Weird Vegetables: Fiddleheads

Food 2 Minutes

Foraged from the ostrich fern, fiddleheads are the plant’s young shoots that look like tiny scrolls popping out of the dirt. Only available for a short window of time during the spring, they are a delicious delicacy with many devoted fans who can hardly wait for fiddlehead season. Fiddleheads are foraged from the wild in certain parts of the U.S. and Canada where they’re also most often consumed. Some foragers sell them to markets, making them available to more people. Best when simply prepared by sautéing or steaming right after harvest, fiddleheads offer a charming taste of spring for simple dishes.

What Are Fiddleheads?

Fiddleheads are the tightly coiled tips of ferns that are eaten cooked. These delicate delights are available only in early spring when ferns grow their new shoots. The young fern fronds are mainly available by foraging or at farmers markets.

The fiddleheads eaten in North America are from the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Other ferns can be toxic, so never forage without an experienced guide. It’s also important to harvest just a few fiddleheads in a cluster or the fern could die. Lucky for fiddlehead fans, ostrich ferns are fairly common, especially in temperate woodland areas and near streams. They grow in dense clumps, from the northern plains states to the east coast of the United States and throughout most of Canada.

It’s not necessary to forage them yourself because fiddleheads may be found at markets that specialize in wild foods. They are not widely available, however, and are expensive due to their short season. Fiddleheads require little preparation beyond a thorough rinse. They are best lightly cooked, whether sautéed, steamed, or boiled, and can be served as a light side or on top of a dish.

How to Cook with Fiddleheads

To prepare fiddleheads, start by removing any of the papery brown skin and trim away any brown stem ends. Wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt from the fronds. A good way to wash them is to fill a sink with cold water and submerge the fiddleheads, swishing them around to loosen any dirt. Depending on how dirty they are, you might have to fill the sink again and repeat the process.

The next step is to boil the fiddleheads. This stage of cooking is for the purpose of deactivating the toxin, so even if you plan to roast or sauté the fiddleheads, don’t skip this step. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the fiddleheads, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Then drain the fiddleheads and plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Let them cool until they’re no longer warm to the touch, then drain again and dry them thoroughly with paper towels. Fiddleheads cooked this way will be tender but will retain their crisp, snappy bite.

Instead of boiling, you can steam them in a steamer basket for 10 to 12 minutes, then chill in the ice bath and drain as described. When steamed, fiddleheads have a slightly more bitter flavor than when they’re boiled, similar to broccoli rabe. Steamed or boiled fiddleheads can be served as-is or sautéed.

SOURCE: The Spruce Eats.com

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Published by pat frederick

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128 thoughts on “Weird Vegetables: Fiddleheads”

    1. I’ve never eaten poke sallet either. We did try Kudzu once – when Southern Living magazine claimed it could be fried and like potato chips. Believe me, fried kudzu is no substitute for potato chips!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I’ve seen “resurrection ferns”, that stand up after a rain on oak branches. I also see them on fallen limbs after a thumder storm. Some look like the photo of the fiddlehead fern, but I’ve never tried to eat them. I used to see lots of kudzu, but parking lots, pavement, and real estate development a mile outside Savannah city limits have replaced the greenery.

        Liked by 3 people

      1. Morning, GA and Pat! I’ve never seen nor tried fiddleheads – I thought the same thing, Pat – Poke Salad Annie is all I had ever heard.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. Nope, and it was clear earlier, before the clouds moved in from the west; but I’m beginning to see some clear skies now to the west so….I’m crossing my fingers! Yesterday, there wasn’t much wind – I’m hoping today will be the same!

            Liked by 1 person

  2. Good Morning All!

    late start here this morning. we had the fans on and it was good sleeping! I came down the stairs and the orioles were hungry and singing for breakfast–twirling around on the hummer feeders, making them mad–the hummers were sitting on the front deck railing patiently waiting for me to shoo the orioles…lol

    it’s about 50* here but cloudy. we’ve had a pregnant deer snoozing in the woodshed for a few weeks now. when she comes out, her baby from last year comes out from the woods close by and they eat the grasses and dandelions or the bushes. this morning she was physically pushing it away…wonder if she’ll give birth soon???

