Ryall, M. E. (11 July 2007). Shell Lake's cattail pollen biscuits. Washburn County Register, p. 28.

Shell Lake's cattail pollen biscuits

By Mary Ellen Ryall

Last week I was walking by the Park Alliance Church, at the corner of 3rd Street and Sand Road, and noticed a patch of common cattail growing in a ditch. Some were coming into full pollination. With a zip lock bag, I returned to the site within hours and gathered the golden, delicious, flour type food.

I lightly tapped the cattail stalks over a zip lock bag and the golden pollen spilled within. Some bakers strain the pollen first before adding it to a recipe. A pinch is all that is needed. Cattail pollen gathering is fun. In the past, I have gathered the pollen with an elder, Henrietta Nelson, of Minong. The Ojibwa Indians know the value of pollen including cattail pollen and continue to use this gift of nature in recipes today. A word of caution: Leslie Ramczyk, botanist, Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, told me that some people might be allergic to pollen.

Cattail Pollen Biscuit Recipe (14-15 biscuits):

Make a batch of biscuits according to the recipe. Turn the pollen zip lock bag inside out over the biscuit bowl, and the pollen will scatter over the batter. Mix the pollen into the batter. Follow baking instructions. Golden cattail pollen biscuits add pizzazz to any ordinary biscuit presentation.