Foodies' Roundtable: Mountain Morels, Aging Elk Meat & Foraging Season Recap

Explicit content warning

12/06/24 • 120 min

In this episode of the Year of Plenty Podcast, Chef Will Morton and Spencer Freehling join Poldi Wieland for a Foodies Roundtable that’s all about celebrating the outdoors through food. Chef Will is a professional chef with a specialty in wild game and fermentation, while Spencer is a professional photographer and videographer in the hunting and fishing industry. Both are passionate foragers, outdoorsmen, and food enthusiasts. Together, they share their experiences and expertise from the past foraging season, dive into creative culinary techniques, and explore the untapped potential of wild ingredients.
Episode Overview:

A wild mushroom foraging season recap, including lessons learned.
Hunting for the elusive black mountain morel mushroom and why it’s so special.
How Chef Will pickles mushrooms without using oil.
Tips for preserving chanterelles and other mushrooms for long-term use.
Wild plants and mushrooms we want to forage for in 2025.
The art of making vinegar, plus an inside look at Chef Will’s specialty vinegar business.
How Chef Will ages wild game meat using dry and wet aging techniques.
A gear breakdown: the best vacuum sealers for outdoorsmen.
Exploring unique ingredients like beaver meat, beaver tail, and cooking with beaver fat.

Use code “yearofplenty ” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.comMY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out
Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.
Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysHpvJYDstQ
Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty
Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter
Subscribe to the Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@yearofplentyvideo
Do you follow the podcast on social media yet?
IG: https://www.instagram.com/poldiwieland/
X: https://x.com/yearofplentypod
I want to hear from you! Take the LISTENER SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZW53R
Connect with Chef Will:
https://www.willymos.com/Connect with Spencer:
https://www.instagram.com/s.freehling/?hl=en

A wild mushroom foraging season recap, including lessons learned.
Hunting for the elusive black mountain morel mushroom and why it’s so special.
How Chef Will pickles mushrooms without using oil.
Tips for preserving chanterelles and other mushrooms for long-term use.
Wild plants and mushrooms we want to forage for in 2025.
The art of making vinegar, plus an inside look at Chef Will’s specialty vinegar business.
How Chef Will ages wild game meat using dry and wet aging techniques.
A gear breakdown: the best vacuum sealers for outdoorsmen.
Exploring unique ingredients like beaver meat, beaver tail, and cooking with beaver fat.

Previous Episode

Wild Apple Foraging Masterclass: Crabapples, Feral Apples, and Their Uses

In this episode, we explore the world of wild apple foraging, with a focus on crabapples and feral apples found across the U.S. This masterclass is packed with practical tips for identifying, harvesting, and using wild apples. We dive into their fascinating history, genetic diversity, and how to make the most of these unique fruits in your kitchen.
Episode Overview:

The history of wild apples and why there is so much genetic diversity
Key differences between feral apples and crabapples
How to identify native and non-native crabapples in the wild
Where to find wild apples and when to harvest them
Techniques for processing crabapples and preserving their flavor
Creative recipes for crabapples to try at home

Use code “yearofplenty ” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.comMY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out
Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.
Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkuPRjeg-eM
Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty
Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter
Subscribe to the Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@yearofplentyvideo
Do you follow the podcast on social media yet?
IG: https://www.instagram.com/poldiwieland/
X: https://x.com/yearofplentypod
I want to hear from you! Take the LISTENER SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZW53R

Next Episode

5 Plants To Forage For In Winter

This episode is a Youtube livestream recording where we cover 5 wild edible plants to forage for in winter here in North America. Come join us and learn about these amazing edible plants so that you can start foraging for them yourself. No need to be one of those foragers that hibernates in the winter!
What plants do we cover in this episode?

Foraging for wild rose (how to harvest rose hips in winter)
Foraging for pine bark
Foraging for watercress in winter
Foraging for the common hackberry in winter
Foraging for persimmons in North America

Use code “yearofplenty ” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.comMY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out
Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.
Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/JIbUSjxQfOA?si=FjO7d5BiPyFam8fP
Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty
Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter
Subscribe to the Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@yearofplentyvideo
Do you follow the podcast on social media yet?
IG: https://www.instagram.com/poldiwieland/
X: https://x.com/yearofplentypod
I want to hear from you! Take the LISTENER SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZW53R