Looking for another way to save all of those delicious fresh mushrooms? Here is a super simple recipe that will make you thankful you thought ahead this winter! In the past I have used hens, chickens, oysters and beefsteak mushrooms, but pretty much any kind of fungi will work in a duxelles.
Fall is here! School is back in session. The sun is setting an hour earlier. And night time temperatures have dropped by double digits, signifying the beginning of a new foraging season. September is a true bounty of fantastic wild foods.
You’ve just hit the mushroom mother-load. But now an intimidating thought creeps into your head – how do I preserve my wild harvest? Worry no more! After years of trial and error, research, testing and constant experimentation, I’ve come up with some tips and tricks to help you fully enjoy your foraged fungi.
August is somehow already upon us and the past two weeks have been filled with sun and foraging fun! Many wild fruits are ripening along field edges and hedgerows including pin cherries, blackberries, currants, the last of the season’s blueberries and hackberries and elderberries. Sumac is prime for picking – perfect for sodas, syrups and seasoning. Wild grape clusters will soon turn sun-kissed and sweet.
The first time I attempted to make mushroom jerky was purely as an experiment. I had a surplus of maitake/hen of the woods and had read that their meaty stems were perfect for jerky. I eat meat jerky maybe once a year, usually while on a road trip. I certainly didn’t have high expectations for the fungi version. But oh, how I was wrong!
It’s soup season! With nighttime temperatures creeping downward, it’s the perfect time to tuck in and make some delicious mushroom soup. Earlier this week I was lucky enough to harvest a perfect 2 pound chicken of the woods.
It’s officially fall my friends – harvest time for farmers, squirrels and foragers alike. From fruits and nuts to fungi and herbs, a wide variety of delicious wild edibles are prime for picking right now.
Berkeley’s polypore don’t get enough love in my humble opinion. While they can grow to a massive size, they are at their best when very young and tender. Here is a simple recipe to enjoy your harvest!
August has come and gone in the blink of an eye. The intense heat and humidity that kicked off the month has given way to cooler night temperatures and thunderstorms – a perfect combination for fall fungi hunting.
Chicken of the woods, chanterelles, black trumpets and milky caps are beginning to carpet the forest floor with each rain. And, ornamental flowers like day lily and hosta offer many options for the hot and lazy forager – from raw salad toppers and garnishes to quick pickles, sodas and stuffed-with-cheese delights.