Wild Edible Plants

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80925492@N06/7421606452/

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80925492@N06/7421602274/

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80925492@N06/7421598858/

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80925492@N06/7421594870/

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Up here in this part of Alaska we have two white barked trees, the Aspen and the Birch. The white part of the Birch bark often peals off the tree trunk in thin paper like pieces. On the first 3or4 feet of the trunk from the ground up and again about 8or10 feet up the trunk of Birch trees one can sometimes find a growth that resembles a mushroom but they are hard like wood and can be large like a splayed hand or larger.
A Korean friend told me this story. An old Korean man in Korea went to a doctor with a big lump on his body. The doctor told him the lump was cancer and their was nothing medical science could do.
(if that happened in America I imagine the doctor would have then said--- have a niece day that will be seventeen thousand dollars and you need to make another appointment before you leave but after you've paid the 17 grand).
Anyway the old Korean guy goes back to his village and consults with the village herbalist.
The herbalist tells the cancer stricken old guy to get some of these wood like mushrooms from the Birch tree and cut them into pieces so that 4or5 pieces could fit in the hand. Then throw in water and bring close to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer for 4to6 hours. Forgot to say one gallon of water.
Doctor then told the old guy he could repeat this 10 times so each handful was worth 10 gallons of tea.
Old cancer stricken man does this faithfully for 6 months then goes back to medical doctor. Doctor finds one tenth of cancerous lump and expresses surprise.
It is a prized thing in Korea. I'll take pics tomarrow or next and send.
And yes I love my friend.
Artashes

[jgk3]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

They look wonderful, thanks for sharing them. I'm sorry for your cat, you must have been very close to him.

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Sorry for multiple posts. You are also looking at 3 kinds of morels. Blond, Dark, Grey. They run together so I pick as I find them. All have that subtle, unique flavor/chew. Unlike other mushrooms morels dont have that mushy gooshy mouth feal but are more like eating a fine piece of steak.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Also, the morels you are looking at are dried. When rehydrated they will become 10(approx.) the weight.
What you are looking at is a robust meal for one or a delightful fo two.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

http://flic.kr/p/ciiybw

Test

Ok, need to make comments about above post and following posts.
Many ways to cook morel mushrooms. A common way is to sautay them in butter plus salt and pepper to taste. If cooked to long they become rubbery. Only need to be cooked one minute or two , should be soft(but firm and melt in your mouth.
If cooking dried(they keep excellent) one has the option of rehydrating them with liquid of choice. Example, I like water or beer, a friend likes milk etc.. Also can be used in stews ,sauces etc..
Flavor is sutle but unique.
The pic of my freind(cat) was me practicing this pic transfer.
My freind showed up at my door 14 years ago. It was 27 below zero Fahrenheit. I said to him I was sure we could be friends and I had plenty of extra room. He took me up on the offer and we've been inseparable until his passing 3 months ago. I'm sure he is in a better place. A bob cat of Manx/Persian mix.
The only cat I've seen climb a tree and then come down backwards like it was no big deal. Cool cat, great freind.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80925492@N06/7416116418/