Foraging for Fall Treats: Chicken of the Woods

This past week iridescent yellows, golds, oranges, and reds have been exploding through the falling foliage.  Admittedly, the residential zones of Waltham don't have the prettiest colors, and our street is particularly drab due to the lack of trees, but Prospect Hill provides a nice oasis to experience the seasons.

 

 

 

In addition to being a picturesque place to run, this past week Prospect Hill also provided us with a mushroom called Chicken of the Woods.  Considered one of the Foolproof Four, it is unmistakeable and considered a "choice delicacy" by many mushroom hunters.  True to its name, it looks, feels, and tastes just like chicken!  In fact, it is dense, moist, cool, and rubbery-soft, just like raw chicken flesh (which is admittedly rather gross).  None the less, Seth and I of course had to take a tiny risk and try some :o)

Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus

It is most tender, tasty, and least likely to cause problems when it is still young and fresh, like this one

For a person who doesn't like to deal with raw meat, this mushroom is a bit creepy

It pulls apart along a grain, just like meat

The texture and appearance is a little repulsive, but the flavor is spot on; it smells and tastes like (salt-free) chicken bouillon.  It even has a slight MSG flavor, which must be the savory umami taste mushrooms are famous for.   

Some people do have a negative reaction to the mushroom, so last night we cooked it and tried just a little bit.  We woke up this morning *alive and kicking,* so we will have some more tonight in a "chicken" soup.  Hopefully I will be around to give an update on how it was...

Cranberry Craziness

Yesterday Seth and I spent a fall-filled day in Wareham, MA, at the base of The Cape.  We started off at the annual Cranberry Harvest Festival with Bo and Natalie and finished the afternoon and evening hours visiting Jean and Seth's uncle Bud.  I wish every weekend could involve friends, family, snowy owls, colorful psychedelic leaves, and cranberry bogs :o)

The cranberry village

We had to take a yellow school bus to the cranberry bogs.  Haven't been on one of these since middle school!

Frogfoot bog

Events at the bog

Snowy owl!  :o)

Waiting to take the wagon tour.  It was cold and windy for sure!

 

Does this remind you of the Ocean Spray commercials?

 

 

 

 

Bo was brave and climbed the giant pile of sand.  Too bad she didn't roll down it like the rest of the little kids :P

Seth displaying the three life stages of the cranberry: the baby vine, a 6.5 pound bag of fresh berries, and finally, Craisins

Catching up with Fall

As promised by my professors and the CPD students before me, this semester has indeed been butt-kicking and anxiety-inducing.  On the plus side, I have been learning a lot about food service management at Olin and I even have spent some time back in high school and elementary school, teaching kids about the 5 food groups and sugary drinks (Gatorade, by the way, is not a part of any food group).  Thankfully I have this long holiday weekend to enjoy the nicest, most colorful part of Fall, and also catch up on a blog post or two.

In truth, since returning from Seattle, there hasn't been much outside of school to write about.  There were, however, a couple birthdays to celebrate :o)

For my birthday Seth spent all afternoon and evening putting together a lasagna and cake--both made from scratch!  Well done.  Now that I know he can cook, I expect many more dinners coming from him in the future ;o)

We went out for one fancy joint b-day dinner

On Seth's birthday we had homemade Laksa (NOT Penang-style Assam laksa, which is not so Awesome)

Seth actually wanted a healthy gluten-free chickpea cauliflower chocolate chip cookie cake.  I'll stand by my classic yellow cake.