Foraging Dinner at PA’s Awbury Arbouretum: Young birch sorbet

Instructions

1. Chop branches coarsely with a cleaver, sharp heavy knife, or small ax.
2. Simmer branches with vanilla bean in cold water to cover for 30 minutes. Let cool.
3. Strain out branches, and add 2 cups of the liquid to the sugar, and heat until sugar dissolves.
4. Put birch mixture and lemon juice into an ice cream maker, and follow manufacturer's instructions to make sorbet.
5. Serve sorbet on a bed of berries sprinkled with minced licorice greens or mint.