There is something deeply grounding about spending time out in nature in the early morning – the air still cool, and the sounds of summer humming all around. It is one of my favourite ways to start the day, especially when I am harvesting something special and with intention.

Stinging Nettles

This week, I finally had time to get out in nature and gather some nettles – just in time, as many are already going to seed.

I was lucky to find enough tender tops for a small batch project I’ve been excited to try: Sourdough Nettle Sugar Cookies. The recipe came from Cooking With Donna at http://donnarecipes.com . The process was a bit involved, however the results worth every step. Thank you, Donna, for sharing this unique recipe and inspiring the creation. It is such a beautiful example of how wild foods and home baking come together in the most unexpected and delicious ways.

Harvesting nettle is always a mindful process – gloves on, basket ready and gratitude with every snip. These plants are powerhouses of nutrition and medicine (you are what you eat). I take only what I need leaving the rest to live its cycle and continue producing for years to come. I also leave plants that are mature and seeding.

Preparing the Nettles and Cookie Dough

Once home, I carefully prepared the nettles by rinsing, blanching and finely chopping them into what was almost a paste. I used a small blender for this step.

Then the prepared nettles were incorporated into the sourdough based dough. The dough itself was made using my well loved starter which I began next to my wood stove in December of 2020. Now 4.5 years old, this starter is named after my late sister-in-law. She had an inspiring and deep love for the land, and was dedicated to preserving it. She was also passionate about creating homemade goods from nature’s offerings. This recipe felt like the perfect way to honour her spirit because it is rooted in care, intention and connection to the land.

The cookies came together slowly, but I didn’t mind. I loved the opportunity to mindfully slow down the pace of a summer morning and enjoy the comforting rhythm of preparation and the grounding fresh scent of herbs and lemon zest.

As the cookies baked, the house filled with the most heavenly aroma – warm, sweet, citrusy with subtle earthy undertones.

The result

The final result? Soft, chewy cookies with a bright lemony freshness, hints of sourdough tang with a gentle herbal note. They taste like wild crafting met baking in the best possible way. I’ll definitely be making these again.

Have you ever baked with foraged ingredients? I’d love to hear what wild plants you’ve brought into your kitchen – and the stories that might come with them.

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Be well!