Happy times are here again

[jacob marley]

This morning whilst walking down the feild with him in the corner bingo 3 mushrooms they could me majic .
When weighed 1lb 4 oz this equats to mushrom on toast x3 he he .
2 are going into freezer and 1 into microwave by the time you read this 1 will be on it's way into my tum tum so keep your eyes peeled when walking about jacob marley

[Winged one]

Oh lucky you!! This is the time of year that I really miss living in the countryside.......(not that we ever found mushrooms near us - but they do grow near OH's family home)

[zazen999]

Yuk, I like mushrooms to photograph but eat...eugh.

[Flummery]

Oh I love the big field mushroom, so much more flavour than shop ones. Our farmer friend at the other end of the village often has them growing on his fields at this time of year. He gets really cross when townies come out and pick them. He says he wouldn't mind if they asked! He sometimes pops round and leaves a bag of them hanging on our back door handle! Taste of autumn.

[FionaH]

I love fresh mushrooms, but I dont know enough about them to identify them properly.

[Headfry]

Went on a guided mushroom walk a few years ago, picked and ate purple mushrooms on toast fantastic!

there are some beautiful one to photograph. Tend not to pick now - just photos!

[SlugLobber]

Some woman round here picked an Angel Death Cap and croaked it, recently. Cue lots of warnings about 'not picking mushrooms and eating them'. Might have helped if the poor love had thought to study them at least briefly, since this is one of the easier poisonous ones to identify!

Am still living in hope for a giant puffball, but have found lots of the edible Russulas on my travels. Might start riding the pony with a little basket on the back, lol!

[Alison]

OH has gone mad for collecting this year - not only did he bring home the giant puff ball a couple of weeks ago, last night he found a load of ceps and some other puff balls (not the giant ones but can't remember what type). He spends ages checking them all out and him and his mate are getting quite knowledgable but I still insist on checking them out independantly before trying!

[SlugLobber]

Common puffballs are the smaller, edible ones, Alison. Pure white when young, looking like little light bulbs. Tiny bumps all over em. The common earthballs aren't so nice, though! Inedible/poisonous.

[Flummery]

Earthballs actually smell inedible!

[MaureenHall]

I love mushrooms, but I don't feel confident enough to go and pick any wild ones Don't want to end up ill ............................. or worse!!

[Alison]

Get yourself a decent book, I'm particularly impressed with the River Cottage one, has an edible and poisonous section and then a load of recipes. Plus it points out any similar dangerous ones and what to look for. Had some lovely mushroom and beetroot pasta last night and tonight is a cep pizza. Feeling hungry thinking about it!

[Polly Fouracre]

If the mushroom you see is of a reasonable size just look at the underneath. If you can see beige in the gills it is safe to eat. If pure white all through this is a Death Cap. There are a lot of books on identifing fungi which you ought to be able to borrow from the library.