Friday, April 16, 2010

The hunt is on

This ain't my find. Its just a photo of the prize I hope to find after the rains. Morel mushrooms.
My mouth is watering just thinking about them sauteed with a little olive oil, garlic and Reggiano tossed with home made green garlic fettuccine, topped with a little fresh goat cheese. Oh gads, why do I torture myself?

I got a wild hair up in a particular place yesterday morning and headed out on the hunt. Found nothing. Too dry I suspect. They have to be here somewhere though. Right?
I followed cow trails which led to deer trails witch led to coyote trails witch led to brambles and thickets of wild blackberries. The ground was like walking on a mattress. The sun coming through the just opened hands of leaves and the new growth in the forest was amazing. And when my neck became to sore from looking down, I would look up and have some of those 'Oh My God This Is Beautiful' moments.

I am hoping after the rain I'll see some pop up. Its kind of like fishing you know they are there but just not biting. Or maybe the conditions are not just perfect yet.
Strangely, on my hunt I saw tons of Poke. I could have harvested, but I just left them. I did see Oxalice, (sp?) a lemony clover and tender green brier tendrils, i munched on during the hunt. I miss the fiddle head ferns in Washington.

Anyone have some tips for me on morel hunting here?

2 comments:

nanc said...

Our neighbor, Max, went hunting the day after the last rains and found a bunch. He told me to go along the east side of our creek and look around the base of trees and near fallen timber. I'm going to look tomorrow when the sun comes out :)

nanc said...

Oh, and he also told me to soak them in salt water for about 1/2 hour to flush the bugs out!