A chilly hello to all of you! It is suppose to be spring…. isn’t? Does not need like it at all. The last couple of days have been chilly and being stuck indoors has made me miss traveling. With the virus, it is preventing us from traveling places, but that does not mean you cannot go exploring. What do you mean, is probably what you are thinking. I am not suggesting breaking any quarantine rules!!!
Last week, I went on two hikes with the kiddos and their mother (the family I nanny). We did our own exploring through the MULTIPLE trails of Decorah. We took pictures of the mushrooms and other plants we found and looked them up. It turns out that there are tons of plants in the woods that are edible, so we decided to give it a try.
WARNING: Do your research before consuming any plants.
Here is what we found:
-Pheasant back mushrooms. We picked some and are attempting to cook them… we had to watch several videos to learn how to clean and cook them.
-Fiddleback ferns. The fun looking plant grows into a tight spiral on a long stem. With some sheppard’s pie, we sauteed these on the side with butter, salt, pepper, and fresh basal. Very delicious. The taste is a mixture of asparagus and spinach.
-Morel Mushrooms. Sadly, we did not find any… yet. I still have hope!! The ground in Decorah is too dry, but with the rain this week, maybe we will find some next week! Mushroom hunting is always fun and a great way to explore the land around you.
-Ramps. These plants grow in little bunches and they smell like garlic and onions. You can cook this with most dishes to give that delicious smell. When you see them, do not over pick! People make the mistake of over picking them. You only need 2-3 leafs.
-Nettles. These can be eating raw in salad. We also picked some, but have not tried them yet. Hopefully we get to try them soon!
I am lucky to be able to be in a town with several trails and understand that not everyone is around trails. But there are several trails throughout the midwest or anywhere you are currently residing. Just look it up! Take a bike ride there or hope in your car for a little drive to a trail. Perfect way to explore and feel like you are traveling during times like this. I found it to be a great way to be active and get fresh air. It is also a great way to learn about the area you live in.
Hope you all have a great week!
Nottingham Adventures 