First wild forage of 2025!

Behold, a partially eaten dryad's saddle, also known as pheasant back.

Eaten by insect, not me.

I held it upside down in one hand as I ran the last three miles.

Once in the kitchen, I dry-brushed it clean, cut it back to where the tender parts end (as with asparagus), and tossed the tough parts into the vegetable garden.

Sliced it into thin pieces, sautéed it in olive oil and garlic & herb butter until it was cooked through and beginning to crisp.

Chopped and tossed one spring onion into the pan and sautéed til limp, then stirred in two large eggs, slightly beaten. At this point, I ground in salt and pepper.

When the eggs were nearly cooked, I tossed in some baby spinach leaves and a chopped cherry tomato.

Didn't think to take a photo until it was halfway gone!

This mushroom's pretty easy to identify due to the pheasant-feather pattern on its top. I find and eat these regularly.

Both its common names are delightful. I prefer dryad’s saddle, because why not add a dash of mythology to one’s meal??

This large specimen was found along the Patapsco River in the Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland, about an hour south of my neck of the woods.

They're beginning to show up here in my neighborhood haunts, as well! My friend Carole found these yesterday…

…and ate them, like so…

Sausage on tortilla with spinach and dryad's saddle mushroom with balsamic glaze

Playing as I write these words: River Road by My Morning Jacket