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Morning, Pat! 48 here, w/clouds this morning – I expect it will clear up by afternoon and we should have really nice weather for a few days. Wheezer was here and ate at some point during the night. The only birds I’ve seen so far today is the RH WP on the suet and a few sparrows but my birds tend to sleep in a bit! LOL – sounds like a logical explanation for the doe pushing the fawn away. So you’re going to have a mess to clean up soon, perhaps?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. hope not! she has the fawn, cleans it up and then they leave quickly because the smell of the afterbirth and whatnot is strong and will attract predators–coyotes and bear.

        Liked by 1 person

      1. This whole thing – MTG’s introducing it, Matt putting the kibosh on it – just one big production to entertain the masses!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. i imagine after this, if the polls for dems don’t rise, they will try mortgage relief. Sanders says it plainly–America is the richest country–so let’s get the taxpayers to pay for everything–sounds socialist to me. this time he wants medical debts forgiven…smdh

    why don’t these politicians ever go after the colleges (for exorbitant class fees) or hospitals/insurance companies (for high treatment fees)?

    FTA

    Two prominent progressive lawmakers, the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and California congressman Ro Khanna, revealed on Wednesday a new bill aimed at eliminating medical debt.

    The bill, introduced with Oregon senator Jeff Merkley and Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib,would create a federal grant program to cancel all existing patient debt and amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to block creditors from collecting past medical bills. The legislation would also update billing requirements for medical providers and alter the Consumer Credit Reporting Act to prevent credit agencies from reporting information related to unpaid medical bills, alleviating the risk of such debt damaging patients’ credit histories.

    Sanders and Khanna described the legislation as vital for many families’ financial security, as millions of Americans struggle with the burden of medical debt. According to a 2022 investigation by NPR and KFF Health News, more than 100 million Americans, including 41% of adults, hold some kind of healthcare debt. A KFF analysis of the Census Bureau’s survey of income and program participation suggests that Americans owe at least $220bn in medical debt.

    “This is the United States of America, the richest country in the history of the world. People in our country should not be going bankrupt because they got cancer and could not afford to pay their medical bills,” Sanders said in a statement.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/08/bernie-sanders-ro-khanna-medical-debt-bill

    Liked by 1 person

  12. these are NOT refugees grateful to be out of a desperate situation. these are demanding, insolent invaders. they set up a tent city and are making demands—they learn quickly, do they not?

    FTA

    The list sent to Mayor Mike Johnston included requests for provisions of “fresh, culturally appropriate” food, no time limits on showers and free immigration lawyers, the outlet reported.

    Denver migrant encampment

    People at a migrant encampment on 27th Ave. between Zuni St. and Alcott St. in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.  (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

    The migrants insisted that if these are not met, they will not leave their tent community.

    The current encampment is situated “near train tracks and under a bridge,” Fox 31 noted, adding that it has been there for the last couple of weeks. 

    Further details of the demands read, “Migrants will cook their own food with fresh, culturally appropriate ingredients provided by the City instead of premade meals – rice, chicken, flour, oil, butter, tomatoes, onions, etc… Shower access will be available without time limits & can be accessed whenever… Medical professional visits will happen regularly & referrals/connections for specialty care will be made as needed.”

    The migrants also insisted they get “connection to employment support, including work permit applications for those who qualify,” as well as “Consultations for each person/family with a free immigration lawyer.“Additionally, the migrants demanded privacy within the shelter once moved there and, “No more verbal or physical or mental abuse will be permitted from the staff, including no sheriff sleeping inside & monitoring 24/7 – we are not criminals & won’t be treated as such.”

    https://www.foxnews.com/media/denver-migrants-refuse-leave-encampment-send-denver-mayor-list-demands

    Liked by 1 person

  13. National Pulse, Ed Kozar, May 9, 2024

    “Laken Riley’s Killer SHOULD Get The Death Penalty, But It’s Unlikely. Here’s The Gross Political Reason Why…”

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan migrant charged with murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, was formally indicted on ten charges by a grand jury on Wednesday. The charges include malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, and tampering with evidence. Ibarra is eligible to receive the death penalty under Georgia state law, but it is unlikely that Deborah Gonzalez, the state’s progressive Democrat district attorney, will seek it.

    Gonzalez, the DA for the Western Georgia Judicial Circuit, ran on an extreme criminal justice reform platform that included ending cash bail and capital punishment. Keeping good on her word, in a January 2021 memo, Gonzalez announced that her office would no longer seek the death penalty.

