here in the United Kingdom, from as early as the final week of February (Southern England) until as late as the end of April (Scotland), and with a similar early to later coming of the spring across the different states of the US, that hardcore sweetness lies quite literally in untapped abundance, residing in diluted form within the trunks of some of our commonest trees
They are definitely not flowers or meteorites, nor -as far as I know- are they celebrities hiding in the undergrowth, but there are, I tell you, stars in the hedgerow!
Morels, like some other fungi too, yet even more so, force you to be incredibly mindful, completely attentive to the present moment. Being in such a state of mind is the only way to successfully find them in large quantities. Morel foraging has no time for speed, no rushing about, no mental distraction; only the sound of your breath, your beating heart, wind, rain, and the sound of your foot steps compete for your attention without overwhelming the senses and throwing you out of focus and off course.
It's been a really difficult few weeks, what with the mermaids AND the munchies. I feel hungry quite a lot of the time especially when I cycle - which is most days. Well, it's day 18 of this year-long attempt to eat just foraged food and so far I've only felt like packing it in 18 times.
Over the past few days I've made a couple of different soups - 15 portions of each.
And for dessert - this week must be, and has been, all about gorgeous ripe cherries and their daily harvest.
I think it really is true that foraging can drive you nuts. Nature is so generous throughout the year that her abundant gifts can be quite overwhelming. The autumn is no exception; indeed, it is the season of abundance par excellence. So, focusing on just one aspect of this bounteous plenty, let’s all give in and go nuts:
It's kind of obvious I know, but blogging for me is futile in the sense that nutritionally speaking its value is worse than zero - resting and typing metabolism must be taken into account as sources of food energy consumption. That statement in itself should give you a good insight into my state of mind.
It's been a strange week, or should I say weak? This strange week has a recipe, the ingredients are purely verbal and can be found in condensed form amongst the following quotes - beware though, it's a very potent and potentially dangerous recipe:
Respect your elders. Amid the kaleidoscopic plethora of often contradictory mottos to inspire and safely guide us purposefully through life, few have the capacity to ground us so deeply in a shared past that determines our collective future, while simultaneously threatening such deleterious consequences if ignored.