Wild Carrot – Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne's Lace Flower

The Wild Carrot(Daucus carota) also known as queen anne’s lace is the direct descendant of our domesticated carrot. These plants are meadow flowers that tend to be biennial but can live for 1 to 5 years depending on weather and it’s genetic makeup. Once an individual plant flowers it dies that winter. Carrot is a […]

Broccoli and Wild Garlic Recipe

Allium vineale, Wild Garlic

Wild Garlic Wild garlic is a name that actually refers to many edible plants. This particular Wild Garlic (allium vineale), also called Crow Garlic, is a very common species introduced from Europe and Africa. Onions, leeks, and shallots are also in the genus allium. Wild Garlic grows in many soil types, and is most active […]

Autumn Olive Fruit Leather Recipe

Elaeagnus umbellata, Autumn Olive fruit

Autumn Olive Introduction Autumn Olive (elaeagnus umbellata) is an invasive shrub that was introduced to the United States in the 1930s. By the 1950s it was promoted as a great food source for the wildlife and people of the Central and Eastern U.S. but it’s hearty nature and pervasiveness was underestimated. Autumn Olive’s abundant fruit […]

Linden Flower Tea Recipe

Linden Tree, Tilia cordata, Small leaved Linden leaves and flower bunches

The Linden TreeThe American Linden Tree (Tilia americana), is a medium to large tree native to New England. Also known as the Basswood Tree, other trees in the genus include the European Little and Large leaf species, and the Asian Japanese and Chinese Lime Tree species. Although not closely related to actual Lime Trees in […]

Staghorn Sumac Tea

Rhus typhina, Staghorn Sumac fruit cluster

The Staghorn Sumac TreeWild sumac is a shrub or small tree native to North America. Common to much of Michigan, the Great Lakes region and New England, Staghorn Sumac (rhus typhina) is easily identified by its fuzzy compound leaves and cone-shaped cluster of red berries. See our article on Staghorn sumac for more information. Staghorn […]

Veggie Banana Leaf Tamales Recipe

Musa basjoo, Japanese Banana growing in USDA Zone 5

Features of Banana LeavesThe huge leaves of the banana plant are used in cooking and cultures all around the world. The deep roots of the Japanese banana plant manage to stay alive below the frost line, allowing the plant to live in cold climates. After each winter season the tree grows to full size again, […]

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Recipe

Lion's mane mushroom

Lion’s mane mushroom strictly refers to Hericium erinaceus but other members of the genus Hericium are very similar and can be identified and used in the same ways. This is a genus of edible mushrooms that also have medicinal properties. These mushrooms are easy to identify and have a great unique flavor. Mushrooms in the […]

Jamaican Callaloo Soup Recipe

Amaranthus retroflexus, Common Amaranth leaves and flower seed stalks

Amaranth (genus: Amaranth) is a genus of plants that is native to America, Africa, Asia and Europe. It is a major food source in all these places because it can grow in many types of soils, and most, if not all, members of the genus have edible leaves, roots and seeds. This article is about […]

Breaded Puffball Mushroom Recipe

Giant Puffball

Puffball mushrooms are named because of the brown dusty spores that are ejected when the ripe fruit body bursts or gets hit. The puffballs belong to the Basidiomycota Division and include several genera, including Calvatia, Calbovista and Lycoperdon. When foraging, identifying true puffballs is extremely important because there are some lethally toxic look a likes. […]

Shiitake Mushroom Recipe

Lentinula edodes, Shiitake Mushrooms growing on a log

The shiitake mushroom(Lentinula edodes ) is a fungus native to Japan. It is a popular mushroom in Asia, but has recently begun to enter the European and American markets. What makes this mushroom so interesting is that Shiitake, unlike many other popular mushrooms like Portabella, is very easy to grow. Today, China is by far […]

Quick Sautéed Hen of the woods Recipe

Hen of the Woods

Hen of the Woods(Grifola frondosa) also goes by another name. “Maitake” means “to dancing” in Japanese. It is said that the mushroom takes its name from people who have happily danced to find it in the wild. The Mushroom grows wild in parts of Japan, China and North America. It grows in the depths of […]

Serviceberry Muffins

Amelanchier lamarckii fruit and leaves

Serviceberry is an interesting plant, it not only looks like blueberries but it also has a similar taste. These are from the rose family and often go by the name of Amelanchier. That is not the only name they are recognized by however, you can also find them labeled as June Berry, Shadblow Berry, Shadbush […]

Garlic Lamb’s Quarters Recipe

Chenopodium album, Lamb's Quarters leaf

Lamb quarters is a very important crop in northern India but in the USA it is often seen as a weed. This leafy vegetable comes from the Amaranthaceae family and a common name that it also goes by is goosefeet. Occasionally people may call it pigweed, however pigweed is a different plant and has several […]

Tangy Sorrel Salad Recipe

Sheep's Sorrel leaves

Are you ready to start making another unique dish? Have you ever heard of sheep’s sorrel or wood sorrel? Both of these have a bit of a tangy flavor to them giving any salad a little zing! Wood sorrel looks very similar to a four leaf clover. For more information on identification of wood sorrel […]

A Spicy Bittercress Sautée

Bittercress

Bittercress is a delicious substitute for lettuce or spinach that can be found in your yard. It’s scientific name is Cardamine Hirsuta, which refers to the name Hairy Bittercress. Despite it being called bittercress, it’s not bitter at all instead it has a rich tangy yet spicy flavor. Whether served raw or cooked; it’s definitely […]

Rose of Sharon Buds Sautéed with Onion and Garlic

Rose of Sharon Flower

Rose of Sharon comes in many colors, not only is it a beautiful plant but it is also an edible plant. Every part of this incredible organism is edible; from the roots to the buds. While you may find this strange, the rose of Sharon has a long history of being an antioxidant. Today we’ll […]

Crispy Roasted Crickets

Field Cricket

Crickets are a common insect found in almost every area around the world. While it may be seen as odd in the West, crickets are a normal snack food for a lot of people, especially in Asia and Africa. Like other insects, crickets are a wonderful source of protein. Crickets are high in protein yet […]

Sassafras Root Beer

Sassafras albidum leaf shapes

It’s not every day that you use a potentially illegal substance to cook. Sassafras(Sassafras albidum) is the key ingredient to make root beer, but at the same time, it’s also used to produce ecstasy and MDA. The Sassafras tree is native to the Eastern United States. Despite the many controversies behind it, it’s no secret […]

Acorn Pancakes Recipe

Quercus rubra acorns

Oak Trees(Genus: Acer) are evergreen, broad-leaved trees that grow all over the world. The Oak Trees’ acorns are a staple food for Native American tribes and other indigenous tribes all around the world. These acorns are very common and plentiful, especially in the fall. Acorns are a great wild edible since they’re packed with calories […]

Portuguese Purslane Soup

PPortulaca oleracea, Purslane Leaves and Flowers

Also known as Little Hogweed, Purslane(Portulaca oleracea ) is a very common edible weed. It can be found throughout the US and Canada as well as other parts of the world. Purslane can be found growing in sunny areas. The plant can be identified by its thick succulent-like leaves. All above ground parts of Purslane […]