Steamed Day Lily Tubers
Collect only firm, whole tubers. Replant the roots. Scrub clean and cut off any stringy roots still attached to the tubers. Don't bother to peel. Steam whole until tender when pierced with a fork. Toss with butter, salt and pepper.
Day Lily Shoot Stir-Fry
Pick day lily shoots when they first come up in the Spring and are only a few inches high (Be sure of your ID! The best way to positively identify the shoots is to make note of where they are growing when the plant is blooming in the Summer, and then come back the following year). Boil briefly, 2-3 minutes and drain. Place in skillet or wok with other thinly sliced veggies, garlic, grated fresh ginger, soy sauce, vegetable oil and a dash of toasted sesame oil. Cook over high heat until tender but still firm.
Day Lily Pickles
Collect day lily buds when they are not quite full-sized and just starting to have a blush of color. Fill sterilized jar with buds. Make a brine of cider vinegar, sugar and pickling spices and bring it to a boil (proportions according to your taste buds). Pour over day lily buds and seal. Wait a month before tasting. These will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of months. For longer storage, process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Day Lily Soup
Early on summer evenings when the day lily flowers are just starting to close, go out and collect as many as you can (they won't reopen anyway). Strip the petals away from the center of the flower, discarding the stamens and pistil. Dry the petals in a dehydrator or by stringing them with a needle and thread, leaving a little air space between each petal. Crumble into a jar. Midwinter, add these to your soups after you turn off the heat, think of summer, and smile.
http://www.ediblewild.com/leda/daylily.html