Today is the official start of our summer vacation- yay! Nothing signifies the start of summer like the emergence of the fiddleheads. I spent the morning in a delightfully meditative state, foraging for the special green beauties. My Alaskan friends and I agree: there is something deeply primal about heading out into the woods and gathering wild plants. It just feels right. It's also amazing to come home with bags full of nutrient dense vegetation. 

Not only are fiddleheads beautiful and tasty, they are also a nutrition powerhouse! According to LiveStrong.com , fiddleheads are a fine source of Vitamin A, Vitamin, C, niacin, riboflavin, phosphorous and iron. 

Today I am sharing my favorite fiddlehead recipe: pesto! I used toasted pumpkin seeds, but feel free to substitute whatever you have on hand (pinenuts, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc). Remember to begin by blanching your fiddleheads in boiling water for about two minutes, followed by an ice bath. 

As I mentioned yesterday, we are currently in the midst of fiddlehead harvesting. After work we headed back out to the river for another picking session. Even Tom finds fiddlehead collecting satisfying because they fill the container quickly!