One Big Happy by Rick Detorie for July 24, 2024

Don’t eat the daisies, Grandpa.

The flowers are what you use to make dandelion wine.

My Italian Grandma used to make salad out of dandelions. It was just like any other green salad.

My Mom cooked some dandelions one time that I had picked for her and my god they were the worst vegetable I ever tasted. Really really awful and sooooo bitter.

Really? No wonder I never liked dandelion leaves. I’ve only tried them once, and apparently I picked it at the wrong time.

I once knew a baker who was really inventive. He invented a knife that could slice 4 loves of bread at one time.

It was a 4 loaf cleaver.

My family ate dandelions, but after being forced to one taste I refused thereafter. My dad said the dogs made the dandelions more tender. That killed it. We used to see women picking dandelions on the side embankment of the expressway with their stockings rolled up at the knee while they bent over. It almost ruined me. Almost.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, we made hot bacon dressing to top the dandelion leaf salad. Mmmmm. Thank you for stirring up this tasty memory.

Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, Ruthie?