Sassafras Tea

July 12, 2017 by Robert McConnell in Roots

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a fairly common tree that grows from east Texas to southern Maine. It is easily identified by the three distinct shapes of the leaves. The leaves will either be in the shape of an oval, mitten, or 3-lobed. The unmistakable “spicy” or “root beer” smell of a freshly broken branch is another unmistakable characteristic. It’s often enjoyable to snap off a sprig of Sassafras and chew it while trekking through the green canopy of the eastern U.S.

Blackberry Picking Tips and a Delicious Crisp Recipe

May 03, 2017 by Robert McConnell in Roots

With the warmer weather, comes thoughts of the wild edibles that will soon be popping up across the Country. In Texas, we have already seen a good blackberry crop. In this short video, Ellen describes a blackberry picking hack that her great uncle, Lou Zupancic, showed her. It is a simple and easy way to pick berries faster. Check out our favorite blackberry crisp recipe below the video.

The Persimmon Debacle: A Journey of Failure

March 01, 2017 by Ellen Dortenzo in Roots

Upon tasting my first persimmon, I had a vision for preserving this sweet, creamy fruit. I imagined a thick, apricot colored jam, filled with exotic spices and smeared on warm sourdough bread. It took two years to attempt this vision, a vision that was met with a reality check.

A December Hunt for Wild Edibles in the Pineywoods of Texas

January 04, 2017 by Robert McConnell in Roots

I was delighted when my sister, Madi, called me to say that she and her boyfriend, Ross, were coming down to visit us in Texas. They were coming in from Fairbanks, Alaska. It was the second week in December when they arrived, and the weather was wet and cold by Texas standards.