Foraging
Acorns and the Forager’s Dilemma
Reconsider the acorn for a moment. The “oak nut”ย falls to the ground by the thousands, in nearly every state in…
Foraging
Cooking Matsutake Mushrooms
After having never even knowing of their existence for the first 30 years of my life, I’ve recently been cooking…
Recipe
Prickly Pear Syrup
Well into my adulthood, all I knew about prickly pears was that they are the fruit of a cactus, the…
Pheasant, Grouse, Quail
Roast Grouse and Minnesota’s Glories
I’ve met many hereย in California who think that all good things can be had in our Golden State, whereย the magic…
Foraging
Experiments with Madrone Bark Tea
Not much about cooking excites me more than experimenting with a new ingredient. I get especially jazzed when that ingredient…
Foraging
How to Cure Green Olives
Brining olives is the oldest way to cure olives, especially green ones. What follows are instructions and troubleshooting on how…
Recipe
Chanterelles and the Sexiest Soup Ever
Some people spend their money on gadgets, rare wines, drugs or Craftsman tools. I spend mine on mushrooms. And after…
Foraging
Too Many Figs – What to Do?
I am awash in black Mission figs. I know, this is not the worst problem to have, and I am…
Foraging
Harvesting Elderberries
Harvesting elderberries is a rite of summer or early autumn for people all over the United States, Canada and Europe.…
How-To (DIY stuff)
How to Make Chicory Coffee from Scratch
For a time, my favorite coffee was New Orleans style, where the coffee is cut with roasted, ground chicory root.…
Recipe
Elderflower Syrup and Cordial
May is a wonderful month. Flowers are everywhere, fishing is getting into gear and the summer garden is laden with…
How-To (DIY stuff)
Wild Salsify Lives Everywhere
I see salsify. It’s everywhere. And I didn’t know it was salsify. Until now. We have had wild salsify root…
