VERY IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: A lot of foods have very similar look-alikes, be very cautious about trying any of these and do your own research.

Chicken of the woods

Starting off strange is the shelf mushroom Chicken of the Woods. This tasty mushroom is found all over the state and is most commonly found on Oaks and Green Ash trees (1). Like the name suggests, these tasty fungi taste like chicken when cooked (2).

Be warned! It is not safe to consume when raw and has some similar looking mushrooms including: Velvet-Top fungi and the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom.

Dandelions

You heard correctly, this common weed can also make a tasty treat! Some common recipes include Dandelion Tea, Dandelion Jelly, and Dandelion Vinegar (3). It can also be sprinkled on top of salads. 

However, if allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, daisies, or iodine, it’s best to avoid these flowers.

Honeysuckle

There are many recipes that use honeysuckle, most famously Honeysuckle syrup. However, another way to enjoy this tasty flower is straight from the bush.

 Simply pluck a white flower off the bush, pinch off the green end, and suck the bottom of the flower and if you are lucky you will get some sweet nectar (5). The best part of this plant is that you don’t have to worry about eating too many and destroying the plant because they are invasive!

REMEMBER: Make sure you are one hundred percent sure you know what you are eating and do your own research!

1 – https://www.google.com/search?q=where+is+chicken+of+the+woods+found+map&source=lmns&bih=617&biw=1366&rlz=1CARWXF_enUS1018&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0xt_dpv_9AhXh38kDHcseDyoQ0pQJKAB6BAgBEAI&safe=active&ssui=on 

2 – https://www.allrecipes.com/article/cooking-chicken-of-the-woods/#:~:text=What%20Does%20Chicken%20of%20the,vegetarian%20or%20vegan%20meal%20options. 

3 – https://thenerdyfarmwife.com 

4 – https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/dandelion#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20allergic%20to,may%20also%20irritate%20the%20skin. 

5 –@blackforager on instagram