I know this blog can be repetitive at times, it doesn’t bother me one bit. I am truly unapologetic. I want people to see plenty of pictures and stories about tomatoes in summer, wild river Trout when it’s open season and wild mushrooms in Autumn and so on. When we travelled Europe we loved the Italian tradition of eating what is seasonal available as apposed to eating what ever you want when you want, just because it’s available at the those godless major supermarkets. I find it odd eating summer fruit in the middle of winter. The last few years have really been enjoyable eating seasonally, and it’s not like we’re food nazi’s it’s just a basic principle we try to live by especially when all our vegetables we grow ourselves. In any case we find it a real treat looking forward to the change in each season and the culinary delights on offer. And at the moment I’m relentless and waring people down about mushrooms. Give it a month or so the Saffron Milk Caps may be harder to find. The rarer they become the more determination I have to hunt them out. This morning I took Mum and Laney out to Creswick forest foraging, and we got a mini haul along with a great little adventure driving rough tracks that we’d never been down before. Some of the views we had atop the old pine plantations were stunning to say the least, and the wet valleys with running water in the creeks and lush green ferns were simply picture postcard. Back at the folks place I cooked up a sampler of Pine Mushrooms with butter, garlic and rosemary on crunchy toasted English Muffins. A great foragers treat. So if you can, get out there and enjoy the season while it last’s.
it’s a short season, so get out when you can
14 Saturday May 2011
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in
I’ve eaten wild mushrooms and got very, very sick. How’s about a tut or a few tips on which ones to pick?
I have been told to give them a scratch and if they turn yellow then don’t pick them. Is this true?
Actually that isn’t the case, and it’s not a rule I’d apply. The best thing to do is go out with someone who know’s their mushrooms and learn only two varieties and stick with those. Ignore every other mushroom until your 1000% confident picking the two species yo know. Start with Slippery Jacks and Saffron Milk Caps (which are known for the yellow milky like ooz inside the body of the mushroom).
Don’t eat anything your not sure of.
Thanks Ro. Oh..love the comment from your mum and the tip on the micro lens. I must get myself a better lens, you know when that money tree flourishes!
The scenery and serenity of the forest was just wonderful. It was pretty special gathering the mushrooms from under those huge European pines. Thanks for cooking up a treat after our foraging fun too- just delicious!
Glad you liked it mum!
Lovely photos. What type of camera/lens do you use?
Thanks Alison. The camera is not important, it’s the lens. See if you can get a DSLR with a dedicated 2.8 macro lens, and avoid using front on flash.
That should give you much joy!