Top Ten Wild Foods for May

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Top Ten Wild Foods for May

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cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 03, 05 8:04 pm Post subject: Top Ten Wild Foods for May
I see that our illustrious editor has put up this months article (with more pictures than ever) here: https://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Wild_Food/Top_Ten_Wild_Foods_for_May/ Well, they're my favourites this month. Let me know what you think; do you agree with the choices there? Are there better wild edibles in May? Have any really good recipes for these?

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Wed May 04, 05 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Top Ten Wild Foods for May

cab wrote:

I see that our illustrious editor has put up this months article

No, I put it up

Wild garlic we tried for the first time this year, and most impressive it was too. It was flowering at the weekend and the flowers are quite impressively hot.

Regarding recipes, we made a very nice asparagus (from the garden) quiche/tart at the weekend - the egg/cream mix seemed to absorb the taste of the asparagus so it was a good use of it. And nettles were pretty good, instead of spinach, in a curry with potato, as well as in quiches.

Two other comments...

What about dwarf elder, which is supposed to be poisonous - do the flowers look similar to "real" elder flowers?

Isn't seabeet quite rare or have I got it mixed up with seakale?

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed May 04, 05 8:08 pm Post subject:
Just finished slicing the basketful of St George's we found this evening. They're over the Rayburn, drying away... Never tried them before, and there's still plenty left so we'll have some fresh at the weekend. Good fun, this, eh? Oh, and there's a gurt patch of apple mint just near the mushrooms!

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed May 04, 05 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: Top Ten Wild Foods for May

Bugs wrote:

What about dwarf elder, which is supposed to be poisonous - do the flowers look similar to "real" elder flowers?

I'm told that dwarf elder (a.k.a. danewort) is a laxative. I'll confess to having eaten it with no ill effects.

The flowers aren't quite the same as proper elder, and the plant isn't quie like it either. It's kind of softer on the stems, it's not woody as such. The leaves smell very different; less like cat pee, more meaty, if that makes sense. The flower buds start red, becoming whiteish with almost purple hilights. And the leaves and stems become a vivid, dark red in autumn, really looking marvellous with the black berries.

You -could- mistake elder for it, but then again you'd almost have to be trying. It's sufficiently different to have a -really- different folklore associated with it.

Quote:

Isn't seabeet quite rare or have I got it mixed up with seakale?

Seabeet is as common as muck; I think that you're likely as not confusing it with seakale, which is tragically rare.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed May 04, 05 9:12 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

Oh, and there's a gurt patch of apple mint just near the mushrooms!

I bet that makes a cracking wine!

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Wed May 04, 05 9:24 pm Post subject:
Mmmm I've just had my first ever taste of St George's, I took Cab's advice and had it with chicken in an omelette, with a few bits of asparagus and rocket. It was so good, it's the first omelette I've ever eaten without the help of tomato ketchup!

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Wed May 04, 05 9:53 pm Post subject:
You lucky so and so's! I cannot seem to find anything to forage around here except Oak tree saplings (which are very welcome but wont pay dividends for about another hundred years) so where should I be looking for the mushrooms? I have tried the forests, the fields etc. .... I know we are in France but surely it cannot be much different to foraging in the UK??? IS IT!?

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu May 05, 05 9:02 am Post subject:
Yep: the apple mint is destined for an appointment with a demijon asap, perhaps in conjunction with my water mint which is coming ona treat! Sadly, we've not been able to find any chicken of the woods here yet, but we're keping our eyes open. Off to cut some nettles to send to Moogie now! By the way, has the lemon curd arived?

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu May 05, 05 9:06 am Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

By the way, has the lemon curd arived?

Oooh! Not yet. I'll look out with great anticipation

I suppose it could be buried under the 7 bits of junk from the Labour party, 14 (at least) from the Libs and a paltry three from the Tories. You can barely get in our house but for the free election barbecue firelighters

Viking_Chick

Joined: 21 May 2005
Posts: 123

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 8:15 am Post subject:
Cab - you seem to be a bit of an expert - can you give me an idea on how to find some blue carrots Fancy meeting you here.

Cab
Guest

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 9:56 am Post subject:

Viking_Chick wrote:

Cab - you seem to be a bit of an expert - can you give me an idea on how to find some blue carrots

Fancy meeting you here.

What a sweet surprise

I've got a whole heap of purple carrots growing this year, but sadly I believe that the blue carrot it extinct.

Viking_Chick

Joined: 21 May 2005
Posts: 123

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 11:29 am Post subject:
Purple - I have only just managed to persuade the other half to plant orange ones... I should try and get some Shetland Black tatties for you to try - fairly difficult to track down though....

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