Knee Deep Blog

A Hiking We Did Go: Picking Matsutake Mushrooms

I'm not sure which is my favorite going on our annual wild matsutake mushroom pilgrimage to the Olympic Peninsula or the eating frenzy aka feast that happens afterward (with or without the mushrooms)!

We were excited to come home with a few pounds of these wonderful tasting mushrooms, especially since we waited too late last year and came up empty handed.  Note to self, yes it does freeze in the mountains before the end of October which means mushroom production stops and the rest become a slimy mess.  At least the hike is still fun!

From car, to ferry, back to car, across the peninsula and then winding along the mountain side for 45 minutes and you are there enjoying a beautiful stroll in an old growth forest listening to the water rush in the nearby creek with your eyes glued to the ground in anticipation of finding this white gold - the matsutake. 

Of course other than that I can't tell you the exact location because we had noticed that some one else had been there too so the secret is already out - and serious mushroom hunters never disclose the location. We spent much more time in anticipation then we did actually picking and admiring these very tasty mushrooms which I think is a big part of the fun.

The Plum Cordial is Brewing - Our Special Recipie

We completed our special plum cordial recipe just in time - it was the last plums on the tree and in a few more days they would have been past prime.  Each and every year it also amazes me that I can't find the recipe for the few weeks prior to making it.  It's as if that damn recipe eludes me long enough to think I'm becoming more wacky and then it always just shows up. (The recipe is below)

Literally I  had made a copy for a woman down the street and thought I had put the book back but I just couldn't find it.  This year I looked up a new jam recipe (from recipe-zaar - its the one with just plums, sugar and lemon- nothing else) but I couldn't find a good plum cordial one and was feeling pretty bummed because we loved the changes we made to the original recipe we found. 

Heck any time I write down how I made some thing  in the kitchen Tim celebrates - because there are very few things we have more than once. I'm a creator when it comes to the kitchen, I take a bit of this, that and the other thing...and some how people think I'm an amazing cook.  Kind of makes me laugh.  Anyway, I wanted a recipe with the vodka and brandy combo and spent close to the our on the Internet and couldn't find what I wanted.  I figured it was our 4th batch and I'd just wing it when low and behold there was the book just sitting on the counter. I guess that was the universe knocking...um-mm lady please do use this recipe.  At least next year I can just search my blog for the recipe!