Those Delicious Morels!
 
 

---

 

Morel Picking Update
for the Montmorency County area

April 22nd, 2009
We've had chilly temps with some steady gentle rains these passed couple of days and are now expecting some warming temps and sunshine from Thursday (4/23) through Saturday (4/24) under daytime highs in the 70's. Nighttime temps should be up and around the 50's until Sunday the 25th when a cool front moves back in bringing along some thunderstorms and lighten up a bit through to the end of April. This should make a dandy recipe for the first of the morels to be poppin' and right on schedule.
   The few 'shrooms that have been found this week all have been reported to be tiny, hard and pencil-eraser sized. Just a little too chilly.

May 1st 2009
Cool nighttime temperatures have slowed the popping, however they are getting  bit larger in size and a bit more easier to find.  Still not at optimum sizes due to the cool temps.  A few reports have had nice numbers found but they're still not out in force yet.  We had a good warm soaking rain Thursday (4/30/09) but it's remaining cool and cloudy today. The weekend is to have some badly needed sunshine that should inspire more poppin' and growth. Trilliums are just beginning to show growth.
Beefsteaks are out in good numbers but are slow to get some size to 'em.

May 4th 2009
Reports of some good numbers found over the weekend are surfacing along with some fair sized 'shrooms being found.  One local reported a couple of White Morels had been found during their hunt for the Blacks.  The woods got hit hard over the past weekend with 'shroomers.  Nighttime temps had been rather chilly over the weekend, but steady sunshine continues to warm the soil. Nighttime temperatures are expected to remain the in 40's for the next handful of days with chances of rain Wednesday and Thursday. This will hopefully encourage the next phase of morels to be a'poppin.

May 9th 2009
We're currently experiencing a great crop of black morels. Best picking in several years! Not long and the blacks will deminish and the white morels will be in season.

May 14th 2009
It looks like the black morels have hit their peak and now make "hunting" the appropriate term in finding them.  Some of those being found are good size and easy to see. We just went through a bit of a dry spell that was broken last night, giving us some badly needed rains and quite mild temps overnight in the mid 50's. This might give a last boost to the late blooming blacks. There are reports of grey's and white's now being found. No great numbers have hit the talk of the town yet, so we may be at the doorstep for the grey and white morel season.

May 21st 2009
After some time with no rain, some 'shrooms are drying up on the stem though they're fairing through.  Blacks are still being found but it's a search. White's are being reported being found in some nice mess's here and there but we need some rain to get 'em going good. Next good chance of a soaker is Tuesday June 2nd if the forecasters are correct.  Currently we're under a "Red Flag Warning" because of such dry conditions.

Last entry for the year for this Morel update unless I come across some note-worthy news of some good finds. It was a great season for blacks, even for poor-eyed hunters like myself.  Happy 'shrooming and happy munching!

 
The nuisance bugs (black flies and mosquito's) had been held at bay from the cool temps so early picking was the ultimate joy........ but 'tis the season at the close of May and the little buggars are showing up with the warmer temps. 
    Long sleeve shirts, long pants and full brim hats will help keep the biting nuisance down.  Dress accordingly so the memories of 'shroom picking are looked back with smiles and not dread.
 

MAKE SURE you know what you are picking!  Then, enjoy!!!
Hollow stem and solid caps!!

   click on image for larger view

Keep and eye out for remaining elk sheds during your Morel Mushroom search. Animals such as the porcupine and squirrels nibble on bones and antlers as a source of calcium. So they don't stay around for long out in the woods unless they're somehow overlooked. (which isn't that uncommon)
 We aren't the only ones searching for those antlers. 

THE 1785 INN VENISON PATE with MOREL MUSHROOMS - there is cognac and sherry listed as partial ingredients in this recipe, so you non sherry or cognac drinkers,,, just find some friends who are,, invite em over for the dinner and send them home with the bottles as well as a happy tastebuds. The 1785 Inn, located in New Hampshire definately is not a place known for its hamburgers. This site has a house specialty recipe listed every month, check out the goodies like Aprils' Coffee Butter Crunch Pie