    “This office will: No longer seek the death penalty,” Gonzalez wrote. “Cases which are legally eligible for the death penalty are eligible for sentences of life without parole and life with parole eligibility after serving thirty years. Both of these sentences constitute very substantial punishment. Decisions to seek the sentence of life without parole are a sentence of death in prison.”

    In Georgia, for a murderer to receive the death penalty, the offender must meet an aggravating circumstance, such as aggravated battery — for which Ibarra was also indicted — or another capital felony. Ibarra’s charges meet the death penalty standard, and his indictment suggests he certainly deserves it.

    According to court documents, Ibarra allegedly attempted to rape Riley before “striking her head multiple times with a rock” and “asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors.” Regardless of what Gonzalez decides, Ibarra’s actions stand as a shocking testament to the dangers of mass migration and the crime that comes with it.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. this is nuts.
      and people like her should not get to select charges. if the state is a death penalty state and the actions of the accused fall under the penalty, then the jury should decide.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. interesting read. the author suggests that Smith is violating the very statute the doj is using to go after J6ers.

    FTA

    The Supreme Court, though, is hearing Fischer v. United States, which sees one of the DOJ’s victims contesting the DOJ’s assertion about § 1512(c)(2)’s applicability to the J6. The argument is that § 1512(c)(2) manifestly applies to a very narrow fact set; namely, corruptly interfering with evidence in an official investigation. Heck, it’s in the statute’s title: “Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant.” Every section of the statute manifestly deals solely with efforts to destroy or otherwise manipulate evidence in a matter intended to lead to a criminal indictment.

    Nevertheless, to imprison ordinary Americans, the DOJ came down hard on subsection (c)(2) of the statute because it contains the phrase “official proceeding.”

    (c) Whoever corruptly—

    [snip]

    (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so,

    shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

    But while the DOJ is focusing everyone’s attention on subsection (2), they’re ignoring subsection (1):

    (c) Whoever corruptly—

    (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object’s integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding…

    Does that remind you of anything? It certainly does me.

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/05/jack_smith_has_admitted_to_violating_the_same_law_used_against_j6_defendants.html

    Liked by 1 person

  15. THIS is just about THE most insane idea ever!!!!! WTF are they thinking??!!??

    National Pulse, Thursday, May 9, 2024

    “Autonomous Trucks on U.S. Highways in 3 Years”

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Daimler Truck, a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, says it has developed a fully automated long-haul truck that will be ready to hit the road by 2027. The eCascadia is an all-electric, automated version of Daimler’s popular Freightliner Cascadia truck models. A self-driving vehicle, the truck is outfitted with long-range sensors and a powerful computing system they say can quickly process data to make snap navigation decisions.

    Joanna Butler, who leads Daimler’s global autonomous technology group, says the company’s ultimate goal is to deploy the trucks across the Southwest United States in a middle-mile freight hauling role. This means the autonomous trucks will engage in hub-to-hub middle-mile freight hauls, primarily using federal interstate highways. Butler emphasized the company’s commitment to safety, stating, “Our mantra is really it’s a marathon and not a sprint.”

    Daimler touts its autonomous freight trucks as “an autonomous vehicle that doesn’t sleep, doesn’t need to stop, and basically can drive continuously in the Level 4 hub-to-hub mode—that is our targeted use case.” However, other companies in the self-driving truck industry have been forced to fold following a decline in public support and pushback from regulators.

    In October of last year, a pedestrian was hit, pinned underneath, and dragged by a robotaxi manufactured by Cruise, the self-driving unit under General Motors. Following the pedestrian collision — and collapse in investor confidence — Cruise was forced to lay off nearly a quarter of its employees.

    Around 1.5 million Americans are employed directly by the trucking and long-haul freight industries, and upwards of 8 million are employed through connected industries. Some economists fear the abrupt replacement of human drivers with autonomous computer drivers would have severe economic consequences that trump even public safety concerns.”

    Liked by 1 person

  16. National Pulse, Raheem Kassam, May 9, 2024

    “Gaetz Claps Back at Kevin McCarthy, Who is Now a Campaign Manager for BLM/DEI Candidates”

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy is spending much of his plentiful free time “escalating his revenge campaign” against Congressman Matt Gaetz, according to a new POLITICO article, for which McCarthy was interviewed, repeating false Biden Department of Justice and FBI talking points against the Florida firebrand.

