Good thing I just ate, that bowl of pasta with shrooms is enough to make a hungry person get on a plane. 
wild edible plants thread
- Thread starter gogofast
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gogofast
Addicted Member
wow, very nice. Can't beat a walk in the woods with wild turkey and all. That pasta looks delicious.
gogofast
Addicted Member
Went for a hike yesterday hoping to harvest some Devil's Club (formerly known as Alaskan Ginseng). Came across a large patch. Took a few sticks and the inner barks are being dried right now.
Found some wild rose hips and made tea out of it as well. Also some frozen oyster mushrooms.
Found some wild rose hips and made tea out of it as well. Also some frozen oyster mushrooms.
gogofast
Addicted Member
In case anyone's wondering what the heck the Devil's Club is used for....
After you scrape off the outer bark and poisonous thorns, the greenish inner bark is peeled off and dried. You make tea by infusion or decoction. It's known to help heal digestive and respiratory ailments.
Some claim that it's related to ginseng, and that's why it was formerly called "Alaskan Ginseng". Not sure how they are related, but they sure do smell and taste like ginseng. The odor of its essential oil is so strong, you can smell it from a mile away.
I usually bag 'em in ziplocks and give to a few friends who are into natural medicines and stuff...
After you scrape off the outer bark and poisonous thorns, the greenish inner bark is peeled off and dried. You make tea by infusion or decoction. It's known to help heal digestive and respiratory ailments.
Some claim that it's related to ginseng, and that's why it was formerly called "Alaskan Ginseng". Not sure how they are related, but they sure do smell and taste like ginseng. The odor of its essential oil is so strong, you can smell it from a mile away.
I usually bag 'em in ziplocks and give to a few friends who are into natural medicines and stuff...
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sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Speaking of mushrooms ... I get a good batch of morels here every year during season ...
Those sell for what ... $60 a pound? They're especially tasty when they're FREE!
PS ... there's also morel "look alikes" that are poisonous, so let's be careful out there. Main thing you're looking for is a hollow stem ... those are the good ones.
Those sell for what ... $60 a pound? They're especially tasty when they're FREE!
PS ... there's also morel "look alikes" that are poisonous, so let's be careful out there. Main thing you're looking for is a hollow stem ... those are the good ones.
gogofast
Addicted Member
Nice morels, skizo.
Those look very much like the type we get on the west coast. Found them to be most tasty when deep fried coated in light batter or in pasta sauce.
Last night, I had a chance to use some of the dried and frozen stuff from last year. Reconstituting dried bracken fern, lamb's quarters, and matsutakes. Made spicy soup using all three.
Those look very much like the type we get on the west coast. Found them to be most tasty when deep fried coated in light batter or in pasta sauce.
Last night, I had a chance to use some of the dried and frozen stuff from last year. Reconstituting dried bracken fern, lamb's quarters, and matsutakes. Made spicy soup using all three.
onepixel
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Speaking of mushrooms ... I get a good batch of morels here every year during season ...
Those sell for what ... $60 a pound? They're especially tasty when they're FREE!
PS ... there's also morel "look alikes" that are poisonous, so let's be careful out there. Main thing you're looking for is a hollow stem ... those are the good ones.
Cool. I'm waiting for morel season!
onepixel
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I've gotten into hunting for mushrooms and I'm still alive. 
We found a pile of matsutake mushrooms too and made sukiyaki and matsutake gohan (rice). But I can't find the pictures. It was so good.
Chanterelles and Black Elfin Saddles. I've collected so many chanterelles the past month I've gotten tired of them.
The wild version of the skinny white Enoki mushrooms found in stores.
The Prince.
Blewits. Has a slightly sweep maple syrup smell.
Honeys. Found several batches of these a little to late.
Black Trumpet. These are super good dried.
Chantrelle, brie and pesto pizza.
We found a pile of matsutake mushrooms too and made sukiyaki and matsutake gohan (rice). But I can't find the pictures. It was so good.Chanterelles and Black Elfin Saddles. I've collected so many chanterelles the past month I've gotten tired of them.
