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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

pink + long hair = pink long hair


Thank you, Splat! Ben is one very happy boy.

Meanwhile, in other news from Crazytown, Birdy and I have been eating the dandelions. 


Actually, not the flowers, which taste like milkweed crossed with arsenic-flavored cow patties. But the leaves,



which have a tonic (rather than toxic) bitterness and are a starred superfood in my book The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, according to which the Latin name Taraxacum officinale translates as "official remedy for the disorders." And let me tell you: I need an official remedy for the disorders. Especially since I was just daydreaming about installing a zipper in my belly so that I could use it as a kind of duffel bag, given its astounding roominess. It actually reminds me of an old pajama bag my brother once had, although I think his was shaped more like a teddy bear than like somebody's droopily aging mom.

Further, "dandelion is one of the most nutrient-rich vegetables on the planet," being full of calcium, potassium, fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamin A, plus crazy antioxidants. Get 'em now, folks, before they get big and nasty!

If you're not convinced, check out our newest crazy smoothie:


aka The Lavender Antioxidant Bomb: grape juice, ice cubes, cinnamon, vanilla, a banana, milk, yogurt, a pitted date, and, yes, a large handful of dandelion leaves plucked from our very own "lawn." It tastes oddly like artificially-flavored bubble gum, not in a bad way.

Next up: chocolate cake. Because that's how we roll around here.

xo

28 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:46 PM

    I LOVE Ben's hair! I've just put a box of Lavendar Splat (new band name, I call it) in my cart on Amazon for my kids.

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  2. I actually gasped at the photo of Ben's hair - so gorgeous! I'm envious.

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  3. hmm...i *love* the dandelion flowers. have you tried breading and frying them? flour, egg wash, panko bread crumbs mixed with salt (duh), parmesan cheese and a bit of parsley. DELISH. and ben is by far the fanciest kid i know.

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    1. Froilyn1:11 AM

      Breaded and fried dandelion sounds delish, indeed!

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  4. Yes! Dandelion smoothies, seeing as how kale costs a bazillion dollars per droopy little bunch, and our CSA hasn't yet started deliveries. How is it that one can get, say, a big hormone-filled feedlot beefroast for next to nothing but kale is so darned expensive?? Doesn't it cost sooo much more to transport the beef? The kale could be carried by fairies or something. Well, I will hit up the yard for dandelion greens, which are *free*!! The frying sounds good, but kinda fussy. Maybe just douse them in Frank's Red Hot, and they will taste like something fried?

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    1. Exactly. I forgot to mention the thrift aspect, but it goes without saying around here.

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  5. Why didn't I ever think of dandelion smoothies? You are brilliant!

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  6. At last my weed-filled yard yields good! Who knew? I haven't bought juice in so long ... what kind of grape juice should I be looking for so I don't turn the healthy smoothie into an artificial sugar bomb?

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    1. Elizabeth, I like the Trader Joe's unfiltered grape juice and the Nature's Promise one from Stop and Shop--but any all-natural grape juice is good.

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  7. Why oh why did I get rid of all those "weeds?" OK, now I've learned my lesson. Don't get rid of anything before seeing if it is edible.

    And... over the last few days we've had three different boys with really long hair come into the shop with their parents in tow. New trend? Or back to the 70's? When I visited my family in Florida when I was 12, my uncle took one look at my long hair (down to my shoulders) and literally dragged me to a barber shop and had them cut it all off. Fortunately it grew back before my Bar Mitzvah. After all, this was the 70's. Bell Bottoms and long hair were required for Bar Mitzvahs in New York! And a yamulke, of course.

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  8. Love Ben's hair! Based on the reviews, Splat holds up pretty well. I've used Manic Panic before, but it only lasts for a few shampoos, even though my hair is bleached. Anyway, he looks gorgeous and very pleased with himself.
    I should pick the dandelions in the road medians here. Non one will miss them. Maybe they'll cure my disorders!

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  9. Froilyn- Philippines1:16 AM

    Oh, Catherine! Why is your post late this week? I've been checking since Monday. Ha, ha, ha! Do I sound so needy! But really, reading your posts brightens up my day. Thanks!

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  10. Allison12:18 PM

    Love the Splat hair! As time goes by, and your hair-coloring prowess develops, I think you and Ben should attempt the ultimate:

    Raspberry Stripey-O Hair.

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  11. Dandelion greens are yummiest if you eat the leaves of plants that haven't gotten to the flower stage yet. Springtime salads! Yay! I also love purslane for yard salads, but that's not till later in the summer.

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  12. Erin K.6:42 PM

    so funny...back in the day, it was a huge scandal /battleground with my parents when I dyed my hair (purple then black then orange then shaved then white and ...i don't even remember)and now one of the teachers at our elementary school has a blue streak :) who doesn't want to be beautifully full of color?

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  13. Wahh... I wish our soil weren't so lead-laden, so we could enjoy all the dandelions. But we're not to eat anything that grows in it... ($*&#% years of paint flaking)

    Ben's hair is inspiring... my 7yo (boy) and I have agreed to sport matching deep purple streaks this summer, and freak out the in-laws at a wedding in September-- hee.

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  14. Amy Jackson12:23 PM

    I got all excited and wanted to tell you that The Wednesday Chef is featuring your donut cake recipe, but then I saw that you already commented over there, which means you already know! So exciting.

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  15. http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/02/16/wdr-dandelion-tea-cancer-killer.html

    Dandelions might even kill cancer! Won't it be crazy if these weeds everyone tries to kill turn out to be the cure?

    Must try the smoothie. Ben's hair is GORGEOUS.

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  16. I have wanted to try dandelion but never knew anyone who had actually tried it and lived! I think I might try it now! Thanks!

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  17. Tiffany Acker11:06 AM

    My dad is italian/sicilian and they always ate dandelion. It was cooked like greens and he loved them. I've never been able to try it. I don't like greens. But maybe I could do a smoothie. :)

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  18. Carrie4:10 PM

    I love Ben's hair! We just put hot pink streaks in both our girl's hair, we used manic panic though. I'll have to check out splat. I was all gung-ho to pick dandelion leaves from our "yard" (we live in an apt), but now I'm concerned about what might be on them - fertilizer, dog urine? Ick! I guess I'll wait till we have our own yard. ;-)

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  19. Last week I was admiring my lawn full of dandelions and thinking that I'd like to try making dandelion wine with the flowers. Then I realized that we probably didn't have enough for a decent batch. Then I imagined actually cultivating dandelions. Then I pictured my neighbors attacking me with pitchforks.

    The smoothie is a great idea, though mine might be too big and tough at this point.

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  20. Catherine, did you use the peroxide on Ben's hair to get the bright pink? I'm a little apprehensive about putting peroxide on my 8-year-old's lovely strawberry blond locks, but I bought a box of Splat and it sounds like the pink color will be pretty pale without putting the peroxide on first.

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    1. paula, i did! i think because it was just the ends, I didn't worry that much about it, but I totally get the hesitation!

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  21. Anonymous8:48 AM

    you have a new fan. Love your recipes and love your love.

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  22. I love Ben's hair! Also wanted to let you know that I've found that raspberries cover up the greenness of green smoothies so that my five-year-old will drink them. ;-) They turn them pink.

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