Colcannon is a classic Irish dish. The name is Gaelic for white-headed cabbage, and it’s usually made from cabbage or kale combined with mashed potatoes. Traditionally colcannon is served in fall, when cabbage and kale are in season, but not being a cabbage or kale lover (who’s kidding whom, I can’t stand the stuff!), I …
Years ago, before I was officially a forager, I visited Crete in early Spring with my parents. As we approached the entrance to the Samaria Gorge we saw that the fields were full of people picking something. My father pulled over and made me get out to ask what they were harvesting. Being a dutiful …
Lest you think pesto is only for basil…think again! Lots of wonderful greens make excellent pestos, and so do many different nuts and seeds. Dandelions and black walnuts are both strongly flavored wild edibles, and they combine perfectly in this pesto recipe. Fresh, tender dandelion greens and rich black walnuts liven up pasta, rice, bruschetta, …
Dandelions elicit strong reactions from both lawn-lovers and gardeners. Strong, negative reactions. If you find yourself in this camp, here’s your chance to exact delicious revenge. The dandelion is a versatile and tasty weed with four different edible parts…that makes it an edible superstar in my book.
I love it when food looks fancy and difficult but is really super easy to make. Who doesn’t like to impress friends and family with delicious, gorgeous food that actually comes together in a flash? These foraged spring rolls can be made with whatever you find in your ‘hood, plus a few grocery store items. …
When Michael was diagnosed with diabetes, we started eating a low carb diet and these crustless, mini wild greens quiches have become a favorite. I like to make a big batch, then freeze a bunch to have on hand. A quick zap in the microwave gives you a high protein breakfast, or you can pair …
When I lived in PA I was surrounded by black walnut trees. I love the ripe nuts in brownies, pies, and pesto, and the unripe walnuts make one of my favorite foraged beverages: nocino. But after multiple attempts at making pickled black walnuts (a British pub staple), I’m calling it quits. Here’s why you might want …
If you’ve ever eaten in a Greek diner, you may have eaten spanikopita, a traditional spinach pie made with flakey phyllo dough. But unless you have a yia yia (Greek grandmother) you may not have tasted hortopita: wild greens pie. Wild edibles are part of everyday life in Greece, in fact, you’ll often find wild edibles for …
Depending on where you live, yuccas may be a wild plant in the landscape, a valued ornamental in the garden, or a traditional food. This is no ordinary plant. Most people think of yuccas as denizens of the desert, and they are indeed drought tolerant and tough as nails. But they’re also at home in …
Is it a weed? Is it a pretty garden flower? In my book, oxeye daisy is an attractive perennial, with tasty leaves, edible flowers, and (I’ll admit it) an aggressive growth habit. If you’re someone who needs to tightly control every plant in your garden, oxeye daisy isn’t for you. But if you appreciate a …
