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Well, thanks to a recent cool dry spell after lots of warm rainy weather all the mushrooms near us are raring to go! I went out for a forage-y cycle yesterday and got some Chanterelles, a couple of decent sized parasol mushrooms, and three good sized mosaic puffballs (calvatia utriformis). I breadcrumbed and deep fried some of the parasols (nice), also the puffballs (not really sure about them, the flavour wasn't all that... Anyone else any opinions on them?) and used the chanterelles in a risotto- yum!

Not a bad start!

Here's hoping for a fruitful season for all ishy mushroom hunters!

Kate

Yup, me too. But fortunately kind neighbours often bring me a few horse mushrooms from a field down the lane.

Green Aura wrote:Yup, me too. But fortunately kind neighbours often bring me a few horse mushrooms from a field down the lane.

I have neighbours like yours, and their son is a wiz at finding cepes, "sorry I don't know the english name" so he brings us enough every year for us to conserve. God bless "Good Neighbours"

Wow, fantastic haul Kit-e-Kate. Good for you. Re puffballs, they’re not a particularly robust flavoured mushroom. The younger ones remind me of plain egg white or tofu whereas older specimens that are starting to near the end of their culinary usefulness tend to have a slightly unappetising essence of wet Labrador about them. They certainly benefit from mixing with stronger flavours. I use small puffballs fried in butter and salt before adding them to a frittata or as part of a mixed mushroom medley on toast. Bigger specimens can be sliced, coated in breadcrumbs or oats and fried in butter. When they’ve flattened down in the pan you could cover with frizzled smoked bacon bits and melt grated cheese over the top before popping them in a crusty bread roll and eating like a burger. I love them like that..

Carltonian Man wrote:The younger ones remind me of plain egg white or tofu whereas older specimens that are starting to near the end of their culinary usefulness tend to have a slightly unappetising essence of wet Labrador about them.

Yeah the texture seemed ok, but i think they were probably quite mature- there was a slight wet dog tang to them!