Maybe the chicken-leg fogs in Q would taste even more like chicken!
I had fried frogs leggs once in a vietnamese restauraunt. Mmmm tasty! I commented on how crispy the batter was. That's not batter, that the skin. Mmmm tasty!
Posted by: kypaddler Posted on: Oct 28th, 2011 at 3:07pm
Not to perpetuate stereotypes about Kentuckians, but I've waded along many miles of creek in the dark of night with a flashlight and 8-foot gig in search of frogs.
A bit nerve-wracking and a lot of effort, but the taste is worth it.
As the loon's tremolo signify the north lakes, the bullfrog's croak on an early summer's night are one of the sounds that define Kentucky to me.
As far as continuing the "wild edibles" theme ... alas, the frogs I've seen in the Q are but tiny little things with skinny little supermodel legs.
-- kypaddler
Posted by: Joe_Schmeaux Posted on: Oct 28th, 2011 at 10:52am
Yeah, you shouldn't be picking mushrooms unless you know what you're doing.
There are only a few deadly poisonous ones out there, but there are some. Even if eating the wrong mushroom might not kill you, it could cause permanent liver damage, or you could just end up puking your guts out. On the other hand, you may (also) experience a transformative hallucinogenic experience, but I have no personal experience with that.
There is something called a "false morel" which I think is in the poisonous-but-not-deadly category. To me they don't look much like real morels, but apparently there are enough people who make the mistake.
All Europeans from Russians to Italians pick wild mushrooms. If you're culturally deprived, you might find a local university or community college that offers courses. There are lots of good books out there as well: Orson K. Miller's is a classic, and David Arora's is good too. But it's nice to have someone take you out and show you.
In addition to morels (delicious but fairly rare, in my experience), there are some other excellent eating mushrooms which are common in late summer and are easy to identify, such as lactarius deliciosus, various boletes, chanterelles, oyster mushrooms, and honey mushrooms. Though I'm not specially keen on them, some people like puffballs and coral fungi too.
Posted by: DentonDoc Posted on: Oct 27th, 2011 at 9:44pm
I've seen a lot of mushrooms in Canada of various types, but I would never feel confident about picking and consuming them. Maybe morels, if I ever came across a patch, tho I assume I go north at the wrong time for those.
I've stated before that mushrooms are probably not a viable survival food. First, there is the obvious danger of selecting a "harmful" mushroom. However, more at issue is the calorie value of mushrooms. For example, 5 medium sized morel mushrooms run about 30 calories. Thus, unless you just stumble on a patch while doing something else, you'd probably spend more calories than you'd gain if you had to go looking for them.
Now, eating them is another story ... calorie count or not ... I LOVE mushrooms!
Oh! Frog legs ... GAME ON! And yes, they do taste like chicken! (They also tend run about 70 calories for 1/3rd ounce...100 grams.)
dd
Posted by: kypaddler Posted on: Oct 27th, 2011 at 5:09pm
Not 20 yards from where we throw up Deer Camp every year in Northern Kentucky are stands of both sumac and sassafras. And elsewhere in our neck of woods are everything from ground nuts to cattails to blackberries to raspberries to wood sorrel to persimmons to walnuts and hickories (and of course a half dozen species of oaks).
In the unlikely event we were stranded there and forbidden to kill and eat meat (deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, groundhog, dove, grouse, etc. etc.), we surely wouldn't starve.
-- kypaddler
Anybody eat inner pine bark? heh heh
Posted by: DentonDoc Posted on: Oct 27th, 2011 at 3:51pm
I thought there already was a Wild Edibles thread, but couldn't find it to bump.
I started a (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) thread about a year ago when I made a stop by one of my favorite wild trees while on a walk ... persimmon. As a matter of fact, I did that again last week.
dd
Posted by: solotripper Posted on: Oct 27th, 2011 at 3:05pm
The Species At Risk designation appears to be largely toothless. You can hunt them with a fishing licence. I'm surprised to see them on the list as I often see them while tripping.
Excerpts copied from: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
NOTE: It is illegal to harvest bullfrogs or turtles in provincial parks or Crown Game Preserves.
Snapping turtles and bullfrogs may be taken under the authority of a valid sport or conservation fishing licence. No commercial harvest of snapping turtles or bullfrogs is permitted. You may only take snapping turtles by box or funnel traps or by your bare hands. You may not remove the upper shell from any snapping turtle until immediately before it is prepared for consumption.
Posted by: solotripper Posted on: Oct 27th, 2011 at 2:06pm
Are turtles protected in Canada? Is there a season? I confess the thought has crossed our minds on more than one occasion.
I pretty sure they have a season, but from looking at the Ontario Fishing regs, I'm still unsure as to the legality of catching/consuming them in the Q? Plenty of snappers there. I doubt many visitors would be interested, so don't know if over consumption would be an issue? I'd like to grill one over the campfire IF it was legal? Anyone know for sure.
Posted by: kypaddler Posted on: Oct 27th, 2011 at 1:50pm
I thought there already was a Wild Edibles thread, but couldn't find it to bump.
Uh, I apologize if I violated a rule or courtesy about where to post topics. ...
I've seen a lot of mushrooms in Canada of various types, but I would never feel confident about picking and consuming them. Maybe morels, if I ever came across a patch, tho I assume I go north at the wrong time for those.
Are turtles protected in Canada? Is there a season? I confess the thought has crossed our minds on more than one occasion.