View Full Version : Who's up for a foraging stroll by the Medway?
chickenofthewoods
30-05-2008, 23:46
That's it..... I've been going stir crazy on account of the weather and missing the last Littlehall meet, so today we went down by the River and had a little wander with basket in hand.
Returned with Seabeet, Samphire, Wall Rocket, Halbard Orache, Common Orache, Sea Purslane (with the biggest most succulent leaves I've seen in ages!), some wormwood, yarrow, garlic mustard and a pile of fennel. If you have a brave constitution there are winkles on the shore and maybe cockles too if you don't mind digging in Medway mud.
Basically, there is an abundance of good foragables out there right now, both easy to find and to use. So, who fancies a gentle stroll along the sea wall with maybe a little light cooking thrown in at the end? The bit down by Hoo Marina is excellent, quiet but acessible and very near some small shops & a pub or two should you feel the need. If any of you are up for a wander around, just let me know and we'll see if we can't sort something out! :D
Mad Mike
31-05-2008, 00:54
Sounds good to me,On a good day I 'might' recognise 5 of your found list if I fell over them.it will be good to get in a bit of practice.Lets sort something out.
Mike
chickenofthewoods
31-05-2008, 11:44
Great, so what about next weekend? We need to catch stuff before the weather gets too warm (ha ha... :rolleyes: ) or things go to seed & get past it.
I'd suggest weekdays, co's we're always about but I know that wouldn't suit everybody (but if you tell me different that's fine!).
Bring handbooks or whatever your favourite guides are & maybe some binoculars if you're into birds and stuff.
I'll bring a little stove and some pans etc. Let's see what we can find!
I'm could be interested too, if that's ok.
Will have to check and see if the wife has any plans yet, but definitely interested. My plant knowledge starts and ends with stuff I've grown to eat!
chickenofthewoods
31-05-2008, 15:11
The more the merrier, it's an open invitation as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully we can all have a nice stoll and learn a bit from each other along the way. :)
COTW thats a brilliant idea I acutally camping this weekend but please keep me in touch as i live in walderslade and would love to go for a wander - my forage skills leave a lot to be desired. if you do an evening post 7:30pm ill be there
Cheers
Nick
chickenofthewoods
02-06-2008, 09:01
Hi Nick
No problem! We are always up for a wander as I don't need much of an excuse to get out and hone the bits I do know & see what new stuff I can learn about.
Anyway. Because we Home Ed. and are flexible that can be weekdays as well as weekends, plus there are plenty of little places and varied terrains I know hereabouts that would suit. (In fact, I think we're pretty lucky in that respect). For example there's a good place down by the river that's not a million miles from Walderslade that we've been exploring recently - has samphire/beet and all manner of other goodies that would probably interest you.
I'll pm you our number and if you ever have a spare moment, just give us a call. And that goes for everyone else up this way too. If you fancy a forage don't be shy, just give us a pm & we can get out and do some stuff. :D
Too Much Kit To Carry
02-06-2008, 10:59
Hi,
I'm very interested to come to this and finally meet some of you guys.
I'm away from tomorrow until late on Monday 9th - so worries if you plan to go before I get back though :D
Cheers,
Phil.
chickenofthewoods
02-06-2008, 12:03
Hi Phil, same invite applies - if you're ever about and at a loose end just pm me and we'll try to organise something. I never need much of an excuse to get out and do some foraging!
I'd love to come if foraging newbies are allowed :) (any time this week and w/end)
I am in Bromley so not a million miles away
Twoflower
02-06-2008, 12:14
I'd be interested.
Too Much Kit To Carry
02-06-2008, 12:16
Hi Phil, same invite applies - if you're ever about and at a loose end just pm me and we'll try to organise something. I never need much of an excuse to get out and do some foraging!
Lovely offer and I will certainly take you up on that.
Could perhaps organise a meet at the 43 acre site I have access to near Charing, Ashford sometime in the near future.
