As an avid hiker, I've always thought of stinging nettles as a trail nuisance to be avoided at any cost. It's only recently that I realized how delicious they can be if handled carefully. Now, instead of seeing a pernicious weed, I see a beautiful -- and tasty! -- sign of spring. Apparently, nettles are actually great for you -- they're full of all kinds of vitamins and minerals. I've also read that nettle tea (which is basically what the "brodo" here is), helps with seasonal allergies. How smart is that? This plant emerges right when you need it the most! <br /> <br />To pick them yourself, make sure you wear clothing that covers you as much as possible and, most importantly, gloves. Or you can just do as I did in this case and buy a bag of them from the farmers' market. In either case, when you're handling them raw in the kitchen wear gloves and use tongs. Once they've been blanched, though, they're safe to handle. - vrunka

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