Plum Blossom/梅花/매화.

Dear friends, do you like the plum blossom in white color or red/pink color ?
亲爱的朋友们，您喜欢白梅还是红梅呢 ？

Plum Blossom/梅花/매화.

Dear friends, share with you the plum blossom blooming which is near my apartment, these are the white color~~ 
亲爱的朋友们，与您分享在我家附近盛开的白梅花~~

"Sansuyu"/Cornelian cherries/山茱萸/산수유

Dear friends, spring is around the corner! Share with you the beautiful cornelian cherries flowers in Korea. 

In Korean it is known as sansuyu (산수유), in Chinese as shān zhū yú (山茱萸) and in Japanese as sanshuyu (サンシュユ).(source:wikipedia)

We have the "Sansuyu" Festival in Gurye ( 구례) from 18th Mar to 26th Mar this year ~~

Cornus officinalis is a species of dogwood known also as Japanese cornel or Japanese cornelian cherry or Cornelian cherries, not to be confused with C. mas, which is also known as the "Cornelian cherry." The correct term would be Korean cornel dogwood or Chinese cornel dogwood since the flower originated from Korea and China.
山茱萸（学名：Cornus officinalis），山茱萸科落叶灌木或小乔木。其成熟果实为中药，别名山萸肉、药枣、枣皮、蜀酸枣、肉枣、薯枣、鸡足、实枣、萸肉、天木籽、山芋肉、实枣儿、山萸。
(source: wikipedia)

In China, Japan and Korea where it is used as a food plant and as a medicinal plant.

山茱萸性微温，味酸、涩，归肝、肾经。有补益肝肾，固涩精气的功效。用于眩晕耳鸣、腰膝酸痛、阳痿遗精、遗尿尿频、崩漏带下、大汗虚脱、内热消渴等症。命门火炽、素有湿热及小便不利者不宜使用。
应用于肾气丸、六味地黄丸、知柏地黄丸、左归丸、杞菊地黄丸、八仙长寿丸、桂附地黄丸、益明地黄丸、济阴地黄丸等方剂中。此外，民间也用鲜萸肉以糖、蜜、酒浸汁作健身饮料。(source:wikipedia)

Cornelian cherry juices are rich in potassium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. Compared to other juices obtained from plum, pear, and apple, Cornelian cherry juice contained higher levels of dietary minerals(source:wikipedia)

Seasoned Dandelion Leaves/凉拌蒲公英叶/민들레무침

Dear friends, have you ever tasted the seasoned dandelion leaves ? In Korean, we call it " Min-de-rae", is available in Spring....We do have dandelion tea~~

亲爱的朋友们，您可曾嚐过凉拌蒲公英叶 ？ 在韩文，我们称它为“Min-de-rae”，在春天长得茂盛。。。我们这也有蒲公英茶~~

The English name, Dandelion, is a corruption of the French dent de lion meaning " lion's tooth", referring to the coarsely toothed leaves. The plant is also known as blowball,cankerwort, doon-head-clock,withch;s gowan,milk witch, lion's tooth, yellow-gowan, Irish daisy,monks-head, priest'scrown and puff-ball, other common names include faceclock,pee-a-bed,wet-a-bed,swine's snout, white endive and wild endive.

Dandelion leaves contain abundant vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A, C and K, and are good sources of calcium, potassium, iron and manganese.

The flower petals, along with other ingredients, usually including citrus, are used to make dandelion wine. The ground, roasted roots can be used as a caffeine-free dandelion coffee. Dandelion was also traditionally used to make the traditional British soft drink dandelion and burdock, and is one of the ingredients of root beer. Also, dandelions were once delicacies eaten by the Victorian gentry, mostly in salads and sandwiches.

Medicinal uses

Historically, dandelion was prized for a variety of medicinal properties, and it contains a wide number of pharmacologically active compounds. Dandelion is used as a herbal remedy in Europe, North America and China. It has been used in herbal medicine to treat infections, bile and liver problems,and as a diuretic.

Dangers

Dandelion pollen may cause allergic reactions when eaten, or adverse skin reactions in sensitive individuals. Contact dermatitis after handling has also been reported, probably from the latex in the stems and leaves. Due to its high potassium level, dandelion can also increase the risk of hyperkalemia when taken with potassium-sparing diuretics. The consumption of dandelion leaves has also been implicated in occurrences of fasciolosis.

