nonblonde007

Cats in the kitchen, that could be a whole new thread! I have nothing against cats, don't get me wrong, but...... I realy am disgusted by cat hair in my food, and on my dishes, and floating willy-nilly in the air for me to breath! please, keep the cats out of the kitchen! I have a sensitive gag reflex, and the feel of a cat hair, or any hair for that matter, ( I have long hair myself and I shed, but keep it neatly contained during the cooking prep) makes me gag horribly and completely ruins the entire dinner for me. I know you love your companions, as do I, I have two dogs, that stay OUT of the kitchen, but please, don't make me eat they're hair?!

Can this include Alarming things others have done in my kitchen? I had a guest staying for a few days, after cooking dinner, I needed to run out for a few minutes. When I returned, a large grin on her face, she informed me that she had 'tidied up my kitchen for me". My cast iron dutch oven was sitting in a sink full of hot SOAPY water! My stainless steel pans and best knives were in the dishwasher, Washing! My beloved wooden cutting board, (an especialy cherished gift that I used) was quietly soaking in the other half of the sink, again in hot soapy water. (yes, it warped) The dog was in heaven, munching down on the very expensive leftover meat that I had planned on using, of course, licking all the juices off of my heirloom serving platter! AAHHHGGGG! I did thank her politely, and vowed Never to leave a guest with a dirty kitchen again.

WOW! That looks fantastic! What was it's taste and texture?

I stumbled onto this short film on the net, and being a sushi addict myself, I thought it too funny! I can so relate, have had the urge to knock off a few places myself! http://www.atomfilms.com/film/confessions_sushi_addict.jsp

Your store looks like so much fun! I could see myself browsing for hours....................

srhcb...............yes. and I have done that with blackberries in washington. several times. It seems I don't learn my lessons well the first time! tummyache. nonetofive..........you are so fortunate to have had such great teaching and to have a son to pass it along to. He will be telling his children in years to come of his adventures foraging with mom as he is teaching his own. I am new to this area and would love to have some old-timer show me the ropes, so much that can't be identified by book alone. I think that is part of the mystique and lure of gathering.............the wonderful tails that go along with the tastes. I feel like I am sitting around a campfire, sharing memories with friends over fresh caught trout and morels, buckets of fresh spring strawberris to munch on.

prasantrin, I agree with much of what you are saying. I didn't mean 5 minutes literally, what I am trying to say is that it takes a village. If we start excusing everyones behavior and stop putting responsibility in each persons hands, then we become a lazy society. There are allways exceptions to everything. We are human and should have compasion for those who realy need it. In fact for everyone. It's the adage about giving the man a fish or teaching him to fish. The choice is still his, he has to choose to fish. I was a foster parent for 10 years, I understand feeling lost and having no self esteem or learning. A child should never be deprived in any way. But each individual as an adult, still has the choice of remaining as they are or bettering himself. I am sorry that some never understand that. I am adressing the general public and parents specific. If you are adult enough to have children, then it is your responsibility and duty to do the best you can by them, not to rely on the government nor blaim the government for the rearing of your child. If your child has weight issues, don't blaim anyone but yourself for them. Then, do something about it istead of pointing fingers. If health is truly an issue and you can't get assistance with that, step up, be a parent and ask for help with your children to keep them safe. Like I said it takes a village. Please understand, I didn't in any way intend to put responsibility on the children themselves.

I, also feel for these kids, their only crime being having unschooled parents. However, I grew up with entirely ignorant parents, horrible habits and skills, dirt poor. I was one of those kids. If I can educate myself, and feel responsible for my choices and my childrens, why can not they? There is no excuse for laziness when children are involved. There are always resourses and even caring neighbors and friends to turn to. Not to mention books, endless television programs, free courses and the internet at the library. If it's depression, there are free meds and counseling. If it's health, the same. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I grew up very harsh, and managed to pull myself up by my bootstraps and say "not for me". I have been through the worst, and the best, and learned the hard way that it comes down to personal choices and accepting responsibility for onesself and loved ones. It is up to us, all of the people to take the time to teach all of the children, not just our own, to take the 5 minutes to talk and listen. Wow, reading that back to myself, I didn't realise that I felt so strongly about this issue. Forgive me for my rantings. Feel free to slam me if you need, i asked for it airing my beliefs in such a way.

