Showing posts with label Mushrooms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mushrooms. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 11

Award Winners

Now that I'm done with having full loads of classes, I've had more time to do fun things! Gardening, canning and crafts have been on my agenda. So this year I decided to enter some things in our local fair, The Gold Country Fair in Auburn, CA. It turned out to be a very successful decision! I ended up winning second place in every category I entered- so exciting!

Needle Felted Mushroom

Homegrown "Siamese Pumpkin"
 
Spiced Plum Butter (with Cardamon, Ginger, Cloves)

Thursday, October 13

Chicken of the Woods

Right before I took my first bite a little voice in the back of my head said "don't eat the mushrooms, they're poisonous!" It's funny how that has stuck with me since I was a kid. Getting over that was the hardest thing about cooking this foraged mushroom! 



All I did was chop it up, saute it in butter, steam it with a little water, add some breadcrumbs and cheese and ta da! It was really delicious- the texture was soft, not rubbery, tasted almost like scrambled eggs, plus anything with butter and cheese is bound to taste great! 

Tuesday, October 11

Latest Find



I love mushroom season- Yes, it's that time of year already! This fungi was found in the yard of my boyfriend's house. The coloring is beautiful and it's huge and still growing! Laetiporus sulphureus, Chicken of the Woods gets it's name for a reason, it takes like chicken. I am beyond excited to get my cook on with this guy! 

Tuesday, September 27

Kinsale


Kinsale Harbor



I love afternoon tea



Charles Fort circa 1677


Friday, June 17

Polenta Stuffed Mushrooms


Probably one of the easiest things I've cooked! So easy that I only have guidelines and no recipe! Hopefully that's ok with ya'll.

If you've never made Polenta, you're missing out! It's just as easy as making rice. I usually do one cup corn meal to one cup water, one cup milk. First, I always check my fridge, garden or cupboard for yummy spices or herbs. Today, I had garlic infused olive oil and fresh rosemary. I brought my liquid, olive oil and chopped rosemary to a simmer then while stirring, slowly added the corn meal. The corn meal will quickly soak up the liquid, so after a few minutes simmering you should taste the Polenta. If it has too much crunch add more liquid, if not turn off the heat. After adding salt and pepper, I stirred in about a hand full of Parmesan cheese.

I bought enough Cremini Mushrooms for myself, washed them and cut off the stems. I rolled them in olive oil so they'll cook nicely, placed them on a pan and put a spoonful of Polenta in them. To finish the mushrooms off, I sprinkled a bit of Parmesan cheese on top and put them in the oven on a low broil for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.



Aren't they cute?! Such a yummy and quick h'orderve that you could put a variety of ingredients in. Plus, I had a bunch of Polenta leftover for later!

Friday, March 18

Les Champignons


New addition to my room- there's even Chanterlles!

Monday, February 21

Tuesday, February 1

Needle Felting

I conquered needle felting! I made these little guys out of some wool I dyed a few years ago. It's super fun... and now I'm hooked!

Saturday, January 22

Mushroom Mayhem

 Today I went on a beautiful hike through Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, CA. Its so lush, green and covered in mushrooms! Here's a glimpse of a few of the fungi I spotted. (When I identify all of them I'll post it)

Conocybe tenera, inedible.

Tremella mesenterica, inedible. Also know as "Witch's Butter."


Mycena epipterygia, edibility unknown.




 

Thursday, January 13

Cookie Cutter


 Made some adorable Gingerbread cookies today!

Sunday, January 9

Santa Cruz Fungus Fair 2011


The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz puts on an amazing fair! Seminars, cooking demos, identification experts, mushroom vendors and displays of central coast mushrooms made for a very shroomy day! The best part was learning ways to cook with mushrooms and learning about mushrooms that I've seen hiking through Santa Cruz county. Next year you have to go!

Wednesday, December 29

fungal findings

Peziza repanda, nonpoisonous, found at Moore Creek in Santa Cruz.

Monday, December 20

my first mushroom


Identified this little guy in my parents Foothill backyard. Agaricus arvensis, also known as the "Horse Mushroom." According to my guide, North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi, it says they're edible and choice. But I think I'll wait on eating one until I'm not so new at this!