Given the UK's current economic crisis, and anticipating worse to come, Gail decided this week that it was time to brush up her hunter-gatherer skills.
But before I tell you about Wednesday's mushroom hunting excursion, I want to make public one small complaint, which some of my pals might relate to.
Have you noticed how, when you venture off piste in pursuit of a squirrel or maybe a deer, you're promptly summoned back on track and if you don't respond right away your human can get quite cross? However, it's apparently totally OK for that very same human to wander at will into the woods, for example if they spot what they think might be an edible mushroom, and one is not supposed to protest.
Enough of the quibbling, onto the fungal foray. We were a bit late in the season, and after the dry summer this has not been a vintage year for mushrooms in NE Scotland anyway. Most of the specimens we spotted were distinctly past their best and those pictured below are not for human consumption.
But eventually Gail spotted a large mushroom with a smooth and shiny chestnut cap, pale coloured spongy pores on the underside and a bulbous stem, broader towards the base and with a net like pattern on the surface. Looking highly delighted, Gail plucked it from the ground, placed into her bag and brought it home.
Officially named Boletus edulis, this much prized edible mushroom is variously known as the Penny Bun Bolete, Cep, Porcini or Steinpilz.
Gail lightly sautéed her specimen in butter and oil, adding garlic and thyme.
It smelled interesting and she said it was totally yummy.
But all I got out of the afternoon was a nice walk in the woods.
Happy Nature Friday!
oh we agree the smell of the furst mushrooms is heavenly... the mama said only one cat eat them, one has to be without... just in case... to dial 911 :O)
ReplyDeleteThe mushrooms look so yummy but my mom has no idea what is safe to eat and she won't take any chances. I'm never off lead, Nobby, so I never get to wander.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, Nobby, I understand your little whinge and it does seem contradictory - but then again, none of us ever have our parents explaining why one rule of us and another for them - but rest assured, they are likely to be good reasons!
I so very much admire the fungi family - even though I don't get on very well with eating them (weird things on my insides if I have them). that is a lovely photo selection and I think your walk was well worth the making!!! hugs and wags from a Hutch that appears to have entered a twilight zone of being inside a cosmic washing machine. Pawhaps an echo of Ian??? YAM-aunty xxx
My mom would not touch a mushroom. She is a picky eater and says fungus isn't for her. When walking, humans are the boss and they get to decide what is fun. For some reason squirrel chasing isn't on the list :) Have a fun weekend.
ReplyDeleteForaging for mushrooms sounds quite good fun Nobby. My human likes mushrooms but all hers come in a plastic container from the supermarket! It' s too hot and dry for mushrooms to grow in the wild here. Many, many, years ago, she lived in Sweden and would go into the forest with friends, where they would pick all sorts of wonderous things and mushrooms were especially prized!
ReplyDeleteI've never had a mushroom, as my human read that they are not good for us canines to eat.
Love,
Inca xx
Nobby evidently what is fine for the Gail is not fine for the Nobby. House rules inside or out should be observed by all. But apparently the one with the thumbs who can pick lovely mushrooms RULES.
ReplyDeleteI do love mushrooms no matter how they are served.
I leave you with a few words of advice...just say Yes Gail, I will do as you say.
Hugs Cecilia
Even though you couldn't roam as you pleased, Nobby, it sounds like you had a fun time foraging.
ReplyDeleteOur Mama is in awe of all the lovely fungi you and Gail found Bertie, both edible and unedible...She might even be drooling a bit, imagining the smell and taste of that mushroom....
ReplyDeleteOur Dad on the other hand, would say you got the much nicer side of the bargain(he is not a fan of mushrooms).
xoxo,
Jakey
After seeing the photo of the Boletus edulis in the pan, I had to look up its average size. Quite large enough for one to provide a tasty appetizer! Congratulations on the find!
ReplyDeletewe afraid if we ate a wild mushroom we would end up either high, dead, or both.
ReplyDeletePretty 'shrooms are usually the most poisonous...glad your foraging skills were not in vain, though.
ReplyDeleteWe have that problem with our peeps, too, Nobby...there seem to be two sets of rules. Phooey!
Apparently "every mushroom is edible, some only once" so the human one has always been too scared to try any of the various mushrooms that sometimes grow on our property (or let her dog(s) eat them!), but we know Gail would have done her research well so learning foraging skills, with recent changes in the UK economy, is a good thing to do. As a side note, she always thought if she could teach Riley to seek out truffles, on his adventures, that would be a good thing to do!!!
ReplyDeleteNobby - what would you do with a deer if you did manage to catch one? We have visions of you attached to some cervine body part and being trotted off through the woods wondering why Gail isn't keeping up!
ReplyDeleteLady says Gail is very brave to eat a wild mushroom. People around us do, but she says she would be too afraid she got a poisonous one. Lee and Phod
ReplyDeleteWow! Gail certainly is knowledgable about mushrooms! And we try to chase the wildlife too but being attached to a large human woman wearing a walking belt kind of ruins all of our fun...at least you are free to run a bit Nobby!
ReplyDeleteRosie and Redford