Multifarious varieties of fungi at our local Farmer’s market
Walking around my garden after the rain we had, I wasn’t at all surprised to see the multitude of mushrooms that had popped up virtually overnight. Would that blog posts sprout as quickly as fungi I’d be one prolific blogger. I always look at them and wonder who has the nerve to eat these fleshy morsels plucked straight from the earth, not really knowing if they’re poisonous or not? Pas moi. I’d rather trust the perfect stranger at the Farmer’s market to tell me they’re safe!
Vermont Wildcrafters
Recently I read a book called “The Wild Trees” by Richard Preston which is essentially about the Sequoia sempervirens in the Pacific Northwest and the crazy daring botanists and amateur naturalists that climb them, but it was also here that I first learned of the giant Armillaria ostoyae in the Blue Mountains of Oregon. For those easily squeamish, this is a tad, well, eewwwy, but this humongous fungi, mercifully growing mostly beneath the ground, encompasses nearly 4 square miles (that’s 1,665 football fields People!) Discovered in 1998 it knocked the 200 ton Blue whale off its pedestal (or should I say out of the water 
) as the record holder for The World’s Largest Known Organism. Based on it’s current growth rate, it is estimated to be somewhere between 2,400-8,650 years old. FYI, I know some humans that fudge their ages that much. This would also place the giant fungi as one of the oldest living organisms on the planet.
Think about that the next time you are filling your bag with cute little button mushrooms at Von’s (which, another FYI, you should never eat those button mushrooms raw-bad, bad for you)
And to think a Giant Fungus could be growing just beneath this idyllic woodland picnic scene…
But alas, once again I digress…let’s return to my favourite subject
Food!
Butter Roasted mushrooms super simple recipe HERE
Or perhaps you prefer your mushroom flavour on the sweet side?
Chanterelle macaroons from Pierre Herme
Martha has this delicious sounding recipe for a “Mushroom Martini” HERE
Purists (and Martha) would likely kill me for saying this, but these gallon sized buckets of freeze dried(?) assorted mushrooms from Costco are surprisingly good, especially in a pinch for soups & sauces.
Caveat; If my counsel means anything to you-do not, I repeat DO NOT stick your nose inside and take a big smell.
There. I saved you.
One of my favourite ways to prepare mushrooms is to simply flash fry some of the fancier, frilly ones in a 50/50 combo of butter & olive oil until they get crispy, drain on paper towel then serve still hot; sprinkled with coarse sea salt and a generous squirt of fresh lemon juice. Like decadent, earthy potato chips-yum!
Do you think it’s easy working fashion into a post about mushrooms?!
ring via Boticca.com
Givenchy bag
I’ve had this image and recipe in my files for years thinking I would someday attempt it. I think it was also from Martha. It’s really the pastry that scares me, but this year might be the year. Rest assured I so will be sharing the photos if I ever make this.
Link for Morel mushroom Christmas ornaments below
I once had mushrooms growing in the trunk of my car when I lived in Vancouver. Not on purpose. It’s an embarrassing story involving a long wet winter and some disastrously forgotten paperwork…that never got ‘filed’. Ah…blessed youth…
Mushroomy tiles
Mushroomy rug
Mushroomy coasters from Barney’s (I have these in violet-so pretty!)
I think Hermes
Toadstools in my friend’s garden in Greece
Brass stools via Remodelista.com
I’d love a couple of these in my garden
There’s really something quite magical and pure about mushrooms, don’t you think?
(excluding 4 mile ones and the ones that grew in my car)
Mushroom Christmas ornaments via MadAboutMushrooms
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Uncredited photos via Tumblr or Pinterest
This morning there was a brief lull in the rain so I took a walk through the garden. Look at how gorgeous the trunk of the Cork Oaks get when they’re soaked through. I think these are such under-rated, beautiful trees. I wonder if Oprah has any on her property 
Still with the roses… God bless em.
And can you believe it’s this time of year again?! The house is filled with the scent of drying orange slices for the Christmas tree.
The kitchen bathed in glorious Fall light.
Did you have an enjoyable Thanksgiving Feast? I hope so! We certainly did. As you can see, the “dry run” flowers I bought over a week ago from the Farmer’s market lasted beautifully. Gerber daisies might not be the chicest bloom on the block but they’re like the good, steady husband of the flower kingdom-long lasting, reliable and always there when you need them. No flaky boyfriend type flowers to be found in mid November anyway-unless of course one is willing to pay dearly-but what else is new with flaky boyfriends??
Tomatoes the size of steaks. yum.
If you cannot find “Hediard’s” red currant jelly, I’m sure Wilkin & Sons would be good too.
Ho Ho Ho!
Fresh walnuts from the market, leaves & the last of our apples for the season