Phil.
chickenofthewoods
02-06-2008, 13:06
Hi Bert You'd be very welcome. In fact, at some point it might be good to have a mooch about up your way too. I used to haunt High Elms Golf Course in my youth, lots of lovely beech woodland & a different set of habitats altogether!
I guess if this weekend is to be a go-er then I need to pin down a day and time. How's about we look at this Sunday (8th) for starters, maybe 10.30/11 am-ish, and plan to have a leisurely stroll looking, id'ing and picking what we can find, with a pit stop for a little light cookery once we have a reasonable haul? It'll be informal and flexible though.
I'll need to have an idea of how many there will be too, so please post definite interest on this thread by creating a list of names (including anyone you may want to bring along please).
I'll bring a small gas stove & some pans etc. and I can, if anyone really wants to be bored witless, bring along some of the books from my personal collection to browse at the end as well.
So. Bring yourselves, some decent boots (there may be mud!), your favourite guides and something to carry your forage in (I use baskets and cloth bags, plastic can get sweaty and nasty). If you plan to bring edged tools, keep them small & please be discreet as we'll be sharing a broad footpath area where we're likely to encounter other members of the public.
And finally. Please everyone remember you'll all be reponsible for the safety of yourselves and anyone you might bring along with you. Participation will be at your own risk.
Hope that's all ok! :)
P.S. In the time it's taken me to write that little lot, I see more interest! As I said, anyone welcome, if not at this weekend then we can always do another - and Phil, 43 acres is an awful big playground. That would be a very definite yes, no way can I resist an offer like that!
Twoflower
02-06-2008, 13:27
Unfortunately this weekend is out for me I'm afraid :( Count me in next time though.
High Elms is a 5-10 minute walk for me although I stay clear of the country park due to the numbers of people that use it as a dog toilet now :(
chickenofthewoods
02-06-2008, 16:53
High Elms is a 5-10 minute walk for me although I stay clear of the country park due to the numbers of people that use it as a dog toilet now
Understandable! It has been a good few years since I was last there. Do you know of any other places locally that we could have a wander about? I seem to recall some very promising footpaths across the fields & woods by the back of Biggin Hill (near Downe Village?). It doesn't have to be anywhere fancy, you'd be surprised at what can be found once you have your eye in & you're a little off the beaten track.
Don't worry about this weekend, there'll be another one soon I guarantee it! (Basically folks, I'm an obsessed forager as some of you may already know).
I'm usually prepared to have a mooch about anywhere at pretty much any time. All that's needed is a heads up via pm.
Mad Mike
02-06-2008, 18:29
This is OK for me - How about a meeting point. Parking would be good for those coming some miles
Mike
chickenofthewoods
02-06-2008, 19:03
Copied this across from a reply to a pm as it should answer some of your questions chaps - any others that occur to you please ask away.
First up, the distance. Don't worry about asking! I have a dodgy knee from an injury last year so I understand.
It'll be really minimal. The idea is to throughly explore a relatively small area at a gentle pace and spend as much time as poss looking/discovering. Apart from one stile, the terrain is pretty easy, although if you go down into the area below the sea wall to the river it can be a little bit lumpy & bumpy as you might expect from a periodic marshland. Also getting back up the sea wall can be difficult in places where it's steep. Apart from that the rest is a doddle. Do a multimap search for ME3 9EL and pull it up as a satellite image/map overlay. The area I'm proposing to walk from is at the bottom of Vicarage Lane (right hand branch) along the sea wall & right next to the Medway.
I will bring a couple of litres with me for washing/cooking things& it'd probably be a good idea if everyone did that too. I'll also bring along a little butter & oil, seasonings, couscous, stock powder - stuff like that. The kinds of things you might have with you if you were planning some backpacking cookery, nothing complicated. Obviously if anyone else whats to do something like that too, that'd be great. Then the brave among us can have a little fun experimenting. :D
Parking can be in the village and walk down, or at the bottom of Vicarage Lane there is a small area where people park. However, it is small and at a weekend may have a few cars there already (it's next to a boatyard). If anyone can or wants to share cars so much the better. We could even park in Hoo village and drive down in one or more vehicles, or walk from the village it's no distance. Once we have a clearer idea of who's coming from where, I can tie down the details a bit more.