蒲公英屬菊科多年生草本植物。頭狀花序，種子上有白色冠毛結成的絨球，花開後隨風飄到新的地方孕育新生命。蒲公英植物體中含有蒲公英醇、蒲公英素、膽碱、有機酸、菊糖等多種健康營養成分，有利尿、緩瀉、退黃疸、利膽等功效。蒲公英同時含有蛋白質、脂肪、碳水化合物、微量元素及維生素等，有豐富的營養價值，可生吃、炒食、做湯，是葯食兼用的植物。

藥學應用簡介：

蒲公英又稱尿床草，對於利尿可是有非常好的效果,它具有豐富的維生素A和C及礦物質，對消化不良、便秘都有改善的作用,另外葉子還有改善濕疹、舒緩皮膚炎、關節不適的凈血功效,根則具有消炎作用，可以治療膽結石、風濕,不過在沒有專業醫師指導下還是不要擅自使用為佳,花朵煎成藥汁可以去除去雀斑，可說是非常有用的一種香藥草,新鮮蒲公英要選擇葉片乾淨、略帶香氣者，乾燥蒲公英則選顏色灰綠、無雜質、乾燥者

蒲公英屬菊科屬多年生草本植物。是葯食兼用的植物。據《本草綱目》記載，它性平味甘微苦，有清熱解毒、消腫散結及催乳作用，對治療乳腺炎十分有效。無論煎汁口服，還是搗泥外敷，皆有效驗。此外，蒲公英還有利尿、緩瀉、退黃疸、利膽等功效，被廣泛應用於臨床。

注意事項：

陽虛外寒、脾胃虛弱者忌用。

1．用量過大 常規用量煎服後，偶見有胃腸道反應，如噁心、嘔吐、腹部不適及輕度泄瀉.

2．過敏反應 服用蒲公英煎劑、蒲公英酒浸劑後，個別人會出現蕁麻疹、全身瘙癢等過敏反應。蒲公英注射劑靜脈滴注後，亦偶有寒戰、面色蒼白、青紫或精神癥狀。

3．葯不對證 主要是寒熱不分，不加辨證而濫用蒲公英治療各種感染。臨床上所見的感染多數為熱證，用蒲公英一般不會有不良反應。但少數感染屬於陰寒證，無熱象，病程多較長，病人體質虛弱。筆者曾見有人用大劑量蒲公英治療陰寒證，結果病人出現食慾減退、倦怠、疲乏、出虛汗、面色蒼白。感染灶並無好轉之象。將蒲公英清熱解毒的作用簡單地看成能抗菌消炎而加以濫用，會產生不良反應。

( Sources: Wikipedia &医学百科）

                                  In Spring, Dandelion can easily be found along the roadside in Korea...

I                                  韩国的春天，在街道旁到处都可见到蒲公英。。。 

                                  Dandelion leaves are available at the supermarket in Korea...

                                  在韩国的超市，可买到蒲公英叶。。

Ingredients :

dandelion leaves 170 g

minced garlic 1  Tsp

chopped green onion 1 tsp

sesame oil 1/2 tsp

roasted sesame seeds 1/2 tsp

corn syrup 1 tsp

a pinch of red pepper powder

a pinch of salt

Method :

1. Wash the dandelion leaves.

2. Boil a pot of water.

3. Blanch the dandelion leaves in boiling water, remove from the water when the leaves turn soft.

4. Put the dandelion leaves in your palms and press out the water.

5. Put the dandelion leaves in a big bowl, add in the garlic,spring onion,sesame oil,sesame seeds,red pepper powder .corn syrup and salt,mix it  well .

材料：

蒲公英叶 170 g

蒜蓉 1 Tsp

青葱粒 1 tsp

麻油  1/2 tsp

芝麻 1/2 tsp

麦芽糖 1 tsp

辣椒粉少许

盐少许

做法：

1. 洗净蒲公英叶。

2. 烧开一锅热水。

3. 将蒲公英叶在热水中轻轻烫一烫，叶子变软就可。

4. 从水中取出叶子后，用双掌挤出水份。

5. 将叶子放入一大碗里，加入蒜蓉，青葱粒，麻油，芝麻，辣椒粉，麦芽糖，盐，拌均即可。

  

The Horned Turban & Giant Pacific Octopus/ 角蠑螺&章鱼/소라 & 문어

Dear friends, how do you eat the steamed horned turban &  giant pacific octopus ? It is very delicious if you eat it together by dipping the vinegar Korean red pepper sauce ~~
亲爱的朋友们， 您是如何享用蒸熟的角蠑螺和章鱼？ 沾上韩式酸醋辣椒酱，非常美味可口~~