I'll post more tomorrow. Right now, it's time for bed. Night, all!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Ramp Hunting!
We got a wild notion today and heading to the high mountains of West Virginia to seek the elusive ramp (or rampion or rapunzel, depending on your preference). Totally tired tonight, but totally satisfied too. Here's one of the photos I took today--more coming tomorrow.
Larry posed with a nice bunch. He did most of the digging--I had a lot of trouble getting down the very steep bank to the ramp patch and when I did find a place that I thought I could manage, it was about a half-mile from the ramps. Those mountains are steep in Webster County! Of course, I was a bit distracted by the wildflowers...
It was an awesome day, and even coming home to find the water was not working didn't ruin it. The big ol' storms that rumbled through this evening didn't either.
I'll post more tomorrow. Right now, it's time for bed. Night, all!
I'll post more tomorrow. Right now, it's time for bed. Night, all!
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See you in the morning, ok, see your post tomorrow. Night.
ReplyDeleteI don't ever remember trying these when I was growing up in WV but I would love to now. I don't think they grow this far west from what I've read though.
ReplyDeleteYour hunter looks very proud!
ReplyDeleteNever did that, but keep hearing about them. So, you're going to cook them? Let us know how that turns out.
ReplyDeleteGranny Sue: what are ramps? Whatever they are, I don't think I have them on Roundtop. Nice day for your adventure, too!
ReplyDeleteJenny, they are delicious when prepared right. I'd say they're more of an adult taste but I know a lot of kids who like them.
ReplyDeleteWarren, he was plumb tuckered! I caught him staring up at the trees and called his attention and I think he was surprised :)
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, ramps are a strong onion-type plant with broad leaves that tastes like a cross between onion and very strong garlic. If you eat them raw you will stink for days--literally. People consider them a spring tonic and there are ramp feasts all over the place in the spring. Ramps don't grow where I live so we have to get them elsewhere. Which I don't mind because it means a trip into some beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteI like to dry them, Ronda. I chop them up, spread them on cookie sheets and put them in my oven with the pilot light on. It dries them perfectly in just a few days. We always make a few batches of friend potatoes and ramps too--it's a springtime must. Absolutely delicious! That's for dinner tonight--ramps and potatoes, scrambled eggs and asparagus. If Larry gets lucky, we'll have molly moochers, too (morel mushrooms) and maybe sassafras tea.
ReplyDeleteI bet those wild flowers smelled prettier than those ramps did!
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty I've never tasted them.
I've heard plenty of tales of the men going to hunt them and the women having to cook them and all the smelly stories about them. I like onions but it sounds like ramps are pretty potent.
I think the stories are bigger than the actuality, Jessica. They do smell, and if someone eats them raw, look out. But cooked they are not so potent, and really have an interesting flavor. I don't like them parboiled, which is how many ramp dinners serve them. I like them best like we had them tonight--fried with potatoes.
ReplyDeleteSue, I have never had ramps nor ever expect to, really -- but any ol' wild flower catches my eye. What is this little red beauty? Is it a trillium (sp?) I have a white one and a yellow one. What is the name of a red one? Always, every day, enjoy your posts. Tell Larry "Perk up quick!" and how is that cabin room coming along??"
ReplyDeleteI know that ramps are powerful things but surely they can be overpowered without resorting to that huge stick that West Virginia's Finest is holding.
ReplyDelete