For its Saturday ham and dandelion dinner, members of Ben Salem United Church of Christ are heading outside to harvest greens.

“We pick our own dandelion out in the fields,” explained church volunteer LaVaun Shanton.

The leaves — and not the yellow flower — are plucked one-by-one, trimmed of any imperfections, and washed over and over.

It’s tedious work — especially the cleaning — but the end result is worth it, Shanton noted.

“I refuse to buy hothouse dandelion because they let it grow real tall and then it gets real thick and bitter — and it’s so hard to chew,” Shanton said. “So I go out and look in the fields and gather them out there.”

Gallons upon gallons are needed for the fundraising dinner, so Shanton even meandered around the church at 1965 Church Hill Rd., Lehighton, to snip young, sweet dandelions to add to the haul.

“I feel that they’re blessed,” she said with a laugh.

Shanton produced a large bowl of the delicate greens from a refrigerator in the church’s kitchen, where she and others recently gathered together to make the bacon dressing that will be ladled on the greens.

Bacon was sizzled and combined with other ingredients, and the mixture was simmered until it reached the right consistency.

The tangy and sweet dressing is served hot.

Shanton said it’s a secret recipe of sorts, one that was used for decades when the ham and dandelion dinners were prepared by Shanton’s mother, Edna Hahn, and church member Mildred Hoppes.

When the two passed away, the dinners stopped, Shanton said.

“We decided two or three years ago to start it back up again,” Shanton explained. “Not many churches do it anymore.”

Last year, around 250 dinners were served.

Doris Lusch, a church member who heads the kitchen with Shanton, said many of those who attend or get takeouts are older.

“I think it’s an acquired taste,” Lusch said of the dandelions. “People that were raised on it will think it’s delicious no matter what.”

Those who don’t like them, Lusch said, often just request a bowl filled with the hot bacon dressing.

“Also with our meal, we have the ham, boiled potatoes, sweet potatoes, string beans and crinkle cut carrots,” Shanton added. Desserts and beverages are included.

The dinner will be available from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday from the church’s fellowship hall.

For more information, call 570-386-3870 or visit www.bensalemucc.com.

“We just hope people see that we are having this and know that they are more than welcome to come out and enjoy a good meal,” Shanton said.