Is this also a 'fishing rod' moment I wonder? :)
Just a wee bump
chickenofthewoods
03-06-2008, 15:25
Bring your rod by all means, but if the tide's out, I think you may have a fair walk to reach the water! :lmao:
But seriously. In this part of the Medway I'm not sure I'd fancy either the shellfish or fish from the river in spite of finding evidence that someone is making use of it. Although the seawall is not obviously attached to outfalls there may be some in the area that I'm unaware of.
Probably easier to just buy a fish.
Tomorrow I'll nip down there and search out a good parking place & then post some final details for those who are interested.
Mad Mike
06-06-2008, 20:44
forums back!
I am working on 10:30 for 11:00 vicarage lane, Hoo
Look for the Landrover
will check for changes before I go
chickenofthewoods
06-06-2008, 20:59
Blimey! That was a close run thing. :eek:
OK. To re-cap on some stuff about sunday for those still interested.
First up, this is an informal stroll, I'm not proposing anything other than a nice walk with a bit of learning thrown in and we'll be down there either way so there's no pressure on anyone. I won't be 'leading' because I'm not a leader - but I quite happy to bore the ass off folks by talking ad-nauseum about my pet subject. I may even let you look at some of my books, but only if you're good.
Should you decide to join us all I ask is that you remember that you're soley responsible for yourselves and all members of your party. If you choose to bring goodies* along great, if not, no matter, 'tis up to you.
Pointy things are your own resposibility too. If you do bring something like that please keep it small & be discreet - I'd rather not aquire a reputation with our local Bill for being a threat to society especially with the new legislation that's being proposed.
Multimap this postcode: ME3 9EL and pull it up as a satellite image/map overlay. This postcode puts you over the village of Hoo St Werburgh. Scroll down a bit & you'll see the river. As I said before, the area I'm proposing to walk from is at the bottom of Vicarage Lane (right hand branch) along the sea wall & right next to the Medway.
The quickest entrance to Hoo St Werburgh village is via A228 (A2 connection is Wainscot bypass). Follow A228 signposts for Hoo, up Four Elms Hill/Ratcliff Highway. Cross 1st rundabout, go straight on past Deancourt Ridge Golf Course and turn right at second roundabout into Bell's Lane. Follow this straight on all the way down to the village & a crossroads junction. Turn left into Stoke Road, and immediately on your right you'll see a car park signposted behind the small parade of shops.
There is ample room here to park safely & I will wait here from 10 am for half an hour. At 10.30 I'll squeeze as many as possible into our car and drive down to the final location. Otherwise, walking to the river is another option but obviously that adds time and distance & may mean stuff to carry. The reason for not going further down to the boatyard in convoy is that I simply can't guarantee parking at the end of the lane and I don't want to be responsible for other people's vehicles. Of course, ultimately the choice is yours. The day will be as long as you want it to be, stay as long as you like, and leave when you feel you want to.
When it comes to eating anything that you or I may have picked, no-one will be expected to try stuff unless thay want to, but if they do then the decision and responsibility for the consequences will be entirely theirs. I want people to feel confident and comfortable about the day so if at any time you're not happy about something then please say so.
*I will be bringing a couple of litres with me for washing/cooking things. If you plan to cook it'd be an idea to do the same. I'll also bring along a little butter & oil, seasonings, couscous, stock powder - stuff like that. The kinds of things you might have with you if you were planning some backpacking cookery, nothing complicated. Obviously if anyone else whats to do something like that too, that'd be great. I will also be cooking some of my finds. No-one will be either expected or obliged to join me by sampling anything that I prepare, but if you choose to do so, as I've said above please remember that it'll be at your own risk.
Sorry if this sounds like a lot of rule type stuff, but like I say, you want to be safe and I want you to be safe, so it's necessary.
Hoping to see some of you on sunday. :)
look forward to meeting everyone sunday :)
That was a close one what with the site being down all week.... :rolleyes:
-Switch-
06-06-2008, 22:18
Have a good time guys - I'm working all weekend
Maybe next time eh? :(
chickenofthewoods
07-06-2008, 04:20
Never mind switch, there'll definitely be a next time.
