violet syrup? I've always dreamed of making an extract that I could use to make violet creams (molded chocolates filled with a violet-flavoured fondant-very British!) Commercially I think they use distilled violet or maybe an oil like they do with roses. Bt the way, the Brits also make rose creams...

-- Kathy (homefarmbc@pacificcoast.net), May 05, 2002.

Lindsey and Diane,

You just go out and pick the "wild" violets. They are VERY high in vitamins, especially vitamin A & C. In vitamin C they somewhere between 3 and 4 times higher than oranges. The other day my 4yo g- daughter was with me, and we were outside. She stooped down, picked a violet flower, put it in her mouth and started chewing, and said to me, " I need to take my vitamins". I laughed to myself. I've given up on the previous generation, and I'm training the latest one RIGHT. haha

Back to violets. You can use violet leaves in salads, or you can chop the leaves and stems and steam them as you do other wild greens, or even mixed with other greens, and serve with bacon grease/bits, or butter. Takes a lot of picking of violets for a mess of greens. I use the flowers too.

You can dry the leaves and flowers for tea. I think the Amish use the tea for a spring "tonic". It is good for coughs and bronchitis. Loosens mucous.

Flavored vinegar? I'll bet violets would add a pretty tint to white vinegar in a clear jar? I've never tried that.

I know people make Violet Jam and Jelly and ice cream, but I never have.

For syrup take any size container of violet blossoms, cover them with boiling water and then a lid and let stand for 24 hours. Then, strain the beautifully blue tinted liguid, ( toss the flowers) and for each cup of liquid add the juice of 1/2 lemon and 2 cups sugar, bring to a boil, pour into jars and seal for violet syrup. This originally came from Euell Gibbons.

I think that Gibbons made a skin ointment from violets, but I don't remember the particulars. Hmmmmm. I'll bet violets would make a nice color in goat milk soap with the added benefit of the skin balm? ? ?

-- Judy (JMcFerrin@aol.com), May 05, 2002.

Judy,

I too love Violets! here are a couple of links that are worth spending the time searching through. You will find more recipes and information on these sites that make the time spent well worth it!

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/violet/ http://www.sweetviolets.com/ http://www.sweetviolets.net/ http://www.americanvioletsociety.org/

if anyone knows of any more sites please post them :) thank you.

westbrook

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), May 05, 2002.

Violet jam yummmmmm!

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), May 05, 2002.

Freeze the purple ones in icecubes and then use them in a large glass pitcher of lemonade. A dear friend did this for her daughter's bridal shower and it was sooo elegant. Nothing so ladylike and refined as a violet.

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), May 06, 2002.