The wild version of the skinny white Enoki mushrooms found in stores.
The Prince.
Blewits. Has a slightly sweep maple syrup smell.
Honeys. Found several batches of these a little to late.
Black Trumpet. These are super good dried.
Chantrelle, brie and pesto pizza.
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gogofast
Addicted Member
I've gotten into hunting for mushrooms and I'm still alive.
Chanterelles and Black Elfin Saddles. I've collected so many chanterelles the past month I've gotten tired of them.
The wild version of the skinny white Enoki mushrooms found in stores.
Wow!
You're lucky to have all those year-round. I'm already tired of waiting for the spring and summer mushrooms. We're getting ton of rain this winter - so, maybe a good season ahead...
Chanterelles do come in bunches when they do, don't they? I tried to freeze them wet and also after half drying, but the best way is to completely dry I think. I bought a larger dehydrator a few weeks ago for that job next season. In my case, eating mushrooms for long continuous period can interfere with digestive process. So I eat only during each season - month or two of 3-4 times each week. Rest, I give away as much as I can, and dry the left over.
I'd take those awful chanterelles off your hands if you're sick of them. 
I picked a crap ton of Blewits last fall, they were everywhere in my woods. But it hadn't rained for a week or so and I think they were past their prime when I picked them. I cooked some up and they were just a bit...off. Couldn't quite put my finger on it. I ended up tossing them in the compost. I'll try to get em more fresh next fall. I'll be watching this time.
I picked a crap ton of Blewits last fall, they were everywhere in my woods. But it hadn't rained for a week or so and I think they were past their prime when I picked them. I cooked some up and they were just a bit...off. Couldn't quite put my finger on it. I ended up tossing them in the compost. I'll try to get em more fresh next fall. I'll be watching this time.
I had an odd mushroom last fall that looked a lot like those chanterelles, concave top, gills that went way down the stem. It was not yellow though. It was more cream to brown colored as I recall. I never did figure out what it was. It wasn't on the list of Missouri edibles from our dept. of conservation.
gogofast
Addicted Member
Chanterelles come in different colors. Most common other than the golden is white. They do get little cream color as they age. Most likely, they'll come back same spot. So, take a picture next time.
Here in Ky, we have a few varieties of edible mushrooms, and my father in law is a genius with identification.
Me? I'd end up like that kid in "Into The Wild".
You guys are brave, tho these pics are making me hungry.
Me? I'd end up like that kid in "Into The Wild".
You guys are brave, tho these pics are making me hungry.
gogofast
Addicted Member
Hahaha. Didn't he die of eating some poisonous berries?
Some of my friends, knowing that I've been eating all these wild plants and mushrooms for years, still flat out refuse to accept anything I offer them. It took me a while to realize their reaction. Once I understood that, I don't just offer wild mushrooms to anyone I run into - only to a few. I certainly understand their fear and being cautious. Heck, I've been picking wild mushrooms for almost 30 years now and still double confirm what I pick and eat. All these people who die or get seriously ill by eating poisonous plants or mushrooms, I don't think they're novices, but someone who's experienced enough but not cautious enough - venturing into what they're not familiar with.
On the other hand, if you have half decent brain with common sense and logic, there's no reason to fear. After all, these so called "wild" edibles are what we were meant to eat. We're just tamed by domesticated and manipulated veggies in the stores. It doesn't take scientist or mycologist to figure out what's good or poisonous.
onepixel
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I had some Amanita velosa last night and some Lion's Mane over the weekend for the first time. Climbing wet trees for Lion's Mane is scary dangerous! I saw hundreds of Black Elfin Saddles out on my bike ride, yesterday. I have what looks like some Amanita novinupta in the fridge. Don't think I'm going to eat them. Still a little paranoid about eating wild mushrooms, but it's been fun.
onepixel
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There are lots popping up all the way down to San Diego. Find a good group, do your homework and always get multiple confirmations before you eat anything.