I admit it, I’m feeling a little cocky. After a long winter with very few fresh veg, spring greens are popping up all over, and these fritters bring just what I need and want to the table: fresh, healthy vegetables in a rich base of puréed evening primrose root. Each bite made me smile. Some foragers say that evening primrose…
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Cymopterus species: an Edible Desert Ephemeral
Growing up in the Northeast, I’m used to the idea of ephemeral plants, i.e. plants that emerge in spring, take advantage of the moisture and light (before the deciduous trees leaf out), do their business (flower, fruit, and set seed), then hibernate from the heat of summer through the end of the year. I haven’t found nearly as many ephemeral…
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Siberian Elm Samaras: a Snack from a Tree
The Siberian elm (aka Ulmus pumila) is among the toughest of trees. Native to Siberia, Mongolia, northern Kashmir, and the Gobi Desert (among other rugged locations), it was selected by the USDA to create shelter belts on the North American prairies after the disaster that was the dustbowl. Its tolerance for cold and drought and its rapid growth habit made…
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Autumn Olive Flour Muffins
Several foraging friends have been experimenting with dehydrating fruit, grinding it into flour, then baking with said flour. I admit, I was skeptical, but since I have great faith in these friends (Alan Bergo, Erica Marciniec Davis, I’m talking to you!), I decided to give it a go. Both Alan and Erica posted about using dried wild cherries, but my…
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Crabapple Pastila: A foraged twist on a classic Russian treat
I’m always looking at old recipe books for interesting foods I can put a foraged spin on, and when I discovered pastila, I realized I’d hit the jackpot. Traditionally made with tart apples, I knew right away it would work with crabapples, and I already had several jars of crabapple sauce in my pantry, which gave me a head start….
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