My grandfather and grandmother always taught this. That it wasn't healthy to eat leaves out of the garden without heat first. They were Finnish, German, and Scots ancestry (though in the New World back to the 1630s). We had plenty of robust dark greens of various kinds, but always hot wilted or cooked in with other things.
Among the Pennsylvania Germans, who grew large head lettuces, they would remove all the outer leaves, then cut the head open and soak it with a hot thickened apple cider vinegar dressing (varying in sweetness).
The hot weather/tender leaf lettuces made popular by foodies in the '90s-'00s--we never went there.
Salad? Nope. Not unless I grew it.
I was raised never to eat raw greens, only dark greens that were at least lightly steamed/wilted.
Why? Just curious because I am allergic to lettuce and also never eat salads.
My grandfather and grandmother always taught this. That it wasn't healthy to eat leaves out of the garden without heat first. They were Finnish, German, and Scots ancestry (though in the New World back to the 1630s). We had plenty of robust dark greens of various kinds, but always hot wilted or cooked in with other things.
Among the Pennsylvania Germans, who grew large head lettuces, they would remove all the outer leaves, then cut the head open and soak it with a hot thickened apple cider vinegar dressing (varying in sweetness).
The hot weather/tender leaf lettuces made popular by foodies in the '90s-'00s--we never went there.
Interesting. Thank you!