Foraging Challenge

kippers

Hi all...love the thread.

I made elderflower cordial the other week and i've got to say we didn't like it?..maybe I did something wrong but I don't think so. This week I made lavender cakes, but not sure this counts?...but they were nice. Here's the link:

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/273129/Lavender-fairy-cakes

Can I ask a question about the Rose petal Jelly...it sounds lovely but i'm not sure where to find wild roses?...Can I use the ones in my garden?

fuddle

I have recently become interested in foraging, infact I set off on my merry way to pick elderflowers, brought them home, seeped them for cordial and just thought to look them up to make sure I had the right thing and found I had a jug of cow parsely on my window sill.

I am now petrified and waiting for a book to come in from the library. I will subscribe and look forward to reading, learning and become inspired by you all.

jumblejack

kippers wrote: »

Hi all...love the thread.

I made elderflower cordial the other week and i've got to say we didn't like it?..maybe I did something wrong but I don't think so. This week I made lavender cakes, but not sure this counts?...but they were nice. Here's the link:

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/273129/Lavender-fairy-cakes

Can I ask a question about the Rose petal Jelly...it sounds lovely but i'm not sure where to find wild roses?...Can I use the ones in my garden?

You can use cultivated ones that are untreated but they don't process as easily. The wild ones kinda 'melt' and soften very well. As long as you strain the jelly, it should be fine.

If you go for walks I bet you'd find loads now. They have done really well with the wet year we have had.

Ps, thanks for the recipe!!!!

adelight

Sea beet looks sooo versatile and I love greens, but I'm rarely near the coast

I've just found an old book of wine making which has recipes by month. For June and July it suggests Meadowsweet, Honeysuckle, Rose Petal, Bramble Tip and then the rather questionable sounding Marrow and Broad Bean :rotfl:

jumblejack

fuddle wrote: »

I have recently become interested in foraging, infact I set off on my merry way to pick elderflowers, brought them home, seeped them for cordial and just thought to look them up to make sure I had the right thing and found I had a jug of cow parsely on my window sill.

I am now petrified and waiting for a book to come in from the library. I will subscribe and look forward to reading, learning and become inspired by you all.

:eek:

Make sure that you harvest from the branches of a tree. Cow parsley/hogweed grow from the ground.

Elderflower is unmistakable. It grows on a tree (elder). The flowers are small and off white with five petals. The centre has 5 yellow tipped stalks. It smells delightful too. It looks like this close up:





The leaves are easily distinguishable too:


Well done on getting out there and harvesting though!:T

Have another meander tomorrow, weather permitting. Look for trees and large shrubs with large white sprays of flowers.
Check the leaf structure is the same as above with the toothed edge and check the flowers match the same description.
The flowers are lovely and fragrant although they can bear a little resemblance to cat urine in the evening

All the best and stick with it:T

jgh

FrugalFranny wrote: »

Managed to find a huge batch of st.georges mushroom a couple of weeks ago ... I'm very careful about mushrooms after my nan told me the horror story of when she picked wild mushrooms and accidentally picked the wrong ones.

Yes, this is usually the time of year I start gathering mushrooms. Chantrelles are easily recognisable, and false chanties tend to only give you a funny tummy, so they are what I recommend for beginners. I saw some fresh brambles in our local farm shop yesterday, so I'm planning on going looking myself. My potatoes are growing a lot faster than last year, so foragables may be coming earlier as well.

perco

Located a wee blackcurrant earlier this year (garden escapee). Great bush, zip blackcurrants. While I was mournfully inspecting it, realised the leaves smell fantastic. Ferkled on the net and found two recipes on theoldfoodie site.

Worth a go?

jumblejack

perco wrote: »

Located a wee blackcurrant earlier this year (garden escapee). Great bush, zip blackcurrants. While I was mournfully inspecting it, realised the leaves smell fantastic. Ferkled on the net and found two recipes on theoldfoodie site.

Worth a go?

Yes!!!!!

Worth making a fresh herbal tea from if nothing else. Go for it!!

Or maybe try this bevarage:
http://www.thebarefootcrofter.com/2012/06/nettle-and-blackcurrant-leaf-cordial.html

Mmmmmmm.

Aldahbra

PennyGrabber wrote: »

My trouble is, that although I'd absolutely love to do this, I have absolutely no idea where to start!! I can't even identify things! Well, except blackberries! HELP!! I'm hoping the food for free book will help.

Also, maybe we should do a month-by-month guide on here, for what to forage when? That way next year, folks like me will be able to gen up, ready to look for stuff!

I think a lot of us will be learning together here. I'm hoping for the food for free book soon too.

kippers wrote: »

Hi all...love the thread.

I made elderflower cordial the other week and i've got to say we didn't like it?..maybe I did something wrong but I don't think so. This week I made lavender cakes, but not sure this counts?...but they were nice. Here's the link:

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/273129/Lavender-fairy-cakes

Can I ask a question about the Rose petal Jelly...it sounds lovely but i'm not sure where to find wild roses?...Can I use the ones in my garden?

Elderflower is a strong flavour, I think it is a bit like Marmite you either love it or hate it.

fuddle wrote: »

I have recently become interested in foraging, infact I set off on my merry way to pick elderflowers, brought them home, seeped them for cordial and just thought to look them up to make sure I had the right thing and found I had a jug of cow parsely on my window sill.

I am now petrified and waiting for a book to come in from the library. I will subscribe and look forward to reading, learning and become inspired by you all.

Elderflowers stink, a bit like cats wee. Once you've smelt it you wouldn't make that mistake again.

Aldahbra

grandma247 wrote: »

I like this thread.
This was posted on another thread. I haven't tried them yet but intend to soon.

I'm glad you posted this I was wondering how you made a link which was hidden behind a label. I was going to ask how you did it but I can see in the quote how it was done, thanks.

I don't suppose you know how to link to a specific reply in a thread do you?