Green walnut jam isn’t a jam in the typical sense most people will recognize, rather. A preserve of whole, unripe walnuts in syrup, it’s one of the most interesting things I’ve made with the unripe black walnuts to date. Unlike other recipes that use green walnuts, like nocino, ketchup, or vin de noix, walnut jam…
Sweets
Hickory Nut Milk / Kanuchi
Hickory nut milk (hick milk for short) is the best nut milk I’ve ever tasted, and, unfortunately for non-foragers, I doubt it will ever be on a store shelf. It’s hard to put into words how fascinating it is, and, to be honest, to me, the name nut milk undersells the product, as well as…
Spicebush Gingerbread
I asked people on Instagram what they’re favorite things to do with spicebush (Lindera bezoin) was, and I got a big range of answers. One thing that popped up more than others though, was gingerbread, and, I have to say it’s pretty fun. I do think though, that the flavor of spicebush is much more…
Maple-Black Trumpet Jam
Black trumpet jam is a fantastic sweet and savory recipe using fresh or dried black trumpet mushrooms that can change the way you consider cooking with your haul. Earlier this summer, I finally had the pleasure of meeting Chad Hyatt, chef turned freelancer and author of the book The Mushroom Hunters Kitchen. At the event…
Maple-Acorn Torte
When I sat down to write the nut chapter on my book, I knew I had to do some fun things with acorns, and I really wanted to make a dessert to illustrate how acorn flour can be used as a substitute for chestnut flour. I don’t know how much precious acorn flour I used…
Rowanberry Liquor
There’s not a lot of examples of delicious things to make with rowanberries on this site. I’ve tried to make a lot of different things from rowanberries (Sorbus americana) and most of those things were failures. The berries are incredibly tannic and bitter, with a strong flavor most people will find offensive. Schnapps (along with…
Spicebush Cream Cheese Frosting
I’ve been having a lot of fun working with a big bag of wild spicebush berries (the seeds of Lindera bezoin) that my friend Val sent me. Spicebush frosting is the first real winner. Granted, I don’t consume lots of frosting, or bake that often, but I suspect that knowing fat and dairy can absorb…
Apples Poached in Wild Fruit Juice
Poached apples and pears are a classic cool weather dessert, and a nice break from heavy endings to a meal. Cooking the fruit in wild fruit juice instead of wine is what this is all about. I came up with this out of necessity. A couple years ago I was cooking for a photo shoot…
