I really wish I had some sunflower seed advice. But, sadly, Specklet...I do not.

Poop.

But hey, I have a brand new tortilla press, so I've got things to experiment with...

Tortilla press, eh? That DOES sound cool. I need to get back to trying to make a decent pasta dough, and using old school hand cranked pasta maker that my brother got me for Christmas. After 4 or 5 failed attempts...I ran out of steam.

Can't help you with eatability either. I've only ever grown sunflowers because they're pretty. Birds usually have a field day with them.

You can start cutting the flower heads off for drying as soon as the center flowers turn brown. When you cut them (the flower heads, I mean) off the plant, leave a bit of stem to hang them from, then cover the head with a paper bag (some of the seeds will fall off as they dry). Hang them upside down somewhere warmish until the seeds fall off on their own, or are easily brushed off the flower head.

Cool, thanks, faineant!

richat, I haven't tried any hand-made pasta except gnocchi, which is pretty easy. I've never made my own tortillas before either, but I've been cravin' Mexican food like crazy lately (no, there's not a bun in the oven) and England being England, they have no idea what Mexican food is. I can cook my own, all I needed was TORTILLAS.

Soon, delicious delicious enchiladas will be mine... filled with chicken and cilantro and chilies and cheese. And quesadillas too, with guacamole on the side... *drools*