As a mother of 3 teen sons, I Must chime in here. Two of my boys are naturally slim as is often the case with boys and the third and youngest takes after his mom, tending to hold onto weight. First and foremost, the moment that the government begins to take responsibility for the upbringing of your children, is the moment your license to breed needs to be revoked! Society can not be blamed, advertising, t.v., peer pressure, etc. etc. are not responsible for our childrens shortcommings. We are. Children learn what they live, including discipline in eating habits. The key word being "discipline". The best gift we can give them is to teach them self-discipline in all areas of life and responsibility for our actions and consequences. That said, our family will indulge in snacks, within reason, untill we are satisfied. The boys have discovered that a craving for chocolate can most of the time be relieved with just a single bite. Leaving them satisfied and yet not over-indulged. Because we have educated and never restricted sweets, or unhealthy snacks, simply limitied them, there seems to be no need to gorge. My youngest, who battles with a bit of a weight issue, regulates himself and chooses healthy foods, with bits of intermittent goodies whenever he feels like he has put on a little too much weight. He understands that allowing himself the chips or candy comes with a price, and chooses whether or not to pay it. I have my own feelings and beliefs on how my children should be fed and raised. I realise that it may not mesh with the norm or be politically correct, but still it is my choice. I resent and oppose the government stepping in and deciding for me what is right for my family. I also have little respect for a parent who will give over the health and training of their children to faceless lawmakers. We are responsible for ourselves, our choices, our children and our consequences. O.K., I am off my pedestal now!

Amen!

Another launch forward..........What would your dream foraging adventure be? For me, truffles, pig and all! Followed by intense schooling on the the most decadent use of them. Second, I fantasise of stumbling onto "trashbags full" of morels.....*sigh*

"Indian Alphonso Mangoes - These have been allowed back into the US after being banned for 18 years." Never heard of these........what is the taste difference and where do you find them? I also made grilled salmon with wasabi ginger marinade and garlic butter grilled asparigus with truffle butter topped grilled fingerlings.

Growing up extremely rural north of Fairbanks Alaska, we relied almost completely on the land to provide our needs. As early as 5 years old, I would wander through the woods with my mother or grandmother, gathering many different growing things. I learned early to spot the elusive morel mushroom, it became my favorite hide-and-seek game. We gathered corel, chanterel and puffball mushrooms also. Berries were allways avaliable, it seemed. High-bush and low-bush cranberries, tiny succulent strawberries, high and low-bush blueberries, salmonberries, and huckleberries. Wild rhubarb stalks that resemble in NO way their domestic cousins. We used to love to break off stalks and chew on them, puckering with delight between giggles. Breaking off new spruce buds and chewing on them, yummy. Of course there were the snares, always delighted to find a rabbit or squirrel in them. And the Salmon, I was so sick of salmon that I couldn't touch it for years into my adulthood! Thankfully, I got over that. There was endless Moose, and bear, and who knows what else apeared on the dinner table under assumed names! It was a wonderful way for any child to grow up, I carry daily the lessons learned, the respect and love of all things nature, and the confidence that comes with having lived so close to the land. Now I am spoiled, of course, love my local grocery. But once in a while, I have a strong craving to wander the woods and bring home dinner with a grin on my face and a peace in my soul. I don't remember how I learned all of this, or how my mother and grandmother knew so much, we were new to the land. I believe it's handed down generation to generation, with bits of new knowledge added to the whole along the way.

Here's the guy I think of as a "newer Euell", judiu. Fergus the Forager ← Carrot top, Thank you, what an awsome website! I think I will learn a lot here.