    “Gaetz is the Hunter Biden of the Republican Party,” McCarthy told POLITICO‘s Olivia Beavers. “He’s got an opponent who is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, trained at Pensacola, went to the Naval Academy and flew jets to defend us while Gaetz was getting kicked out of high school, buying coke and paying minors for sex.”

    In fact, none of the lurid claims first peddled by the Biden regime via the New York Times were ever proven, despite a number of investigations, including one under McCarthy’s stewardship of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Indeed, Gaetz emerged stronger from the attempt on his career, using said power to oust McCarthy, now serving as an entry-level campaign manager for Aaron Dimmock.

    Dimmock, who flew surveillance planes for a few years before transitioning to become a management consultant, has previously posted on social media of his “commitment” to Black Lives Matter, as well as “diversity and inclusion.” In fact, the far-left candidate’s curriculum vitae of wokery is so expansive the Gaetz campaign set up a dedicated website for it.

    Responding exclusively to The National Pulse over McCarthy’s new role as Dimmock’s campaign manager, Gaetz said: “Kevin will likely spend millions of dollars losing to House Conservatives in primaries this cycle. But it will probably still be cheaper than the therapy he needs.”

    Swampier still, the POLITICO piece quotes Brian O. Walsh from Red Elephant Strategy, a new firm stood up in recent years which appears to have made most of its cash by defending McCarthy and his allies in Congress.

    Walsh said he traveled to “Florida’s Panhandle in March to conduct focus groups and left pleased with the findings,” which is D.C. consultant speak for “the polling was terrible, so we’ve had to move on to focus groups.” Now, if only McCarthy knew (or lived with) someone who runs focus groups for a living. Hmm.”

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Repub introduces a bill into the House to send anyone charged and convicted of illegal activity on any college campus to 6 months community service in Gaza. won’t go anywhere, but they’re getting creative.
    FTA
    Those convicted would be forced to serve a minimum six-month community service sentence in Gaza, where Israel is currently waging a brutal campaign to eradicate Hamas and rescue the remaining Israelis that terrorists took hostage in October.

    “Students have abandoned their classes to harass other students and disrupt campus-wide activities, including university commencement ceremonies nationwide. Enough is enough,” Ogles told Fox News Digital.

    “That’s why I introduced legislation to send any person convicted of unlawful activity on the campus of an American university since Oct. 7, 2023, to Gaza to complete a minimum of six months of community service.”

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/college-anti-israel-agitators-sent-gaza-new-house-gop-bill

    Liked by 1 person

  21. from what I read, the bill says to be counted in the census, you have to be a citizen. it passed. but they EXPECT the dems to either vote against this or not bring it to a vote in the Senate thereby killing it. and in killing it, it sets a precedence that congress addressed citizenship in the census and did not approve it. tricky dems

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Just The News: “House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan asked that former special prosecutor Nathan Wade testify before the panel as to his role in an ongoing criminal case against former President Donald Trump.

    Wade served as a special prosecutor on Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s prosecution of Trump and 18 codefendants over his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results in the Peach State. He came under scrutiny over romantic relationship he maintained with Willis and a judge ultimately decided that one of the two must leave the case. Wade subsequently stepped down.

    Jordan in January launched an initial probe into Wade and asked that he provide documents by Jan. 26. Writing to Wade on Thursday, Jordan indicated that “there are serious concerns about your role in the politically motivated prosecution initiated by Ms. Willis against President Donald J. Trump. You have reportedly “profit[ed] significantly” from Ms. Willis’s prosecution.”

    He further highlighted Wade’s receipt of “almost seven hundred thousand dollars” and that some of those funds may have come through federal grants from the Department of Justice. 

    “While receiving taxpayer funds, you apparently coordinated with Democrats in Washington, D.C., -“quietly me[eting]” with staff from the partisan January 6 Committee, which allowed you to review information it had gathered, and you had two separate meetings with the Biden White House, including with President Biden’s White House Counsel,” he continued.

    Jordan then set a May 16 deadline for Wade to produce materials related to the case and his role as well as to schedule his testimony before the committee.”

    Liked by 1 person

  25. “Buddy of mine turned me on to a couple of his gummies. Evidently, I inadvertently left them on my dresser and the missus thought they were candies and had one. This is what I came home to. Yes, I do have a lot of shirts, and yes – they are now color-coordinated.”