More Recipes found HERE in the Lycos Search engine results
 

the Great Morel    Links and info on our cherished treat

Northern Country Morels - good info on morels, habitat and working forum

Drying Morels for Storage -    Using a large brown paper bag, rip or cut the bag to lay out flat on a table.   Place fresh morels about on the brown paper bag surface being careful not to pile the mushrooms atop one another. Spread out evenly to begin the drying process.    Stir morels, flipping some over before bedtime  /    Repeat stirring/flipping processs of fresh morels about 3 times a day for  3 to 5 days (when shrinkage is apparrent to the bulk of the mushrooms)  //   Then stir/flip mushrooms twice a day for another 2-3 days or until significant shrinkage and drying has occurred.  //  When shrooms feel hardened and dry & have a hollow "tune" when handling them, place the lot into a large brown paper bag and leave open for several more days, periodically shaking the bag as to assure complete and even drying.   // When the mushrooms are thoroughly dry,  fold up the brown paper bag and store in the pantry  or somewhere that doesn't recieve direct sunlight and/or moisture.  Under kitchen sink is not the place for storage.
   Be sure to use a Brown Paper Bag!. Can keep dried shrooms for up to 2 years or so and still taste great.   Brown bags are recomended over white or other colored paper bags that use bleach and/or dye's that could impact not only the flavor but leech into the mushroom.  Nobody wants to add nasty stuff to their diet.
     Same goes for plastic containers.  Never store any mushroom or herb in a plastic container unless as frozen.  I'd recommend to store them in a glass container instead of plastic, just make sure the container is protected from light and sealed properly.
     The dried morels can be re-hydrated by simply plopping them into a container of cold water.  Let 'em sit and soak up the water, periodically stirring them for about 15 minutes.  (feel the morels by gently squeezing them to assure they have softened up) 
   Drain the water good and then cut each in half or quartered. Place cut pieces into container of water, stir up with finger and drain.  Repeat if it makes you feel more comfortable.   After draining, dump onto a paper towel or clean dish cloth for a moment to capture any excess moisture from the rinsing.    They'll now be ready to enhance your cooking recipie's or simply saute' in butter or margarine, salt and serve! (do not saute' with high heat!)  Of course you can moderate the saute' process to suit your own dietary needs or desires to tickle the tastebunds with their "meaty" sort of flavor.

Nothin' like some tasty morels to enhance your venison, beef or poultry dinner all year long!     Dried morels keep easily for up to a couple years or so and still retain that wonderful flavor that makes 'em so desired. 

Note:    As with many foods we eat, morels contain a small amount of natural strictnine.  It is not advised to devulge in huge quantities as this will just stockpile the strictnine in your body and thus get you to the point of feeling naucious or getting sick when eating the morel.  This usually takes years to get to that point though.     Don't cheat your tastebuds for the long term and eat 'em in moderation    If you've never eaten the morel, it is advised to try a light or modest portion the first time.  Your body will tell you if they don't agree with you. If you think you might be allergic to them, simply wet the inside of your forearm and briefly rub the morel on your skin.  If a rash develops, you are likely to be allergic to them and you'll know then what NOT to do. Always see your physician if you suspect an allergic reaction.
 

Morel Mushroom Growing Kit - 
     CREATE A MOREL MUSHROOM GARDEN IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD 

 Grow Morel Mushrooms
 

Happy Morel Huntin',, 
'n Happy Eatin' !!

  Use this search engine 
to expand your knowledge

---

It's pickin' season for
BLUEBERRIES!
(update 8/1/09)
~ ~ ~ Crazy weather this year has slowed blueberries to ripen later than what we've been used to.  Here it is August 1st and we are just now in what may be the peak of picking  and it certainly isn't a bumper crop this year in these parts.

This years crop in Montmorency County is not so bountiful for most locations. Picking is still rewarding, just a little tougher work to get 'em.  Spring blossoms were plentiful but  the last frost zapped the blossoms of nearly all the fruit bearing plants and trees that were in bloom at the time. What blossoms did fair through then were secumbed to a spell of cool dry weather through to mid July. Rains have fallen  frequently since but the daytime high temperatures have remained in the mid 70's for the most part. So what berries did fair through are mostly small but the plumpies are still to be found.

There are still quite a few green or partially ripened berries still come around and I'm guessing that these next couple of weeks they will be at their prime. Berries that haven't been picked or eaten yet might not get so plump, but should reward the tastebuds with their heavenly sweetness regardless of their size.  Small but mighty indeed.

 Berry bushes under the protection of shade faired best. In many areas the bushes out in the open bore little or no fruit.  Tip for this years conditions would be to do alot of leave flippin' to find the berries that made it through. There aren't many berries displayed atop the bushes. Most are yielding small pea sized berries but the plumpies are still found. Just not alot of them in clusters like we'd really like to see. Though we don't have the berries in numbers, there still is fair picking to be had currently and if we can get that thermometer to rise a bit more we should be rewarded for our patience and persistence.

