By *Crumbs

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 10:20

On a walk yesterday I saw some plump white mushrooms and thought I`d bring a basket along today and collect a few for the pot. Do any of you do this? I know you have to be careful, but these boys looked like they were just made for a stroganoff. FAMOUS LAST WORDS!

Any advice or help anyone?

Replies

By Jennifer merseyside

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 10:39

Do be very very careful with this. The papers yesterday were carrying an account of Nicholas Evans (Horse Whisperer) writer and his wife and brother-in-law and his wife, who had picked mushrooms in the woods in Scotland. They are now on dialysis because the ones they had cause kidney and other organ failure.
I like the idea of picking mushrooms but you need to know what you are doing. Don't think I would chance it really. Apparently the ones they had don't show any symptoms for some time so the toxins get through the body and do their nasty work. Shame.

By Biggles

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 10:39

Ohhhhhhh, be very, very careful Crumbs.
My neighbour (no use to you, I realise LOL) is quite good at identifying mushrooms but there are times when she values a 2nd and 3rd opinion.
We can take mushrooms into the pharmacy and they will identify the edible ones :0)

We have a book The Encylopedia of FUNGHI of Britain and Europe Michael Jordan ISBN 0 7112 2379 3 which has good photos and descriptions.

Nothing finer than freshly picked and cooked mushrooms, I'll even make an omelette :0)
Biggs

By *Crumbs

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 10:44

You`re making me wary, and probably right to do so. I got an email from Hugh F W this morning also encouraging us to go on a Wild Mushroom Hunt, so maybe not such a good idea except with an expert.
I cooked some a couple of years ago and they were full of maggots. Surely a chanterelle is a chanterelle? They are quite identifiable..............or are they?

xx

By Mia

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 10:56

We had a beautiful large white one appear in the garden last week, I was tempted, but resisted
Mia

By Biggles

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 10:57

Yes BUT the book says "Confusion must be avoided with poisonous species"

Just googled and this site might help you, scroll down towards the bottom of the page...

http://www.wildmushroomsonline.co.uk/wild-mushrooms.asp?sc=Identifying+Edible+Mushrooms.+The+Chanterelle
Hope you are able to identify it as the right thing. Biggs

By Biggles

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 11:03

Oops, so that you can eat and enjoy :0)))))

By *Crumbs

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 11:09

Mia, maybe you were wise. I`m rapidly become less enthusiastic.
Biggs, had a look at the site - obviously these lookalikes are quite dangerous, so now that I`m feeling great again, I`m not going to risk falling ill for the sake of a wild omelette!!
Thanks a lot
crumbs xx

By The Dinner Service

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 11:35

I love the idea of picking mushrooms but for the same reasons I just wouldn't risk it. If you live in France you can take them into a pharmacist for identification. Can you imagine that happening here? :-)
DS XX

By Amelia

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 11:47

Like others said before, please, please, don't risk it !
It is far too dangerous, some years ago, in my OH home town, a local lady and her daughter picked up some mushrooms in a walk in the woods, they were sure those were ok, but still they got poisoned and the daughter didn't survive.
I stick to supermarket ones...

By The Dinner Service

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 12:18

Pissed on your chips a bit haven't we Crumbs? What ya having for your tea now, beans on toast? Hope your day is a good one.
DS X

By Jennifer merseyside

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 13:32

Apparently the ones that the writer had were similar to Chanterelles..and they had had them before, so thought they were safe.

By *Crumbs

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 17:21

DS, the pharmacist here would probably keep the good ones and flog them on eBayl, or smoke them!

Jen and Amelia, definitely not doing it, but disappointed. I went by the place I saw them yesterday, and a few of the big ones are gone, but not into this pot - on with the pork tenderloin and mash!

xx

By Crafty Cookie

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 19:36

Not done that crumbs, would like to one day but I would need to go with someone that knew what they were doing.

By *Crumbs

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
04 Sep 2008 23:54

Agreed, CC, life`s too precious to waste on a dodgy fried fungi!

xx

By Honey

Re: Choosing and cooking wild mushrooms
05 Sep 2008 01:24

When I was a child my father showed me which to pick and I have been picking them ever since. But I wouldn't recommend anyone pick them unless they have been shown exactly which are safe. We only pick the field mushrooms. I would never risk picking any in a wood as they are more likely to be fungi. The ones I pick are flat, white on the top and a pale pink on the bottom, going darker the older and bigger they get. Never ever pick them that are white, creamy or yellowy underneath. I have been picking them all week here in the field next door... they grow well here in the pasture field where there have been horses grazing. Oh and Crumbs, I pick them young before the maggots have found them! My father always used to say pick your mushrooms before breakfast!! Some of the old boys in the village pick the horse mushrooms (they are the ones that have a high dome, but I don't fancy those... they say they are delicious, but no thank you.

Honey :-x