Stinger Nettle Soup!
Oh those "stinging needles." Many's the time we've all gotten much too close to them! But it was a beautiful patch of ripe raspberries that really did me in last summer. They were so big and ripe and glowing in the late afternoon sun, just begging to be picked and so easy to reach for. The sun was so hot, Iâd already taken off my outer long-sleeve, sun protection shirt. It was a T-shirt afternoon for sure, a âpleasure to be aliveâ afternoon. And yes, I could see a few plants of stingers in amongst the tempting berries, but nothing that I couldnât easily avoid. Down the bank I climbed, picking as I went. I was feeling sure-footed until about halfway down, when one misstep sent me sliding on my rear the rest of the short way to the bottom. No harm done; I even managed to keep my bucket upright and didnât spill a berry. But Iâd run my arm right though a patch of stinging needles (nettles), resulting in an intense burning sensation from fingertip to elbow. Boy did that hurt!Now, as a Come From Away, Iâve had a lot of new things to learn and I try to always listen well to what my neighbours tell me. Right away their words of advice came to mind: âSalt waterâs what we do for those stinging needles, maid.â So in I went, over the beach into the ocean right there handy at the bottom of the raspberry bank. Didnât work. It did nothing to quench the fire or the itch.Another bit of advice came to mind: toothpaste. I applied it; it also didnât work. Same with crushed up dandelion greens, though I think the dandelion plant was too old and tough, no springtime milky sap inside. I tried a paste of baking soda - didnât work. And as a last resort, I remembered the little cake of Colemanâs Laundry Blueing my neighbour Amanda had given me, not for brightening up my laundry but just for the purpose of nettle stings. Unfortunately, it also did nothing to ease the pain. And really, compared to some pains, it wasnât too much. In the end, the âgrin and bear itâ treatment worked best. The worst was over in 24 hours.That said, I decided to be prepared if this ever happened to me again. I called a friend who had access to the Internet (I donât have it at my summer home) and we did some research. We learned that the plant my friends here in the cove call âstingersâ or âneedlesâ or even âpoison ivyâ is actually the stinging nettle (Urtica dioeca). The reason it packs such a wallop is formic acid, the same substance found in little red ants. It also contains a histamine, which is what makes it itch so. Baking soda or vinegar is suggested because they both neutralize acid. Other suggested plant remedies are Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and Dock (Rumex); mash the plants and apply to the affected area. Another Internet suggestion was a paste of cold mud, applied and left to dry, then peeled off. I know that works for a wasp or bee sting, but didnât think to try it for nettle stings. The last suggested treatment we found was the juice of the healing aloe vera plant. I actually have one of those growing in a pot on my windowsill. So next time I fall into a patch of stinging nettles - I hope it isnât anytime soon - Iâll have a longer list of remedy choices to try.So how about the raspberries? They were delicious. I served them up that day at a dinner party for company, as an instant ice cream dessert. Iâve included the recipe here, which I found in an issue of Time magazine. Itâs called Ruth Reichlâs Instant Strawberry Ice Cream (she was the longtime editor of the American food magazine Gourmet). I simply replaced the strawberries with raspberries.Oh and I had another encounter with nettles - only this time I ate them. Not in the spirit of revenge, but because they are delicious. Nettle soup is a longtime favourite of my more adventurous friends who come to dinner at our house. Itâs easy to prepare, as youâll see by the recipe Iâve included.If my story has a message, it is this: Whether seen as a remedy or a recipe, use what you have where you are. - Submitted by Judith Wolfe, Madoc, O.N. Ruth Reichlâs Instant Strawberry Ice Cream 1 pint (approx. 1 lb) strawberries (or raspberries) 1/4 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling1 cup heavy creamWash and stem berries, and cut them into 1-2 inch chunks (leave them whole if theyâre very small). Sprinkle the berries liberally with sugar, lay them on a cookie sheet in a single layer and freeze them solid. Just before serving, mix the cream and the 1/4 cup sugar. Put the frozen berries in a blender and blend while slowly adding cream and stopping occasionally to stir. Blend until everything comes together in a cool, gorgeously pink ice cream. Serve immediately. Itâs best when itâs freshly made, but it will keep in the freezer for a few weeks. The Soup of Saints (excerpted from the book Laughing With My Mouth Full by Pam Freir)8 cups firmly packed fresh, young nettle leaves 2 tbsp butter (plus an opt. additional nub to stir in before serving)2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil3/4 cup each chopped celery, leek and onion6 cups good chicken stock (preferably homemade)4 medium boiling potatoes, peeled and diced3/4 cup table creamSalt and pepperUsing kitchen tongs, or with gloved hands, place the nettles in a steamer basket set over boiling water. Steam for 3-4 minutes, until well wilted, then put them in a colander to drain. Melt the butter with the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat and gently cook the leek, onion and celery until they are soft but not browned (about 15 minutes). Add the nettles; stir to combine well, then add stock. Bring the mixture to a boil and add potatoes. Reduce heat and simmer gently until the potatoes are tender (about 45 minutes).Purée in small batches in a food processor or with an immersion blender. Return the soup to the pan and add the cream along with salt and pepper to taste. Reheat the soup and serve.