Because of a lighter crop of berries this year, be aware that the critters of the woods will be foraging more widely to get that yum in their tummie. Keep a keen eye and ear open for that 'just in case' situation where you might happen upon a bear or two competing for the beloved fruits but don't let that spoil the moment. There still is a tasty reward awaiting you out in our great north woods!

Come on out into the real world 
and tickle your tastebuds with Natures Candy!
.

WHERE TO FIND THEM - WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

 

This region generally hosts a huge selection of BlueBerrie pickng grounds on Various State Land locations.  Generally you'll want to stay away from the hardwood forest lands because the soil just doesn't have the content of acid which they seem to thrive in.
Matured Jack Pines, Red Pines and Austrian Pines are the indicator species where underneath and around them you'll find the low bush blueberries covering the ground in a blanket of green. It's here where you will find some of natures tastiest candy!

HuckleBerries and BlueBerries grow together distinguished by their color and taste as well.
HUCKLEBERRIES are much darker in color,, almost black in appearance

BLUEBERRIES are a light 'sky blue' in appearance and the leaves of the bush are a tad lighter color of green than their cousin the huckleberrie.

CLEANING & STORAGE: 

Clean up your berries berries by dumping them in a large pot of cold water. Most the stems, leaves and even the green berries will float, making it easy to scoop out the nasties. Then pour into a large collander and allow to drain thoroughly. 

Another method for cleaning the berries is an old indian method submitted by a resident local "Runing Moon".  Simply lay out a wool blanket and pour the berries on it. Carefully lift one end and lightly shake it to roll the happy berries down into the collection pan. This will separate the twigs, leaves and sand as they stick to the wool of the blanket.

If you don't wish to can them or eat 'em right away, they do hold much of their flavor if frozen properly. Place cleaned berries into plastic butter containers. Just be sure to 'push' the excess air out by pressing in the center of the lid while closing it up tight. I don't advise washing them prior to freezer storage as this may result in "clumping" if they aren't thoroughly dry.The berries will not stick to one another, thus making it easy to scoop out the frozen berries at your desire all through the winter. Nothing like enjoying the sweet tastes of summer during Christmas breakfast in the middle of our cold winter months!  Yummmmmmm!!!

Storing the berries in zip lock baggies can be quite risky, as they seem to be vulnerable to freezer burn during long-term storage. This method should be okay for short term freezing but I do not advise for any long term storage. (depends on your freezer)

---

While out picking, respect the source of your tastebud delights 
as not to damage the bushes or the remaining green 
 unripened fruits as so they can continue to grace us with the tasty delights in abundance for years to come. 
 

---

Be it blueberrie muffins, pankcakes, over cereal or ice-cream or just by themselves!  They're just plain  Mmmm MMmmm Good!!! 
Sssshhhhh,,,, they're good FOR you too!

Check out some recipe's and 'food for thought' below. 

Recent happenings had me searching through the data base of this internet when low and behold, I discovered that these tasty little treats are much more better than just in the tastebuds. Blueberries are called what is an 'antitoxidant', a sort of oxygen delivery vehicle.Note: Cancer loves sugar, and hates oxygen!.  Fruits and vegetables are the good stuff we need to heal up, clean and wipe up the crud we seem to accumilate in our modern diets of chemicals, dyes and who knows what else they stick in our food & snacks. These findings aren't new by any means of the word except to that of my own personal data base in my noggin'.  Its been this way for all of the plants and herbs that grow here and around the world.   It is just up to us to learn to use them as they were intended by our Maker.  Enjoy  the Links I've got here for you.  From yummie recipe's to scientific information on the importance of these sort of fruits in our diet to combat and prevail over cancer, prevent and or inhibit symptoms passed off to aging such as motor-skill loss and memory.  We need as much help as we can get since these and so many other 'animals' out there such as depression, anxiety and stress that are constantly gnawing at our lives.  Eat smart, live good, and savour every smile that comes from that delightful feeling when you relish the  tastes of Natures Candy. BLUEBERRIES HELP YOU KICK BUTT ON CANCER AND OTHER AILMENTS Antioxidant Capacity and  Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables Blueberries, the Leader of the Pack by Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D.  USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts Fight the enemy with KNOWLEDGE!  Cancer Related  Links Alternative & Conventional Reference and support for victims and their loved ones Alternatives to  Pharmeceuticals (always check with your professional) Antioxidant Capacity, Vitamin C, Phenolics, and Anthocyanins after Fresh Storage of Small Fruits.   Wilhelmina Kalt, Charles F. Forney, Antonio Martin, and Ronald L. Prior.  The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 1999, 47,   4638-4644.