Even in high summer there's always something to look out for. I'm invariably out spotting likely places ready for the autumn harvests anyway, so at the risk of repeating myself if any of you ever want to get out on a wander that has a purpose, just let me know.
featherstick
07-06-2008, 05:20
Hi
We are planning to come. We bringing the 8month old - it's never too early. Hope to see you all
Oscar
chickenofthewoods
07-06-2008, 05:49
Brilliant, see you there then. All the details are posted below, yell if there's anything I've missed.
Sorry to have missed this, I got ensnared in family stuff!
chickenofthewoods
08-06-2008, 17:44
Don't worry Simon, there'll be plenty of other chances. :)
All I can do is thank Mad Mike and Featherstick for joining us on what turned out to be really pleasureable day. I haven't had so much fun in ages & it's nice to be with folks who are so interested in wild food which made the prepping & cooking of it all the more enjoyable for me.
(And it was nice to have finally opened our daughter's eyes to the joys of trout and salmon!)
Looking forward to the next foray.
So come on, what did you eat..?
Wish I could of popped along..
chickenofthewoods
08-06-2008, 19:41
We had trout stuffed with fennel, mint and marjoram cooked in paper, marsh samphire in butter sauce, butter poached salmon cooked with a mix of fat hen & halbard leaved orache and served with little jersey royals, mixed fungi noodles* with chicken, and finally a seabeet and mushroom pie served with and wild leaf salad (Chickweed, wall rocket, halbard leaved orache, willowherb, hoary cress, sea beet, sea purslane, samphire, sow thistle (prickly and smooth), sorrel, wood sorrel, dandelion, garlic mustard, chive flowers and marigold petals).
That's without my experimental 'copper beech' beech leaf noyau and a lovely elderflower cordial (kindly supplied by featherstick), dried wilding apple pieces and hazel nuts and the two kinds of pickled samphire (marsh and rock).
Loved every minute of it and didn't have any time to take a single picture!
*Dried foraged fungi mix of: Winter chanterelle, Morel, Oyster Mushrooms, Jersey Cow bolete, Birch bolete and a little Shaggy Parasol.
We had trout stuffed with fennel, mint and marjoram cooked in paper, marsh samphire in butter sauce, butter poached salmon cooked with a mix of fat hen & halbard leaved orache and served with little jersey royals, mixed fungi noodles* with chicken, and finally a seabeet and mushroom pie served with and wild leaf salad (Chickweed, wall rocket, halbard leaved orache, willowherb, hoary cress, sea beet, sea purslane, samphire, sow thistle (prickly and smooth), sorrel, wood sorrel, dandelion, garlic mustard, chive flowers and marigold petals).
That's without my experimental 'copper beech' beech leaf noyau and a lovely elderflower cordial (kindly supplied by featherstick), dried wilding apple pieces and hazel nuts and the two kinds of pickled samphire (marsh and rock).
Loved every minute of it and didn't have any time to take a single picture!
*Dried foraged fungi mix of: Winter chanterelle, Morel, Oyster Mushrooms, Jersey Cow bolete, Birch bolete and a little Shaggy Parasol.
Crikey mate, you all did well... Nice one..
Janie says hello, btw..
chickenofthewoods
08-06-2008, 19:58
Sounds good no? :D
Next time we get together I'll cook you both a foraged feast. I should be coming down to Cornwall sometime in July to see friends, maybe we can hook up and go wandering.
Sounds good no? :D
Next time we get together I'll cook you both a foraged feast. I should be coming down to Cornwall sometime in July to see friends, maybe we can hook up and go wandering.
Sounds great...pm sent..
I got to the car park by the water's edge at 09:50 and waited right by the path that leads you onto the entrance to the forest and the beach until 11am but.....no one showed :(
No message or call on mobile either- disappointing - so I went round on my own-
Here are a few pics
This sounds like it was a cracking day.
