Like star crossed lovers, Meeester and Misssy held hands as they passed into drowsy sleep not knowing if they would see another day. Who knew what the night would bring?
So, it’s mushroom hunting time in the vicinity of the Village of the Flying Martinis. Hooray! As much fun as it all is, and as many books you have read on the subject, there’s always that element of doubt.
Poisoning is such a medieval kick ass way to go, that's what I say. And wild mushrooms are GOOD!
It was not exactly a bumper crop this year, as it turned out. I was also disappointed to discover that my fourteen week old puppy does not have a natural ability for truffle hunting. Bah! Shoulda bought a pig.
A wet summer is good for the production of fungi, but apparently equally as important is a little warmth. It has not been warm in these parts for a couple of years now. It’s only a matter of time before some khaki suited anthropologist turns up here to make a documentary about the "Tribe that Lives Without Sunshine".
Despite the less than ideal mushie growing conditions, I was delighted to come away with a haul of some Chanterelles, lots of Hedgehogs, a couple of Ceps and a little Blusher. See below for photos of all in case you want to try a little Woodland Roulette yourselves (but don’t come crying to me if you die).
Cep
Chanterelle
Blusher
Hedgehog
HedgehogMy personal top tip is to look for nibble marks of little animals on some of the mushrooms. If the animals can eat them, then so can you. Obviously, if there is a stiff dead mouse lying next to the batch you are investigating with foam dribbling out the side of his gaping mouth, then I'd move on.
We ate the mushrooms fried with some garlic butter and parsley on toast, but not without first teaching the kids how to contact the ambulance service and showing them where the insurance documents were stashed. The kids don't like mushrooms so we were assured of the continuance of the Flying Martini blood-line.
“Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall says only ever collect mushrooms if you’ve been on a course,” warns my sister.
“What rubbish. He’s only saying that because he’s got an online course he wants to punt,” say I.
“Yeah, fuck him. I say, chow ‘em down,” she immediately recants.
And they were excellent, I must say. If we were French or Italian, we’d all be out there snapping them up. But since we’re not, there’s plenty around for those game enough to get out there and collect them for tea.
All the same, on Sunday morning both Meeester and Misssy say the same thing as they wake up from a good night’s sleep.
“We’re ALIVE!!!”
Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall not endorsing any advice given in this blog, yesterday.
11 comments:
Sack the mushrooms. I want puppy pics.
You know, I would stick one up but he's such a little livewire, you can't get a decent photo of him. Always on the move. I am currently hunting for a puppy training class and it is bound to be blogworthy. I will cram the resulting post full of pics. Just for you.
Sounds like a tasty adventure! I'm glad you survived the experience!
Mushroom picking is a big thing out here and it scares the bejeesus out of me. There is one here (no idea what it's called) that you have to boil three times (THREE TIMES!) before it is edible. Why, in the name of all things not poisonous, would you risk it?
The learning process behind the 3 time boilers intrigues me however. Which poor sods had to eat the first and second batch and why, after someone died from eating a mushroom boiled twice, would you think "oh, lets give it one more try and see what happens."?
All very strange stuff. glad to see you still alive :)
They are a tasty snack indeed, and getting them free probably makes them tastier. Ever had a magic one?
Scot: Yup! Still here.
Wifie: Ha! Ha!I thought all Finnish food was boiled three times. No?
Gorilla: There are tons of magic mushrooms around the lawns and fields up here this time of year. I tried them once years ago and didn't think they were all that. You need to eat a lot before any effects.
I once ate far too many magic mushrooms in Bali back in 1981 and went on a trip of such hellish proportions. Now I stick to Chanterelles.
I was mentioning this very subject yesterday to swmbo. We have loads of mushrooms in the area, some growing on trees on the drive. I never know the difference(if there is any) between mushies and toadstools.
Incidentally I had some Heinz cream of mushroom soup for lunch today and thought to myself, there's no real way you could tell if this was off or not. It tastes stale when fresh.
I degress.
As for the puppy training i'm pretty sure there's something of that ilk in kingswells. I know they have an agility thing out there.
btk
Ms Robinson: Good idea. Who the hell wants to hallucinate, anyway? I eat too much cheese and I am haunted by the resulting mad dreams for weeks!
BTK: We may have got Sonny booked into a class in Kemnay. I did phone the Kingswells lot but they didn't get back to me. Christ it's like getting your kid into one of those posh schools with a waiting list. Who knew it would be this difficult?
Anyway, I have taught him to sit, lie down and come to me myself, so I'm feeling quite gallus.
I'd probly pick a toadstool by mistake, think I'll stick to what's in the shops. Wimp that I am.
Oh dear.....bad advice re. mushrooms being edible if animals have nibbled them.
Death caps and destroying angels are regularly eaten by slugs etc with no ill effects.
Unless you have two livers and a spare set of kidneys to hand, avoid them!
No really.
Post a Comment