vkirchner McCoy

I make a trip into your area every week for business, I would be happy to stop by your home and help you with the layout and selection of the fruit trees.  I think you have more options than you realize with high density planting and native fruit trees, that is why I would like to give you more options.  If this is of any interest to you, PM me and I will give you the details of my travel times.

Vince
PDC Graduate

We have considered dehydrating the leaves and root for later use.  The leaves for soups and salads, the roots for coffee substitute and seasoning.  Peppermint is in the dehydrator now, I will try a batch after that and let you know what it looks like.

Me and my big mouth. 

We have used the recipe from the attached link for the last two years.  Last year my Wife humored me when I made one batch that produced just under a quart, she must have liked it a lot because she told everyone about it and she even helped me make 5 quarts this year.  She wanted to make more but we got rain, rain, and more rain until we lost all of the flowers, so I should be satisfied with 5 quarts. 

http://fxcuisine.com/default.asp?language=2&Display=78&resolution=high

I was taught by my grandparents that you picked the root in the fall for a coffee substitute, but I was young enough that I never questioned them why you pick in the fall.  We never have lot of dandelions left, the leaves for salads and the flowers for syrup.  I leave the roots so they will keep coming back with young leaves for salads.

I found a couple of sites that also state to pick in autumn, but they do not go into any details why.

http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/herbalresources/herbwalk/herbwalk.aspx?hwid=18

http://www.pintailmedia.co.uk/Pintail_Media/Herbs/Entries/2010/1/19_Dandelion,_Taraxacum_officinale.html

Yes, nuts are a good replacement for flour.  I passed up two bushels of acorns thinking that they were of no use to me, later only to find out I could make a fine grain with it.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Acorn-Flour

http://www.connielapallo.com/AcornFlour.htm

I cannot remember the name right now, it is a Louisiana brand which is a 50/50 mix of coffee and chicory.  A little bitter aftertaste the first few times we made it, now we have really gotten used to the taste and friends cannot tell the difference from our previous brands. 

Yes eggs are areal help with the protein for breakfast and sometimes evening meals.  Quiche can be made up the night before and is reheated easily in the morning in the microwave.  They burn so many calories with their daily activities, the two youngest sons are black belts in Karate.  They teach the younger belts and also take classes themselves, along with weight lifting to keep their manly physiques.  I do not remember eating like that, but I am sure I went through that phase also.

We have three boys at home right now, I watched one son eat a 3 lb. bag of Doritos (which I did not buy) while my Wife was fixing dinner.  I told him that he should stop eating the Doritos because we would be eating soon, he told me he would be hungry and just kept eating. 

Every day meals consist of 5 lbs plus of some form of meat protein along with potatoes mostly sweet and fresh or canned vegetables and a salad.  If they can get it they will normally have a two plates of food at the meal.  I have even had parent call and thank me because our kids eat so well when visiting another home, they stated that their kids are picky eaters and it was so nice to see a child that eats well.  LOL!

LOL!  We took my youngest sons blond girlfriend bowling with us a couple of days ago, she was very upset that she had a 27 and a 30 for a total score on her games.  I will show her the video, it will definitely cheer her up.

I can help you with details and dimensions on the CEB press version 1, I was working on a formal set of prints for that version when my Father passed away.  So I have fallen behind.  I do not have the details of the version 2 press.

Vince