Oregon grape is a popular ornamental shrub, and with good reason; it’s pretty to look at in all four seasons. Shiny evergreen leaves take on red variegation when the weather gets cold. In early spring the shrub produces showy sprays of bright yellow flowers, making the bees very happy. And in mid summer to early fall it produces clusters of…
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Americans don’t eat a lot of dessert soups, but a smooth fruit soup makes an elegant ending to a special meal. In Sweden, nyponsoppa is a traditional dessert. Here, we call it rose hip soup. Many rose hip soup recipes call for spices like star anise, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but my recipe highlights the sweet/tart flavor of rose hips and…
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Rose hip syrup is made from rose hips, which are the fruits of roses. (I know, I know, most people don’t think of roses as having fruits, but they do!) The syrup is lovely to look at, and full of vitamin C. Rose hips are a firm fruit, so it takes a little coaxing to get the juices out. The…
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For years I disdained making Queen Anne’s Lace jelly, believing it to be merely sweet, without distinctive flavor. I’d heard lackluster reviews from fellow foragers, but this year I decided to see for myself and boy am I glad I did. Because Queen Anne’s Lace jelly has a lovely flavor: fruity, not too sweet…it kind of reminds me of juicy…
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Wineberry season happens to coincide with the birthday of a very dear friend, so I named this wildcrafted cocktail after her. It combines the vivid beauty and flavor of wineberries (fresh or frozen) with the more delicate color and taste of elderflowers. Finish it off with your favorite clear spirit. Mine is The Botanist Gin.