Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Upcoming Walks and Library Presentations


 

Lots more walks and presentations at libraries or nature centers for those interested! To keep up to date, sign up for our email list at the3foragers@gmail.com


April 25, 6:30 pm at the Stratford Library, 2203 Main St, Stratford CT. This FREE presentation will be about the Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Spring: As the warmer temperatures and longer days of spring unfold, many tender, young edible shoots, plants, flowers, and even a few fungi awaken a forager’s senses and delight. Learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild foods of spring, from invasive bamboo shoots to the lemony tang of fresh wood sorrel, including some of the early edible fungi of the season. Join The 3 Foragers as they discuss the edible plants and fungi of spring, with their original photos and recipe ideas featured in an educational slideshow. Please register at https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/11974910

May 4, 10:00 am, walk in Columbia, CT. Let’s walk the property in search of edible spring ephemerals, flowers, green shoots, invasive edible plants, and maybe even some early spring mushrooms! Cost is $20 per adult, children welcome, please no dogs. The walk will last about 2 hours.

The two hour class begins with an educational handout, a quick overview of safe and responsible foraging practices, and suggestions for resources. We will follow the trail and point out how to identify any edible plants we encounter, with suggestions for preparation and possible preservation. Sustainable harvesting practices will be discussed. The trail distance will be less than a mile with a few roots and a medium climb among the trees, along with an area of open grassland, so please wear appropriate footwear and tick repellant; a walking stick may be helpful. Plan on taking notes and plenty of photos! We will not be collecting on this walk, but using this outdoor space as a hands-on classroom.

Please register by sending the names of participants to the3foragers@gmail.com or call 860-639-9385

Class size will be limited and the details of the location and parking will be provided a day before the walk so we can keep an eye on the weather.

Early spring Swamp Beacons fungi

 

May 18, 1:00 pm, walk at the Pratt Nature Center, 163 Papermill Rd, New Milford, CT. As the warmer temperatures and longer days of spring unfold, many tender, young edible shoots, plants, flowers, and even a few fungi awaken a forager’s senses and delight. Learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild foods of spring, from invasive bamboo shoots to the lemony tang of fresh wood sorrel, including some of the early edible fungi of the season. We will walk the property to find, identify, and taste some spring edible plants. Contact the Pratt Nature Center to register, space is limited, 860-355-3137. This is a free walk.

May 25, 1:00 pm, walk in Ellington, CT. Another spring walk to explore the shoots and edible flowers. We may examine plants that will produce edible parts in upcoming months as well, and can keep an eye out for early fungi. This will be a 2 hour walk with a handout for participants. Cost is $20 per adult, children welcome. Please register by sending the names of participants to the3foragers@gmail.com or call 860-639-9385

Class size will be limited and the details of the location and parking will be provided a day before the walk so we can keep an eye on the weather.


 

June 5, 6:00 pm, at the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, 1134 Main St, Coventry, CT.  This FREE presentation will be about the Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Summer: The summer months are a bounty of ripe berries, nectar-laden edible flowers, amazing edible plants along the seashore, and edible mushrooms that can carpet the forest floor after warm, rainy days. Learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild foods of summer, from beach plums to invasive wineberries, including some of the choice summer fungi like chanterelles and the myriad of pored Boletes. Join The 3 Foragers as they teach the edible plants and fungi of summer with their original photos and recipe ideas featured in an educational slideshow. No registration required, just stop in!

June 8, 10:00 am, at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Knobloch Family Farmhouse, 151 Scofieldtown Rd, Stamford, CT. Mushroom Identification for Beginners. There are some amazing edible fungi in Connecticut, including Oysters, Chanterelles, and the well-known Chicken of the Woods. Join The Three Foragers as they share some of the secrets of the fungal world and teach you how to safely identify wild mushrooms using various available tools and techniques. You’ll learn how to use your senses to examine mushrooms by sight, smell and taste, and consider the relationships between fungi and the natural world around us. We will dispel common myths and discuss mycophagy, the cooking and eating of wild mushrooms. Please register directly with the Museum at https://25364.blackbaudhosting.com/25364/Mushroon-ID-wThe-Three-Foragers There is a fee for this program: $5.00 for members and $8.00 for non-members.

June 8, 1:00 pm at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Knobloch Family Farmhouse, 151 Scofieldtown Rd, Stamford, CT. Edible Plants and Fungi of Spring/Early Summer Walk. Discover some of the edible native plants, berries, and fungi that grow in our area during spring. Learn about plant identification, how to harvest, and even some recipes to prepare your finds. After discussing proper identification, The Three Foragers will lead participants on a hike to find some of these items growing in the wild. Please register directly with the Museum at https://25364.blackbaudhosting.com/25364/Spring-Foraging-Walk-wThe-Three-Foragers There is a fee for this program: $15.00 members and $20.00 non-members.


