10 Ways to Have Your Christmas Tree and Eat It, Too

I know what you’re thinking. I used to feel that way too. After buying that Christmas tree, carting it home, setting it up, entering the hell of tangled Christmas tree lights, watering it so it won’t dry out, making sure it doesn’t fall over sideways and taking endless Instagrams of it, you don’t want to do anything else but get rid of it as soon as possible. But in these uncertain days, it’s important we all learn whatever options there are for survival. Even in NYC, we can eat our tree if we ever have to, in a time of hunger.

Ready to eat your tree? Not yet? Have a shot of pine liqueur, it will give you courage. Note: If you do decide to try some pine recipes, be sure that the type of pine you’re using is the right one – not all pine trees are made the same.

1. Soft Boiled Eggs in Pine Nut Sauce
Pine nuts were eaten in Ancient Rome. Soak pine nuts overnight and prepare them with eggs for a historic breakfast.

2. French Mussels with Pine Needles
The first time I read of pine needles in a recipe in a contemporary cookbook was in The Cooking of Southwest France 1983 by Paula Wolfert, where she mentions cooking mussels on a thick bed of pine needles. The mussels will absorb the needles’ taste as it seeps into their juice.

3. Rice Cakes with Pine Needles
These Korean rice cakes with pine needles look utterly delicious.