Wish I could have made it:(
Next time ;)
Andy
chickenofthewoods
08-06-2008, 23:28
Aww Bert, I said right hand branch of Vicarge Lane, and rather stupidly I was looking at the map from the river end so yes, it was actually the left hand one you needed as you come down the lane. Mike & I met up at the car park in the village just after 10 and caught up with Featherstick down by the river around 10.30. I would have called when you didn't show but I don't own a mobile I'm afraid!
Doh..... It's entirely my fault. How red is my face. :o
I'm really sorry about that. You were in fact probably less than a mile from where we were, but on the wrong side of the caravan park. Next time I do anything similar I'll mark the map prominently to show exact location I'm talking about so that there is no confusion. I'm so sorry if you felt you had a wasted journey.
Don't worry - it was a sunny day.
Mobiles have their uses - as do gps :)
and I did find 2 cramps balls so, it wasn't a total write off.:D
chickenofthewoods
08-06-2008, 23:42
As you've probably gathered, I'm not exactly a tecchie kind of person. I did have a mobile once for a full two years and only used it about as many times. In the end it got so bad I even forgot the number so I ditched it.
I don't even wear a watch.
Nice pics, do you know what the litle furry beastie was?
featherstick
09-06-2008, 14:00
We had trout stuffed with fennel, mint and marjoram cooked in paper, marsh samphire in butter sauce, butter poached salmon cooked with a mix of fat hen & halbard leaved orache and served with little jersey royals, mixed fungi noodles* with chicken, and finally a seabeet and mushroom pie served with and wild leaf salad (Chickweed, wall rocket, halbard leaved orache, willowherb, hoary cress, sea beet, sea purslane, samphire, sow thistle (prickly and smooth), sorrel, wood sorrel, dandelion, garlic mustard, chive flowers and marigold petals).
That's without my experimental 'copper beech' beech leaf noyau and a lovely elderflower cordial (kindly supplied by featherstick), dried wilding apple pieces and hazel nuts and the two kinds of pickled samphire (marsh and rock).
Loved every minute of it and didn't have any time to take a single picture!
*Dried foraged fungi mix of: Winter chanterelle, Morel, Oyster Mushrooms, Jersey Cow bolete, Birch bolete and a little Shaggy Parasol.
...it was a lovely, lovely day. I've rarely eaten so much interesting, generously prepared and shared food on one occasion before. The marsh samphire was a wonderful experience - thank you COTW!
It was great fun talking plants and discovering new foods, and looking at such a small area in such detail. I had a lovely time, and Lena was quite sick that she couldn't come.
Nice food and nice company. A really great day. Many many thanks.
Oscar
never mind- some other day! :)
I could have done without lugging all the pots and pans and 8 litres of water!
Now to get through all that home made bannock mix - enough to keep me fed for a week!
The furry thing was a field mouse- and , no, I didn't eat it!:lmao:
:ban:
chickenofthewoods
09-06-2008, 17:20
The furry thing was a field mouse- and , no, I didn't eat it!
Bannock & field mouse sarnies?
I bet you thought about it though huh? (Go on.... Just for a fleeting second I bet you did ;) )
chickenofthewoods
09-06-2008, 22:23
I really ought to have posted these before the weekend as a taster, but I didn't want anyone cheating with their plant id's ;)
Here are some (though not all), of the plants that we might have and mostly did find on Sunday's walk
Arty farty close up of my namesake, Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). Not really a weekend shot as I picked this the other day after yomping about in the woods getting drenched. The slugs were having a field day and they love COTW, chewing fresh specimens to bits with relish so I 'rescued' it from them and will cook it up once I've decided which of my recipes I fancy most. Had planned to bring this along on Sunday, but got rushed and accidentally left it in the 'fridge. Doh!
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/COTWcloseupA.jpg
Alexanders Seed (Smyrnium olusatrum). Green and uncooked I find these taste perfumed and slightly like petrol/oil. I don't like it particularly. However there are claims that it can be used as a condiment and I might explore throwing some into soup or pickling* it to see what happens. Failing that, I'll use the seed to grow some. We didn't notice any on Sunday but it's well past it's best and is mostly dying back now so I'm not that surprised. *(Fergus Drennan assures me that it makes a good pickle so on his recommendation I'll give it a go).