 

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Ramps Recipe- Kanom Gui Chai Tod

 


It's that time of year when Facebook is flooded with photos of ramps, requests for recipes, foodie blogs and cooking websites are trying to out-blog each other about their rampi-ness, and conservationists are preaching about sustainable harvesting. We are lucky to know of many, many places in Connecticut to harvest ramps, and we generally just snip the greens, anyway. Lots of folks ask why their bulbs are so small, and are erroneously told it's the age of the plant. The bulb size is small in spring because all the bulb's energy has gone into making the leaves and flower stalk. We don't bother to dig bulbs unless we have a very specific recipe that needs them, and even then, we wait until just before the ground freezes to get the largest bulb after the greens and flower stalk have long died back and the plant is storing it's energy for the winter.

Here's my conservationist preaching: Don't pick more than 10% of any large patch of ramps you come across, snip only one leaf from each plant, don't take more than you will use unless you plan on freezing the greens, and respect the land and don't pick in public parks or private property without permission.

 


 We have quite a collection of recipes where we only utilize the greens, which hold all that garlicky, oniony funkiness in a green vegetable. This recipe was inspired by an appetizer at one of our favorite restaurants, Noodles, in Northampton, Massachusetts that they call "Rock Garden." It is run by a lovely Thai family and their noodle soups are just the thing for a chilly, rainy day.  

Kanom gui chai is a crispy, but also gummy and chewy savory bomb, usually made with flat Chinese chives. It gets its chew from two different flours: glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch. We use a rice flour from Thailand with red printing on the bag, Erawan brand.


Kanom Gui Chai Tod: makes one 8" x 6" pan, or 1.5 L pan

250 g. ramps greens, washed and sliced thinly

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. light soy sauce

1.5 tsp. sugar

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp. oil

230 ml water

100 g rice flour

100 g tapioca starch

oil for deep frying


1. Take the ramps greens and slice them thinly, add to a bowl. Then add the salt, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, baking soda, and oil. Massage the greens in this mixture and allow to rest about 20 minutes.

2. In a saucepan, add the water and whisk in the rice flour and tapioca starch. Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens to about the consistency of muffin batter. Remove from the heat.

3. Drain any excess moisture from the ramps greens and fold them into the cooked starch.

4. Lightly rub some oil into a glass or metal baking dish. Pour the starches and ramps mixture in and steam, covered, for 20 minutes. The mixture will set firm.

5. Once it has cooled, gently dump the steamed cake from the pan and cut it into squares or triangles.

6. Heat the frying oil and fry the cakes until browned. Drain the hot cakes on some papertowels and eat while still hot and crispy with a dipping sauce.

Dipping sauce

60 ml dark soy sauce

60 ml sweet soy sauce

60 g dark brown sugar

1 Tbsp rice vinegar

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until the sugar dissolves. You can also add a touch of chili paste or sesame seeds, or thin with additional water.


Monday, April 8, 2024

Upcoming Presentation and Walks

 

 

April 20, 11:00 am at the Milford Public Library, 57 New Haven Ave, Milford, CT. This FREE presentation will cover Your Edible Landscape:  Hunting for wild edible plants doesn’t have to mean hiking in exotic locations far from home; many delicious and nutritious wild foods grow in your own backyard. Disguised as attractive landscaped trees, planted for beautiful blooms, or removed as common nuisance weeds, your edible landscape holds many surprising food sources. Join The 3 Foragers as they teach the fruits, nuts, flowers, and greens found right outside your back door.

April 23, 6:30 pm at the Windsor Public Library, 323 Broad St, Windsor, CT. This FREE presentation will be about the Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Spring: As the warmer temperatures and longer days of spring unfold, many tender, young edible shoots, plants, flowers, and even a few fungi awaken a forager’s senses and delight. Learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild foods of spring, from invasive bamboo shoots to the lemony tang of fresh wood sorrel, including some of the early edible fungi of the season. Join The 3 Foragers as they discuss the edible plants and fungi of spring, with their original photos and recipe ideas featured in an educational slideshow. Please register at https://windsorpl.librarycalendar.com/index.php/event/foraging-wild-plants-fungi-ct-14222

April 25, 6:30 pm at the Stratford Library, 2203 Main St, Stratford CT. This FREE presentation will be about the Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Spring: As the warmer temperatures and longer days of spring unfold, many tender, young edible shoots, plants, flowers, and even a few fungi awaken a forager’s senses and delight. Learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild foods of spring, from invasive bamboo shoots to the lemony tang of fresh wood sorrel, including some of the early edible fungi of the season. Join The 3 Foragers as they discuss the edible plants and fungi of spring, with their original photos and recipe ideas featured in an educational slideshow. Please register at https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/11974910

 
May 4, 10:00 am, walk in Columbia, CT. Let’s walk the property in search of edible spring ephemerals, flowers, green shoots, invasive edible plants, and maybe even some early spring mushrooms! Cost is $20 per adult, children welcome, please no dogs. The walk will last about 2 hours.

