The Pear Shaped Puffball Mushroom (Lycoperdon pyriforme)

Another favorite Mushroom of mine this was found in September as most Puffballs are found in the late summer/fall. I tried a recipe i made up, and actully tasted quite good. One thing i would love to do is find out the nutritional value of certain mushrooms.

Characteristics: The Pear Shaped Puffball Mushroom is found on wood, rather than from grassy soil. But while most fungi that produce puffballs feed on organic matter within fertile soil, the pear-shaped puffball's fungus digests wood. The Small stem give the mushroom its pear shape. Like the giant puffballs and its relatives this is edible if you find them early enough, before the white gelba turns yellow then brown. The core should be white to be edible


Preparation:

Clean and inspected mushrooms for dirt and bugs, and cut off stems.


Soak the mushrooms in 2 eggs in a bowl while this is being done, cook 2-3 pieces of bacon in a skillet and when they are done remove, but leave the greese in the pan to cook the mushrooms with. Take the egged soaked shrooms and roll them in bread crumbs then place the shrooms in the pan and cook them up nicely! When they are well cooked and browned, i cut up the bacon pieces and mix with the mushrooms.

Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

Ok my first edible plant I will be posting is a Fungi called Hen of the Woods also know as Maitake, Now let me tell you I am not a big mushroom fan so if I eat wild mushrooms they got to be pretty good, or I wouldn't waste my time. When I held this mushroom I could feel the good vibration that eminated from it they can get very big up to 40 pounds. Considered a "choice" mushroom I wanted to try this one tonight.

Characteristics: Found at the base of stressed hardwoods and dead stumps, They have a layer of petals that form the mushroom, these originating from a central base.

Preparation:

I separated the different layers of the mushroom into single pieces with a pairing knife, cleaning of any dirt and debris



For my first time experiencing (cooking) these mushrooms I wanted to take the basic approach. Sauteed in a large skillet with olive oil and onions in my case I also gathered some wild leeks in the forest and used them instead of the onions. Now the Hen of the woods takes a good 20 minutes to cook and I could have cooked them longer in my case, but neverless they were good.