Mar 7
Looking over the Four Leaf Clover!
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing
The Cute Clover
Wishing you a Happy St. Paddy’s Day! Here’s hoping you come across many four leaf clovers! In case you were wondering about our venerable clover, here are a few fun factoids:
One leaf is for FAITH… The second for HOPE…
The third for LOVE… And the fourth for LUCK!
In Irish Catholic tradition the Shamrock represents the Holy Trinity: one leaf for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. When a Shamrock is found with the fourth leaf, it represents God’s Grace.
White clover is Ireland’s original Shamrock and was held in high esteem by the early Celts of Wales as a charm against evil spirits. Clover Science and Technology. N.L. Taylor, 1985.
The Druids held the four leaf clover in high esteem and considered them a sign of luck.
Source: Clovers Online
Why is the clover “lucky” for gardeners?
It is being used in poorer countries as a sustainable way to rehabilitate top soil-depleted farm and pasturelands.
“Beside supplying N, white clover also mobilized other nutrients which led to increase their concentration in soil. White clover would enhance the nutrient status of soil if introduced in the
agriculture ecosystem” M. KALEEM ABBASI, et al. Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot., 41(1): 41-51, 2009.
It also helps bees make delicious honey!
The leaves and blossoms of clover are high in calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. Read more about the medicinal qualities of red clover from the University of Maryland Medical Center. Considered a dark green vegetable, clover has the same healthy nutritional qualities that spinach does.
Clover Recipes
CLOVER SOUP
2 cups clover flowers and leaves
1 onion, chopped
3 Tbsp. butter
2 pints water
3 potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt and pepper to taste
Clean and dip clover flowers and leaves in cold salted water. Remove and cut into pieces. In a large saucepan, sauté flowers, leaves and onions in butter. When all is softened add water, then potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Cook gently for 20 minutes. Drain the cooking liquid and save it. Puree potato mixture and dilute with the cooking liquid, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, the reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Can sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese if desired.
CLOVER and DILLWEED SOUP
2 cups clover blossoms and leaves, fresh or dried
2 small wild onions, chopped
4 Tbsp. sunflower seed butter
1 quart water
12 groundnuts, or 3 medium potatoes, quartered
Chopped fresh dillweed to taste
Spicebush berries, dried (aka Appalachian Allspice), grated over soup to taste. Sauté the clover blossoms and leaves along with chopped onions in the sunflower seed butter. Add the water, ground nuts, and seasonings. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Serve hot.
Source: Manataka® American Indian Council
http://www.cultural-china.com/
CLOVER CHIMICHURRI
Click here for a cooking conversion calculator.
100g clover
blanched and chopped fine
20g parsley
blanched and chopped fine
20g cilantro, blanched and chopped fine
10g fresh chile
chopped fine
5g red chili flake
10g dried oregano
30g capers chopped fine
juice of one lime
15ml red wine vinegar
5 cloves garlic, chopped fine
40ml good olive oil
salt and pepper .
Preparations: Combine all ingredients and let sit for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Should always be made the same day you plan to eat it, recipe can be scaled up or down with no difficulty.
kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com
So whatever you do on the 17th of March (besides wearing green), as you’re strolling take a glance or two toward your feet…who knows today might be your lucky day! 😉
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!