for those that hunt them we found a few 2 days ago in northern part of the state.
for those that dont know what they are-http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...m/IMG_1710.jpg
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for those that hunt them we found a few 2 days ago in northern part of the state.
for those that dont know what they are-http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...m/IMG_1710.jpg
Wish you lived closer! Saw about 15 of those last weekend. If I had someone to show and tell, I would eat them!
I tried chanterelle mushrooms last month for the first time. Cooked with pork loin, yum yum. Spotted a big sulphur mushroom growing on a decaying oak log on a neighbor's yard this past week. Also saw 2 big fresh puffballs in my orchard yesterday. I have not tried either of the last 2 mentioned here. Thanks for sharing the pics. So what ways do you cook the puff balls RS?
HHD
I LOVE mushrooms, in fact just had some store bought white buttons I sauteed and melted some Swiss cheese over the top for lunch. Although I had no idea you could eat puffballs. As for chanterelle's, they are awesome!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redge
you cant mistake a good one from a bad one. the good ones are just like white bread on the inside. real soft and white. the bad ones look like fake snowballs(Styrofoam) on the inside with open chambers. really no similarities. read up on them a bit. a couple is all a guy need for the season.
HHD, i usually dip them in seasoned egg and water then fry them in skillet with some butter. kinda like an egg filled with mushroom. lol i dont like to fiddle with wet batters but thats a good way too. onion ring batter works good. i have brushed them with melted butter seasoned and grilled them. that was good too. an old timer told me to cook them like mashed potatoes but i couldnt get it rite. :dono had a neighbor that liked them raw in her salads. i have eaten them raw but that was even less favor to me.
puffballs are very mild in flavor. make sure they are all white inside. no color at all. no open chambers, fresh smelling and moist. slice about an inch thick and peel the rind off, thats it. dont try to wash them they are like a sponge. also only use as much butter as needed because they will soak it up and give you the hikers. lol try one after you read up on them, you mite like them, you mite not. they are very safe as far as shrooms go though.
here is one that just went bad.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...adpuffball.jpg if i only would have found it a day or two earlier. look close you will see it has greenish yellow tint to it, when cut. that means its too late. they have to be pure white. sure there will be dirt spots or worm holes but the meat needs be firm and white.
HHD those look good!!!! whats the taste similar too? i have never tried them or the sulfur shelf kind.
Thanks for this information RS. I've been wanting to try a these for awhile.
Thanks RS! I'll do some reading.
RS, I haven't eaten the chanterelles by themselves and can't speak for that, as I have always had them as an addition to a meat dish and of course they absorb and enhance the flavor of the meat. They are somewhat firm in texture. Eating them with pork as you see in the picture made a believer out of me, lol. I tried to read up on how to preserve them and everyone said not to dehydrate them. Some people just chop them up and freeze in a bag of water like some people do fish. I put some in the freezer that way to experiment later.
Funny thing was that today while I was eating lunch, I got a knock on my door...and there was a neighbor I had never met before holding a plastic dish pan with this big shelf mushroom he found in his woods. He had been around to 3-4 other neighbors trying to identify it. It looked like a picture of chicken of the woods I have seen. We discussed our trepidation in trying new mushrooms without expert identification, neither of us wanting to have to get a liver transplant. I did see the following about chicken of the woods....
"some people have an adverse reaction to this mushroom. A small percentage of those who try it experience nausea, vomiting, swollen lips, or other gastrointestinal unpleasantness. For this reason it's important to just try just a little bit of this mushroom the first time to see how it makes you feel. Don't scarf down an entire chicken as you may regret it!"
HHD
i read that shelfs found on some trees, like hemlocs, can take toxins from the tree. most i find in our woods are on some kind of thorn trees. im not a tree guy so i stay away. im sure i am missing out on some good eats.
I like hen of the woods more than any other wild mushroom. Great taste and texture, and I've shared with many who are blown away when I tell them it's relatively unknown. I store by freezing in water, and the only negative is that they hold a lot of bugs so you have to wash them well.
i never looked for them hightide. ill read up a bit and try to find some. thanks for the push.
i read i looked but none found. been dry the last 2 weeks up here though. still plenty of time. i did however find one of my biggest puffballs. found a patch of about 12 another patch of 6 and another of 10. they were all too far gone. had to bring this one home for a photo anyhow. lol
measured 44 1/4" aroundhttp://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...m/IMG_2700.jpg
Holy cow....got a big enough skillet for a slice of that one? I am trying to imagine the cloud of spores that one would put out when I run over it with my lawnmower. On second thought, it would probably wreck my lawnmower. When I was a kid working in Xmas trees, we used to smack unsuspecting co-workers up the side of the head with old puffballs and boy could the spore throw up a cloud, marking your direct hit....lol.
Also, too dry down here... but wouldn' t mind finding one of those hen of the woods after watching some videos on cooking them.
HHD
We eat morels never tried the puff balls had a ton of them earlier my Dad had 8 of them in his front yard. Looked like you sliced and fried em.
yes, slice peel dip n fry. make sure they are very fresh. all white inside without hollow pores i have found a truckload that were too old this year. just too busy to get out every day. some people like them some not. they arent a strong flavored shroom.
here is another way to try them too. more shroom flavor this way.
1 can cream of mushroom soup
mushroom chunks (i use about 2 soup can full)
1 egg, beaten
Cracker crumbs (i use unsalted then salt more if needed)
season with what you like but dont overpower the mix.
Mix together adding enough cracker crumbs to make a mixture like a salmon patty mixture. Form in small patties. Fry in butter until brown. i have also put this mix in muffin pans and baked. they dont last long at partys ill tell ya that. try it with portobelos all year long!
found some chicken of the woods the other day. i have known what they were but never had the nerve to try them. well i cant believe i have passed on them all these years! man they were great! i sauteed them in butter with seasonings till browned. tasted like chicken and mushroom combined. i urge you all to try some, you wont be disappointed. there arent any look alike poison ones just some tree restrictions. read up and go get some!
I tried to tell ya :).... leave some for me!Quote:
Originally Posted by river scum
HT, i never have found any "hen of the woods". but when i do ill be sure and collect it! chicken of the woods/sulfur shelf is different than hen. at least that is my understanding.