    Liked by 1 person

        1. i read about it and it seems plausible…the way he tells it. i just don’t know that i’d talk about it personally especially since everyone questions the maggot medical condition

          Liked by 1 person

  29. so how does one use the reserves when the maggot depleted them down to nothing?

    GGGGGggggrrrrrrrrrrr

    May 9, 2024 1:12 pm

    President Biden Is Ready to Use the SPR [Strategic Petrolium Reserve]Again If Needed

    Recently, talk has restarted about the possibility of using the SPR to bring down retail fuel prices in case the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates, leading to higher oil prices and, consequently, higher gasoline and diesel prices for U.S. drivers.

    Since rising fuel prices are the last thing a president running for a second term wants to experience in an election year, SPR releases were seen by many as the most likely course of action. This, in turn, prompted questions about whether there is enough oil in the SPR since the federal government’s replenishment efforts have been quite sporadic due to prices.

    https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/President-Biden-Is-Ready-to-Use-the-SPR-Again-If-Needed.html

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Just The News: “A federal appeals court Thursday dismissed a request from Hunter Biden to have gun charges against him dismissed before his upcoming trial, according to a new court filing. 

    “This appeal is DISMISSED because the defendant has not shown the District Court’s orders are appealable before final judgment,” reads the judgment from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in Philadelphia but covers Delaware, where the alleged gun violations occurred.

    Biden appealed to the higher court after his Delaware trial judge, Maryellen Noreika, rejected his motion to dismiss the case in early April.

    The Trump-appointed judge disagreed with Biden’s arguments that Special Counsel David Weiss – who is also prosecuting President Biden’s son on separate tax charges in California – violated the plea deal and diversion agreement he negotiated with the the Justice Department that would have granted him broad immunities.

    Judge Noreika threw out that plea agreement and Weiss subsequently charged Hunter Biden. Biden faces three charges in Delaware stemming from his purchase of a firearm in 2018: one count of unlawful possession and two counts of false statements.” 

    Liked by 1 person

  34. ok i thought this was hysterical. i’ve got an oriole sitting on the railing scolding me for goodness knows what and i didn’t move. then he flew to the hummer feeder–scolding all the while. so okay, i went out to see the jelly feeder–there was a birch catkin in the dish and i guess he wanted it out…LOL

    Liked by 1 person

  36. what an ABSOLUTE IDIOT!

    permanent FREE housing for illegals–not veterans or senior citizens–illegals!

    Citizen Free Press

    @CitizenFreePres

    Democrat NYC city council member demands permanent free housing for Illegal Invaders on the taxpayer dime. Council member is

    @ShahanaFromBK

    Video from

    @ViralNewsNYC

    Liked by 1 person

  44. NF: This is allegedly a “runway excursion…” whatever that means!

    NF: So beautiful….she was good in the Burning Bed movie….

    Liked by 1 person

      1. The woman is Farah Fawcett; the cat probably had surgery or something that required clipping the hair and then it was edited.

        Liked by 1 person

  45. That’s a hell of a tree!!!

    Hard to believe this could fly….

    P-51 Mustang flying with Swedish Air Force, 1953

    Liked by 1 person

  47. well…that didn’t take long

    ncxplant

    May 9, 2024 5:26 pm

    BRADLEY JAYE9 May 2024639
    3:06
    Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wasted little time after 163 Democrats voted
    to save his speakership to announce he would not use Congress’s
    constitutional power of the purse to stop special counsel Jack Smith’s
    “lawfare” against Donald Trump.
    The Speaker, in some of his earliest public comments after Democrats
    saved his gavel, refused to make any attempt to defund Smith’s office as
    it continues its prosecutions of Trump.
    “That’s not something you wave a wand and just eliminate the special counsel as a provision,” Johnson told Politico.
    “There is a necessity for a function like that, because sometimes the
    Department of Justice — which is an executive branch agency — can’t
    necessarily, without a conflict of interest, investigate or prosecute
    the president who’s their boss, or the president’s family.”
    When asked straightforwardly if he would write language eliminating Smith’s job into appropriations bills, Johnson replied “no.”

    Liked by 1 person

  49. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

    2. Good night! Finally got sunshine this afternoon and now it’s up to 77! Jason and his wife did the entire yard – I paid extra and got the entire property weed-eated! That’s almost a quarter acre! Looks really nice now!

      Liked by 1 person

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