Oyster mushroons

 It was certain that one day I was going to have to eat my own words regarding mushrooms, as you all know I normally think they are seriously over rated, slimy and taste like feet. Well out this weekend and we found some oyster mushrooms, I've found them before but never eaten them so this time, just for sake of it I took a few and brought them home

Just fresh off the stump and in perfect condition

Coarsely chopped 

And in a pan with what's left of last year's wild garlic butter (remind me to make twice the amount this year!)

About 5 minutes of cooking and they'd absorbed most of the butter, and the taste.. drum roll please.. was actually lovely, texture was firm and steak like, garlicy, sweet and delicious..couldn't believe it, after all these years I've found a mushroom I actually really like..

Never to old to find out something new.

Fire and Ice

 I absolutely love fire, there is something warming, comforting and encouraging about it, I could stare into the flames all day and not get bored, 

At the same time I love Ice, and there's nothing I love more than being in the woods overnight as it freezes, waking up in the morning with a cold nose, my breath visible in the air and ice all over the tent

Nature gives us beauty at both ends of the spectrum and which ever way you lean towards, hot or cold, there is always an appreciation for the opposite end that keeps all of creation in balance.

PS, whomever has kept the Buzzard base camp tidy recently has done a grand job, it really is appreciated. Thankyou. 

Happy Christmas 2024

 To all our beloved Buzzard Buddies out there can I just wish you all a very merry Christmas. This has been a wonderful and fulfilling year for us and I hope there's more to come. May you all be blessed in your outdoors adventures be they on high mountains, wide oceans or deep forests, allow them to show you the majesty of God's handiwork, and as one of our bushcraft forefathers, Horace Kephart said, "I love the unimproved works of God". Amen

Wood Blewit mushroom

 As most of my Buzzard Buddies know, I'm not a great fan of mushrooms, I think they're over rated, they steal the limelight from other more worthy forageable contenders and they all taste like feet. 

I do however like finding them but I'm not as good at identifying them as I would be with plants and seaweeds.

This one however I'm pretty sure is a wood blewit, the colour, smell and cap shape are pretty obvious give aways.

I do love the bluey purpley colour of it and they were quite numerous in this new wee forest we found.

Quite a distinct fungi amd although I know they're edible I also know they can cause allergic reactions in some people, so personally I'll bring them home for a friend who does like a nibble on them but me, I'll be happy with a nice plump pheasant!! 

 

 

Reindeer moss

 This is one of those special lichens that you find at this time of year in certain areas of coniferous forest.

We found this patch quite recently when out for the weekend and exploring. 

It's quite distinctive from a distance and quite easy to spot once you get your eye in.

Its one of those rare plants that has a wide range from Arctic tundra to quite southern latitudes. The interesting thing for the bushcrafter is that it's edible to humans, not just reindeer.

I've read that it's both bitter and acidic so it needs to be boiled in 2 changes of water. However I've also read it can be eaten raw and even was used as a cure for kidney stones in some localities.

I did try some of this patch raw and I could taste the acidity from it, though the texture and taste was quite pleasant.

I think I need to look into this excellent find a little more and see just what I can do with it.

What must I do to be saved?

 

Woodpigeon jamaican curry

 A Buzzard buddy made us a pot of delicious curry, this was one with a twist, it was Jamaican curry which I'd never tried before. Apparently its common to use goat in this recipe but as none was available he added a couple of wood pigeons and I have to say it was sublime, without doubt the best curry I have ever had, I now just have to get the recipe off him !!