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/AlexandersSeedA.jpg
Scurveygrass (Cochlearia officinalis). I harvested this to id properly and haven't tasted it yet but it is reputedly bitter though packed with vitamins. The small leaves look succulent and fleshy and may cook well. Some experiments coming with this one.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/CommonScurvygrassSeedLeafA.jpg
Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus). This lovely group are sadly too old to harvest having already become too tough and rubbery to eat. We seem to have an abundance of them locally though so I'll keep my eyes peeled for a lush young specimen. This is from our local woods & not down by the river, if they'dve been fresher and younger I would have tried to bring some along.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/DryadssaddlegroupA.jpg
Halberd or Spear Leaved Orache (Atriplex hastata). This is a real find and I'll be going back for seed when they've ripened. Note the 'bloom' particularly on the underside of the leaves, making them different from Good King Henry which are glossier. Tastes good raw or lightly steamed and makes very a good spinach subsitute. Particularly nice in scrambled eggs & bacon, although we had it with the salmon as a side veg and it was delicious.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/HalbardLeavedOracheLeaves2A.jp g
Hogweed shoots (Heracleum sphondylium). I generally have a policy not to mess with Umbellifers because of the similarities between edible and highly poisonous plants. Mistakes literally can be fatal (you'll see why I say this later in this list). However. Hogweed should be fairly easy to recognise as long as you've done your homework thoroughly. As usual though, if in doubt - don't. I mean absolutely DO NOT. Mistakes aren't worth it.
Supposed to taste like young asparagus (hmmm... not sure about that). I found the leaves a bit hairy and chewy, but the stalks had a pleasantly crispy texture even after sauteeing in butter and the flavour grew on me. I can see this having opportunity for experiment. We didn't try this one on Sunday though, the bright sun and the potential for the sap to produce a nasty blistering photosensitive skin irritation was a little offputting. Besides, we already had a stack of dishes to try so it fell by the wayside.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/YoungHogweedShootsA.jpg
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Aniseed is a flavour you either like or you dont and it doesn't always sit well with other ingredients. Fortunately I do quite like it but tend to gather this for making tisanes mostly, although I'm wondering what it might do for a white spirit like Schnapps if I steeped some. Worth a try I think! I think we all pretty much agreed that it was good stuffed into the stomach cavity of a Trout and then baked in a paper parcel.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/YoungFennelFrondA.jpg
This is one of the reasons why I avoid all but the most obvious and safely edible of the Umbellifer family: Hemlock Water Dropwort (Oenanthe crocata). Superficially you could be pardoned for mistaking it for a wild flat leaved parsley, except that this will kill you. I'm planning on going back and taking some clearer pictures of its features for reference when the weather's better. Please, should you come across it do not ever mess with any part of this plant it is highly toxic from root to tip. Better yet, just don't mess with any of the Umbellifer family.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/hemlockwaterdropwort2A.jpg
Marsh Samphire (Salicornia europaea). I love marsh samphire. Caught at the right time of year it's succulent raw or cooked. Get it too late and it can be a little woody although it's still nice. Because of it's esturine/saltmarsh habitat do take care to wash & prep it thoroughly before consuming. I like it lightly steamed with a little butter, seasoning and lemon juice. Apparently so do Featherstick and Mad Mike. :)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/Samphire2A.jpg
I'd originally identified this one as Shore Orache ( Atriplex littoralis), but I think that the leaf shape isn't quite thin enough and that it's more likely to be Common Orache (Atriplex patula). I found this less pleasant than the Halbard leaved version, slightly soapy raw (not a good sign) and a little bitter when cooked. It would be a useful addition to a stew, soup or pottage though, bulking out sparse ingredients.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/ShoreOracheLeavesA.jpg
Sea Purslane (Halimione portulacoides). This year has been exellent for my local plants. The leaves are bigger and fatter than I've seen for a long time. I find these delicious raw or lightly steamed (served in the same manner as samphire). An excellent vegetable to accompany fish - especially salmon. Because of their favoured habitat, as with samphire I'd advise careful & thorough washing before preparing them. This was one ingredient of our wild leaf salad - it's very good raw or cooked.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/SeaPurslaneleafA.jpg
Wall Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia). Another real find and an ingredient of the wild leaf salad. This is a perennial version of the garden rocket we often pay so much for in supermarkets. Extremely pungent but I find it delicious, particularly in salads or a sandwich made with good strong cheddar & wholegrain bread. I'll be after some seed from this come autumn.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/WallRocketLeavesA.jpg
:D Did anyone spot the insect on it?
