Nothing makes you feel more like a Michigander than finding your first morel in the great outdoors. Springtime in Michigan welcomes in a warm sweet-scented breeze to thaw the bitter cold off everything. The fresh air is filled with the aroma of wild flowers in bloom and can provide the energy of a child. Take a hike through the woods and you are sure to catch a whiff of that damp earthy mushroom patch. Michigan is famous for the morels every spring provides. Found almost everywhere in Michigan, if you look hard enough. Mushroom hunters set out with empty satchels to scour every ridge and may return bearing pounds of the fresh fungi. Those who find plentifully fetch top dollar so everyone can enjoy the rare oddity nature can produce.
Clean ripe morels sautéed in butter and garlic make the perfect topping for a Ribeye grilled just the way you like it. Stuff the largest ones with spicy sausage and cream cheese, then coat with a breading and fry to crispy. Purists simply toast over an open fire and slice atop a warm brat for a summer treat that will have you out hunting for more in no time.
Weather you find one or fifty, that sweet morel will grow a smile on your face. Depending on the time of year you may find black, yellow or white morels. Morels range in size from 2 inches to several inches tall and are always hollow on the inside. There are also false morels which very closely resemble the real thing, you must know precisely what to look for to identify the real deal.
TAKE CAUTION: Foraging is dangerous!
~Always use reliable field guides specific to your area with colored illustrations.
~Thoroughly clean everything you find in the wild and cook as necessary.
~Always leave some of what you are picking in tact so they can complete the reproduction process and return for years to come.
