I know about using Burdock and Giant Water Dock to wrap up parcels of food to be cooked in the embers but what other leaves are a good size and safe to use? No foil please! :-D
Cooking without a pot: which leaves to use?
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rik_uk3 asks "for baking or steaming?" I'm just wondering what the options are (in the UK) but I guess I'm mostly thinking about steaming (i.e. food wrapped-up and put in amongst the ashes/embers). Ramsons are a neat idea John. Maize often easy to find in field corners where it is a cover-crop for game birds so that's probably a good option too thanks for that thought Bushwhacker. I think I've read that Comfrey shouldn't be eaten (Goes to check: yes; River Cottage 'Hedgerow' says it can cause liver damage and/or liver cancer) so I think we'd do well to avoid it when cooking Niels. Any other ideas anyone?
Broad leaved dock is a good size, but too bitter. Butterbur might be ok (leaves were used to wrap butter, hence the name), and coltsfoot might be useable.
Basically, if you can get enough leaves, so long as they aren't harmful, like the comfrey, you can use anything - just pack it around.
Basically, if you can get enough leaves, so long as they aren't harmful, like the comfrey, you can use anything - just pack it around.
Elen Sentier
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Comfrey leaves are also quite effective. They also make great emergency toilet paper
Eeeek! Prickles from leaves in bum !!!
Eeeek! Prickles from leaves in bum !!!
They don't prickle. I learnt this function of the comfrey leafe from Uncle Ray (as you all call him) he said it in country tracks canoe episode.
I know from experience it works.
Maybe just slightly of topic though.
I use alder leafs a lot when steaming fish, works very good and alder is very commmon around the shorelines here so handy if you catch a fish and want to cook it directly.
Elen Sentier
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I suspect it depends which form of comfrey it is (there are lots), there's one in my hedge that I certainly wouldn't want to use on my bum, not from what it does to my hands!
Lots of butterbur about so shall give that a try for cooking.
Lots of butterbur about so shall give that a try for cooking.
Well said, I can only speak for comfrey that grows in the Netherlands and it might be a very different subspieces than your's.
Symphytum officinale ? Is the only one simply called 'comfrey' and it has soft leaves similar to foxgloves. Its grown as a green manure and plant food.
Russian comfrey is the prickly type.
Banana leaves (Ok maybe not in the UK...)
You could wrap your bannock up in them and call it lembas
You could wrap your bannock up in them and call it lembas
xylaria
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Comfrey is only toxic if eaten a lot very often, other wise is it a good nutritous plant which would be perfectly good to on occasion use as a wrap to bake food. Coltsfoot is another plant you could wrap your food in.
Just use your left hand! simples :0)!
as in 'loo moments'.used by millions of people the world over.
as in 'loo moments'.used by millions of people the world over.
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