Wow! I am so enjoying reading all these posts. Isn't it great how just chatting about foraging can take you back to happy times, the peacefulness of the forest, glen, beach and even city park. Realy seeing and partaking of nature, all the scents, sounds and tastes of her. Every memory shared here has put a smile on my face and a picture in my mind. Thank you, to all. There is so much more to learn, please keep sharing! srhcb..........what do you do with chokecherries? I tasted one once Yuck! chappie.........Daylilly bulbs, are these the same ones that we grow? Orange? I have seen these in the woods here, all over the place. And, please spill about the green tomato hornworm, that has gotten me very curious! Does anyone have any info on cattails? I have loads of them growing in the creek. Also what looks and tastes similar to chives. *edited to fix typos, 'caus my brain was going faster than my fingers tonight*

Thanks a Lot! Now I have this urgent NEED for Squid, and no place to buy it within 150 miles! That looks amazing, I am actually drooling here!

I've heard reference to a lot of wild greens around here, such as poke and skunk cabbage. I realy enjoyed the greens that I have tried in the past, cultivated, and would like to try foraged wild ones. What greens grow in what areas and how do you prepair them? Of course, there are dandilions Everywhere, and I have tried chickweed also.

Tell me about wintergreen berries, are they the same thing as wintergreen flavoring? Do they grow other places? When and where do you find them and how do you use them?

pille..........It is so fascinating to see the differences and similarities of wild food across the world. Thank you! I will have to see if wild garlic grows here. And yes, maple syrup counts! Realy counts!!! Anything gathered from the wild with your own two hands and keen eyes, then eaten with pleasure, would qualify as foraging in my book. Yes Annecros........I would Never leave out fish of any sort!

I have noticed before that the general theme among those that love to forage seems to be "childhood memories". My own can be linked to fond memories of foraging in Alaska with my mother or grandmother. Hunting for lowbush blueberries while keeping an eye on the bears close by doing the same. Making highbush cranberry jelly from the buckets we gathered earlier in the day. Searching for Corel mushrooms to fry with the fresh caught Salmon or Rabbit from the mornings outing. Gathering wild rhubarb and tiny strawberries for a pie.........."sigh". I take my 3 sons with me on the hunt for Morels and such, and they love the thrill of it as much as I do. Kpzachary..............Did you say "trash bags full of Morels?" OMG!!!! They would have had to bury me in a very large piano box the next day! Annecros...........Thank you for the link. My eyes will be wide open! I just discovered that I have black walnut, pecan and hickory nut trees on my property!! Lots of them! Time to do some research.....

Yum, I forgot fiddleheads. I saute mine in butter with chopped garlic and S&P. What is a Mayhaw and how is it used?

I have always been fascinated by providing ones own sustenance, hand foraged goodies from the wild and edible discoveries always seem to taste better than any other. Please tell us what your favorite foraged item is in your part of the world. Where and when do you find it? What is your most beloved way of preparing it? Which one, when found, gives you chills of delight? What is the most elusive prize? Morels: when in the Pacific Northwest were both my favorite and most elusive find. Usually stumbled upon when strolling the woods, With delight, snatched up and lightly dusted with flour. Fried in bacon fat, sprinkled with salt and pepper and devoured on the spot! Never was able to find any when actually searching. Huckleberries: Again in the PNW. Deliciousness, eaten directly from the bush! I can't wait to discover what wonders await me in my new home in the south!

That looks Fantastic! I am glad I am not the only one who craves nontraditional "breakfast" food in the mornings.

Has anyone been to Food Porn Watch? I have it bookmarked and daily visit several blogs from there. There are hundreds with direct links. It seems it is updated hourly with new postings. It is definately my favorite and I have browsed countless interesting blogs that have taken me all around the workd and through every cultural eating experience imaginable. http://foodpornwatch.arrr.net/ Would love to hear others opinions and faves.

Mmmmmmmm Marrow. Does that count as "meat"? Hangar steak, just warm, red and juicy, sprinkling of sea salt and fresh ground pepper..... Running to light the grill now, steak and eggs are calling my name!