Tag: Food
Praise of the Pumpkin
The pumpkin is a fall fruit with a rich heritage and flexible flavor that has been used for centuries.
If the tomato is the queen of garden vegetables, the pumpkin may well be the king. In fact, in some parts of China, it is called “Emperor of the garden.” And why not? No plant produces a larger edible fruit, and what other plants can yield tens (or even hundreds) of pounds of healthful, delicious eating from a single seed in only a few months’ time? Pumpkins are known and loved around the world, for their beauty as well as for the gifts they bestow so generously, asking so little in return.
What’s In A Name?
A pumpkin is a winter squash, but not all winter squash are pumpkins. Confused? So is everyone else. The Oxford English Dictionary defines pumpkin as the large fruit of Cucurbita pepo, “egg-shaped or nearly…
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The Small Mushrooms We’re All Overlooking (new video!)
Greetings!
Just a reminder that on Monday, September 16th, I’ll be opening registration for my online course Foraging Wild Mushrooms. This course is designed for beginner-level mushroom enthusiasts who are looking to confidently and successfully harvest wild mushrooms for food, for medicine, for study, and for fun.
If you’re interested in signing up for Foraging Wild Mushrooms, mark your calendar for Monday, September 16th and visit this link.
And now on to this week’s brand new video!
I’ve never been one to judge a mushroom based on its size. Teeny-tiny fungi can be equally as fascinating as big, beefy mushrooms.
During a recent walk through a beautiful forest, I encountered all kinds of small mushrooms whose roles were no less essential than those of the larger fungi. Rather than keep these fungal encounters to myself, I thought I’d pull out my camera and document the fun.
If you’re interested in learning some neat things about a few of the smaller mushrooms that may be growing in your neck of the woods, check out the brand new video!
Speaking of fascinating fungi, have you ever met a blue mushroom that smelled strongly of anise? Pictured here is one such fragrant fungus that commonly decomposes forest debris during the summer and autumn months. To learn more about this mushroom, and to view more photographs, check out the recent Instagram post!
Thanks for reading and watching, and as always, thank you for your support!
-Adam Haritan
Warm, Spicy Aroma of Cinnamon
The warm, spicy aroma of cinnamon wafting from baked goods and hot apple cider is one of the first and welcome signs of autumn. An ancient and beloved spice, we have long valued cinnamon to enliven cuisine, create exotic perfumes, and as a staple spice rack remedy.
Though many species of cinnamon exist, the most common is Cassia {cinnamomum cassia}, known also as Chinese cinnamon, and Ceylon {Cinnamomum zylanicum}, which is a related species of tropical evergreen trees in the Lauraceae family native to East and Southeast Asia. While Cassia is most familiar to the United States, its cousin Ceylon is considered “true” cinnamon and more popular in Europe and Mexico.
First appearing in Traditional Chinese Medical texts over 4,000 years ago, cinnamon was used to boost the immune system and unblock yang qi. The Egyptians prized it as food, perfume, and incense while Ayurvedic…
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Foraging Wild Mushrooms — Online Course Registration Opens Next Week!
Greetings!
I’m extremely excited to announce that, in anticipation of the upcoming autumn mushroom season, registration for my online course will be open next week on Monday, September 16th. Since the course’s first launch in May, I’ve added several new videos and will continue to add them throughout the year.
Foraging Wild Mushrooms is a four-season course designed to help you confidently and successfully forage wild mushrooms. Whether you’re interested in foraging for food, for medicine, for study, or just for fun, this online course covers the most important lessons to get you started and to keep you going!
This course is presented entirely online and it features over 70 exclusive videos that cover all the essentials for beginner-level mushroom hunters, including mushroom ecology; mushroom biology; common edible mushrooms; medicinal mushrooms; poisonous mushrooms; cooking techniques; medicine-making; and more.
Upon registration, you can watch the videos at your own pace and you will have access to the course forever.
Please note that Foraging Wild Mushrooms will only be open for registration for one week only, from midnight on September 16th to Monday, September 23rd. After September 23rd, registration will be closed.
If you’re interested in signing up for Foraging Wild Mushrooms, mark your calendar for Monday, September 16th and visit this link.