The two hour class begins with an educational handout, a quick overview of safe and responsible foraging practices, and suggestions for resources. We will follow the trail and point out how to identify any edible plants we encounter, with suggestions for preparation and possible preservation. Sustainable harvesting practices will be discussed. The trail distance will be less than a mile with a few roots and a medium climb among the trees, along with an area of open grassland, so please wear appropriate footwear and tick repellant; a walking stick may be helpful. Plan on taking notes and plenty of photos! We will not be collecting on this walk, but using this outdoor space as a hands-on classroom.

Please register by sending the names of participants to the3foragers@gmail.com or call 860-639-9385

 Class size will be limited and the details of the location and parking will be provided a day before the walk so we can keep an eye on the weather.

Saturday, April 6, 2024

New Contact Email


 

We can be reached at the3foragers@gmail.com

Send an email to get added to the mailing list for upcoming walks, free presentations, and classes.

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Some Upcoming Presentations and Walks

 


Most of the time I keep our Facebook Events page updates with upcoming presentations, at https://www.facebook.com/the3foragers/events/

I have a listing up on the Connecticut Library Consortium page to view our slideshow topics at https://programs.ctlibrarians.org/library-programer/karen-monger

We are open for bookings into the 2024 season for slideshow presentations, walks, and private tastings for groups of 12 or more, please send an email to kracewski@comcast.net to ask about pricing. We work with libraries, garden clubs, nature centers, summer camps, land trusts, and private individuals for programs.

Ramps and Cornmeal Waffles served with Morel Marsala Sauce


Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 pm I will be presenting a FREE slideshow, Edible Wild Mushrooms of Connecticut, at the Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Rd., Fairfield CT. Please register with the library at https://fplct.librarymarket.com/event/edible-wild-mushrooms-connecticut-96018

Wednesday, April 3 at 6:00 pm I will be presenting a FREE slideshow, Foraging Fantastic, Delicious, Deadly, and Glowing Mushrooms, at the New Britain Public Library, 20 High St., New Britain CT. Please register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZ6tqL-ytxdCt1-POgQRHRnX54SKl8nepPb93MTWuBdaAnww/viewform




Saturday, April 20 at 11:00 am we will be presenting a FREE slideshow, Your Edible Landscape, at the Milford Public Library, 57 New Haven Ave, Milford CT, as part of the town-wide Earth Day celebration. There is no registration, just drop in!

Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 pm I will be presenting a FREE slideshow, Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Spring, at the Windsor Public Library, 323 Broad St, Windsor CT. Please register at https://windsorpl.librarycalendar.com/event/foraging-wild-plants-fungi-ct-14222

Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 pm I will be presenting a FREE slideshow, Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Spring, at the Stratford Public Library, 2203 Main St, Stratford CT. Please register at https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/11974910

Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 am we will be leading our first walk of the season in Columbia, CT. We will be looking for and identifying spring shoots, edible flowers, invasive edible plants, and maybe even some early season mushrooms. Register by sending an email to me at the3foragers@gmail.com

 

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Autumn Olive Recipe- Autumn Olive BBQ Sauce


 

Autumn olives (Eleagnus umbellata) are a very invasive bush in southern New England, and they are prolific berry producers. We like to use the berries in a few recipes, both sweet and savory. Here is a recipe that makes a mildly spicy BBQ sauce that would work well on either meats or roasted mushrooms. To make the autumn olive puree, we add them to a large pot with just enough water to keep them from scorching, and simmer them down until they have all burst. Then we run them through a food mill that will remove the seeds and any small stems. Use the puree quickly, otherwise it will separate into a red layer and a cloudy white layer--if that does happen you can give it a twirl in the blender to remix it temporarily.


Autumn Olive BBQ Sauce

7 g. (1 tsp.) neutral oil

75 g diced onions

15 g chopped jalapeno (use more for a spicier sauce)

15 g chopped garlic

360 g (2 C.) autumn olive puree

170 g (2/3 C.) apple cider vinegar

80 g (1/4 C.) blackstarp molasses

220 g (1 C.) brown sugar

20 g (1 Tbsp.) dijon mustard

16 g (2 tsp.) salt

14 g (2 tsp.) liquid aminos

1/4 tsp ground white pepper

14 g (2 tsp.) liquid smoke

 

1.  In a medium saucepan, saute the onion, jalapeno, and garlic in the oil until softened and translucent. Add to the carafe of a blender.

