You know how, when you’re really hungry, all sorts of strange things start to look or sound appetizing?
When I lived year-round close to 40 miles from the end of a dirt road, I dreamed about all kinds of foods that were out of reach.
Sometimes, it would be hamburgers or candy, or …
boot leather.
Hmmm … jerky, anyone?

Photo by Ragesoss via Wikimedia Commons
Well, this time of year, I get such a yen for some good ol’ dirt-grown grub that I’m liable to think about nibbling on anything I can get my hands on.
(Hide the houseplants, here she comes.)

photo by James Rickwood via Wikimedia Commons
I get it, Bessie.
I really do.
I suppose that’s why a few odd foods caught my eye lately and made me say,
“I want to BITE that.”
Like, now.
To gain some perspective, I think I need to bounce my cravings off you, to see if you can relate to me the way I relate to Bessie.
So if you don’t mind, take a look and let me know if any of these peculiar crops induces the urge to indulge.
Samphire

Photo by Natalie-S via Wikimedia Commons
This succulent-looking wild veggie, common on sea coasts, is enjoyed by English enthusiasts who prefer it pickled.
Oca

Photo by Nzfauna S via Wikimedia Commons
Tangier and sweeter than potatoes, the flavor of this native Andean root has been described as almost fruitlike (I’d love to taste the “Apricot” variety, popular in New Zealand).
Fiddlehead

Photo by New Brunswick Tourism via Wikimedia Commons
One might migrate to Maine just to try these fabulous baby fern fronds (although you can probably find them closer to home). Northeasterners gather them in the woods and serve them fresh or boiled with mayonnaise and butter.
Tiger Nuts

Photo by Tamorlan via Wikimedia Commons
These tasty looking little nuggets aren’t actually nuts, they’re the tuberous roots of the chufa sedge plant. In Spain, they’re often soaked in warm water before eating and are used to make tiger-nut milk (like almond or cashew milk). I hear they have a sweet, nutty flavor … yum.
Romanesco

Photo by Aurelien Guichard via Wikimedia Commons
Don’t you just love the look of this captivating cauliflower variety? According to the folks at Mother Nature Network, the Romanesco’s spirals follow the Fibonacci sequence, which is a bit over my head, but not too sophisticated for my stomach.