Show POKE SHOOTS lOOTS M MAKE KE EXCELLENT GREENS Take Care Not Not to to Cut Any of Underground Part Prepared b by the tho United States Department Department Department Depart Depart- ment of Agriculture Do you know poke shoots or poke salad as ns they are sometimes called Perhaps Perhaps- as a n child you OU made Ink from the dark purple berries of the poke week and stained your our hands bands and clothes clothes' and were warned by your your- parents of ot the poison polson in the Juice IlIs It Il ItIs Itis Is true that the berries of ot the tine pokeweed poke pokeweed weed are arc poisonous and should never neer be tasted or eaten Tine The he tender pink and green shoots of ot the poke weel weed that come up In th the spring contain none nono of ot this poisonous matter however however how how- ever and are highly prized for tor greens in many ninny localities Some people cull call them poor mans man's asparagus They do have the tine same saml kind of ot succulent texture texture texture tex tex- tex tex- ture and fresh earthy flavor You may maybe maybe be able to find thu poke weed growing wild ln In a n by nearby field or perhaps In lu a corner conler- of your our garden In cutting the shouts shoots you OU will find the small pink ones best but you may also take the tips of or the half-grown half stalks Do not use the larger green leaves for tor they will be Le bitter hitter lu In cutting tho the shoots take care u dot t to Include de any of ot the underground part purt of ot the pf the for for the root is exceedingly poisonous Also be sure that you ou are cutting the true poke w week k There Is one variety sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times called In Indium Indian lun poke which Is poisonous In all Its parts If It poke polte weel weed does docs not grow wild In your our locality perhaps marsh marigold mud marl gold or cowslip doc does docs That makes the best of ot all greens some people think With others lambs lamb's quarters or wild dandelion lIon is Is' the favorite ta You mn may have bave In your garden an nn abundance of ot turnip or mustard mustard- tops young oun beet blet greens kale spinach or perhaps ps ao so much l lettuce t that you oU can use it for tor cooked greens Try fry the poke shoots shoots- h however er c If thc they are available They go particularly well with ham than Poke Polee shoots shoot have n a slightly lIghtly pung pungent nt or 01 bitter flavor ol wl which is disliked If It too strong trong It Is s customary tl therefore ere ol-c. ol to cook then them for tor three or four tour minutes In boiling water as fiS you would any uny other vegetable and then drain them and nud put t them em on to cook again In fresh Cresh boiling water lightly salted Young poke shoots are nrc fairly uniform in n sIze and are oro handled more more mor easily It If the they are arc tied together in a n bundle like liko asparagus Poke shoo shoots s are best If It seasoned Imply with butter and like asparagus may be served on toast If It mustard turnip lambs lamb's marsh marigold old or beet tops 8 are used Instead of poke they are chopped finely fine fine- ly 17 sad and cooked tho the shortest possible time In very little Uttie water A hard I cooked egg may be used to give a n decorative e note and add to the food foot value alu or If It you have hac an nn abundance of ot garden lettuce shred It stir It it- up with m melted butter in lu a n heavy beavy skillet cover cover- coverlet let It steam and cook cooj slowly for four tour to iI td ten minutes and anti sprinkle lightly light light- ly 1 with salt Bait before serving Romaine lettuce I Is especially good for tor cooking because it hold Its s snape siape tape and does not not I wilt down own so 50 completely as the softer softer i kinds of ot garden lettuce |