Let’s get this out of the way first: I am a terrible salesperson. For myself, that is. I can sell anything for someone else if I believe in it, but when it comes to promoting my own work, I am very uncomfortable. And consequently, I’m bad at it. But I have this new book coming out, and I really do…
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Mythic Plants: a pre-order discount for
You will not Choke on Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)
Poor, misunderstood aronia, saddled with a common name like chokeberry. How did such a useful fruit get such a terrible name? My best guess is that someone picked an underripe aronia berry expecting it to taste like a blueberry. Surprise! Aronia fruit is super tart and chock full of antioxidents. Sweet? No, but tasty and useful. So let’s call it…
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Aronia Pavlova
Photograph by Douglas Merriam from The Forager’s Pantry by Ellen Zachos, reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith. I always loved when my mother made this dessert—it seemed so fancy. But pavlova is actually dead simple, and it’s the perfect way to showcase almost any fruit. I especially love using aronia berries in a pavlova because their natural tartness contrasts wonderfully…
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Rose Hip Vodka & Liqueur
I am not a vodka drinker. But even I can get behind rose hip vodka and rose hip liqueur. The fruit gives a vibrant color to the vodka, anywhere from pale orange to deep red, depending on the color of the rose hips you start with. It also lends a silky texture and a mild, sweet/tart taste to the spirit. HOW…
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Wild Pear Crisp: Recipe
feral pear crisp with mugolio drizzle My generous friend Rita dropped off a bag of pears because she’s leaving town and who wants all those lovely pears to go to waste? Do I know what kind of pears they are? Nope. But I know they’re tasty, and that’s what counts. And if you happen to have some mugolio on hand (an Italian…
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