I've been out in the woods since Tuesday, expecting to find a few of these babies, but they only began to appear yesterday.
A sure sign that mushrooms (Cèpes) are up is seeing loads of cars parked by the side of the woods. Others had obviously mis-calculated, like me, as I've been seeing cars all over the place for several days.
On Friday I was in my favourite supermarket when I overheard a conversation between an elderly, wise-looking, man and a youngish woman. I tried not to look as if I was earwigging as he explained all about moon phases, rainfall, and his stiff left knee, then eventually declared that Saturday/Sunday was when they would appear. HE WAS RIGHT. Here's some more...
I shall be out in the woods a lot in the next few days..... I have bottling to do (which has new been done!).
33 comments:
I love your enthusiasm for all things that grow in nature. No work needed except for the picking.
Oh lovely! It's morels here; lovely things which only briefly appear in the spring. They're very shy.
I could see lovely pots of mushroom and onion stew...
You lucky old dog
I can never find Morels. They do grow here, but I've never really got to terms with them. Cepes and Girolles are my two usual targets.
6.50 am, and not yet light here, but I shall be out again in an hour or so.
I sure am!
Mmm I can't even imagine how delicious fresh mushrooms would taste!
First the beautiful figs and now mushrooms on the prettiest dishes !
Lucky.
cheers, parsnip
Beware of men in orange hats!
Mmmm....they do look tasty - and such a pretty plate too. Will these be sautéed in a little butter with garlic and a splash of white wine, or cooked with your secret ingredients ?
The ones in the basket would make a lovely subject for a quick watercolour.
And I won't be wearing my Deerskin coat either!
Olive oil, butter, garlic, and parsley, then made into an omelet. Can't beat it.
Yes you can... they taste wonderful.
I have a love of dark green rustic dishes, etc.
Your reply to Coppa's girl is exactly how I did our field mushrooms for lunch yesterday. The trouble with ordinary field mushrooms is that they have such a short life and need eating at the next meal from when they are picked. Other than frying them with bacon and having an omelette there seems no other way. I don't think they preserve like the ones in your photograph.
The knife is very important for scale for me today. Thank you.
That's what it's there for... glad to be of service.
Cepes are quite 'meaty', and bottle very well. I've never heard of anyone bottling field mushrooms, but I believe they make a very good sauce.
It is amazing how much information you can get in the supermarket.
The man in the supermarket certainly knows his onions about cepes !!!!! Are there truffles in your woods ? XXXX
Argh! Once again I am filled with envy.
Especially if you're nosey, like me!
He certainly did, he was spot-on. One of my neighbours planted some 'Truffled Oaks' but I don't think he's ever had any truffles from them. In fact I'm not sure if he even remembers where they are.
Good. You should have some too; no?
Ooh, they do look good.
Spotted a cluster of giant puffballs last year and took one home. It wasn't easy cycling the remaining 8 miles home one-handed with a mushroom bigger than a football tucked under my arm, but it sure as hell was worth it!
We found a huge circle of giant puffballs this year, but I'm rather ashamed to say that we didn't eat any.
We do have morels here, but the deer always find them first. Plus, they are camouflaged in the oak leaves in the woods and I can't smell them like the deer. It is funny about the timing, for they only grow for about a week around Easter.
That's much the same here. Quite early and elusive; I know where they grow, but finding them's another matter!
You know, I can't stand mushrooms but your photos are so lovely and you're so darned enthusiastic that I'm almost swung over.
Congratulations to you on both your excellent eavesdropping and also your excellent mushroom gathering. Your mushrooming knife is also worthy of a compliment.
May I ask yet another question...did you learn the art of mushroom gathering in France, or in an earlier part of your life. One of my UK friends knows about such matters from following her European grandfather's foraging.
You give me hope!
I was always a mushroom forager, then when I moved to France I discovered that my village was renowned for its mushrooms... I couldn't have been happier.
I am no mushroom gatherer, but I've found and eaten exactly two morels and one puffball on our property (after checking with a mushroom-knowledgeable friend.) SO GOOD!!
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