Seabeet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima). My favourite staple green leaf. I've found that seabeet leaves have the wonderful ability to cook well & taste good regardless of whether the plant is in flower or seed - which is just as well as they frequently 'bolt'. Far superior to spinach in my humble opinion, with a gentler texture and flavour. I pick small leaves for salads and larger ones to cook with. I also steam the fresh young flowerheads and eat like broccoli. It's great stuff. A highly recommended and easy to id wild foodsource. This was one of the ingredients in the seabeet & mushroom pie.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/SeabeetLeavesA.jpg
P.S. Feathersick - the pleasure was entirely mine, Squirt and I had a lovely day.
Edited 1 time for appaling spelling. Gah! :o
Excellent write up there Mrs Chook.. :You_Rock_
Looks like a caddis fly on your rocket..
Well I definitely missed the fun then. The menu sounded great.
Good write up too.
Oh bugger. Only just joined this forum. Would have loved to have joined in.
My foraging skills are non-existent, so it would have been a great opportunity to have learnt a thing or two.
Tell you what though, I do a fair bit of home-brewing and I've got some cider nearly ready. Let me know when you do another foraging trip and if you show me a few hints and tips, I'll bring along some home brew to share with the grub! How's that?
-Switch-
10-06-2008, 21:07
Marsh Samphire (Salicornia europaea). I love marsh samphire. Caught at the right time of year it's succulent raw or cooked. Get it too late and it can be a little woody although it's still nice. Because of it's esturine/saltmarsh habitat do take care to wash & prep it thoroughly before consuming. I like it lightly steamed with a little butter, seasoning and lemon juice. Apparently so do Featherstick and Mad Mike. :)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/Samphire2A.jpg
No, no, no...
Boiled is best, very quickly in as little water as possible. With no fancy lemon juice or butter added ;)
I didn't know we had MS growing around here. I'll have to make a trip up there specially to get some.
Unless someone knows where it grows a little closer to Maidstone?
chickenofthewoods
11-06-2008, 09:50
Some of Mad Mikes photographs from sunday:
Halberd leaved orache growing among the common orache (The plant with the little white flowers behind it is hoary cress)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/Halberd_leaf_oracheA.jpg
Hemlock (Conium maculatum). Grows to a height of approx 1 to 1.5 mtr, smooth purple blotched stem. Has a distince foetid aroma, described as like that of mouse urine. All parts are poisonous.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/HemlockA.jpg
Butter poached salmon, halberd leaved orache and fat hen and new potatoes.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/SalmonA.jpg
Wild leaf salad - A mix of chickweed, wall rocket, halbard leaved orache, willowherb, hoary cress, sea beet, sea purslane, samphire, sow thistle (prickly and smooth), sorrel, wood sorrel, dandelion, garlic mustard, chive flowers and marigold petals
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/wildleafsaladA.jpg
Marsh samphire growing. I wouldn't really recommend picking from an area like this one due to the amount of debris as you can see - however there are other cleaner & equally acessible spots close by that can be found with a little careful searching.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/samphiregrowingA.jpg
Cooked samphire. Sorry Switch, I like my way best! You'll have to ask Featherstick and Mad Mike if they agree.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/chickenofthewoods/samphireA.jpg
Happy to get out again at any time. There's usually something to be spotted and plenty still to learn about. If anyone has a venue they'd like to explore why not post it up?