Morels!

  
     We didn't find any.  The afternoon was still a success, however, as I was able to get enough greens together (mostly Virginia water leaf and violet leaves and blossoms, but also a few sprigs of dandelion) for a nice spring salad.    
     The site was Thunder Woman County Park in Black Hawk County along the Cedar River.  The area is flooded right now but green stuff is coming up and blooming.  An associate and I carried plastic grocery bags and scoured the ground with our eyes looking for morels.  Like I said, we didn't find any, but it was a beautiful spring day and we swapped stories about what's blooming where at this time of year and what kind of foraged plants we've eaten and how we cooked it and if we liked it and all that jazz that nerdy nature people do when they are out foraging.  Aside from food, there were quite a few objects tossed around by people and the river.  A couple treasures I spotted are 1. a nice glass saying "Robert River Rides.  Quad City Queen.  Spirit of Dubuque.  Mississippi Belle 11" which will make a nice vase should I ever desire to plop some flowers into it and 2. a GINORMOUS snail shell (the biggest I have ever seen on an Iowa river) that looks like it had something go to town getting at the critter that used to call the shell home.  Here are my treasures.

     So pretty!

     So back home with my bounty I went.  I had some chicken brining (I have been informed that this will completely transform my cheap frozen chicken breasts).  I made an Asian inspired coating and baked the chicken and then tossed it in a spicy glaze.  Turned out good.  For my spring greens I made a quick honey-mustard vinaigrette which was DELICIOUS.  Will need to remember what all I put in it.  Also steamed some broccoli and cauliflower for good measure.  Went fancy tonight.

  Alas, now it is finals week (the reason I haven't posted anything in a long time is because of homework) and I need to write a paper now.  The fact that I actually made real food during finals weeks is just weird.  Usually finals week is pizza and pb&j time.  Although, I do want cookies.  Cuz it's finals week.  And cookies are good.

Also, congratulations to Erin and Rich King on their newest addition Audrey who joined her brother Owen today!  Happy Birthday, Audrey!