More Info on the Expo

Here's what I got off the Devonian Garden website...

Wild Mushroom Exposition
The Alberta Mycological Society presents their annual “City of Champignons” Wild Mushroom Exposition! View specimens of wild mushrooms. Bring your own fungi for identification. Scientific displays, photos, field guides, cookbooks, tastings and much more. A guided walk through the Garden will show you local varieties that are edible, poisonous or medicinal. Free with admission; nominal charge for food samples.

Activities
Schedule to come

Date and Time
Sunday, August 14, 2011 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM


If you ever wanted to learn more about mushrooms, this would be a great place to start!

More on Mushrooms!

Now, I haven't made it out very often this year to go picking mushrooms, but I do hope to be able to make it down to the Devonian Gardens on August 14th!

Why?

Because it's their Wild Mushroom Expo that day! :D

The Strathcona Antique Mall is also having a boot sale (street sale/vendors) that day as well.

There's always lots to do in the summer months :)

The Garden is Up and Growing!

Spinach up, check.
Lettuce up, check.
Beans up, check.
Peas up, check.
Carrots up, check. (though some silly person ended up planting them all in a clump...i still dont know how that happened...)
Beets up, check.
Onions up, check.
Potatoes up, check.
Tomatoes planted and making fruit, check!

YAY! by the end of July I should be able to start getting a nice little haul out of my garden plot.

There was thunderstorms and big fat raindrops and a little bit of hail yesterday evening... my spinach has thus been pinned to the dirt and the lettuce looks a little beaten, but I see a full recovery in their future. The rest of the garden was none the worse for wear this morning.

Here's some pics of my upcoming bounty :)

Almost ready to eat!

The fat raindrops and a touch of hail flattened my spinach... but it'll recover.

Mmmmmmm... peas :)

Tops of the onions growing high to the sunshine! And some wicked tall (in need of larger hills...) potatoes in the background.

Fresh beans are one of my favorite summer treats!


My sister Kristy and our aunt attended the Summer Mushroom course last weekend. Ate puffballs and whatnot :) We'd all like to take the Fall course as well, but it wasn't on the list yet when we were registering and now it's all full up... next year maybe...

Nelson of Rose Ridge Land and Cattle is attending a Market at the Edmonton Garrison tomorrow. Londyn and I will make a stop there to sample some wares on our way out to see my parents for the long weekend. Mmmmmmm, farmer's market goodies...

- DJK

The mushrooms are here!

That's right folks! Brown tops (brown morels) haven't come to our little neck of the bush in quite some time. It takes a perfect combination of moisture (rain, melted snow) and heat (20+C) to make them come up.

Here's a pic from our first haul.

That's my nephew holding them, they look so much bigger in the hands of a 4 1/2yr old lol

In other news, there's finally a stall at the Strathcona Farmer's Market selling local organic flour. That means, I can try to make a 100mile bread!
It starts with a natural sour made from the flour and goes from there... :)
I didn't pick up any when I was there this weekend, and next sat is the mycology course, so i wont have any in my hands until June 4th.

Here's their blog if you wish to check them out... Gold Forest Grains

Thought on the Boreal Forest...

I found myself yesterday afternoon walking through one of our beautiful Boreal areas close to home.
It had just finished raining, everything smells wonderful, and seems to have turned everything really green in a matter of hours. The leaves are out and the wild saskatoons are in full bloom....
I can't wait to see if the morels have started popping up yet! I love morels. I love the time it takes to find them. And I love to eat them!
Our (my young son and our dog) little afternoon trek didn't lead us to any bounty today. We stop to examine bugs, leaves and animal tracks. And of course to pick up fallen spruce cones, that is Ty's favorite thing to collect. He always enjoys our little adventures, to fill his pockets with whatever he can find. It's a wonderful learning experience for him, as I couldn't have offered him these things in the city.
As for the beautiful morels...I'll have to check again tomorrow :)
Happy mushroom hunting!

A few recipies and tips to go with your mushrooms!

Once cleaned - presoak in salted water (preferably over night) this helps neutralize the acid to avoid "digestive" issues. It also helps to get any dirt out that you may have missed. Rinse well before cooking.

Fried Morels

Clean mushrooms, slice lengthwise in half
-heat oil in skillet
- dip mushroom in an egg wash and dredge through on of the following combinations:

- crushed saltine crackers, mix with flour, seasoning salt and salt and pepper
- corn flake crumbs
- equal parts crushed ritz crackers and parmesan cheese
- bread crumbs, salt and pepper and parmesan cheese

once dipped in egg and covered in a coating, place into the heated skillet. Cool until lightly golden and flip to cook other side. Place to drain on papertowels. Enjoy!

Morels and cream.....Mmmmmmm my favorite

Serve over pasta, chicken, steak, potatoes and fish

- morels
- 1 shallot, chopped fine
- 1 large clove of garlic, chopped fine
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavey cream
- salt and pepper
- chopped fresh dill

Put olive oil in heated pan over med. heat. Add garlic and shallots, stir and saute until softened but not brown. Add butter until melted then add morels. Stir and cook until mushrooms start to brown. Add chicken stock and cook 2-3 minutes. Add heavey cream and cook on low until reduced and thick.