N80
Super Member
I went turkey hunting on my property yesterday morning in the rain and cold. Saw no turkeys but I found something else. These:
For those who don't know, they are called morels and are a type of mushroom. They are considered a delicacy and are among the most expensive mushroom/fungi probably second only to truffles.
I've known what they were since I was a boy but usually just considered them a curiosity. They are fairly rare and usually I see one or maybe two each turkey season, usually in wet dark areas with lots of decaying leaf and tree matter. I found these in a dark, wet creek bottom with lots of sycamore and tulip poplar which morels are often found under, so I've read.
I'd always been told that they are the one mushroom you can pick and eat without being an expert. I'm still not an expert so take that with a grain of salt. I know there is a 'false morel' that is toxic, but the pictures I've seen look very different from these.
Yesterday I found dozens of them without even looking hard. Never seen so many in my life. And I finally got the courage to try them. My wife and I picked about 10 medium sized ones and left the small ones and the large ones that were starting to decay. We called my wife's sister who is a gourmet cook and she got all excited and told us it was okay to eat them (although, she's not a mushroom expert either!). She said she'd had dried ones (the most common way they are sold) but never fresh ones, which are considered the best.
She recommended several recipes, but we were down at the cabin (limited cooking supplies) and really just wanted to see what they were like so we just sliced them and saute'ed them in butter. We did about five of them and brought her the rest.
As you can logically deduce, they were not toxic and I am not dead 24 hour after eating them but I' sure you are really wondering how they tasted. Well, to be honest I was a little disappointed, but I think that is mostly because my expectations were so high after hearing all the foodies talk about them. However, they were good. I like mushrooms and the taste is very similar. I'd say the flavor was very delicate, a little more nutty and earthy than a typical grocery store 'shroom. I guess its that delicate taste that the foodies like so much. I felt like they complimented the pot roast we were having and I hear they are good with game, especially in a light gravy or saute'ed in red whine.
Just wanted to share that. It was exciting (or was it stupid?) to try a wild mushroom and finding that many in one place was something I've never seen before.
And if I mysteriously croak.......don't let my wife sell my tractor for what I told her I paid for it!
(That line stolen from another TBNer's sig line)
For those who don't know, they are called morels and are a type of mushroom. They are considered a delicacy and are among the most expensive mushroom/fungi probably second only to truffles.
I've known what they were since I was a boy but usually just considered them a curiosity. They are fairly rare and usually I see one or maybe two each turkey season, usually in wet dark areas with lots of decaying leaf and tree matter. I found these in a dark, wet creek bottom with lots of sycamore and tulip poplar which morels are often found under, so I've read.
I'd always been told that they are the one mushroom you can pick and eat without being an expert. I'm still not an expert so take that with a grain of salt. I know there is a 'false morel' that is toxic, but the pictures I've seen look very different from these.
Yesterday I found dozens of them without even looking hard. Never seen so many in my life. And I finally got the courage to try them. My wife and I picked about 10 medium sized ones and left the small ones and the large ones that were starting to decay. We called my wife's sister who is a gourmet cook and she got all excited and told us it was okay to eat them (although, she's not a mushroom expert either!). She said she'd had dried ones (the most common way they are sold) but never fresh ones, which are considered the best.
She recommended several recipes, but we were down at the cabin (limited cooking supplies) and really just wanted to see what they were like so we just sliced them and saute'ed them in butter. We did about five of them and brought her the rest.
As you can logically deduce, they were not toxic and I am not dead 24 hour after eating them but I' sure you are really wondering how they tasted. Well, to be honest I was a little disappointed, but I think that is mostly because my expectations were so high after hearing all the foodies talk about them. However, they were good. I like mushrooms and the taste is very similar. I'd say the flavor was very delicate, a little more nutty and earthy than a typical grocery store 'shroom. I guess its that delicate taste that the foodies like so much. I felt like they complimented the pot roast we were having and I hear they are good with game, especially in a light gravy or saute'ed in red whine.
Just wanted to share that. It was exciting (or was it stupid?) to try a wild mushroom and finding that many in one place was something I've never seen before.
And if I mysteriously croak.......don't let my wife sell my tractor for what I told her I paid for it!
(That line stolen from another TBNer's sig line)