I’ve derived so much enjoyment foraging wild food and medicine from the fungal kingdom over the years, and I’d love to help you experience the same life-changing thrills too!
I hope to see you on September 16th!
-Adam Haritan
Garden Glut Tomato and Courgette Bruschetta
Deadly Delicacies from Emporium Black | Coby Michael Ward
I love introducing people to new things in the magical community. I love networking with fellow practitioners and pointing people in the right direction to help meet their needs because I know how difficult this labyrinth can be to navigate.
The chocolate was amazing and the subtle taste of the herb-infused honey was noticeable enough that you knew there was more than a trace amount of plant material in them. The exact amounts are a trade secret, and Seamus is always happy to answer any questions potential customers might have.
The rose flavor was pervasive, not in a bad way. You could taste and smell the roses long after eating the truffle, an interesting aromatic effect. The flavor was exactly like the smell of fresh roses, and not artificial at all. The effects of this truffle came on in about an hour as well.
The white chocolate coating of these…
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Who Knew That The Chicken Mushroom Could Have An Endangered Look-Alike?
Greetings!
Within the world of mushroom hunting exists a regionally-dictated and arbitrary list known as the “foolproof four.” Such an assemblage includes choice edible fungi that are easily identified.
Chicken Of The Woods, with its vivid colors and meaty texture, is one wild mushroom whose name is frequently included in “foolproof four” lists across North America. Ask any seasoned mushroom hunter, and he or she will tell you that few wild fungi resemble Chicken Of The Woods.
But few doesn’t always mean zero.
There are mushrooms that, at least from a distance, can certainly resemble Chicken Of The Woods, and featured in the following video (and pictured above) is one such look-alike that’s actually considered to be critically endangered in some forests around the world.
If you’re interested in learning more about this bright orange fungus that can indeed resemble Chicken Of The Woods, check out the brand new video!
And in case you missed it, I released another brand new video last week without sending an accompanying email.
This time, we’re talking about a common plant that undoubtedly lives an unconventional life. With names like Devil’s Guts, Strangle Weed, and Love Vine, this wild plant is despised by many people and surprisingly cherished by others.
Check out the video if you haven’t seen it already!
Thanks for reading and watching, and as always, thank you for your support!
-Adam Haritan
Staghorn Sumac Sugar Fritters — Gather Victoria
A Bunyol is a Spanish Sugared fritter, so these are Staghorn Sumac Sugar Bunyols. Imagine a warm doughnut (without the hole) rolled in a silky lemony tasting icing sugar and you’ve got the idea. A bunyol (or buñuelo) is a small yeasty bun traditionally enjoyed in Spain on All Saints Day (Nov.1st) which is dedicated to the memory of the…
Botanizing Along The Pennsylvania Turnpike (New video!)
Greetings!
First, I’d like to say “thanks!” to everyone who registered for the upcoming Midwest Wild Harvest Festival in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The event has officially sold out, though if you’re looking for additional opportunities to learn foraging (specifically mushroom foraging), look no further than the annual Gary Lincoff Memorial Foray on September 21st in Pittsburgh.
Tickets are still available for this latter event in which I, along with Bill Russell (author of Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic) and Rick Kerrigan (the foremost authority on North American Agaricus mushrooms) will be presenting during the afternoon lecture sessions.
And now on to this week’s brand new video!
I get the feeling that most people wouldn’t consider major highways to be prime habitats for botanical exploration. Interestingly, however, areas that are perpetually kept in an early stage of ecological succession — especially areas that receive ample amounts of sunlight — can harbor incredible numbers of plant species.
Such is the case with the Pennsylvania Turnpike — a 360+ mile highway that traverses the entire state.
I recently spent some time exploring an area alongside the Pennsylvania Turnpike in search of native plants that thrive during the warmest weeks of the year. And of course, I decided to film the experience.
If you’re interested in seeing what it’s like to botanize along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in mid-August, check out the brand new video!
Bad hair day or fungal overgrowth? Unfortunately for this spider engulfed in mycelium, things aren’t looking too good. Have you ever seen something like this in your neck of the woods? Check out this Instagram post to learn more!
Thanks for reading and watching, and as always, thank you for your support!
-Adam Haritan
Paths I Walk 
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