Lepiota procera: watercolour by Lady Magnon.
It's been raining and, as the soil has been previously warmed, we've a good chance of having some mushrooms.
One of our favourites at this time of year is the Parasol, a meaty mushroom that's best gathered and eaten whilst the cap is still not totally open (don't bother with the stem).
The Parasol is one of the most easily identifiable of all mushrooms. It stands up to 30 cms high, with its cap up to 25 cms wide. It has white gills, a prominent ring just below the cap, and a bulbous foot; unmistakeable.
If any should pop up near you..... bon appétit.
25 comments:
Morning Cro - what a beautiful watercolour - I have never tried them - I wouldn't have thought it was edible just by looking at it. The only fungi I can definitely identify that are edible are field mushrooms, horse mushrooms and blewitts. I think I'll stick with those.
Quite right too. Never eat anything you are not absolutely sure about.
You're a braver man than I, Bungdit Din, to eat the lovely beasties from the wild. I love mushrooms but must confess to selling my soul to more confident folk than I for their supply.
Have you ever eaten puffball? I can recognise puffballs. Someone once told me that they taste of nothing though and it seems likely, from their looks.
I feel much like a mushroom right now...living in a damp, dark, muddy world.....
Lovely watercolour. Best to mention that - when young - the Parasol can be confused with a Death Cap until it reaches full height. I know I say this every year, don't I?
And every year I tend to disagree (but say nothing).
Beautiful painting . . . I love the subtle background colours.
That's a lovely watercolour....wouldn't that shape and colour make a attractive table lamp?
very delicate, lovely work, Lady M.
Clever, isn't she!
looks wonderful. My marriage is based on mushrooms. My husband hates them and I adore them. I eat all his that are served in restaurants becasue he didn't read the menu. Keeps us both happy
Jack Sprat would eat no fat... his wife would eat no lean.
It's a pretty mushroom, is it really that big when full grown? I buy my mushies at the market, that way I know they're safe to eat.
Sometimes much bigger, hence my 'assurance' that they can't be mistaken (disclaimer to follow).
Mushroom hunting is probably the most popular pastime here.
beautiful mushroom! I have foraged only once for edibles, and they were the mostly delicious thing, cooked up in butter and garlic. I was with an expert on that trip, and still I wondered if I'd wake up dead the next morning! (Poor Tara, killed by her gastronomically driven desires...)
lovely watercolour! I do not trust my abilities in deciding which mushrooms are okay to eat and admire those who do have that talent.
The watercolour is amazing -- it looks so real! Mushrooms abound somewhere near us -- our farmer neighbours are very generous and leave bags of them for us hitched to the front gate. Whatever dinner was planned -- the plan gets changed. I expect it will be an uncommonly good year for cepes... can't wait to get down there!
Ah, so you aren't the only artist in the family, eh? Your bride's painting is absolutely wonderful. I really admire your knowledge of mushrooms. All those edible delicacies out there, free for the taking, but most of us pass them by out of ignorance, and are forced to rely on our corner grocer.
I never know which mushrooms to eat so usually stick to the ordinary field ones. With all this rain we should have some soon too.
I think Lady M is a wonderful artist,I do hope you show us some more of her watercolours,that is wonderful Cro
Absolutely lovely watercolor!
My Polish-American husband once told me that mushroom picking was the national sport of Poland and they were the best at it. I'll have to tell him that the French might give them a run for the money on that one.
Great water colour... is obviously a talented lady.
I've often seen on tv programs about European mushroom picking. I love mushrooms and would like to taste some of these but only when someone else who knows what they are doing does the gathering and cooking. Too many horror stories about mushrooms poisoning people. We seem to have very pedestrian varieties here in Oz.
Cheers
I've heard this about Poland. I've also heard that much of their gathering ends up pickled.
Wonderful watercolour... and my second favourite 'shroom...
the first being Lawyer's Wig.
I have, in the past, used large Parasols as pizza bases...
tomato sauce on the gills, fry gently cap down...
meanwhile grate some cheese... just a little to cover the top....
once the 'shroom is at almost at eating point...
break an egg in the middle and sprinkle cheese....
once cheese softened and white of egg beginning to solidify...
whack it under the grill.
And that is why we haven't eaten a homemade, one mushroom pizza Marguerita for yonks...
you cannot get ovens with an open grill anymore...
'elf and safety seems to dictate that you might damage yourself if you cook with the door open...
so the oven switches off....
it's a reet boogeration!!
We've just had some for lunch, in an omelet.
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