Mushrooms on toast, anyone?

Why on earth does he go picking mushrooms if he hasn't got a clue ?????

Granjura, because he's a man.

When we lived next to Richmond Park, in 1971 and 72 and were very broke- we lived off the mushrooms, chestnuts and blackberries the whole autumn. I used to cycle round and stop on and off and pick. I made friends with some of the old soldiers who lived in the huge Star and Garter hostal by one of the gates- and later visit them there, and also the horse mounted guards- who used to chat and ask to see my daily catch. Happy days (we lived at Queen Mary's Hospital).

One of my mum's favourite recipe was 'croustade aux champignons'- a large rectangle of puff pastry, with ham covered with creamy wild mushrooms then closed as a pie and egg washed, decorated with pastry mushrooms. OH just loves that too.

Many years ago, camping in Perthshire, we met a Polish couple who had a lovely collection of chanterelles, strung up to dry in their tent. The day they left, they took us to the larch wood where they were growing in abundance. We didn't tell anyone else!

I've still got my copy of Food for Free as well, Granjura, but I've only ever eaten puffballs that I've picked myself. Anything else, I've gone with an expert.

Mushrooms make a tasty filling for pancakes too. I used to make wholemeal pancakes with creamed mushroom filling - a quick supper that the children loved.

I have about 12 books in both languages on mushrooms Anno- last one bought is Carluccios. I like to cross reference from several sources if I am not 100% sure, and all my neighbours are experts so I am safe. Remember the 'Food for Free book' - still got my copy. Also got some of my dad's and grandad's old books (in French)- with drawings instead of photos.

I used to find those large puffballs in Leicestershire a lot- reminded me of the Tintin book- but never ever managed to make any of them taste good- tried, butter, garlic, parsley, curry even! Always ended up in the bin, I have to say.

We used to have two slim volumes about fungi identification but ex got custody of them and I have never been able to find them again. Once, in Yorkshire when we were staying with my parents for a few nights, my DSs came in from the field with two wonderful giant puffballs in excellent condition. We took them with us in the caravan. They were delicious thickly sliced and fried like a steak, or made into soup.

Ouch- they were probably 'yellow stainer' - they do look very much like field mushrooms, but the smell is bitter and the flesh stains bright yellow. Good news is- they won't kill you- but make you violently sick for a couple of days. NOT nice!

And yes, you do need to know what you are doing. The guy you checked with obviously didn't!

DH picked mushrooms when we were on holiday in Cornwall years ago, went with a friend.
Friend's wife and I were very dubious about cooking and eating them, but we were OK (luckily!).

I nearly killed the pair of us 25 years ago, eating foraged mushrooms. We had an enormous number of them growing in one of our fields so I filled a washing basket and spent a day making mushroom soup and quiches galore, one of which we had for supper.
Within 5 or 6 hours we were both violently ill.
Goodness knows what I'd done, they were definitely field mushrooms (identified by village foraging expert, a chap who ran foraging courses and who came and picked loads too).

Needless to say everything went in the bin.

I've never picked them since.

btw jingl- mushrooms do contain protein (not as much as meat, granted) and lots of other goodies.

in which case, you were right maggie ;) but why on earth does he go picking mushrooms if he hasn't got a clue ????? Yiiiikes.

Next time, send me some pictures ;)- actually some of the most colourful mushrooms are very safe- and vice versa!

I like them with sesame seeds.

No, granjura, he hasn't a clue, and neither have I! Having googled some images of harmful fungi, I'm pretty certain some of them were destined for my plate that day. And having looked at the images, he has conceded that those who know nowt about mushroom picking should only do so at recognised shops.

Yay! Mushrooms on toast is yummy. Sometimes with fried tomatoes too.
Cheers for mushrooms, one of the tastiest things on the planet.

I love mushrooms on toast or just about any other way. DH will only eat them if heavily disguised.

I can remember as a teenager my mother used to buy tinned creamed mushrooms, and used to give them to me on toast for tea.

maggiebaby- criminal oh dear .

What a shame. Does you DH not know his mushrooms then and just picked willy nilly? I grew up foraging with my parents, and I know my wild mushrooms really well- and where we lived some called me 'the mushroom lady'. I often met some older Polish guys in the woods and fields- they seemed to be the only ones to know what's what.

Now you are right to be careful- and I never ever pick or eat anything I am not totally 100% sure- but some you really can't mistake for anything else. Like parasols, or blewitts or bluelegs or inkcaps, or ceps, and many more. If DH hasn't got a clue, fair enough, but if he does know then ...

Had DH thrown away a basket full of shrooms I'd lovelingly picked- I'd have gone berserk!

I am a mushroom lover and we often have the big Portobello mushrooms stuffed with cheese, onion and breadcrumbs + Worcestershire sauce or Marmite, as a main meal. Also like mushrooms on toast!

Years ago we had a glut of wild mushrooms, my heart would sink when they boys came in proudly bearing another boxful, but then I discovered that mushroom soup is very easy to make, tastes far better than any shop bought one and freezes beautifully, problem solved

PS Condensed cream of mushroom soup mixed with left over cooked chicken or turkey makes a very good quick pie filling

Yummy- I also love it.

I have a pack of mushrooms waiting to be cooked with marmite toast for lunch today. Years ago I used to buy the cans of creamed mushrooms. They were delicious on toast too.

mushroom lover!

DH loves all kinds of mushrooms and will happily have them on toast but I cook them in a dash of olive oil (chilli sometimes) with some garlic. I'm not a mushroom floor - tastes like eating soil to me.

We had mushrooms on toast the other day, in a creamy sauce, lovely! We hadn't had it for years and said how much we enjoyed it and must do it more often.