Sunday, 13 May 2012

St George's a plenty!

 Received a phone call from a friend of mine today who had found some mushrooms just across the road from his Mum's house after a quick pic was sent i was straight over in the car as i knew what he had found straight away.
The beautiful and very tasty St George's mushroom's. These appear in the spring (Along with the morels they are the only 2 edible species that have an April/May season) usually around the 23rd of April (Hence the name) I was starting to think i was going to miss out on these this season as my only other spot for these has not produced this year. But we had a very good haul of 30 or so as can be seen, so after leaving a few for his Mum and taking the rest back home they will be tonights tea, Yum!
(Apologies that the pics are wrong way up, i have them saved the correct way but the blog won't let me upload them as saved??!?)

Thursday, 10 May 2012

Spring morel hunting



Hi All
After a bit of a break for the winter season and a house move i have been back out hunting my April/May nemesis the Morels. I knew of a spot where i could find semi free morels (Where the cap overhangs the stipe unlike true morels which are flush with the stipe) which i went back too and picked a few this year (Some books state that they are 'said' to be edible but may cause stomach upsets in some people, other books say they are fine to eat. I have given them a cautious try and was totally fine with no ill effects, so had a larger meal of them and all was well for me.... However do take caution if trying this species) The rest were dried on top of the boiler for a later date.


 Then while at a friends house at the weekend we went for a walk across the back fields and within 100yards of his house BOOM a BIG tick off my list as i found one of my most wanted mushrroms Morchella Esculenta, the classic Morel!
It was probably past its best and a little elderly but as it is known to be the best eating morel out there i had to give it a go and after a bit of trimming down and cutting off the best bits i can honestly say it is one of the best mushrooms i have tasted. So i just have the slightly more common Morchella Elata to tick off the list which is more at home on bark mulch in the local town and round industrial estates to find now. May have missed it for this season but there is always another chance next spring!!