While out foraging for shagbark hickory nuts (Carya ovata) in Bolton, MA this morning, I noticed abundant sign of other animals doing the same. Near a beaver wetland in a mixed oak / white pine / red maple / black … Continue reading
Yearly Archives: 2013
Fruit purees and syrups add great flavor to ice cream, but the extra water can lead to crystallization, giving the ice cream a gritty texture. Not so with elderberry syrup. For whatever reason, elderberry syrup actually lends elasticity and smoothness … Continue reading
If I had to choose a favorite wild edible, it would be the hazelnut. Rich in protein, fat, and flavor, hazelnuts make a satisfying snack, and can be used in cooking wherever you would use their commercially available counterparts (called … Continue reading
The American elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, also called common elderberry or wild elder, is native to eastern North America. It is sometimes considered to be the same species as Sambucus nigra, the European elderberry or black elderberry. The two are at … Continue reading
Black walnuts: Either you love ’em or hate ’em, right? There may be a good reason for that division, as you’ll read later on. In this recipe, toasting the nuts mellows the flavor. Brown sugar and cinnamon go especially well … Continue reading
Wondering what to to do with summer’s bounty of huckleberries or blueberries? This huckleberry swirl lemon ice cream recipe works wonderfully well with any type of huckleberry or blueberry. (However, that does not include the poorly named “garden huckleberry”, a … Continue reading
Black huckleberries (Gaylussacia baccata) are a favorite wild edible because they are easy to find and identify, and tasty enough to eat by the handful. They taste similar to their wild blueberry cousins (Vaccinium spp.), but the larger seeds of … Continue reading
We hear so much about the wonderful benefits of raising chickens, but the truth is that it’s not for everyone. So I thought an honest discussion of the pros and cons of backyard chickens would be helpful. I am often … Continue reading
Having trouble finding a homemade fresh raspberry ice cream recipe with a smooth, creamy texture that stays that way even after a week or more in the freezer? Lucky for you, you’ve stumbled upon one! It took a bit of … Continue reading
Here’s my blackberry banana ice cream recipe, which uses a custard base, my favorite technique for creating a sumptuously smooth mouth-feel. After making this ice cream, I was so pleased with the results that I googled to see if anyone … Continue reading