Do you see the Ramps in this picture?

In a previous post I stated that ramps are very easy to find when they first appear. However, that may not be the best time to pick them. Ramps develops in flavor and bulbs get larger as the season progresses. When the ideal time comes to harvest ramps finding them is not easy. I harvested some beautiful ramps yesterday from this patch. It is thick with ramps. Do you see them. If walking thru the woods would you be able to spot them? It would be difficult for anyone. I actually spotted this patch 3 weeks ago from the other side of the lake while in the mountainside, at least a half mile away.

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Spring Soda Syrup

Made three Flavors of soda syrup today. Made with real organic fruit, cane sugar and fresh mountain spring water. Citrus: grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange. Rhubarb. And Dandelion.
All 3 are absolutely delicious. Dandelion takes tangy and light like spring sunshine.

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How are Ramps Found? When and Where?

ImageEarly in the Spring as Winter is waning, the first sign of spring, the first patch of emerald green, ramps make their grand entrance in announcement of the coming bounty. For about a week, proudly making themselves know, ramps are one of the only things that are green. They can be seen for a great distance covering a forest hillside, gentle slopes of a brook bed, tucked within rock formations. Ramps like cool moist forest and woods. From my experience there is alway some form of running water present. The ramps are not in the water nor too near it, but the flowing water offers something to these lilies. Image

Many times these young sweet wild leeks are too small to very culinary effective. However, the young ramps are sweet with tender leaves, the bulbs are neither large nor spicy enough to warrant good pickles. A good seasoned ramp hunter who is on the search for new patches takes not of the new green other than a taste or a snack for dinner. A mental note is made upon the location and ideally harvest will be in 2-4 weeks. It is best to allow the ramps to grow.

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Tomorrow: How to Properly Harvest Ramps.

Hoosier Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Indiana is home of the fried pork tenderloin sandwich. One of the most famous pork tenderloin sandwich is from Gnaw Bone, Indiana. Yes the town is named Gnaw Bone. It consists of a few house, a flea market, a junk shop and a gas station. It is at the gas station where the world famous Gnaw Bone pork tenderloin is served. Yes, it is world famous. Deep fried cutlet served on a hamburger bun with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

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