For those of you who believe in taking care of your hair from the inside out, you should know that it’s wild lettuce season. Long, beautiful stalks of wild lettuce can help to give you long locks of beautiful hair…and it grows well, wildly here. You can find tons of it along the sidewalk and in yards in the north of Israel, and most people are happy to have you take it away.
Wild spinach is in season now too, so while you’re out picking wild lettuce, look around for some of that too.
To prepare it, just snap off the tough bottom ends, rinse it, soak it in saltwater for half an hour, and rinse it again. You can then eat it raw or cook it like greens. Wild spinach doesn’t take much time, but wild lettuce needs to slow boil for an hour or two to take out the harsh bitterness.
Season it with salt, Vegeta, or Mivina (looks like Mibiha) vegetable condiment while it’s cooking. For those who haven’t tried it before, cooked wild lettuce tastes a bit like collard greens. So put some onions in it.
Another way some people cook it is to quick boil it, then drain it, and then stir fry it with onions. I personally find this a little too bitter for my taste, but many people like it this way a lot.
Wild lettuce helps your skin and scalp retain moisture, while at the same time ejecting impurities. It is just an all around good skin and follicle health builder. Not only can you eat it, but you can use it on your body too. Crush a few leaves and add it to a cup of hot water. Let it steep for awhile like a tea, and then strain this and put it in the refrigerator. You’ll have a nice after-shower splash for the face and body that will last a week.
For the hair, do the same, but put it on after you wash your hair. Let it set for a half hour, and then rinse it off.
Once you try it, you’ll understand why wild lettuce is one of the favorite plants of Oshun. Aside of being beautiful and tasty itself, it helps you to stay beautiful and…tasty. Your skin will funtion better, so you’ll even smell better. So get outside and pick some!
Friday the 20th, Amdusias and I will be selling at the Farmer’s Market at the Auditorium in Haifa from 0900 until 1500. There you can see our jewelry, get readings, buy our super sweet but low sugar cupcakes, and make appointments for braiding and tattoos. You’ll get to meet us in person, see our work, and if you get there early enough, sample some of my natural recipes. There are also other great merchants there selling Druze pitas, cool clothes, and fresh fruits and vegetables lovingly grown on family and organic farms. So stop on by for smiles and special items.
