New Mexico's Spaceport development has problems.

Yes, you can play golf at the Angola Penitentiary golf course.

The ex-controller of the New Mexico Finance Authority has been indicted.

Unintentional, run-away double entendre strikes when Jill Biden introduces the Vice-President.

The Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department planned to buy a boat three days after cutting hours of service due to lack of funds.

150 years of lesbians photo gallery.

Verdict in the Amish beard-cutting case: "Mullet guilty in beard case."

A woman ate a "Stellanator" in Omaha.

A weird effigy of Obama was lynched in Austin.

This may be the first good, in-depth news item about bath salts.

Groundbreaking video illustrates the best way to clean mushrooms.

Not so groundbreaking: we are running out of fish.

An Intel worker called the police because a coworker put a "kick me" sign on his back. And people kicked him.

Some companies are instructing employees NOT to use work email after hours.

Snoop Dogg was the celebrity guest on The Price is Right yesterday.

Like many before her, Fiona Apple was busted for pot possession at the Sierra Blanca border checkpoint.

Hypnotic map of the 2012 presidential election swing states.

"Girls have got balls. They're just a little higher up, that's all." Happy birthday Joan Jett and Nick Cave.

• mushroom cleansing (fonduefork) [ Mon Sep 24 2012 3:50 PM ]
  
• Mushroom Cleansing (geoffreyplant) [ Tue Sep 25 2012 11:48 AM ]
  
• Joan Jett Still... (BrokenArrow) [ Thu Sep 27 2012 3:49 PM ]
  

 

All this wet weather has brought a nice showing of mushrooms in New Mexico. This enthusiast had the good fortune to attend a dinner party where the featured item was an eight pound Cauliflower mushroom from the south east area of the Valle Grande in Jemez mountains. A beautiful tangy and earthy scent emanated from this specimen, which was regarded by many to have the segmented appearance of a brain. It sliced like a Stilton, loose and hearty. It was cooked to perfection in a broth by the host who then proceeded to feature the fungus in a lovely Beef stroganoff on egg noodles. A chardonnay complemented the delicate, buttery flesh of this outstanding find.

Mushroom hunter Rick Fulwyler (pictured) reported that he had also found porcini (Boletus edulis,) the rare Boletus aereus, oyster mushrooms and the wild cousin of the button mushroom.

Disclaimer: do not eat anything without the guidance of an experienced mushroom hunter.

Maren Tarro

Not exactly the mushroom I was after.

The woods behind my apartment in Baltimore are full of goodies. It's still a little early, but I am finding tasty bites here and there. Cattail shoots are making a strong showing. Stripped of their leaves, the centers are a perfect replacement for genetically modified, pesticide-laden, supermarket cucumbers. And they're free, easy to find, a breeze to identify and grow in abundance. I'm waiting for them to be a bit taller before I harvest.

Wood violets are also in bloom; the flowers and young leaves make a great addition to salads. The flowers can also be used to flavor sorbets and beverages, and as decorations for cakes and pastries.

Maren Tarro

A nice bunch of spring onions

Mayapples are sprouting up all over the place, a good indication that morels are on their way. The leaves, stem and root are poisonous, but the fruits can be eaten in small quantities.

I think I may have found spicebush. The berries can be used in the same manner as allspice. I'm holding off on a definite identification until the berries ripen in a few months. Other possible finds include wild carrot, chicory and poison ivy. Not so excited about that last one.

Maren Tarro

Cattails, old and new

My greatest find was fiddleheads. The young shoots of the ostrich fern are pure vegetative delight. It'll be a few days before they're tall enough to pick, but just locating them was a bit of an accomplishment. The fiddleheads, mayapples and certain trees I've identified suggest those elusive morels are soon to be mine (if the mushroom gods find me worthy and deserving).

Maren Tarro

That’s no way to talk to Mother Nature. Shame!

Maren Tarro

Mayapples

Maren Tarro

Violets, pretty and yummy

Maren Tarro

I had to yank this nasty fucker from my right nalga. Foraging isn’t all fun and games.

Maren Tarro

Spicebush?

• tastes like wild hickory nuts (Nick Brown) [ Tue Apr 20 2010 11:57 AM ]