KD Finds: May Flowers

In the spirit of the old adage "April showers brings May flowers", the editors at Kitchen Daily celebrate the arrival of these blooming beauties in this week's KD Finds. Get inspired by the growing trend of edible flowers and find out our floral favorites in food and kitchen.

The idea of cooking with flowers is taking root in the imagination and kitchens of home cooks across the country. No longer relegated as garnish, flowers are blossoming into a main ingredient in the culinary world and are increasingly being used to enhance the flavors and aesthetics of dishes. While the practice is not new by any means, as there exist many examples of the culinary use of flowers throughout history, what we are excited about is the accessibility of the knowledge and tools needed to navigate edible flowers at home.

If you're interested in exploring this trend, we recommend reading Miche Bacher's newly released debut cookbook Cooking with Flowers: Sweet and Savory Recipes with Rose Petals, Lilacs, Lavender, and Other Edible Flowers.

Bacher, who is an herbalist, chef and founder of Greenport, New York-based confectionary studio Mali B Sweets, has compiled 100 inventive recipes such as Dandelion Wine, Stuffed Squash Blossoms and Lilac Sorbet, each of which is accompanied with lush photography and helpful tips.

For anyone new to cooking with flowers, Bacher advises to "First, make sure you taste the flowers individually, to get a feel for their raw flavor, and then dive in to preparing the recipes using the flowers whose tastes you love." As for sourcing blossoms, she recommends starting your own flower garden. "Anyone who has room for at least a potted plant can grow pansies or force tulips or hang a basket of nasturtiums, which are all edible," she says. Otherwise, she suggests checking out your local farmers' markets or farm stands or ordering through a reputable online source.

You can purchase Cooking with Flowers: Sweet and Savory Recipes with Rose Petals, Lilacs, Lavender, and Other Edible Flowers by Miche Bacher at amazon.com.

Check out our slideshow above to discover five more floral-inspired picks that we love.