sauteed fiddleheads

If you were stranded in the forest, looking for foods on which to survive, you might want to invest in a cell phone. You can get them pretty cheap these days. But, if you don't have one and you are stranded, you should look out for fiddleheads. Mainly if you are stranded in the forests of Eastern Canada or the Northeastern United States. And you have to be stranded in those first few weeks of early spring.

Because it is at this time that ferns send their shoots just above ground, ready to unfurl into new fronds. And they are edible and delicious! Plus, foraging for wild foods like morels, ramps and fiddleheads is very "in" right now, so you will be the coolest stranded hiker around. Just remember, don't pick more than three or four shoots if you don't want to kill the plant. That's probably something you will definitely be worried about while fighting for your own life.

Or you can pay $10 a pound for them at Whole Foods, which is what I did. We didn't have them in the midwest (although we did have morels, which you can buy on the side of the road if you are traveling trough Michigan), so when we moved to Massachusetts I wanted to make sure to get my hands on some when they came into season. And a half pound was just enough for two people.

You don't need a recipe for fiddleheads. You just saute them in some olive oil with salt, pepper, garlic and a spray of lemon juice. That's all you need. Some people steam them and serve them with homemade mayonnaise. Some people just buy asparagus (which is pretty much what they taste like). Look for fiddleheads that are tightly rolled. If the stem end is brown, chop that off.

If you can find them, enjoy them! Or use them to survive! Although it may be too late in the season now. I should have posted this a few weeks ago. Remember all of this for next year.