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!
