Morels/Fiddlehead Ferns

[Miss Phode]

Are they really worth their weight in gold? On www.saffron.com it's $75 for 1/2 pound. They're just as expensive fresh in stores, when they're available. I've always wanted to try them, but if I spend that much on mushrooms, and they don't turn out good, eek!

Also, when are Morels and Fiddlehead Ferns in season? Anyone know? How would you prepare them?

[MotherOfGizmo]

I have always wanted to try fiddle heads too. But I have never actually seen them for sale anywhere. Can't you go out in the woods and pick them? 75 bucks is way to rich for my budget! That's almost a weeks worth of groceries!

[Miss Phode]

I'm afraid of the woods. I've seen fiddleheads and morels at whole foods, but for outrageous prices. They only have them when they are in season. I haven't seen them in a while. It was sometime last year.

[Heidi3]

yeah honey they are ...I have hunted the morels for years with out much luck (I do better with fall mushrooms) ..but I confess I spent the 75 bucks that saffron.com sells them for and used every single one...I look at it this way ...I go and spend that on a fancy dinner for my husband and myself ...so if I can buy a large amt of morells and then put them in many dinners I have the 75 dollar dinners at home!!!!!! they are so delicious I can not tell you...my favorite way to eat them is rehydrated and sauted with butter garlic and then put in scrambled eggs!!!! YUM

remember they are dehydrated at that wt..and shrooms hold tons of water!!!!...

fiddleheads are wonderful as well but much better when you pick them yourself ... they kind of taste like a very green flavored asparagus ..again saute in butter and garlic

the nice thing about these delicacies are that you can enjoy a tiny amt with a meal and still get the flavors and meaning of the food

[Miss Phode]

OK...I'll have to get some, but don't tell my husband! Actually, with the amount of money we spend eating out, what am I worried about?

[MotherOfGizmo]

We don't eat out. Maybe once every 6-7 months and then we go to a mexican place so its really cheap. I should ask John about going hunting for them since he's like the nature boy anyway, he's probably enjoy it. So, did we ever figure out when they are in season?

[Miss Phode]

Nope. I'm still patiently waiting for someone to do the research for me. LOL

[Heidi3]

whoops sorry you guys I forgot to tell you ...you missed it it is april and may depending on the area they come up at the frost line as things begin to thaw or where you guys live...never....sorry if they do grow there I am not aware of it ..but aphex since you are afraid of the woods you would save money spending the 75 lemme tell you you get like 20 meals out of them they are rich and flavorful and will last dried for a long time.....Mogs maybe in the Mountians usually in a pine forest ...google "hunting morels" and see what comes up.....the fiddle heads same thing we used to find them in New England the ones out here are not that tastey but I have tried Korean fiddlehead soup it is very good

[MotherOfGizmo]

OK, I just found fiddleheads for $9.50 a pound, we'll have to wait til next year cause they are not taking anymore orders

http://earthy.com/a_fiddlehead.htm

Also, I found an article saying that East Coast Fiddleheads were the preferred ones! they don't grow this far south but from the Great Lakes up into Canada

Fiddle Me This… Fiddle Me That…

We are in the height of the Fiddlehead Fern season. Product from the West Coast is the first to be shipped, starting March 1st and running through the end of April and is not favored by chefs due to the purplish color.

The more popular Eastern Fiddleheads start shipping the last week in April and run through Mid June. Eastern Fiddleheads are favored by chefs for their solid green color and grassy like green bean taste. Named for their appearance, tightly coiled like the end of a violin or “fiddle”, fiddleheads are edible ferns picked before they have a chance to unfurl into the fern you are more accustomed to seeing. Also known as Pohole and Ostrich Ferns.

Fiddlehead season runs neck and neck with Ramps (Wild Spring Onions).

Ramp season is off and running and should wind down the last week in May. Ramps look like a narrow scallion with flatter leaves and a small bulb on the end. Currently shipping out of Michigan and looking the best of the season. Ramps are best used any way a spring onion can be used. Flavor is a perfumed mixture of garlic and onion

[Miss Phode]

Thanks Butterbean! You're so nice :nod

[not2late]

Re: Morels/Fiddlehead Ferns

Are they really worth their weight in gold? On www.saffron.com it's $75 for 1/2 pound. They're just as expensive fresh in stores, when they're available. I've always wanted to try them, but if I spend that much on mushrooms, and they don't turn out good, eek!

Also, when are Morels and Fiddlehead Ferns in season? Anyone know? How would you prepare them?

Fiddlehead Ferns are in season in spring, so right now if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. To prepare them, you clean them in water, picking out any pieces of dead grass, leaves, and other debris. Then bring a pot of salted water to the boil. Drop the cleaned fiddleheads and blanche for about 2 minutes---just until they turn a bright green. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Blanching them will help to remove some of the bitterness (the blanching water will turn a tea color). Then after blanching them you can saute them with chopped garlic or onion, etc.

I haven't eaten fresh morels since I lived in Iowa in the early 90s. I think the Morel season is in early spring or early summer. Anyhow, you need to make a small lengthwise slit in the mushroom cap to remove any dirt inside. Then you can prepare them as you would any other mushroom.

[MotherOfGizmo]

You guys got me wishing I hadn't missed the season already. :sadblinky I've never tried them and now I really want to.

[NulloModo]

Fiddleheads are... well, hmm, they smell really nice. They sort of taste like grass though, or maybe dirt, perhaps earthy grass.

But they do smell pretty, and look sorta cool.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Fiddleheads are... well, hmm, they smell really nice. They sort of taste like grass though, or maybe dirt, perhaps earthy grass.

But they do smell pretty, and look sorta cool.

Really Nullo! LOLLOL, I have never heard you say anything derogatory about any food! Now you've got me afraid to waste money on them! LOL well I certainly won't be spending 75 bucks on any anyway! :geek

[NulloModo]

Fiddleheads are... well, hmm, they smell really nice. They sort of taste like grass though, or maybe dirt, perhaps earthy grass.

But they do smell pretty, and look sorta cool.

Really Nullo! LOLLOL, I have never heard you say anything derogatory about any food! Now you've got me afraid to waste money on them! LOL well I certainly won't be spending 75 bucks on any anyway! :geek

Hmm, well, they aren't _bad_ in fact, I would eat them again, but I can pick them up in season for around $4 a lbs (fiddleheads that is). I just never got the asparagus comparison. The texture is similar, but the flavor is much more, well, grassy. Not that grassy is bad, just don't expect them to taste like asparagus.

I was talking about Fiddleheads btw, I haven't been spendy enough to pick up morels. Anyone selling fiddleheads for $75 a lbs is out of their mind.