Are they KOSHER or not?

They’re back: 17-year cicadas swarm from Georgia to New York.

The Most Scrumptious Cicadas ever. The bug hunt begins when the young cicadas, known as nymphs, burrow up from underground. The best time to collect cicadas is during the evening hours when the nymphs are climbing tree trunks After emerging they will nest on the sides of trees, in shrubbery or even on the sides of the house.

These young cicada nymphs are most delicious according to sellers of such insect snacks such as SmallStock Food Strategies, a supplier of insect-based foods. Immediately after emergence, and before the cicadas’ shells haven’t hardened. The pale greenish-white insects are as soft as crab meat and have a taste similar to asparagus.

Young cicada nymphs are the most delicious, according to the owner.

In Europe, Dutch scientists doing groundbreaking research into insects replacing animal meat as a healthier, more environmentally friendly source of protein.
“There will come a day when a Big Mac costs 120 euros ($163) and a Bug Mac 12 euros when more people will eat insects than other meat,” head researcher Arnold van Huis told a disbelieving audience at Wageningen University in the central Netherlands

The best way to start is to try in once. At the University lunch counter there is a sprint for the snack table for a spread of Thai marinated grasshopper spring rolls, buffalo worm chocolate ganache and insect pastries, just like a quiche but made up of mealworms instead of bacon or ham. Heck, I was doing that decades ago  Follow down to my written and rejected suggestion to McDonald’s. (McCrickits)

As ahead of the time I was over 500 types of insects are eaten in Mexico, Africa, China and Asia where they are viewed as a delicacy.

McCricket – or not?

Once in a while, I would try things that my daughters would draw a line at. I used to be a beekeeper, and often did munch on melt-in-your-mouth fried bee larva.
That memory inspired this recipe and was much rawer and certainly much fresher a few decades ago. Two Pt. Townsend friends were helping me divide Astilbes. Strawberry root weevils had been found within.

John and I were squashing the little devils when we noticed April (Jain Buddhist that she is) was making a neat pile of them by her side. When asked what she should do with them — John reached over and popped them into his mouth. I asked, how were they? “Quite good!” I reached over and did the same.

April, was never quite the same after that … then again I have a way with women. Other cultures around the world accept insects as a healthy ingredient in their diets, providing an excellent source of protein. “Insects are an inexpensive substitute for meat in many developing countries. In Mexico, grasshoppers and other edible insects are sold by the pound in village markets and are fried before being eaten. Many are sold in cans as fried grasshoppers, chocolate covered ants, etc. Tortillas are served with red and white agave worms in many Mexico city restaurants.”

DeFoliart, retired Entomologist at the University of Wisconsin, prefers the greater wax moth larvae (deep-fried will melt in your mouth, tasting like bacon) and crickets deep-fried have a crunchy, tangy flavor. He feels the honey bee has a good chance of becoming an American bug food. A pound of honey bees is about 3,500 bees. They can be put in an oven at low heat for eight hours and then used in flour for cookies. Some feel insect popcorn, using crickets, would be a new theater treat.

I totally agree and must have been on the same wavelength when I once wrote McDonald’s that they could really hop on the environmental wagon if they would only start serving McCrickets. Soy flavored, garlic fried, SauerCricket or with barbecue sauce.

insects are cheap, tasty and a good natural protein source requiring less land and feed than raising cows or pigs. Many insects are far cleaner than other creatures. For example, grasshoppers and crickets eat fresh, clean, green plants whereas crabs, lobsters and catfish eat any kind of foul, decomposing material as scavengers. 

On the lighter desert side, you have chocolate covered ants, crickets, and even worms. Light, dark and bitter chocolate. Your choice.