2. To the cooked peppers in onions in the carafe, add the autumn olive puree, apple cider vinegar, molasses,brown sugar, mustard, salt, aminos, and white pepper. Blend on high speed until smooth.

3. Add the sauce back to the saucepan and simmer until reduced to about 2 1/2 cups. Stir in the liquid smoke. The sauce will be a bit thin, but will thicken as it cools.

4. Store in a covered container in the fridge

 


Other autumn olive recipes:

Ketchup: https://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2012/10/autumn-olive-recipe-autumn-olive-ketchup.html

Goat cheese and autumn olive dip: https://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2012/10/autumn-olive-recipe-goat-cheese-and.html

Jelly: https://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2012/09/autumn-olive-recipe-autumn-olive-jelly.html


Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Classes, Presentations, and Walks Schedule

 


We are adding classes and walks all of the time, the best place to find them is on our Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/the3foragers/events/

Most of the presentations at libraries are FREE, some walks at nature centers have small fees. We are also available for private walks at YOUR location of choice. Contact us at kraczewski@comcast.net or 860.639.9385

 

Monday August 21, 6:30 pm. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Summer at the Welles Turner Library in Glastonbury, CT. This presentation is already full, but call to be added to a wait list.

Tuesday August 22, 6:00 pm. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Autumn at the Douglas Library in Hebron, CT. Registration appreciated, CONTACT:  Clare  860-228-9312

Wednesday August 23, 6:00 pm. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Autumn at the Raymond Library in Oakdale, CT. We return to this lovely location for another presentation! Registration appreciated.

Tuesday August 29, 6:00 pm. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of August at the Wallingford Public Library in Wallingford, CT. Register at https://wallingford.librarycalendar.com/event/edible-wild-plants-and-fungi-autumn

Saturday September 2, 10:00am. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Autumn presentation and walk at the Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury, CT. We will be in the Sugar House to start and explore the grounds afterwards for some wild edibles. Cost is $11.00 for members, $16.00 for non-members. Register at https://app.etapestry.com/cart/FlandersNatureCenter/default/category.php?ref=897.0.1076943255&fbclid=IwAR1syQjAJUZvAp4SgunyBx0aHIvErg-ZCzdbSI2CHha31ZgdZdHPO94Vd8k

Thursday September 7, 6:00 pm. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Autumn at the main branch of the Farmington Public Library in Farmington, CT. Space may be limited, register at https://www.farmingtonlibraries.org/event/edible-wild-plants-and-fungi-fall?fbclid=IwAR3S4_fa-M1UQwXLqy1C2V34eqDq5nmf8_-JpIjHRJXtwHTrffvaaa2krZw

Saturday September 9, 10:00AM. Mushroom Identification Walk at a to-be-disclosed location in Colchester, CT. Cost id $20.00 per adult and class size will be limited. Register with The 3 Foragers at kraczewski@comcast.net subject line "mushroom walk" or call 860.639.9385 to register. Payment is cash or Venmo day of walk.

Wednesday September 13, 6:30 pm. Edible Wild Mushrooms of Connecticut at the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library in Madison, CT. Please register at https://scranton.librarycalendar.com/event/edible-mushrooms-connecticut?fbclid=IwAR2y9lrRzvDV5k4yjE7AT53IFMEpT19ms-NR9pZJUidCOKD7RrkR9nKfy38

Thursday September 14, 6:00 pm. Mushroom Identification for Beginners at the Waterford Public Library in Waterford, CT. Registration appreciated by calling 860-444-5805

Tuesday September 19, 6:30 pm. Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Autumn at the Burlington Public Library in Burlington, CT. Register athttp://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=8887&EventID=501524&PK&fbclid=IwAR3oc2kWEe7oyqsoNVY7H1cAr-NyrP5ZBdYkKANGI6G-gL0EE2p4NEVVGsA

Thursday September 21, 6:00 pm. Online Zoom: Edible Wild Plants and Fungi of Autumn presented by the Public Library of New London, CT. Register with the library to receive the Zoom link https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=PLNL&curID=627673&CFID=86938038&CFTOKEN=3f467b440413b006-24F4AAA6-D4AE-528A-5350F306742844E7&fbclid=IwAR1AsyVTjXaOiqXG4lVNcbqAAnnzbvkyIcg8FzPK_09aMxaJi2b_5U_g0G8

Wednesday September 27, 6:30 pm. Online Zoom: Invasive Plants as Food presented with the Bloomfield Public Library. Register directly with the library to receive the link https://bplct.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=11724&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2023%2F09%2F01&fbclid=IwAR15rj_l0D5O0bt2p1mTvkmkzJtkcU5v03E1amfz0SVXnrR7goEaF9IGNfQ