Anyone else into mushrooming?

[661-Pete]

We're well and truly into the season now, we got a bag of about 1 lb ceps, plus about 12 oz of assorted others (mostly 'hedgehogs') as a result of yesterday's walk through the woods. Not a huge haul, one might argue, but just about right for us, the ceps went into a delicious cep+potato au gratin last night, and the others will make up a risotto tonight. And almost all worm-free!

I think the reason for our modest bag may be that others had picked clean the area before us. I saw all the signs - cut stalks strewn about the ground. Ah well, mustn't grumble, especially when indulging in a hobby I really enjoy - big bag or small bag!

 

[numbnuts]

My first wife died of eating wild mushrooms, the second wife died of a broken neck, well she wouldn’t eat the mushrooms.......I’II get me coat

 

[661-Pete]

My first wife died of eating wild mushrooms, the second wife died of a broken neck, well she wouldn’t eat the mushrooms.......I’II get me coat

Love the 'IGMC' smiley!

Should you have the urge to 'dispose' of Mrs NN #3 in the same manner, I can guide you to one or two good stands of A. phalloides in my local area.....

[only kidding]

 

[summerdays]

Not done it since I was a child, but would love to go on an organised mushroom hunt. My home economics teacher wasn't impressed the time my mum forgot to get the mushrooms for the recipe and instead sent me in with some kind of puff ball like thing instead that she managed to forage.

 

[longers]

I bought a book a few years ago with the intention of collecting them for tea but it did a very good job of putting me off by doing a very good job of highlighting the risks and similarities between some good ones and some bad ones.

Going out with someone would have been a better way to learn.

 

[661-Pete]

Not done it since I was a child, but would love to go on an organised mushroom hunt. My home economics teacher wasn't impressed the time my mum forgot to get the mushrooms for the recipe and instead sent me in with some kind of puff ball like thing instead that she managed to forage.

If perchance it was a giant puffball (Langermannia gigantea syn. Calvatia gigantea) she sent you in with, that was an opportunity wasted - she should have kept the whole thing for the family! Absolutely delectable, but you don't cook it like ordinary mushrooms, best is to peel, slice, coat slices with batter and fry like schnitzel. Only use if flesh is still white. Delicious!

 

[Hover Fly]

Yep, often go out with Mme HF and the in-laws,we find all sorts round here. The strange thing is I found some shaggy caps behind Sauternes church once. The in-laws swore blind they aren't edible, so I had them for breakfast, it turns out they didn't think they are edible because they react violently with alcohol.

 

[661-Pete]

Yep, often go out with Mme HF and the in-laws,we find all sorts round here. The strange thing is I found some shaggy caps behind Sauternes church once. The in-laws swore blind they aren't edible, so I had them for breakfast, it turns out they didn't think they are edible because they react violently with alcohol.

If they were the genuine shaggy caps Coprinus comatus, then no, no problem with alcohol at all. They must have been thinking of the smooth ink-cap C. atramentarius which does contain a substance which doesn't go with alcohol (and was at one time used in treatment of alcoholism I believe). I would advise, avoid the second species altogether, it should be marked 'suspect' and is not worth collecting anyway. But C. comatus is excellent eating.

 

[Hacienda71]

I would love to have the confidence to pick wild mushrooms. Tend to stick to sweet chestnuts and berries when they are around.

 

[Blackandblue]

You'll find this article useful then...


Mushroom recipes

 

[spire]

I have a very big crop of amanita muscaria but I have resisted all temptation to experiment with them.

 

[Fnaar]

I... But C. comatus is excellent eating.

Far too close to 'comatose' for my liking!!

 

[stavros]

I hear some Italian males would trade their wives for a basket of Ceps. Forget that - they can have mine for nowt.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I don't seem to be able to sort (ie identify) out wild mushrooms very well. I have even had to check that the usual field mushrooms (you all know - like in the shops) are OK with someone who knows. For me it's berries and things. I do get mushrooms in the lawn grass in the spring which I have been told are edible (is it St George's day mushrooms?) but I don't risk those either.

 

[theclaud]

It was a perfect shrooming morning, but unfortunately I had to go to work. On the way I found this beautiful and somewhat phallic Tawny Grisette. They are notionally edible, but I don't dice with Amanitas