....

NorthernWudzman's  Banana-Blueberry Pancakes! start with the batter, either from scratch or quick-fix (mix it a little drier than normal. The blueberries & banana will add moisture to it) add (1) over-ripe banana (smoosh it up first to a paste-like mush) add 1-2 drops pure vanilla extract (optional) mix it up real good then, add a bunch of blueberries (either frozen or fresh) - - STIR up until blueberries area dispursed evennly within the batter. Pour onto griddle or fryin' pan into various shapes and sizes. NorthernWudzman's  Blueberrie/Peach Dump Cake (Mock Blue Banana) Use a rectangular cake pan - ungreased Dump a can of sliced peaches including da' juice  Dump about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of sugar in, and mix it allll up. / spread out evenly Dump about a pint or two of huckleberries 'n blueberries on top and spread out evenly Sprinkle a box of white or yellow cake-mix evenly over da' berries. Cube up a stick of butter an toss 'em over the cakemix somewhat evenly Dump a bunch of crushed walnuts atop the cakemix 'n butter,, spread evenly  Bake at 350F for about an hour and 15 minutes 'then remove and allow to cooool Great as a hot topping over vanilla ice cream!!! Grab up a bunch of friends and become gluttons for the evening.  You'll have fun trying to convince them there isn't a bit of banana in the ingredients. NorthernWudzman's Cool Blueberry Treat Graham Crackers, Blueberries and Milk Just dump in a bowl with a tad of sugar and a couple dashes of cinnamon. Holy Smokes! Is this goooood!!! Sarah's  PineApple-Cherry Dump Cake same as the description above except replace the peaches with pineapple, and the blueberries with cherry pie filling.  Rich in natural blue antioxidants, Wild Blueberries deliver as much antioxidant power as five servings of other fruits and vegetables. Just 1/2 cup a day has more of what your body may  need to help fight cancer, heart disease and memory loss from aging. And remember, Frozen Wild Blueberries are healthy, delicious and easy to use right out of the freezer. Quoted from  5 easy ways to serve blueberries --- Mildred Trueman's Blueberry Bang Belly Page (Recipe's from New Brunswick Blueberrie territory! Yummmmmm!)   wildblueberries.com     More Recipe's >>>>

If you don't have a cabin, or friends to shack up with the following 
motels and lodges can accomodate you here in Atlanta

• Atlanta Motel   989-785-4509
• WinSans Motel    989-785-2337
• Timber Lodge    989-785-3339
• Elk View Cabins   989-785-4896

  This years goofy weather patterns really smoked any chance of a bumper crop this year.   Raspberries took some hard blows from early warm temps in May, late frost in June that was back-to-back with a scarce amount of rainfall from mid June to mid July. Bushes near my neck of the woods are just now beginning to ripen.  Alot of buds look like they won't ripen at all sadly to say but some reports have some happy tastebuds rewarded for the labored searching and picking.

Alas,, Mother Nature perserveres and there still is some tasty treats out there to be harvested. There may not be easy picking,,, but none-the-less, they still are out there.

Blackberry blossoms were abundant this year. They at least had escaped the late frosts that the Juneberries, Blueberries and Raspberries had to deal with.  We've even had some nice periodic rains that should help 'em along but we still need some higher daytime temperatures to do the magic. We'll see when they begin to ripen sometime in this August.

Ya might want to don some high boots and jeans to spare the unpleasant stab of a thorn that stuck it's way into your body.   That takes the fun out of pickin', but I suppose it's "always somethin' " my old friend Sarah used to say.  Indeed, so why let a few pokes and picks ruin' the moment.  The reward is plenty of tasty jams 'n pies to be cooked up.  Nothin' like a raspberry swirl to savour over at Christmas dinner.  You'll be sure to recall the memories of when you picked those very berries with a smile on your face and the taste of delumpcious raspberries on your tongue. 

JUNEBERRIES didn't do so hot this year.  The birds and squirrels faired best for pickin'.  .The berries weren't as plump as they could be, but are still fine for wines 'n pies 'n whatever tickles yur fancy.
 

*** note***  Always use care and respect when harvesting the variety of Natures' Candy from her store.  Respect Her, and She'll continue to Bless us!

---

More Recipe's and Links!
_____________________

Berries with chocolate sauce (mf) 

White Chocolate and         Raspberry Swirl Fondue   recipe by the Global Gourmet

Raspberrie Cake   by Migros Türk 

Raspberrie Recipe's        at seattletimes.com